Chennai

Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is the capital city of TamilNadu, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, and one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Popularly known as 'gateway to the south', it is a major centre for arts and culture, and South Indian classical (carnatic) music in particular, and annually hosts the Madras Music Season, which includes performances by hundreds of artists from all around the world. It has been hailed as the automobile capital of India, and is also the third largest commercial and industrial hub of India. A city where a laid-back lifestyle co-exists with a rapidly growing IT and service sector, where temples, mosques and churches jostle for space with restaurants and shopping malls, Chennai is the perfect example of a city where the traditional and the modern co-exist.

Eating Out!

Chennai offers several dining options to suit every palate, of which we list below a small smattering.

SpiceJet Recommendations!

New Woodlands, 72-75, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai.

Karaikudi Chettinadu Restaurant, New 118 (old 84), Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai (Opp. AVM Rajeswari Kalyana Mandapam).

GRT Grand, 120, Sir Thyagaraya Road, T. Nagar.

Benjarong Thai, 46, TTK Road, Alwarpet (about half a km from Park Sheraton Hotel).

Don Pepe, 73, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram.

Copper Chimney, 74, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram.

Shopping

Chennai is a fantastic place to shop for everything under the sun. Ranganathan Street and Pondy Bazaar in T.Nagar are popular shopping destinations for gold jewellery, beautiful hand-woven Kancheepuram silk sarees, furnishings and home décor, and also everyday household items. In the streets surrounding Kapaleeshvarar Koil, visitors/tourists can shop for traditional bronze icons, stone sculptures, as well as other crafts of the southern region. And Spencer Plaza on Anna Salai (formerly Mount Road), with its rich heritage, and housing over 400 shops that have everything from ethnic clothing, jewellery, handicrafts, electronic goods, camera/photography, and fast food dining options, is the preferred destination amongst youngsters. Other popular shopping destinations are Shopper's Stop on Harrington Road, Landmark in Nungambakkam, City Centre in Royapettah and Price Plaza on Pantheon Road.

Places to Stay

SpiceJet Connections

Sight-seeing

Events & Festivals

  • Chennai Music Festival (or the December Season)
    The Chennai Music Festival or December Season is a celebration of classical music and dance held mid-December to mid-January (the Tamil month of 'Margazhi'). The festival is held at a number of venues around the city by various 'sabhas' or organizations. Besides the auditoriums, well-known temple premises and heritage bungalows are being used as venues. The month long dance and music extravaganza features performances of over 2000 eminent artistes, and attracts expatriate Indians and scholars from around the world as well.
  • Chennai Sangamam
    Chennai Sangamam is a large annual weeklong Tamil cultural festival centered around the harvest festival of Pongal. The festival is organized by the Tamil Maiyam and Department of Tourism and Culture of the Government of TamilNadu with the intention of rejuvenating the old village festivals, art and artists, and is the longest and biggest open (outdoor) festival in India.
  • Arubathimoovar Festival
    The Arubathimoovar festival is celebrated in the streets around Kapaleeshvarar Koil in Mylapore between the months of March-April. Idols of Lord Kapaleeshvara and his consort Karpagambal, along with those of the 63 (Arubathimoovar in Tamil) Nayanmar saints of the canonical Shaivite tradition are taken from inside the temple precincts and paraded through the surrounding streets in a colourful procession. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees during the festival days.
Desktop Site © Copyright SpiceJet 2015.