Travel within Chennai

Chennai perfectly mixes the elegance of past with the vibrancy of modernism. This contemporary city is often referred as the Gateway to the South India. Chennai was formerly called as Madras and to the rest of India; Madrasis represents the entire south Indians. Tamil culture is renowned for the warmness and generosity of the people. Daily routine starts with putting kolams on the courtyard and performing religious rites. Among the various festivals, Pongal is celebrated with great fervor in Chennai. This thanksgiving festival is celebrated in five days; each day is characterized by special pujas dedicated to sun, nature and the cattle. Among the fastest growing cities in the country, Chennai has a host of travel options that are available to the traveler. These include bus services, an extensive sub urban rail system, auto rickshaws, shared auto rickshaws, and cabs.

Bus

The most extensive intra city transport system in Chennai is the bus service. This is government controlled and run by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation. Bus services extend to most parts of the city and suburbs. Volvo air conditioned buses also ply in the city. The bus fares range from Rs. 4 to Rs. 40.

Local Train

The Sub urban rail system is extensive and connects most of the city, the tickets are inexpensive and the trains ply till midnight. The Chennai metro is expected to being its services by 2012.

Auto Rickshaw

The most common mode of transport in Chennai is the auto rickshaw. However they might not run on meter i.e. approximately Rs 7 per km and the traveler is advised to negotiate the fare well in advance. They charge special night fare which might be considerably higher than the normal fare.

Cycle Rickshaws

In order to experience a hint of the colonial past, travelers may opt for cycle rickshaws which are still available in certain parts of the city. However they are open to the sky and the heat of the city might become overwhelming. A ride on the city rickshaw is best for short distances and their price ranges from Rs 10 - 20 per km.

Cabs / Taxis

Cabs or taxis are also available extensively and most hotels maintain contact with local cab offices. They run on meter in most cases. Cabs are the best mode of transport during the night.

Airport to City Network

The Chennai international and domestic airports are located about 15 Kilometers from the city and the traveler has easy access to the city. Pre paid auto rickshaws and cabs are available from the airport and train stations. Both the terminals have many booths set up and various private taxi companies run shuttle services from the airport to the city. They charge approximately Rs. 450 to the city for an SUV. Airport Taxis available at the airport are cheaper and most of them are air conditioned.

One can use the suburban trains which operate from just outside the airport is also good. It is advisable to buy a first class ticket as the trains can be crowded. Bus booking is fairly easy; you can search bus tickets and do online bus booking at several OTA's website.

About the Author

Ayush Aggarwal is the Digital Product Manager of via.com, having worked earlier as Pre sales engineer , and as a core-developer has a well versed knowledge of technology and the web. He has created and handling personal websites indiamold.com , wemold.com and is also a blogger on technology platforms

Via.com is a leader in travel automation and technology. With a vision to provide seamless service to it's' customer and provide best service at cheapest rate, via.com has evolve a new era of technologies in travel industry. Now cheap flight tickets, bus booking, railway reservation; through IRCTC is easy and accessible from web and mobile app.