Local Information
Chennai…
Chennai is a metropolis in the South of India, capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, as also the culture capital of South India. The city plays host to the annual Madras Music festival, featuring more than a month of Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam performances. (Here is an online resource for Indian music, and here is where you find concert schedules, and other news on the music scene in Chennai.) Chennai is also the base for the major Tamil film industry, also known as Kollywood.
Chennai also boasts of a number of beaches, the largest one being the Marina Beach. The other attractions in the city are various old temples, notable being the Kapalishvara temple and the Parthasarathy temple, both of which date to the 8th century.
You can catch a number of movies, Tamil as well as English, in the many movie theaters in the city. Check out Sathyam Cinemas and INOX Chennai. Visitors should also check out the tasty South Indian cuisine dished out in many restaurants in the city. Here is a list of restaurants worth trying out.
Chennai enjoys its mildest weather during the months of December and January – the maximum is around 30° C, and the minimum is around 20° C. The skies are usually clear, except when there is a storm brewing! The humidity is around 60%. Look here for more details.
The major tourist centres near Chennai are Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to beautiful rock-cut temples, and Here is a list of call-taxi services in Chennai, with contact information. The best way to travel to any place from the airport is by pre-paid taxi.
There is a lot of information on the web about Chennai. Try this site, for instance.