FIRST-TIME TRAVELLER

Chennai

Never visited this coastal city? Vaishna Roy offers four customised itineraries

CULTURE VULTURES

Chennai might be short on nightlife, but it’s neck deep in culture. The capital of Carnatic music and Bharatnatyam (ancient Indian music and dance forms), Chennai hosts the Season every year from December to February. Book tickets for performances by singer P Unnikrishnan, dancer Malavika Sarukkai and mandolin maestro U Srinivas.

Take a tour of Kalakshetra, a training centre for the performing arts. Designed to resemble an ashram, the beautiful campus exudes peace and serenity. Attend the morning prayer under the banyan tree, tune in to the strains of sitar and violin or observe a dance class.

Check out Sapthaswara and be treated to an amazing array of traditional instruments. Or visit Musée Musicals, a 150-year-old music centre housed in a lovely old mansion.

Kalakshetra, Kalakshetra Rd, Tiruvanmiyur, tel: +91 (0)44 2452 4359
Sapthaswara, 165 RH Rd; tel +91 (0)44 2499 6498
Musée Musicals (67 Anna Salai, tel: +91 (0)44 852 2780

HISTORY BUFFS

Did you know that there are more than 100 churches in Chennai? Do a “steeplechase” with Story Trails and discover some of them. Visit beautiful St Mary’s, the oldest Anglican church in Asia, the imposing St Thomas Basilica, the Scottish St Andrew’s Kirk and the charming, 200-year-old Armenian Church. Tours are S$24/A$19 per person.

DakshinaChitra is a heritage village showcasing South Indian architecture, arts and crafts. Traditional homes have been made over as museums tracing the history of Indian weaving and textiles. Artisans also make art and sell their creations here. Tickets are S$2/A$2 per person.

The Bronze Gallery at the Government Museum is home to a display of sculptures dating back centuries. The building itself is an example of Indo-Saracenic architecture in warm sandstone.

Story Trails, tel: +91 (0)44 4212 4214
DakshinaChitra, East Coast Rd, tel: +91 (0)44 2747 2603
Government Museum, 406 Pantheon Rd, Egmore, tel: +91 (0)44 2819 3035

FOODIES

Don’t look for chicken tikka masala but there are plenty of other delicious delicacies here. The “fresh fish fry” on Chennai’s beaches are finger-licking good. Also, the shundal – a type of salad with peanuts, cucumber, onions, tomato, raw mango and cilantro – sells for about S$4/A$3.

Have breakfast at Saravana Bhavan, a popular chain of restaurants with outlets in and around the city. Feast on piping hot vadai (fritters) and fried lentil dumplings that are crisp on the outside and soft inside. Justly famous are masala dosa, rice pancakes served with potato. Finish off with hot kaapi (South Indian filter coffee). The price is about S$5/A$4 for two.

Dine al fresco while enjoying classical music and dance performances at The Raintree Hotel. Choose the cilantro rasam (thin soup) and chicken pepper fry. The cost is about S$60/A$47 for two.

Saravana Bhavan, www.saravanabhaven.com
Ponnusamy, 55/1 Gowdia Mutt Rd, Royapettah, tel: +91 (0)44 2813 0986
The Raintree Hotel, Taj Connemara, tel: +91 (0)44 8800 0000

OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS

Slow-paced Chennai can still thrill you. Go parasailing, rock-climbing or rappelling at Adventure Zone, a sprawling campground with artificial climbing and rappelling walls, tents, luxury toilets and on-site catering. There are also exciting off-road odysseys by jeep on the Palar riverbed. Hire a tent overnight. Prices start at S$8/A$6 per person.

Take a “turtle walk” on the beach with guides from the Students’ Sea Turtle Conservation Network. During nesting season, join a night patrol to see the eggs hatch, then shepherd the hatchlings as they stumble towards the sea. It’s a fascinating sight and one that you will never forget.

Kart Attack has a small but good go-karting track. It’s a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon. There’s a chai shop inside and a decent burger joint called Pit Stop.

Adventure Zone, Zamin Endathur Village, off ECR, tel: +91 (0)94 4438 4608
Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network
Kart Attack, 101 ECR, Sholinganallur, tel: +91 (0)44 2453 0386