Chennai (Madras)
Founded
in 1640 A.D. by Francis Day of the East India Company, Chennai (earlier known as Madras)
is the fourth largest city of India. The city is a major port and a gateway to South
India. Many places of tourist interest are found around the city. Chennai is an
interesting amalgam of age-old charm and the modern day hustle and bustle. It is also an
important business and commercial centre of the state with an international airport, too.
The port of Chennai is one of the largest and commercially most important in India.
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ACCESS
Chennai is an international airport with well connected domestic routes. An extensive rail
and road network make the metropolis easily accessible.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Chennai offers a variety of sights by way of its lovely beaches and cultural and historical monuments. Some of those that may interest a tourist to the city are Fort St. George, the War Memorial, St. Mary’s Church, the new Light House, Theosophical Society, Kapaleeswar Temple, Parthasarthy Temple, in addition to beaches — the Marina Beach and Elliot’s Beach among the popular ones.
EXCURSIONS
Convenient one day or longer excursions can be made to Elliot’s beach (in Chennai), Mamallapuram (60 km), Kanchipuram (71km, Kovilanthangal (40 km), Crocodile Bank (45 km) and Thirukazhukun- dram where two birds, supposedly saints on the way to Rameswaram, feed out of the temple priest’s hand. Another interesting spot is the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary for waterbirds. About 145 km away is the famous and sacred temple of Tirupati.
SHOPPING
Chennai has a great variety of cottons and silks. It is also famed for its leather goods as it is for its textiles. And there is a wealth of handicrafts that is unmatched — of granite and bronze, of wood and papier mache, of gold and silver, of reed and thread.
CONFERENCE FACILITIES
Chennai is another business and industrial metro that offers very good conference facilities. Welcomgroup Chola Sheraton and Taj Coromandel offer a conference capacity of 450 each. The Connemara Hotel and Welcomgroup Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers have a capacity of 400 each. The Trident, conveniently located near the airport has a capacity to accommodate 585 people and the Fisherman’s Cove on the beach has a conference capacity of 135.
ACCOMMODATION
GRT Grand Days, (4-star), No.:12, Sir Thyagaraya Road, Pondy Bazaar, T. Nagar, Chennai-600017, Phones: 044-8220500,8236789, Fax: 044-8230778.
Radha Park Inn International, (3-star), 171, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Arumbakkam, Chennai - 600 106, Phones: 044-4757788, Fax: 044-4756644.
Taj Coromandel (5-star deluxe), No.17, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai 6000 43. Phone: 8272827. Fax: 044-8257104.
The Trident (5-star), 1/24, G. S. T. Road, Chennai -600027. Phone: 2344747. Fax: 044-2346699.
Taj Connemara (5-star Deluxe), Binny Road, Chennai - 600 002. Phone: 8520123. Fax: 8523361.
ITC Hotel Park Sheraton and Towers (5-star), 132, T.T.K. Road, Chennai-600 018. Phone: 4994101. Fax: 044-4997101, 4997201.
Welcomgroup Chola Sheraton (5-star), 10, Cathedral Road, Chennai. phone: 8110101; Fax: 044-8110202
Radisson, St. Thomas Mount, 355-C, GST Road, Chennai-600016. Phone: 044-231 0101. Fax: 231 0202.
Le Royal Meridien (5-star), 1 GST Road, Chennai. phone: 044 231 4343; Fax: 044-2314349
Ambassador Pallava (4-star), 53, Montieth Road, Phone:8554476; Fax: 91 44 8554492 .
Savera (4-star), 69, Dr. Radhakrishnan Road, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004. Phones: 8114700 (20 lines) Fax: 44-8113475.
President (4-star), 16 Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004. Phone: 8532211, 8526633. Cable: GAYTIME. Telex: 041-6699 ARIF IN. Fax: 044--8532299.
Chennai International (4-star), 693, Mount Road, Chennai-600 006. Phones: 8524111 (10 lines). Cable: HOTLINTER. Telex: 041-7373 ARU IN. Fax: 044-8523412.
Quality Inn Aruna (4-star), 144, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. Phone: 8259090. Telex: 041-6979 QIAM IN. Fax: 044-8258282.
Madras Hotel Ashoka (3-star), 33, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai- 600008. Phone: 85253377 (17 lines). Telex: 041-7510. Fax: 044-8553668.
Fisherman’s Cove, Covalong Beach, Kanchi puram Distt Chennai - 603112 Phone: 4114 - 472304 Fax: 4114 - 472303.
Quality Inn, MGM Beach Resorts, 1/74, east coast road, Muttukadu, Kanchipuram Distt-603112, Chennai. Phone:4114472435, 436,437. Fax: 4114472408.
Dasaprakash (2-star), 100, Poonamallee High Road, Chennai 600084. Phones: 044-8255111.
Kanchi (3-star) 28, Commander-in- Chief Road, Egmore, Chennai 600105. Phones: 8271100 (10 lines) Fax: 8272928
Henkala Hotel, 6, Rajaji Road, West Tambaram, Chennai-45.phone: 044-2367597, 044-2366500. Fax: 2366518.
Palmgrove (3-star), No. 5, Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. Phone: 8271881 Fax: 823977
New Woodlands (3-star), 72-75, Dr Radhakrishnan Road, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004. Phone: 8113115. Fax: 044-8110400.
Breeze (3-star), 850, Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010. Phone: 6428202. Fax: 641 3301.
Atlantic (2-star), No. 2, Montieth Road, Egmore, Chennai - 600008. Phones: 044-8553914, 8553919 Fax: 91-44-8553239
Maris (2-star), No. 9, Cathedral Road, Chennai 600086. Phones: 8110541 Fax: 044-8114847.