Flights from Muscat to Chennai

Chennai: South Indian soul

The vibrant city of Chennai is renown as the focal point for South Indian religious and artistic heritage. As the capital of Kollywood, the Tamil film industry, Chennai offers a mix of contemporary glamour and traditional cultural attractions.

Best time to be in Chennai

Chennai offers exciting attractions all year round, with the harvest festival of Pongal in January and the 10 day festival of Vinayak Chaturthi in September. November and December are packed with celebrations full of lights, firecrackers and music.

This city's highest temperatures occur between late May and June (up to 40°C), with monsoon rains common from mid-October to mid-December.

Safe travel in Chennai and tips

A visa is required for travel to Chennai and routine vaccine updates are recommended. Some travellers may require Hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis vaccines.

Drinking bottled water is recommended, as is peeling and cooking fruit and vegetables before consumption.

Chennai's official language is Tamil, but English speakers will find their language is widely spoken.

The cost of living is very low; a cheap meal costs approximately Rs 20.

Chennai: some information and transport

If arriving from the airport, take the suburban train to central Chennai for roughly Rs 5 - this serves popular stops at Chennai Park and Egmore. Or order a prepaid taxi at one of the airport booths, which will cost roughly Rs 300 to ride into central Chennai.

Accommodation here is very affordable, with a single room in a boarding house or hostel rented out for about Rs 400, and mid-range hotels can be found for roughly Rs 1000.

When travelling around the city, be aware that heavy traffic can cause long delays and journeys may take longer than expected. A daily bus pass runs about Rs 50 and a weekly pass costs approximately Rs 300. Auto rickshaws are great for those travelling on a budget-roughly Rs 25 for 1.8 kilometres, but beware of being overcharged. Avoiding the traffic jams, suburban trains are faster than rickshaws and buses, and run at roughly Rs 5 for the cheapest fare. The minimum taxi fare is around Rs 100 for 4 kilometres, and roughly Rs 12 per kilometre after that: but taxis are not air conditioned.

Chennai's combination of shops, attractions, restaurants, bazaars, and temples combined with a stunning beach make this South Indian destination a favourite with budget travellers.