Chennai becomes more interesting when we make time to explore it. A sunrise, a cup of tea, a familiar meal or an afternoon at a museum can turn an ordinary day into a memory.

This is my personal list, first shared in 2018 and expanded with photographs. Business names and route suggestions reflect those notes. Check current opening hours, access and locations before making a special journey.

Large red Chennai sign incorporating a heart shape

Begin the Day in Besant Nagar and Adyar

Start early and head towards Besant Nagar Beach for the sunrise and sea air. Afterwards, stop for tea at a neighbourhood shop or try a juice at Coolbiz in Adyar.

Adyar Ananda Bhavan and Sangeetha were among my breakfast choices. In the same part of the city, the Theosophical Society grounds and their old banyan tree were another place of interest. Access to the grounds needs to be checked.

Follow East Coast Road

East Coast Road offers several different kinds of outings. My list included a film at Mayajaal, art and cultural displays at DakshinaChitra, and a food stop at MoonWalkers.

Further along, Mahabalipuram invites time with Pallava architecture, including the Shore Temple. I also mentioned seafood at Moonwalk Restaurant in Mahabalipuram.

For a longer trip, continue towards Pondicherry. My notes placed Pichavaram's mangrove forest roughly 65 km beyond Pondicherry, approached from the NH32 route. Treat that distance as an estimate and plan the onward journey separately.

A Morning Around Anna Nagar

In Anna Nagar, I suggested a mini tiffin at Hotel Akshyam or Shri Gowri Shankar. They were reasonably priced breakfast options when I wrote the list.

Mahalakshmi Tea Shop was another familiar stop. Tower Park and the Ayyappan Temple could make a relaxed local outing, depending on your interests.

Longer Trips Towards Andhra Pradesh

For a day outside the city, my list included Tada Falls, birdwatching around Pulicat, Sriharikota and Srikalahasti Temple.

These are separate destinations with different travel times and access requirements. In particular, a mention of Sriharikota does not mean that entry to the space centre is freely available. Check permissions and local conditions before travelling.

Vadapalani and Guindy

I described taking the Metro from Thirumangalam towards Vadapalani to visit the temple, the shopping mall then called Forum and Palazzo cinemas.

From Vadapalani, the journey could continue towards Guindy. My original notes mentioned a share auto towards IIT Madras and a visit to Guindy National Park. The campus and park have separate access arrangements; confirm the destination and entry conditions instead of treating them as one unrestricted stop.

Marina, Santhome and Lunch in Triplicane

Marina Beach is a place I enjoy early in the morning or in the evening. Santhome Church can be another stop along that part of the coast.

For lunch, I suggested Malabar Mess in Triplicane: a meal with mutton curry, vanjaram fish and an omelette. The omelette cooked in coconut oil was a detail I remembered particularly well.

Yacoob Biryani and Kattayan Mess were other options in my original food list. After biryani, thick badam milk at Kakada Ramprasad in Kilpauk made a satisfying finish.

Other City Stops Worth Remembering

Spencer Plaza, Express Avenue, the Government Museum, Sathyam cinemas and Semmozhi Poonga all appeared on my list. They offer very different ways to spend time in the city, from shopping and films to history and greenery.

Other places and food stops from my visits include:

  • Yaa Mohaideen Biryani.
  • Mahalakshmi Tea Shop, Anna Nagar.
  • Rose milk at Sri Vishalashi Milk Centre, Perambur.
  • The War Memorial.
  • N4 Beach in Kasimedu.
  • Kakada Ramprasad's badam milk in Kilpauk.
  • The Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram.
  • Chetpet Lake.
  • The ISKCON temple at Akkarai on ECR.
  • Tower Park in Anna Nagar.
  • Views around Marina, DakshinaChitra and Mount Road.

The City That Makes Room for Dreams

Chennai may not feel like our hometown at first. Yet it has helped many people take their aspirations further.

For me, it is a city of dreams, emotion and everyday life. Exploring its streets and sharing its food are ways of making it our own.

Photographs From My Chennai List

White seaside memorial on a sandy beach at dusk
Breakfast served on a banana leaf with idli, poori and accompaniments
Blue-and-silver Chennai Metro train at a station platform
Plate of biryani served with a boiled egg
Tea and biscuits beside a snack on a green plate
A glass of pink milk drink held outside a shop at night
Tall stone memorial column above a reflecting pool
Harbour view beyond large concrete breakwater blocks
A takeaway cup of tea held inside a cafe
People walking along the beach at blue hour with a temple visible in the distance
A lake bordered by lawns, trees and city buildings
Ornate building illuminated with purple and blue lights at night
White church facade with a pointed arch entrance and cross
A tall observation tower partly framed by trees
Wide sandy beach with a red-and-white lighthouse in the distance
Lakeside planting and a Tamil sign beside the water
People on a beach beneath a bright, cloud-filled morning sky
Rocky seafront and paved promenade beside calm water
Terracotta pots and sculptures arranged in a planted garden
A curved stone path through a shaded garden with traditional buildings
Interior corridor of a traditional house with wooden beams and white walls
A broad Chennai road beside a tall office building and a white heritage facade
Waves beside a sandy beach bordered by green coastal plants
Palm trees and coastal greenery beside a curving shoreline

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