Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
able inks - which survives in only a handful of places. Courses usually occupy three hours
per day for around ?10,000 a month.
Tours
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (
Click here
)
conducts half-day city
tours (non-AC/AC ?215/235) and day trips to Mamallapuram (?275/350). Book ahead for
weekends and holidays; be ready for cancellations on quiet weekdays. Every full moon
there's an overnight pilgrimage trip to Tiruvannamalai (?650/780).
Storytrails
MAP
WALKING TOURS
GOOGLE MAP
( 42124214, 9940040215;
http://story trails.in
; 1, 2nd Cross St, CIT Colony, Mylapore; 3hr tour ?695-795.)
Runs
entertaining and informative neighbourhood walking tours based around themes such as
dance, temples, jewellery and bazaars, as well as tours specially aimed at children.
Royal Enfield Factory
( 42230400;
www.royalenfield.com
; Tiruvottiyur High Rd, Tiruvottiyur)
The classic Enfield Bullet mo-
torcycle has been manufactured since 1955 at the Royal Enfield Factory, in far northern
Chennai. Tours (per person ?600) run on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month
for about two hours from 10.30am. It's essential to book.
FACTORY TOUR
Festivals & Events
Chennai Festival of Music & Dance
(Madras Music & Dance Season; mid-Dec-mid-Jan)
One of the largest of its type in the world, this
festival is a celebration of South Indian music and dance.
MUSIC, DANCE
Sleeping
Hotels in Chennai are pricier than in the rest of Tamil Nadu and don't, as a rule, offer
much bang for your buck. The Triplicane High Rd area is best for budget accommodation.
There are some cheapies in Egmore, where you'll also find a good number of midrange
options. Most top-end hotels are in the more middle-class areas to the south.
