Chennai

A quick trip to Chennai

June 6, 2023 · Chennai travel

A quick trip to Chennai

Last week, I traveled to Chennai for a brief business trip. Fortunately, due to my early arrival and a late departure on the following day, I had the opportunity to enjoy three hours of free time each day.

Day 1 from 0830 - 1130

0830-0900: Metro Airport - LIC

I took the metro from the airport and headed towards the LIC terminal.
The metro was not crowded, and everyone had a place to sit, which was unlike the usual experience for people from Mumbai or Pune.
The ticket price for the metro ride was just 40 Rs.

0915-0945 Bus LIC - Kapaleshwar

Took bus from LIC to Pataleshwar temple
Ticket was 15 Rs

1000-1045: Kapaleshwar Temple

The temple, built around the 7th century CE, is a remarkable example of Dravidian architecture.
Despite the diverse languages and religious practices of the visitors, there was a sense of similarity and unity, thanks to the Nataraj Temple, Satara in Satara; which was constructed based on the model of the main Chidambara temple in TamilNadu.

1045-1115: Ratna Cafe

Accidently discovered this cafe which is very near to the temple. Its a 75 years old cafe.
Had Idli, Vada and Coffee; banana leaf and cocunut chuteny made it special
Also did some shopping of soveneirs; coffee and coffee steel glass and wati.

Day 2 from 0530 - 0830

0530-0600: Lighthouse

It has total 10 floor and visitors are taken to lift on 9 th floor.
entry fee is of 20 Rs only.
10th floor has huge rotating radar which can be seen once you visit the beach.

0600-0700: Marina Beach

Its 2nd longest beach in the world covering distance of around 6 km.
Also average width of 300m is longest I have seen.
Dont forget to drink the Goti Soda

0700-0730: Vivekanand Bhavan

This is a must-visit place for everyone. The experience one gets here is on another level.
Swami Vivekananda stayed here for nine days after his triumphant return from the West.
It has a technological museum that provides a glimpse into Swami Vivekananda’s life and his message using the latest trends such as Virtual and Augmented Reality, modern 3D/4D effects.
The meditation room on the 2nd floor offers an indescribable experience.
The entry fee is 50 Rs.

0730-0830: Auto-Riksha, Metro to Airport

Took metro from Government-Estate (nearest to Vivekanand Bhavan) to the airport; ticket was just 40 Rs.
Had dinner at the exit of the Airport Metro station. There weren’t many options available, but I ended up getting a plate of vegetarian fried rice for 80 Rs, which was twice the amount of rice I usually get in Pune. To avoid wasting food, I had to convince a stranger to share half of it with me.

In all, the trip was quick but thoroughly enjoyable. Especially the auto-rickshaws in Chennai don’t work on meters, and bargaining with them is a whole new experience. By the way, Chennai has a 58% tax on alcohol, so it doesn’t seem like an ideal place for alcohol enthusiasts.