Any thoughts of planning a family vacation in Chennai, and the
first thoughts that pop up are about light cotton clothing and sun screen
lotion for the hot Chennai weather. Contrary to our thoughts, it was a pleasant
(which later became irritating!!) surprise to experience rains and overcast
conditions, when we actually landed there in the month of October. Although
this was the season for the north-east monsoon season, it became apparent that
Chennai usually escapes the monsoon travails, looking at the absence of any
drainage system whatsoever.
Coming from the completely concretized city of Mumbai, it
was heartening to see the amount of open spaces and the greenery in this city.
The god-like status that is bestowed on the current (or ex-) chief minister,
Jayalalitha, was clear on our day of arrival, as it was the same day she was
released on bail from the corruption charges and conviction. The traffic jams
and her huge supporter base were proof of this divinely-bestowed status.
Contrary to other parts of the country, Diwali in Chennai is
strictly an early morning ritual, with the only exception being that of the
rising expat population in this city. Chennai-tes are orthodox and deeply
religious, what with the numerous number of temples dotting the city. The
Hanuman temple at Nanganelluru is a must visit with the 32 feet standing statue
of the Mahabali (in black) and the impressive silk mundu neatly tied around this waist.
Being the Diwali season, it is mandatory to do some
shopping, with the Pondy Bazaar the place to be in for some serious saree
shopping. The unlimited thali at Woodlands restaurant is a veggie delight to
savour, after the rigours of saree shopping. Another popular eating chain in
Chennai is the Adyar Anandha Bhavan and Shree Krishna Sweets, both known for
their sweets and confectionaries (especially the mouth-watering Mysurpa made from pure ghee).
A 3 hour drive from Chennai along the East coast road (ECR)
lands you in the union territory of Puducherry (or Pondicherry, as the French
would call it). For riders, this road is very picturesque and scenic and passes
through coastal town of Mahabalipuram (or Mamallapuram). From all my travel
experiences, Pondicherry is a very tourist-friendly (especially for cyclists),
as all the tourist destinations are very close to each other. You can choose to
take a walk along the Promenade beach (with all its statues and museums along
the way) during the day, or even better, at night (when the road is closed to
traffic, making it a pleasant walking zone). For French cuisine, there is Le
Club, albeit it is a little on the higher cost bracket. For some quiet time,
there is the Aurobindo ashram and Auroville with the pleasing architecture of
the Matri-mandir (or the temple of mother). Coming back to Mahabalipuram, there
is the iconic Shore temple, located right next to the beach (where we spotted
some serious beach surfing).
Any visit to Chennai would be incomplete without going to
Poes garden, home to superstar Rajnikant and Jayalalitha amma. Driving alongside
the Marina beach, you can view the MGR memorial, the Chennai high court building,
and the Madras university campus.
Needless, to say, you cannot come back from Chennai without
savoring its filter coffee, sir! Escaping the harsh heat would definitely be a
plus point, along with the travel memories, in our sojourn to the land of the Thalaiva.
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