Chennai

Chennai rewards patience more than planning, so pencil in a two‑day minimum and treat the third as a luxury if you fancy a lazy afternoon on Besant Nagar’s quieter stretch of Marina Beach. Arrive in November‑February when the humidity eases and the sea breeze actually feels refreshing; the monsoon months are a humid slog and the summer heat is biblical. Base yourself in the leafy lanes of Nungambakkam or the heritage‑rich quarter of Mylapore – both offer decent boutique hotels and easy metro hops to George Town’s bustling markets. The non‑negotiables are a sunrise walk along Marina’s main promenade, a stop at the colonial brickwork of Fort St. George (the museum is tidy but the ticket line is a bureaucratic relic), and a late‑afternoon sip of strong filter coffee at Murugan Idli Shop in T. Nagar followed by a plate of crisp masala dosa – the crowd here is a reliable gauge of quality. While in Mylapore, slip into Kapaleeshwarar Temple before the noon heat, then wander the narrow streets to the historic San Thome Basilica; both are spectacular but crowded, so a quick visit suffices. Skip the overpriced “cultural shows” at the government auditoriums – the street performers on Parry’s Corner are more authentic and cheaper. A short cab to Mahabalipuram for a half‑day is tempting, but the travel time (90 minutes each way) eats into your beach time, so postpone unless you have a fourth day. If you must shop, stick to T. Nagar’s silk sarees and Chennai’s famed gold‑plated jewellery; avoid the touristy replicas at the Marina Mall. Two days lets you taste the city’s food, feel its colonial veins, and glimpse its coastal rhythm; four days lets you breathe between the traffic snarls and actually enjoy the languid evenings on the bay.

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