Ayoshna & Srivas
Things To Do
Mahabalipuram
A complex of stone temples are all that remain of the eighth-century Pallava dynasty that once thrived at Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) in the 7th and 8th centuries, on the coast south of Chennai. Learn the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit the charming town, and relax on a sandy stretch of shore—all accessible on a day trip from Chennai.
Marina Beach
Stretching around 13 kilometers (8 miles) along Chennai, Marina Beach is India’s longest natural urban beach. While not an ideal swimming beach, Marina Beach makes an excellent spot for people watching in the cooler hours of the morning and evening, when the main stretch near Triplicane becomes a flurry of activity.
Elliot's Beach (Besant Nagar Beach)
Known alternatively as Besant Nagar Beach, or “Bessie” for short, Elliot's Beach sits at the south end of the Marina Beach shore. A former expatriate enclave during Chennai’s colonial era, today the beach attracts throngs of twentysomethings, as well as families looking to avoid the crowds at the more popular Marina Beach. While you won't find water sports along this stretch of sand, what you will find are beautiful ocean views and several architectural landmarks, including the Ashtalakshmi Temple and the Velankanni Shrine, as well as an array of snack stalls and restaurants serving authentic South Indian cuisine. Another interesting landmark, the Karl Schmidt Memorial, honors a Dutch sailor who died while saving a swimmer from drowning in 1930.
Phoenix Mall
Malls in India are places where people go to relax, have fun, and shop. They meet the changing needs and wants of the growing middle class. Given Chennai's heat - they also serve as a place of respite from the heat. Ayoshna loves visiting the Phoenix mall in particular with her cousins and nieces. She even went there when it just opened. She just loves "Phoenix" too much!
T. Nagar
"T Nagar" is an important locality in Chennai and it is the biggest shopping district (by far) in India by turnover (it generates over twice the revenue of Connaught Place in Delhi, the next biggest shopping district in India). It has everything from a street market to family showrooms to huge complexes that sell gold jewelry and precious stones, Sarees (genuine Kanchipuram silk). Be warned that if you can't handle heavy crowd, this place is not for you. Ranganathan Street is now the main center of this heavily crowded area, being right at the entrance to the train station (Mambalam). A great place to go shopping for jewelry, clothes, accessories and the like! Ayoshna has very fond memories of visiting T-Nagar to shop along with family. Srivas too has vivid memories of entering Ranganathan street on one end and automatically reaching the other end because the crowd just flows like a stream.
Paati Veedu - Fine Dining Pure Veg. Restaurant
Comes highly recommended by Gowri Ganesh for its many old, traditional and healthy dishes that have been passed on from generations and survived centuries.