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Chennai

Chennai (Tamil: சென்னை Ceṉṉai), formerly Madras, is the capital of the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. With a population of 8.6 million (2011 census), Chennai's urbanised area is the most populous in Southern India and the fourth most populous in India. It is on the east coast of peninsular India.

Though Chennai traces its history to Fort St George and the adjoining village of Madrasapattinam founded by the British East India Company in 1640, some residential districts of the city are older. The name Madras was changed to Chennai in 1997 by a special act of the Tamil Nadu legislature.

Chennai is well-connected by road, rail and air and is a staging point for tours to the 7th century Pallava temple of Mamallapuram, a, the Hindu temples of Kanchipuram, Sriperumbudur and Tirupati, the bird sanctuary of Vedanthangal and the Pondicherry ashram.

Chennai has an extremely hot and humid climate—especially in the month of May, and has heavy rains during monsoons (July to November). The worst of the heat can be avoided by visiting from November to February..

Districts
For travel purposes, this article covers the Chennai Metropolitan Area, a region of. It consists of several municipalities, the largest of which, the Corporation of Chennai, is spread along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. The Corporation of Chennai can divided roughly along Coovum and Adyar rivers into North, Central and South.

History
A coastal site that has been inhabited since the Stone Age, what is now Chennai was ruled by the Three Crowned Kings (Chola, Chera and Pandya dynasties) for most of its history. In medieval times, it came within the control of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Chennai is associated with one of the twelve apostles in Christianity, Thomas. He is believed to have gone to evangelise in India and died in Mylapore, today a neighbourhood of Chennai. The two modern suburbs of Chennai, St Thomas Mount and Santhome, were named in Thomas' honour. In 1522, the Portuguese came to the area, built a port and accordingly named it São Tomé after Saint Thomas.

Chennai the modern city was founded by the British East India Company in 1639. The company purchased the land from the local Nayak or chieftain on 22 August 1639, which is why Chennai nowadays celebrates its birthday every year on 22 August. It was one of the British East India Company's first outposts in India. The company built Fort St. George which is now the administrative and legislative seat of Tamil Nadu state. Over time, George Town absorbed many nearby boroughs and grew into becoming the current metropolis of Chennai.

In 1996, the Tamil Nadu government changed the name of the city from Madras, the name adopted during British rule, to Chennai, which it says is the original name of the city.

The name Madras comes from Madraspattinam, which is what the British called the site when they settled here. Its origin is uncertain. Tradition suggests that a fishing village near to the location of the British settlement was called Madraspattinam. Others think that the early Portuguese voyagers may have called the area Madre de Sois after an early settler, or Madre de Deus after an early church (of St. Mary).

Chennai is derived from Chennapattinam, a name with almost equally uncertain origins. Tradition has it that Chennapattinam was the name of a fishing village near the location of Madraspattinam. However, it is not clear if the village was there beforehand or grew up around the British Madraspattinam settlement.

As the settlements grew, the location of Chennapattinam and Madraspattinam became confused as the two settlements merged into a single town.

Under British rule, what was then Madras gradually became an important administrative centre and was linked to the other big cities by rail, including Mumbai and Kolkata. Madras was the capital city of the Madras Presidency, a subdivision that governed the areas of South India under direct British control. Upon India's independence, the city continued to be the capital of Madras State. After many of India's states were renamed and reorganised on the basis of language, Chennai became the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu.

Culture
For centuries, Chennai has been the gateway to Southern India, with a vastly different culture from the other big cities of the country. Tamil culture and tradition at its core celebrates beauty. This is revealed in its dance, sculpture and clothing. Chennai's demographics show a more diverse population than the rest of Tamil Nadu. The traditional art forms, music, dance of Tamil Nadu thrive here. The cuisine uniquely blends traditional foods, fast food and filter coffee. The architecture varies from age-old temples, to colonial buildings and twenty-first century skyscrapers. Western and Indian classical music flourish in Chennai, along with a booming nightlife. There are dance schools teaching anything from traditional Bharatnatyam to Salsa. There are music schools teaching you how to play the veena, violin, guitar or drums just about everywhere. Chennai reflects its traditional heritage from December to January during the height of the music festival. The clothing locals wear is generally conservative by Western standards but the younger generation wear contemporary.

 * Music: The classical music tradition which emerged in South India including Chennai is known as Carnatic music, of which there have been many composers. Purandara Dasa, who lived in the 15th and 16th centuries, is known as the father (Pitamaha) of Carnatic music due to his pioneering contributions to the tradition. Purandara Dasa is renowned for formulating the basic lessons of Carnatic music. The contemporaries Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Syama Sastri of the 18th and 19th centuries, are regarded as the Trinity of Carnatic music due to the high quality music they composed. The Chennai Music Festival The compositions of these maestros are frequently played by today's artists during the music festival season. The Chennai Music Festival from mid-December to mid-January commemorates the classical music of South India, including these maestros. The festival, which has developed into a cultural extravaganza with more than 2,000 artists participating in over 300 concerts, is held throughout the city at numerous venues, including auditoriums, well-known temple premises and heritage bungalows. Performances consist of vocal and instrumental music, dance (solo and group), both by junior and senior artists. The music include classical vocal renditions in various South Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu and Kannada and instruments like the flute, veena (a large string instrument), goottuvadyam (similar to the veena but without frets), nagaswaram (pipe), thavil (percussion instrument), mridangam (drum), and even ghatam (a mud pot). Information regarding tickets and venues can be obtained from the tourist office in Chennai. Nowadays, the music in the Tamil film industry has emerged as an important entertainment platform in Chennai. Kollywood as it is known, reveals the ongoing developments and changes to Tamil culture over time.
 * Dance: Chennai and the rest of Tamil Nadu is associated with a worldwide famous form of classical dance, the Bharatnatyam. This classical dance celebrates the world and universe by showcasing the beauty of the human body. The dancer represents this by having a perfectly straight posture, a pout curving stomach, a well-rounded and a proportionate body to mass ratio, very long hair and curvy hips. The positions and moves bring the Natyashastra principles to life. The araimandi posture is another spiritual portrayal, where the dancer poses in a half-sitting, fixed position with their knees turned sideways. In the araimandi, the distance between the dancer's head and navel is equal to the distance between the ground and navel. Similarly, the distance between the dancer's right arm and left arm at full stretch is equal to that between their head and feet. This personifies creation and life.
 * Cuisine: As with most of Southern India, the staple food in the city is rice. Chennai offers various non-vegetarian and vegetarian delicacies. The food in Chennai gets its flavour from a combination of condiments, herbs and spices used throughout Tamil Nadu. Tamarind, coconut and asafoetida are essential in nearly every vegetarian recipe. Refined gingelly oil is commonly used as the default oil when cooking. Mixed spices and chutney accompany meals to enhance its taste. A Chennai lunch is comprised of rice with a range of dishes, including sambar (thin lentil curry), chutney, rasam (a broth made from pepper and tamarinds) and yogurt/curd. Non-vegetarian lunches include meals cooked with chicken, fish or mutton. Appalams (papadums) are a vital accompaniment to a Tamil meal. In Chennai, it is Chettinad cuisine that stands out from the others. The cuisine is spicy and hot and offers scrumptious variety in a range of meat dishes, of which the best known is arguably Chettinad Pepper Chicken. A Chennai twist on Mughalai cuisine can be experienced in the paya (a spiced trotter's broth) and biryani. Breakfast in Chennai consists of idli (steamed rice and lentil cakes), dosa (a thin and savoury, crepe-like pancake prepared from lentil and rice batter), vada (doughnuts made by deep-frying black lentil batter), pongal (a boiled mash of lentils and rice seasoned with cashew nuts, ghee, cumin seed and pepper), upma (roasted semolina garnished with spices and oil). Most Chennai breakfasts are accompanied by sambar, melagai podi (a powdered mix of various dried lentils eaten with oil) and coconut chutney. Chennai is also renowned for filter coffee, the most popular type of coffee in Tamil culture. It is a laborious task to make filter coffee. First the beans are roasted and ground. The coffee powder then has to be poured into a filter set along with boiling water, which is allowed to infuse for approximately 15 minutes. Then the decoction is mixed with sugar and milk. The drink once prepared is rapidly poured back and forth from one vessel to another which makes a perfect, aerated cup of coffee. Filter coffee is refreshing and has a lingering taste.
 * Clothing: The traditional garment for Tamil women is the sari while the men wear the dhoti, which could be either a white pancha or a colourful lungi with typical South Indian patterns. The sari, being an unstitched wrap, enhances the shape of the wearer while only partially covering the midriff. In Indian philosophy, the navel of the Supreme Being is considered as the source of life and creativity. These principles of the sari, also hold for other forms of wrapped clothing, like the lungi worn by men. The lungi can be wrapped over clockwise or anticlockwise and can be tied at the back or fixed just along the waist line. It is sometimes lifted till the knee and tied at the waist leisurely or just held by the wearer's hand to speed up walking. In traditional Brahmin homes, men wear kachche panchey where it is tied at back by taking it between legs. A similar pattern is seen in women.

Climate
Its coastal position and closeness to the equator makes Chennai's climate humid and tropical all year round.

Chennai predominantly has two seasons - summer from April to June (35-42°C (95-108°F)), the highest temperature recorded was 45°C (113°F) in 2003) and the monsoon from October to December. The city barely gets any rain from the southwest monsoon (Jun-Sep), but receives copious amounts from the northeast monsoon from October through to December, every year amounting to between 125 and 150 cm (49 and 59 in) of rain. During some seasons, Chennai gets a greater amount of rainfall if there are depressions in the Bay of Bengal.

The period from December through to February is the mildest in terms of temperature, where the daily range on average is 19-28°C (66-82°F). Be sure to take along thin and light clothing.

Books on Chennai

 * Chennai, Not Madras: Perspectives on the City (2006) by A.R. Venkatachalapathy
 * The Spirit of Chepauk (1998) by S. Muthiah
 * Madras Rediscovered: A Historical Guide to Looking Around (1999) by S. Muthiah
 * The Story Of Fort St. George (1945) by Col. D.M. Reid

Fiction set in Chennai

 * The Healing (2008) by Gita Aravamudan
 * Tamarind City (2012) by Bishwanath Ghosh

Early morning city
Chennai is a good morning city where all restaurants, shops and public transportation facilities are in full swing well before 6AM. Traffic is in full strength well before 8AM.

Tourist information

 * Chennai tourism website

Talk
Tamil is the most widely spoken language in the city and the official language of the state of Tamil Nadu. However, English is well-understood and considerably well known in the city, with most of the well-educated upper class being fluent in English. The dialect of Tamil used by the locals is called Madras Bashai and includes a disproportionately high chunk of the English, Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi and Urdu vocabulary and their derivatives. White-collared professionals use Tanglish, a form of conversational Tamil containing a large number of English words. Both forms of Tamil are different from the dialects spoken in other parts of the state and are often viewed upon contemptuously by Tamil purists.

Telugu is spoken by a quarter of the city's population. Chennai is less than 60 km from the Telugu-speaking Andhra Pradesh border. Most Telugu-speakers are settled in Chennai for generations and are usually bilingual in both Tamil and Telugu. However, the Telugu script is far-less understood and very few are literate in the language.

As the centre of anti-Hindi agitations from the 1930s and the 1960s, the city has cherished a deep-rooted animosity for Hindi. However, since the 1980s, when the much-politicised rhetoric against Hindi began to tone down, tolerance for Hindi has been growing. Nevertheless, Hindi is still not widely spoken or understood by locals, so if you don't speak Tamil, you will be better off trying English, even that may not be useful everywhere. Learning a few phrases in Tamil may be highly useful, especially when interacting with locals.

By plane

Transport options into city centre:

By taxi
Use the prepaid taxi to reach the central business district. Every terminal has many taxi booths when you leave the airport. Fast Track has the best rep, figure on around ₹560 to the city centre for a Toyota Innova or equivalent. The fares differ for the international and domestic terminals though the terminals are next to each other. You can either choose the standard taxis (black with yellow tops) or the private call-taxi (which can come in any colour). It is better to have some loose change when paying at the counters. The taxi number is written on your charge slip. One copy is for the passenger while the other is for the driver to collect the fare from the counter. Make your way to the taxi stand and get the taxi number allotted at the designated desk. The helpful drivers will offer to take your luggage and guide you to the taxi that drives up quickly near the allotment desk.

"Fasttrack" pre-paid taxi service has booths in the domestic and international terminals. Comparing with the rest of the taxis their fare and service is pretty much good. Depends on your need you can get from Maruti van to Toyota Innova.

The prepaid and yellow top taxis are not air-conditioned, were made in the 1970s and 80s, are rickety and are prone to stop midway in a journey. The drivers sometimes exhibit rough dangerous behaviour and can demand exorbitant fares. The "prepaid" may mean nothing and they may demand more when you get down. Stay away from these types of taxis.

Aviation Express is very overpriced.

Ola and Uber have become more prominent and travellers can easily book a journey on these services using a smart phone. They are generally cheaper than all prepaid taxis.

By metro
The Blue Line of the Chennai Metro connects the airport to MGR Chennai Central. There's also an inter-corridor service along the Green Line that follows the Blue Line from Airport to Alandur.

By train
Trains that connect Chennai to major hubs like Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi are usually booked out days in advance. If you plan to travel by train, consider making a reservation, the reservation opens 120 days before the day of travel. The AC compartments in the trains are preferable for new travellers as the sleeper class and sitting class compartments are generally very crowded. A 3-tier AC berth from Chennai to Bangalore or Coimbatore costs around ₹700 and that to Delhi is around ₹2500 including meals.

By bus

All buses terminate near Koyambedu but there are different stands for state-owned (CMBT) and private buses (Omni bus terminus). The two terminals are near each other, and it is better to tell your exact destination to the taxi/auto-rickshaw driver. Buses usually drop passengers at various points in the city before reaching the terminus. Ask the driver or fellow passengers at the closest drop-off point to your destination.

Several private players also operate buses between most southern destinations. During the weekends most buses are fully occupied and it's better to reserve a ticket in advance. All buses terminate near Koyambedu but there are different stands for state-owned (CMBT) and private buses (Omni bus terminus). The two terminals are near each other, and it is better to tell your exact destination to the taxi/auto-rickshaw driver. Buses usually drop passengers at various points in the city before reaching the terminus. Feel free to ask the driver or fellow passengers for the closest drop-off point to your destination.

By car
Chennai is very well connected to other parts of India by road. Five major national highways radiate outward towards Kolkata, Bangalore, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Tiruvallur, and Pondicherry. With the progress of the Golden Quadrilateral project, driving down from Bangalore is an option too. There are many car rental companies available.

Get around
Getting around the heart of Chennai city often takes time, due to traffic and heavy congestion. So it is advisable to plan your journey accordingly. Travelling within Chennai is not so cheap by Indian metropolitan standards, and is quite cheap by European and USA standards.

By train
Chennai has a suburban train network. There are six suburban lines as of June 2023:
 * North Line (Moore Market Complex–Bitragunta)
 * South Line (Chennai Beach–Tambaram–Villupuram)
 * South West Line (Chennai Beach–Arakkonam)
 * West Line (Moore Market Complex–Jolarpet)
 * West North Line (Moore Market Complex–Tirupati)
 * West South Line (Chennai Beach–Vellore–Villupuram)

The suburban trains are generally reliable and fast. The frequency of suburban trains is generally good and it is advisable to take a first-class ticket during peak hours. Trains offer a reliable alternative to quickly reach your destination when compared to buses which might get trapped in traffic jams. The fare in Chennai suburban trains is the lowest in the country and you don't have to compromise comfort for the meagre amount that you pay as in other Indian metros. There is a separate ladies' compartment in the suburban trains that are relatively less crowded even in peak hours. The lowest second-class train fare is ₹5. However, you might need to wait even for almost half an hour in a queue for a ticket during peak hours. So it would be best if you buy a card that is available at every station that can be used to buy tickets from a ticket vending machine that almost nobody uses. Always keep your baggage safe when you are travelling in the suburban railway system.

The Mass Rapid Transit System is an elevated railway line from Chennai Beach to Velachery. It is very similar to the suburban railway and only suburban trains run through it.

By metro
The Chennai Metro is regularly being extended. As of June 2023, there are two metro lines:

Three new metro lines are under construction and are expected to open partially by as soon as 2026.
 * Blue Line (Airport–Wimco Nagar)
 * Green Line (St. Thomas Mount–MGR Chennai Central)

The Blue and Green lines intersect at MGR Chennai Central and Alandur. Besides, there's an inter-corridor service along the Green Line that follows the Blue Line from Airport to Alandur.

The maximum fare between Chennai Airport to Nehru Park (which is 1½ km from Egmore and 2½ km from MGR Chennai Central) is ₹60 per person. The Tourist Travel Card offers unlimited travel within the Chennai Metro network for a day. It costs ₹100, of which ₹50 when it is returned. Chennai Metro has baggage checking like the airport and is very safe.

Also, tourists can use the Chennai Metro Rail app (Google Play Store/Apple iTunes). The app provides details about train timings, exit gates and platforms, fares between two stations, the nearest metro station, and how to reach the station by car, public transport and walking.

By bus
Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses ply throughout the city. These are government-run and extremely cheap. Normally bus fares in MTC range from ₹4-30. State corporation also has Deluxe and A/C Buses for Chennai Passengers. The fare for the deluxe bus is almost two times as compared to the normal bus. For the same route, deluxe and normal buses have the same number but deluxe buses are being run targeting long-distance journeys since they will stop at major bus stops only. So if you find normal buses too crowded, take a deluxe one. Non-AC deluxe also have power gates and better suspension which you won't find in the normal bus. If you have luggage with you, you might have to pay the cost of an extra person depending upon its size.

MTC Chennai operates an AC bus service between important routes like Parrys - Tambaram, Parrys - CMBT, Chennai Central - CMBT, Chennai central - Tambaram, etc. The most frequent AC bus runs between CMBT towards Pondicherry and is known as the East coast road (ECR) bus and is very popular for intracity travel too.

Daily and weekly bus passes are available for tourists costing ₹50 or ₹300. They can be used on normal and deluxe bus services (but not AC) on all routes within the city. It is worthwhile to purchase the daily pass if you plan to visit more than a couple of places in a day and it will save you from the trouble of maintaining loose change. The daily pass can be purchased on the first bus you board from the conductor, while the weekly and monthly passes are sold at kiosks in major termini.

Bus route information for MTC Chennai is available online at official site and Jaanlo.

State Express Transport Corporation buses go to different parts of the state. Private carriers also run to other towns/cities in the state. You can buy these bus tickets online at redBus or readIndia or RathiMeena or Myticketbuddy.

By auto-rickshaw
Chennai has about 71,000 autorickshaws.

The fares of Chennai auto-rickshaws have been an enormous political topic for many years and have contributed to the perception that the city's auto-rickshaw drivers never use meters and continually fleece passengers. However, despite the reputation, trips by auto rickshaw actually are quick, but rarely based on the metered price.

The minimum fare is set at ₹25 for the first 1.8 km and ₹12/km for every additional kilometre (2013). Waiting charges were set at ₹3.50 for every five minutes and ₹42 per hour. Between 11PM and 5 AM, the fare is 50% higher than the normal daytime rate.

Auto rickshaw meters are being outfitted with GPS and electronic digital receipt printers. As of 2015, though, only a small fraction of autos have these features.

Despite the official fares, the situation as of 2015 is for the driver and passenger to agree before the ride begins to a price of a) meter, b) meter + some additional amount, or c) a fixed price.

Whether the auto driver will agree to a metered fare depends on many factors. Generally, many drivers will agree to a fare of a meter plus ₹10-30 additional. But at busy times such as rush hours on weekdays, almost no drivers will agree to the metered price and will insist on a fixed price, or at a minimum demand a fare of meter plus ₹30-100. On the other hand, at slower times, for example, Sundays, many drivers will agree to metered prices with no surcharge. Some drivers will simply never accept metered fares no matter what time it is.

The fixed prices that auto drivers demand is related to distance. They generally have a good sense of how much the fare would be for a given route and ask for fixed prices around double what it would cost by the meter. For shorter distances which would cost ₹25-50 by the meter, the fixed price demanded is ₹100-150. For longer distances which would cost ₹50-150 per meter, the fixed price demanded will be ₹200-300. Depending on the situation, it's possible to negotiate down the demanded fixed price.

For short distances up to 1.8 km, auto drivers as of 2015 very rarely will agree to the metered price of ₹25. Generally, ₹40-50 is the minimum most will require for any trip, although at off-peak hours, it might be possible with negotiation and speaking to many autos to find a driver who will agree to ₹30-40. For a typical trip in the city of 3-5 km, many drivers will demand ₹100-150, but at non-peak hours a fare of ₹50-₹0 will usually be sufficient after speaking to a few drivers.

At all times, the price agreed depends very much on the passenger's knowledge of the distance involved and the price it would cost by meter, his/her negotiation skill, and the time s/he is willing to spend asking auto after auto. In almost any central area, there are many autos around, so if you have the time, it's possible to save quite a bit by speaking to many auto drivers until you find an acceptable fare.

Many passengers now opt for Ola, Uber or other similar taxi-order services simply to avoid the frustration and time involved with negotiating with auto after auto.

All autos in Chennai have meters, but at least a quarter of drivers have disabled their meter in some way in order to make it not functional and the passenger must agree to a fixed price if s/he wants to use that auto. For those meters that function, you can see the price, kilometres and waiting time, and thereby confirm that the meter is fairly following the official tariff structure.

Share autos have emerged as an alternative mode of transport in Chennai. They are oversized three-wheelers running on diesel and charge slightly more than the bus. There are four-wheelers known as meter taxis, which don't have a meter and are not taxis. Another four-wheeler, Magic (manufactured by Tata), has started running in and around the city, which operates similarly to share autos and meter taxis. They are all overcrowded and the drivers indulge in rash driving, owing to the competition. The only advantage is that it is cost-effective.

If you are fascinated by the idea of going around in an auto, think about all those foreigners, who are riding an auto from Chennai to Mumbai.

A Chennai-based event management company, Chennai Event Management Services, has been having auto-rickshaw rallies from Chennai to Mumbai, or Kanyakumari, etc., and has developed a great fan following for them.

By taxi
Taxis (locally called "call-taxis" since they must be pre-arranged) are available by phone. They are most reliable, can be ordered air-conditioned, and have digital fare meters, although time-based hire is also possible with some companies. Most companies charge a minimum fare of ₹150, which is for 5 km (3 mi) and for every subsequent kilometre they charge ₹18. Alternatively, you can hire a car for a half/full day for around ₹800/1300. These figures are for basic non-AC Ambassadors, add about 50% if you want a comfier aircon Tata Indica. Waiting charges are included in the meter cost but you are required to pay parking and toll fees in addition to the fare displayed on the meter. If your trip is time-sensitive, it's best to book your taxi a few hours in advance and call shortly before your trip to confirm.

Most prepaid taxi operators have a choice of vehicles. Indica is the ubiquitous hatchback that can seat 3 passengers, but it is almost impossible to find one well-maintained. Opt for a Figo or Liva instead of the Indica when you book the taxi, these are newer models and likely to be in a better state of maintenance. If you prefer a sedan, choices are Etios, Maruti Suzuki DZire and Ford Fiesta. SUV models Innova or Xylo have more space and are suitable for small groups (up to 7). Innova has a well-deserved reputation with travellers for airport transfers due to its reliability, spacious seats and capacity to carry more luggage.

By car
It is generally not advisable for foreign travellers to drive on their own as they might be unaware of the traffic rules and congestion in the city. The roads in Chennai are better maintained than the average Indian road. The main highway is Anna Salai also known as Mount Road. It has been acting for a decade and still as one of the prime arterial roads of Chennai starting from Chintadripet to Alandur at the Kathipara Flyover, continuing as GST Road. It also connect the Central railway station to the International Airport. Major parts of the blue line of metro are built about this road.

The complex road routes may confuse novice drivers and it is a sheer waste of time. If you choose to rent a car, it's strongly advised to hire a driver as well. The typical driver fee comes to around ₹250 for a 4-hour shift and an additional ₹50 every hour thereafter. Outstation trips cost a driver fee of ₹750 for a 12-hour journey.

Diesel and petrol are used as fuel in India and it varies with the model of the car. Some cars have identical models with only a D badge to indicate diesel. Make sure you find out what type of fuel the car uses from the rental company.

East Coast Road (ECR), also known as New Mahabalipuram Road, is one of the very few places around Chennai that is best enjoyed by car. There are a lot of scenic views with many sightseeing options along the route. For most of the sights within the city limits, travellers would be better served by public transport or a taxi.

East Coast Road could very well be termed the entertainment highway of Chennai. The road is new, flanked by the sea on the left and dotted with amusement spots throughout the entire stretch. Driving down ECR is an experience. Really! You can pick and choose from amusement parks, water sports centres, beaches, eco-conservation, cultural and religious centres, restaurants or resorts to spend your day in. The road caters to practically every type of pastime that one could think about. Be prepared to pay a small toll fee.

Places of worship
Chennai is home to numerous churches, with the oldest being Santhome Church, named after the Christian apostle, St. Thomas, who has preached in the area between 52 and 70 CE.

Do
Chennai has several well-known beaches. The Marina Beach in Central Chennai is the second-longest beach in the world after Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. Chennai is home to Guindy National Park, the smallest national park in India.

Others

 * During summers it becomes too hot and humid to venture out during the day. So go out for a stroll during the night (7-9PM) on the Marina beach and Elliots Beach (Besant Nagar). It's a nice idea to pack dinner and have a picnic on the beach as most locals do. If you happen to drive a car you can also consider taking along a few foldable chairs. Beyond 10PM, no one is permitted to be on the beach. There are policemen on the beach to ensure people follow this rule, and on some occasions they tend to shoo people out by 9PM. However, if you are an early riser, you might consider visiting the beaches early morning around 6 to 8AM The sunrise is wonderful and there is a slight breeze as well. However, be warned that there are dogs lying all over the place and you have a high chance of getting hit by a cricket ball if you aren't looking.
 * Stroll along the over crowded Pondy Bazaar and Ranganathan Street and try your skills in bargaining for knick-knacks. Be warned that it is an intensely crowded place, where you have to elbow your way through.
 * Take a bus or an auto to Mylapore Tank and take a walk around Mylapore especially in and around the Kapaleeshwarar Temple. The crowds, sounds, fragrances of temple incense and flowers and the tiny shops are to be definitely experienced though keep away on Fridays. It gets too hectic even for experienced Mylaporeans.

Music and dance
Chennai is famous for its concerts and performances that take place in various auditoriums and temples throughout the year, which are announced in The Hindu and other local newspapers. During the Tamil month of Maargazhi (December - January) there is a series of classical Carnatic music concerts and classical dance performances in various parts of the city, but the best are organized in various Sabhas (loosely translates to "concert house"). You will see mostly older celebrities, although occasionally there will be some world-class young virtuosos. Free entry passes are usually given out for debutante performances (called Arangetram in Tamil) and for performances held on weekdays (before 4PM when the crowd starts filling up).

Chennai is a major centre of Bharata Natyam with over 1,000 dance performances a year. More dance forms are now encouraged and taught like Kuchipudi (Traditional dance form from Andhra Pradesh), Mohini Attam, etc. Some other dances like Odissi Manipuri can be found, but are rarer.

Cinema
When in Chennai, do not miss a chance to watch a movie. There are several new Tamil movie releases every Friday or to coincide with holidays. Apart from Tamil, movies in other Indian languages like Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam also get wide releases in Chennai. Many of the Hollywood franchise movies enjoy a huge fan following and are screened at some theaters (dubbed) in Tamil. Make sure to book your tickets in advance especially for the weekend, because most of the cinemas will be sold out. Chennai also provides best cinematic experience at lowest cost ₹120/- and lesser, which is very less compared to other metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Check out any local newspaper or websites to get to know the movies running in and around Chennai. Some of the cinema halls are

Sports
Chennai has been one of the prominent sporting location in India, with wide variety of sports played almost everywhere right from every street corners to big stadium matches.

Cricket is a festival per se in India. Every TV in the mall is tuned to cricket during the match season and the whole city tunes in to the sport by one means or another. Chennai is an international venue for cricket and is also a home ground for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricket team. While in Chennai it might be interesting to catch a game and enjoy the electric spirit of Indian cricket. Close to Chepauk there are several sporting goods stores where you can buy good quality cricket equipment at low prices.

Book fair
If you happen to be in Chennai in January, Chennai Book Fair is an event not to miss. Location and dates may vary annually.Plan to visit on a weekday as they attract lesser crowds and you can browse through the collections peacefully. If you pick a weekend or holiday, try to visit in the morning instead of the evening. Look through all the shops but it is usually better to skip the marquee stalls and visit the smaller ones which have books stacked all around. You will be rewarded with some great finds as these shops have lesser known but excellent titles from all around the world. Carry cash as many of the smaller shops do not accept credit/debit cards and cash also helps to bargain down the price of the books to some extent. On average, paperback novels in bargain shops cost ₹100 to ₹200. A budget of ₹3000 should be enough to purchase a good collection of books.

Learn
Chennai has dozens of different institutes of higher learning from arts to engineering. The city also offers plenty of opportunities to learn Yoga, Bhartanatyam, Carnatic music and the Bhagavad Gita.

Books
Chennai has a wide selection of rare books and maps in the many second-hand book stalls.

 * Vendors near the Central Station
 * Vendors on Mount Rd outside Devi Theatre and the GPO (General Post Office)
 * Vendors near the Central Station
 * Vendors on Mount Rd outside Devi Theatre and the GPO (General Post Office)
 * Vendors near the Central Station
 * Vendors on Mount Rd outside Devi Theatre and the GPO (General Post Office)

For more current publications:

Musical instruments

In addition to these there are several exhibitions at Das Community Hall (Cathedral Rd) and Shankara Hall (TTK Rd), where artisans display their work. Check the local newspapers for details and timings.

Eat
Chennai has numerous restaurants, offering an assortment of cuisine. The beach restaurants are well-maintained and serve great food during the evenings. The eat-outs in Chennai range from budget, midrange and to up-market. There are swanky star-quality restaurants, plain open traditional vegetarian or non-vegetarian restaurants- where you share a table with strangers, street stalls, tea kadais, Indian fast food centres, western fast food centres, food courts, coffee shops, bakeries to exclusive speciality establishments. Vegetarian restaurants serve tiffin and vegetarian meals. There are also a number of restaurants that serve a variety of Tamil, Andhra and Kerala vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare. Many of these restaurants have nowadays diversified and offer other Indian and Indianized Chinese dishes as well. Usually, the check includes a service charge, written next to 'S.C.' If no service charge is added, it is customary to leave a moderate tip.

The East Coast Road abounds with restaurants and eating spots, which offer a wide range of cuisines and a tasteful ambience. And you can plan your dinner or lunch in one of these hotels.

Budget
All these budget eateries serve only vegetarian food and are very cheap.

Mid-range

 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190
 * 4/359,Gatsby Village, Mgr Road, +91 44 24493924
 * 11, Shop 2, 2nd Floor, Greams Road, Landmark: Near Thousand Lights Police Station Phone: +91 44 28291077, 28292190

Drink
Chennai is a difficult place to drink. Government rule states that only establishments with a minimum of 21 rooms can obtain a bar or liquor license. Hence there are no standalone bars or pubs here. All the bars that are around are part of some hotel or the other and in general overpriced.

Government-run liquor stores called TASMAC are all over the place but in general not at all a pleasant experience. They usually have unpleasant staff and environment and usually will have local brands. Also, they always tend to mark up each bottle by ₹5-10 over the listed price. Go for it if you want a one-time war-like experience in order to obtain some booze!

Nightclubs close at 11PM, even on Fridays and Saturdays, according to government rule.

Sleep
The closest hotels to the airport are The Trident, Le Royal Meridian, Hilton and Radisson GRT Hotel all five-star properties.

Stay safe
Chennai is generally a safer area of India in terms of crime, although pickpocketing, muggings, and robberies sporadically occur. Keep your doors and windows shut and locked at night and do not carry or display large amounts of cash if possible.

It is advisable for women, especially unaccompanied ones, to dress modestly and limit their interaction with unfamiliar local men. Foreigners are generally overcharged by autorickshaws simply because they are ignorant of the prevailing fares. It is necessary to confirm whether the driver knows the exact destination and to fix the fare before boarding. 'Autos', as autorickshaws are known in Chennai, are notorious for fleecing customers, tourists and locals alike.

Be alert to your surroundings and watch where you step, especially if you get caught in a large crowd where it is difficult to look at what is in front of you. Cross streets extremely carefully as traffic is generally heavy. On major roads, use the underground crossings (locally called "subways"). Avoid using underground road-crossing/ subways in the night or if you notice them to be empty. Traffic signals are frequently ignored by drivers and pedestrians alike, and it is not at all advisable for tourists to try driving in Chennai.

Stay healthy
While in Chennai it is advisable to drink bottled water and keep a bottle handy as it is extremely hot. Eating fresh vegetables and fruits that have sat outside in the presence of insects can also be unhealthy, although bananas and coconuts are usually safe because they are opened only immediately before eating. Hot drinks in restaurants such as tea, coffee, and other local specialities are safe, as are packaged/bottled drinks such as Aquafina water, Frooti (a popular local mango drink) and others. If you have access to a stove, boiling tap water before drinking is also an option. Chennai summers are humid and sultry; it's better to step out with an umbrella, bottled water and some oral rehydration salts (available from pharmacies, the brand name is Electral). These come in handy if you happen to get dehydrated.

Pharmacies

 * Apollo Pharmacy, All Over the City
 * Health & Glow, Spencers Plaza (Phase 3), Mount Road; Nungambakkam High Road
 * Madras Medical Mission, 24 Hr. Pharmacy, Mogappiar
 * The Psychotherapy Clinic,26/1, Arcot Street, T.Nagar
 * My Mother Pharmacy,E.B.Colony
 * Parasu Dental Pharmacy 11, 3rd cross st kasthurbha nagar adyar chennai - 20 ph 4211 5000
 * MedPlus India, All Over the City

Landlines
BSNL and Airtel Reliance Jio, Tata, are main providers of terrestrial telephone lines in Chennai. You can make long-distance calls from one of the many booths that display NSD/ISD i.e. National Subscriber Dialling (National Long Distance) and International Subscriber Dialling (International Long Distance).

Mobile phones
Mobile phone rates are among the cheapest in the world. There are mainly 4 service providers:
 * BSNL GSM Triband with 3G services
 *  AirTel GSM Triband with 4G services
 * Vodafone GSM Triband with 4G services
 * Jio 4G Services with Advanced High Speed Network

You can buy a sim card with a photo and a copy of your passport or local ID should you have any.

CDMA service providers are Reliance, TATA Indicom, Virgin Mobile and MTS.

Starter packs and top-up cards can be picked up from numerous outlets. Seamless roaming across the country is provided by all providers.

Internet
There are several Internet cafes from where you can access the internet for sending email or uploading your digital photos, however they are not very common now.

Mobile data is very cheap. 1.5GB per day costs around Rs.250 for 28 days. You may find it sufficient to roam throughout the city on this data.

 * MTS MBLAZE High Speed Broadband Internet Through USB Modems. Call +91 9150-955-955
 * MTS MBLAZE High Speed Broadband Internet Through USB Modems. Call +91 9150-955-955

Apart from that you can access Internet provided in your hotel or if you are staying long you can buy a local SIM card and use a portable Hotspot.

ATMs

 * ABN Amro, Harrington Road, Opp Residency Hotel on GN Chetty Road, Adyar - Sardar Patel Road, TTK Road, next to Citibank branch
 * Andhra Bank, All over Chennai
 * HSBC, Adyar, Mylapore, Pondy Bazzar, Tidel Park, Kadar Nawaz Khan Road, Annanagar, Rajaji Salai, Kathipara Junction
 * American Express, Near Anand Theatre, Anna Salai (Mount Road)
 * Citibank, Opp Spencers Plaza, Anna Salai (Mount Road); Opp Hotel Parthan, GN Chetty Road, Opposite Citi Centre, Velachery Highway, near Vijaya Nagar Bus terminus, Nanganallur.
 * HDFC Bank, ITC Centre, Anna Salai (Mount Road),Anna Nagar(West); All over Chennai
 * ICICI Bank, All over Chennai
 * Axis Bank, All over Chennai
 * Standard Chartered Bank, Haddows Road
 * State Bank of India, All over Chennai. They have an ATM locator online.
 * Indian Overseas Bank, All over Chennai, they have InstaCash ATMs.
 * Indian bank, All over Chennai
 * Oriental Bank of Commerce, Adyar LB Road, Mylapore, G N Chetty Road T nagar.

ATM cards issued by any bank will work with ATM of any other bank, but they may impose restrictions on number of transactions, amount per transaction and may also charge a small transaction fee of ₹20.

Money changers
Many hotels will change money for you at the front desk. However, they may not have the best rates.

It is best to change money at the city-based money changers than the ones at the airports. The ones at the airport offer much less for exchanging forex into Indian rupees (₹) and sell forex for a much higher rate than the market rate.
 * American Express, Spencers Plaza, Anna salai
 * Thomas Cook, Spencers Plaza, Anna salai

Beauty parlors & hair salons

 * Ayush, Anna Nagar (+91 26223102/26223446/26203862), Kilpauk (+91 52179635/26472298), Mylapore (+91 52067071/30907691) - Therapy includes Abhyangam, Abhyangam with Pichu, Abhyangam with local Pizhichil, Abhyangam with Thalam, Udvartanam, Abhyangam with Nasyam, Abhyangam with local Navarakizhi, Muka Lepam
 * Anushka,6, Thyagaraya Road, Pondy Bazaar, T.Nagar, +91 52179197
 * Celeste Beauty Salon, Spencer Plaza,(Mobile -9941130508) F-26, Phase 1, First floor
 * Dollys beauty parlour, Elcanso Plaza, Egmore, +91 9840118882
 * Green Trends, 1576, 13th Main Road, Anna Nagar (+91 26161534); Ashok Nagar (+91 52193636); Adyar (+91 24451759); Purusawakkam (+91 52174414); Taylors Road, Kilpauk (+91 26453331); T. Nagar (+91 28143886); Velachery (+91 22445590); Virugambakkam (+91 55511973) - Exotic natural treatments like Strawberry facial, Avocado Butter Massage Facial, Red Banana Facial, Baby-Corn under eye treatment! etc.
 * Jazzy, North Boag Road, T. Nagar
 * Lakme, Adayar (+91 24469730), Alwarpet (+91 24662481), Anna Nagar (+91 26268841), Ashok Nagar (+91 23750207), Kilpauk (+91 52179634), Nungambakkam (+91 28333050), T. Nagar (+91 28155577)
 * Naturals, Unisex beauty salon with more than 100 salons around Chennai.
 * Salon Nayana, GN Chetty Road, T. Nagar, +91 28256064
 * Style Mantra- Makeover Concepts, Nungambakkam (+91 28280066), R.K. Salai (+91 28110707)

Gyms

 * Blue 'Boutique Gym'-329, TTK Road, Alwarpet.#24996045,24996064.
 * Body Sports Gym-Govindan Road, Saidapet. #9841151091
 *  Gold's Gym  17, Kasturi Rangan Road Alwarpet, +91 44 42088201
 * Mind N Body 360 degree Fitness Studio - Ramapuram & Mugalivakkam. #9600030058, 8754409900, 044-42014949
 * O2 Gym, Kader Nawaz Road, Nungambakkam, Velachery
 * Soldiers Gym, Triplicane High Road, Triplicane (and on Anna Salai)
 * Talwalkars, Near Khader Nawaz Road, Nungambakkam
 * Talwalkars, 23rd Cross Street,Indira Nagar, Adyar

Post & telegraphs
The telegraph office on Anna Salai (Mount Rd), near Higgin Bothoms accepts letters and parcels up to 8PM with a small late fee. Snail Mail in India is by a Post Card (25Ps), Inland Letter ₹5, or envelope ₹5. Speed Post facility allows you to send mail more conveniently than a courier service. They have a pan India coverage and also provide international service. International delivery is considerably slower than private competitors like FedEX or UPS but it is also much cheaper. Telegraph services have been discontinued from July 2013 citing very poor response.

Due to proliferation of mobile phones and VOIP, the public telephones are fast disappearing. Telephone Booths or public telephones in India can still be found near travel hotspots like the airport, railway station or CMBT and usually painted with the letters PCO (Public Call office,local calls), STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) and ISD (International Subscriber Dialling). All booths have electronic metering and you pay what's displayed on the meter (included in the metering is a nominal ₹2 as service charges). You'll also get a receipt if you insist on one. Coin operated phones ₹1 are located in many busy junctions (easily identified by bright yellow or red colour) but support only local calls.

Libraries & cultural centres

 * American Information Resource Center Library (within the American Consulate - see list of consulates)
 * Anna Centenary Library - Kotturpuram,
 * British Council - Anna Salai,.
 * Max Mueller Bhavan (German) - Khadar Nawaz Khan Rd., Nungambakkam.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇱 Chile (Honorary)
 * 🇫🇮 Finland
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇸🇬 Singapore
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Nearby

 * Ahaa Water Park: A spot for frolicking in the water, the Ahaa Water Park offers a variety of water sports and fun activities. It has a wave generator, which can generate waves of up to 3.5 ft.
 * Little Folks Specifically aimed at providing entertainment for the children, this park has a longer history than MGM. (Dolphin City was closed after all of its dolphins and sea lions had died. It is no longer operational now.)
 * Radio Control Car Racing at ECR RC Track: Chennai has the only active RC Car race track in India. On a weekend, you can find several RC car racers at the ECR RC Track located near Hot Kitchen Restaurant on ECR Road. It is very close to the Kart Attack track. Visit IRCRA on Facebook for more details.
 * Tiruvidanthai Nithya Kalyana Perumal Koil: As the name denotes, a temple dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara is found on East Coast Road.

Go next

 * Chengalpattu — home to Karikili and Vedhantangal bird sanctuaries and Vedagiriswarar Temple
 * Covelong and Muttukadu — two adjacent coastal towns south of Chennai. They have some beach resorts and a heritage museum.
 * Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) — Site of the famous Vivekananda memorial.
 * Mamallapuram or Mahabalipuram has many temples, mostly built during the Pallava Dynasty, including several on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The town is also famous for stone carving and has schools that train most of India's carvers. Carvings and other handicrafts are sold all over town. It is easy to visit Mahabalipuram as a day trip from Chennai, but there are enough attractions to make staying overnight or for a few days an attractive proposition as well, and the town has extensive tourist facilities. One of the most famous temples here is the Shore Temple, next to the beach; if coming from Chennai ensure you reach this temple between 6AM and 6PM, as it is shut down after 6PM.
 * Pondicherry (163 km. Take a bus) — Go on a spiritual trip or volunteer at Auroville - an experimental township with no religion or politics. The drive down the East Coast Road (ECR) is delightful, with lovely beaches all along the way, and on the way you can stop over at the Botanical Gardens.
 * Rameswaram (569 km. Take a bus or a train)
 * Tiruvannamalai (185 km. Take a bus)
 * Tirupati (158 km. Take a bus or a train)

title: Chennai


text:
Chennithala

Chennithala is a small village in Mavelikkara Taluk, Alappuzha district, Central Travancore in Kerala state, India.

Understand
The Valiya Perumpumpuzha bridge connecting to Thattarampalam in the south of Chennithala was inaugurated in 2002. The Achankovil River flows through Chennithala. Chennithala is situated in between Mavelikkara and Thiruvalla in East - West direction, and between Haripad and Chenganur in North - South east direction.

Get in
Chennithala village is 4 km north from Mavelikkara, 3 km from Mannar to south, 9 km from Harippad (towards east), and 12 km from Chengannur Town (towards west).

By car
The road system is connected to all various parts of Kerala. The nearby bus stations are Mavelikkara, Thiruvalla, Chenganur and Haripad which connects to most of the cities in the South India. Both government buses (KSRTC) and private buses run through Chennithala frequently from 5AM to 11PM and stops every 500 m. Taxi and auto rickshaws were available all around. Buses and auto rickshaws are the most convenient mode of transportation.

Through NH47, drive North from Kavala Junction after the Haripad KSRTC bus stand, which comes to Mavelikkara and then turn to east from the Mitchel Junction in Mavelikkara Municipality area, and go to the connection road to Thiruvalla. After the Prayikkara Bridge, Cherukole, Cherukole Subhananda Ashram, Karazhma, reach to Kallumood area of Chennithala. And if coming from Thiruvalla, go straight to the Mavelikkara route. After Podiyadi turn left to the road to Parumala and Mannar town. And after Mannar go straight to Mavelikkara and reach Koickal Junction. Chennithala area starts from Koickal Junction and ends in Karazhma.

By train
The nearby railway stations are Mavelikkara, Thiruvalla, Cheriyanad, Chenganur and Haripad, have frequent bus to reach the railway stations from various parts of the village. Both government and private buses connect the town to the railway stations from the early morning until the evening.

By plane
The nearby airports are Nedumbasery International Airport, Kochi and Trivandrum International Airport.

See
Main attraction in Chennithala is the paddy fields, called 'Chennithala Puncha' in Malayalam, which are diminishing yearly.

Alappuzha District is situated in the Puthuvilapady Junction in Chennithala panchayath near to the Puthuvila temple and the Chennithala co-operative bank, which is a premier institution in the district.

Other attractions: are the temples, churches and mosque. Temples were seen every 500 m. The major temples are Chennithala Mahadeva Temple (Travancore Devaswom Board), Cherukole Subramanya Swami/Ayyappa Temple (Travancore Devaswom Board, Puthuvila Temple, Karazhma temple, Ayyakkaseril Temple, Irambaman Subramanya Swami temple, Cheppazhathil Temple, and Thannikal Sree Annapoorneswari Temple. The Surya temple at Eramathoor is another major attraction in Chennithala, which is very near by. There will be Ulsavams every year and which is the major celebrating days by the people around here. The main churches are Eramathoor Church, and Kuttemperoor Church, and the only mosque is in the Eramathoor.

Do
There are few playgrounds in the panchayath. The most important one is the Chennithala Mahathma Boys High School Ground.

Another important venue is Chennithala Chellappan Pillai Smaraka Kalakshethram, Valiya Perumbuzha river, Some art works in Chennithala are Mahadeva Temple, and Neelamana Agni Illam.

Eat
Various restaurants are available all over the panchayath. Breakfast such as Idli, Uppuma, Dosa, Idiyappam, Poroutta, Chappathi, Poori etc. available and you can purchase curries like Kadala Curry, Kizhangu curry, Sambar, Egg Curry Fish Curry, Meat curries. Rice meals are available from noon to 2PM and 7PM to 10PM in all restaurants. Parceling is also available without any extra cost.

Drink
Tea and coffee shops are seen everywhere.

Sleep
Local high quality hotels and restaurants are available all over, but accommodations are difficult to get. The option is to go Mannar or Mavelikkara around 3-6 km and stay around. Various 3-star hotels are available in Mannar and Mavelikkara. There is no high class bars available but local shops are available. High class bars are available in Mavelikkara and Mannar.

Connect
Post Office

A post office is near the Mahathma Girls High School, walkable distance from Kallumood bus stop and the pin code is 690105.

Communication

The telephone exchange is situated in the Karazhama Market area, and the STD code is 0479. All the major mobile operators have network towers in the region but no Wi-Fi hot spots or advanced systems are available. Internet cafes are available all around and are cheap.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Chennithala


text:
Chenoa

Chenoa is a village in Central Illinois. It sits north of Champaign-Urbana on I-55 and has a population of about 1,700 (2020).

Understand
Chenoa was laid out on 13 May 1856 by Matthew T. Scott. Scott anticipated the place where the Chicago and Alton railroads would cross and platted the town which he called Chenoa. The plan of Chenoa is complex because it is the blending of two rival townsites. Scott’s original town, which lies west of the railroad, was built around a central park, is much more like the plan like central Illinois towns of the 1830s than that of other towns laid out in the 1850s. However, Scott only owned the in Section 2, while his rival, and former business companion, William Marshall had managed to purchase Section 1. Chenoa sat directly on the path of Historic Route 66 and therefore holds multiple Route 66 historic landmarks.

By plane
Chenoa is serviced by the which has daily arrivals from Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Dallas, along with 4-times-a-week service from Orlando and Denver.

By car
Chenoa is easily reached by road. The city is located at the intersections of Interstate 55 north to south, Historic Route 66 north to south, and U.S. Route 24 east to west.

By train
An Amtrak route runs through the city. However, the closest stations are at to the south and Pontiac to the north.

Get around
Chenoa is a small town and has very few walkable streets. Getting around almost requires a car. There are no local taxi services or any public transport within the town. Most streets in the street are light on traffic so biking around is also another option.

Go next

 * Pontiac
 * Peoria
 * Bloomington-Normal
 * Chicago

title: Chenoa


text:
Cheonan

Cheonan (천안, 天安) is a city in South Chungcheong, South Korea. Cheonan is a name derived from heaven. This is because King Taejo of Goryeo named it the "Most important place under the sky." Also, to this day, Cheonan citizens still call Cheonan the most comfortable place under the sky and joke that it is safe from natural disasters such as typhoons.

Understand
Cheonan is located in the northeastern area of Chungcheongnam-do Province. It is adjacent to Cheongju-si and Jincheon-gun of Chungchengbuk-do on the east, Asan-si on the west, Gongju-si and Sejong Metropolitan Autonomous City on the south, and Pyeongtaek-si and Anseong-si of Geonggi-do on the north. Cheonan, located at 83.6 km south of Seoul, is considered a central city, geographically speaking. It is a gateway to the Seoul National Capital Area and the western region of Chungnam, a transportation hub connecting national roads, railways, expressways and local roads, and a junction of the three southern provinces.

Climate
The average temperature in Cheonan city is 11.8 °C each year. The average annual rainfall is 1229 mm. Fine dust levels can affect travel. Cheonan has a lower density than Seoul, but due to the influence of a coal power plant in Chungcheongnam-do, it has a higher density than Gangwon-do. Therefore, it is necessary to check the concentration of fine dust here.

Districts
The yellow area in the map below is Dongnam-gu; the green area is Seobuk-gu.

By train
The KTX from Seoul takes just 35-40 (depending on which train) minutes to zip to Cheonan-Asan Station, but you'll need to connect to the painfully slow #20 or #13 bus (₩1,200 without a card) to get to central the Shingsegae/Bus Terminal area of Cheonan. Alternatively, you can walk about 200 m to Asan Station, where for ₩1,000 you can get a 5-minute subway (not underground) train ride into Cheonan Station. From here you can connect to both north lines going towards Suwon/Seoul or to the south lines heading to either Busan or Gwangju/Mokpo.

Alternatively, you can take a 급행 (express) subway directly to Seoul or Yongsan stations in about an hour and a half. These trains run roughly once per hour. You can find the up-to-date timetables in the ticketing area of Cheonan station where you enter for the subway only lines.

Reservations for train tickets can be made here. As the site runs in English, Chinese and Japanese, foreigners will also be able to book it easily. You can also see information about reservations, cancellations, refunds, and charges here.

By bus
Watching bus schedules and booking bus tickets can be done here. If it is difficult to book online, it is also possible to purchase tickets on the app or on-site. But be careful that bus tickets between Seoul and Cheonan can be sold out quickly.
 * From Seoul: 1hr, ₩6,200
 * From Incheon Airport: 2 hr, ₩16,400
 * From Gimpo Airport: 100 min, ₩9,500
 * From Incheon Airport: 2 hr, ₩16,400
 * From Gimpo Airport: 100 min, ₩9,500

By taxi
The call-taxi number is. Tell the receptionist where you are and the receptionist will text you the taxi number. The taxi driver will then arrive there. Perhaps it is possible to communicate only in Korean. If you can't tell your current location in Korean, use the app. Download the Kakao T. It's like an Uber. Registering a card makes automatic payment without paying the driver, and you don't have to worry about overcharging. The fare to the destination is automatically paid and the remaining amount will be returned after arriving at the destination.

Get around
A complex and confusing system of buses covers the area, but there is no information whatsoever in English at the stops or in the buses themselves. However, nearly all services start from or terminate at the intercity bus terminal.

Since 2005, Seoul Subway Line 1 has been extended from Cheonan Station to KTX Cheonan-Asan station and continuing to Asan.

See

 * Hymn by Damien Hirst in Arario gallery.jpg

Festival
There are several regular festivals in Cheonan

Learn
There are five universities in Anseo-dong. It is not too much to say that there are only college students in the neighborhood, so visitors can experience the culture of young people.

In addition, there are six more universities in Cheonan.

Buy
The Shingsegae shopping center is where most Cheonanites go for their local shopping of luxury items in Cheonan. The Galleria is an architectural marvel. It's won many design awards and is set over 9 floors. Definitely worth a taxi ride of ten minutes just to see the building. (If you go planning to buy take a LOT of money). There is an Emart in the basement of the Shinsegae shopping complex.

Across the street from Shinsegae Department Store is a whole host of other venues to buy you much needed items. Once you exit the Bus Terminal, you'll see the crowds flowing across the street at every green pedestrian light. Over there you'll also find many more food options awaiting your tongue and stomach.

Eat
Cheonan is famous for Sundae and Hodu-gwaja. Sundae is made by adding seonji, perilla seeds, cabbage, green onions, red pepper, and glutinous rice to the pig's intestines. In the early 1960s, a ham factory was built around Byeongcheon. There were many shops that made sundae to deal with the pig by-products. That's why Cheonan's Sundae became famous. There are many famous sundae gukbap shops in Cheonan. Sundae gukbap is a Korean soup with sundae. But it can be a strange food for foreigners. Some people dislike the unique flavor and taste of Sundae gukbap, so please refer to it.

Hodu-gwaja was first made in 1934 by Cho Gui-geum of Cheonan. So it is a famous dessert in Cheonan. You can see shops selling Hodu-gwaja at the entrance of the highway to Cheonan.

And there is a very famous bakery in Cheonan. If you visit Cheonan, you must go there. The place is famous for 'Turtle Bread'. This bread goes well with coffee. The price is a little high.

Drink

Sleep
There are plenty of motels in the alleys across the street from the bus terminals and near the train station. Most motels cost around ₩50,000 per night. It's better to choose a motel on the main street. If you want a clean and quiet place, go to the hotel. The hotel costs ₩80,000-150,000 per night.

Go next

 * Asan - Hot-spring resort with which Cheonan shares its KTX station.
 * Cheongju - Provincial capital of North Chungcheong, and historic town in its own right. Birthplace of jikji, the world's oldest moving metal type print book.
 * Chungju - Gateway to Danyang and Suanbo, two hours by direct bus from the intercity terminal
 * Gongju - City to the south, and former capital of Baekje, known for its Beakje tombs. Also the gateway to hiking a nearby national park.
 * Suwon - Satellite city of Seoul, and sporting a World Heritage fortress.

title: Cheonan


text:
Cheongju

 * Not to be confused with nearby Chungju

Cheongju (청주,淸州), also spelled Chongju, is the capital of North Chungcheong, South Korea.

Understand
Cheongju, in addition to being the provincial capital, is also a historic city credited with creating the world's oldest movable metal type print book: jikji. Do not expect to get a glimpse of the UNESCO-registered artifact as the Jikji (or what remains of it) is stored in France. Nonetheless, Cheongju is proud of its place in international history and hailed 2011 as a Jikji celebration year.

For a domestic traveler however, perhaps Cheongju's most notable asset is that it houses one of Korea's major domestic (with a few international routes) airports, serving Cheongju and the nearby major city of Daejeon.

By train
The main train station is located at Ogeunjang. Trains are limited, making this a lesser reliable method of transport into the city.

By car

 * Jeongbu Highway: connecting Cheongju with Seoul via Ochang and/or Jincheon.
 * Gyeongbu Expressway: connecting Cheongju with Seoul, Daejeon and Busan.

By bus
Most of the major cities in South Korea have an express bus to Cheongju. There are two major bus stations:
 * Cheongju Express Bus Terminal, for buses from Busan, Daegu, Gwangju and Seoul.
 * Cheongju Intercity Bus Terminal, for all other cities. Buses from Incheon and Gimpo airports also leave from this terminal. The information center is adjacent to the bus terminal. Make sure you visit here if your Korean is not very good.

Get around
Cheongju has an extensive bus system accessible for ₩1450, but it can be difficult to figure out. Taxis are the easiest way to get around, as they are cheap and quick.

See

Buy
Cheongju has various markets scattered throughout the city that any traveler is bound to stumble across.

Eat
Cheongju's local specialities are chestnuts, and little packets of them are widely available at tourism and convenience stalls across the entire Cheungchong Province. It is also a major growing region for apples, pears and peaches.

Cheongju has a reasonably good mix of Korean and Western restaurants. Most of the American fast food chains can be found somewhere in the city. The downtown area is home to McDonalds, KFC, Mr Pizza and Burger King.

Drink
The local specialty, Cheongju daechusul is a type of takju, unrefined liquor fermented from grains. It would be in the same family as the popular makgeolli and its cousin, dongdongju. Carefully brewed with jujubes, glutinous rice, yeast, malt, pine needles and spring water pumped from an underground rock bed daechusul tastes sweet with a bitter aftertaste. The alcohol content is 16 percent.

Cheongju has hundreds of drinking establishments scattered across the city. The most popular spot is the area around Chungbuk University, Chungdae Jungmun, frequented by Koreans and foreigners every Friday and Saturday night.

Chungbuk University area

Sleep
There are various love motels throughout the city that are clean and economical.

Religious services
There is a Presbyterian English Service offered by Sangdang Church (which is next to E Mart) every Sunday at 11:30. It is led by a native English speaker and is attended by people of many different denominations.

For an English Catholic mass, visit Heungdeuk Catholic Church beside the baseball stadium and Arts Center at 17:00 on Sundays.

For Seventh-Day Adventists, there is an English Sabbath worship in Bokdae 2 dong, near ChungDae, at the Sahmyook SDA School Church. Service is held Friday nights at 20:00 and Saturday mornings from 10:30. Lunch is usually offered by the church.

Go next
The metropolitan sprawl of Daejeon and the rotting early-1990s glory of its Expo Park are only an hour away by bus. Alternately, North Chungcheong Province's most convenient hub, Chungju and its most iconic natural landmarks can be found at Danyang, are both a short hop away.

For access details, see Korea's Express Bus website. However there are many buses that are not listed on here that also go from Cheongju, including buses to Gyeongju, Incheon Airport, Nam (South) Seoul, SongniSan and pretty much every other place you could ever want to go. Without going to the terminal it can be really difficult to get English-language information about bus timetables. The information office is next to the Cheongju Intercity Bus Terminal and should be able to help you out if you need it.

About 25 km southeast of Cheongju is the town of Boeun, which is the gateway to Beopjusa, one of the more famous Buddhist temples in Korea and location of the tallest Buddha statue in Korea.

title: Cheongju


text:
Chepstow

Chepstow (Welsh: Cas-gwent) is an ancient market town and former port situated on the River Wye (Afon Gwy) in South Wales a short distance upstream from where the Wye and Severn rivers merge. A Norman castle founded in 1067 stands at the water's edge. A considerable portion of the massive town wall (Port Wall ) remains intact as does the Town Gate which provides access from the west. Until the bypass was built a few years ago, access from the east was limited to John Rennie's cast iron 1816 bridge across the river Wye.

Get in
Chepstow is well served by rail and road.

By car
The A466 follows the Wye Valley to Monmouth via Tintern and Llandogo.

The 1966 Severn Bridge and M4 motorway provides easy access to London and elsewhere. As of 2023, all charges have been removed in every direction on both bridges.

By train
lies on the railway line from Gloucester to Cardiff. From Gloucester it's possible to get to Birmingham or London Paddington.

By plane
Bristol Airport near Bristol and Cardiff Airport  near Cardiff are not too far away.

Do

 * Long distance walks from Chepstow are:
 * Long distance walks from Chepstow are:
 * Long distance walks from Chepstow are:

 * Wye Valley Walk follows the east river bank, plunging through Tidenham Tunnel to reach Tintern, and continuing to Monmouth.
 * Offa's Dyke Path is the same as Wye Valley Walk to Monmouth. It continues north along the border, eventually to Prestatyn on the north coast.
 * Wales Coast Path follows the entire convoluted coastline of Wales. Its south terminus is at the border, and the local section passes through Chepstow and Caldicot to Newport.

The centre of the town is dotted with ceramic markers on walls and in the floor for places of interest and a couple of suggested walk routes. If you find yourself at a loose end having viewed the Museum and the Castle at the lower end of Chepstow, there are a few suggestions for a pleasant stroll up to the Town Gate:
 * standing in the car park facing the castle, notice a path to the left going up the hill. This leads to The Dell, a green oasis that gets overlooked by some. There are different views of the surprisingly long castle wall. You can even scramble up close to the wall and walk along until you get to the Barbican end of the castle. Approaching the top of The Dell you have an option of climbing some grassy steps and entering the main car park via the "hole in the wall", an ancient stone doorway in the Town Wall, and then finding your way into the upper town via various alternative exits at the far side. The other option is to exit the iron gate at the top of The Dell and turn left to reach the outside of the Town Gate at the traffic lights.
 * the middle option involves starting from the Museum, and strolling up Bridge Street past a row of bow-windows on the right, past the Powis Almshouses (1716 - see if you can read the tablet high up on the wall), past The Five Alls public house (check the inn sign), up cobbled Hocker Hill Street (some say Hawker Hill), past St Maur where Horatio Nelson stayed in 1802, according to the plaque on the wall. You can now walk straight ahead to the Town Gate or veer left up the High Street.
 * the third option, starting from the Museum, is to head towards the river, passing Afon Gwy, a place to eat and sleep, on the left. Take a stroll over the 1816 iron bridge (not that much newer than the world's oldest (1781) at Ironbridge, a 100 miles or so to the north). The castle is particularly photogenic from the bridge, and especially so when the tide is in. The rise and fall of the tide, at 12 m, is the second highest in the world. Come back off the bridge to the Bridge Inn and walk along the river bank, which is less pleasant since the flood defences were built in 2001, obscuring the view and re-arranging the seats (they used to line the river bank facing the river). Spot the wall plaque recording the fact that the leaders of the Chartist Insurrection were transported from the Port of Chepstow to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on the 3 February 1840. Just before you reach the Boat Inn, turn right and make your way up Lower Church Street, through the iron-railinged path across the graveyard of St Mary's Church, across to Upper Church Street from where, opposite the Montague Almshouses (1615), you can amble up the pedestrianized St Mary Street and the High Street to the Town Gate.

Buy

If you support charity shops, Chepstow has about five (it does sometimes vary), watch out for them. St Mary Street has some shops which deal in antiques and objects which one day might be antiques. Every three weeks or so, on a Saturday morning, there is a Farmers' Market in the Place de Cormeilles, adjacent to the Town Gate. Every oother Sunday morning there is a market in the High Street with arts and crafts, food vendors, local market stalls, jewellery, and traditional market fayre. Other shops and cafés also open and the town bustles with activity!

Eat
There is a fish and chip shop just outside the Town Gate (The Arch), in Albion Square, and a Chinese takeaway a little further up Moor Street, on the right; there is another sandwiched between the main car park and Bank Street, where you can also sit down. There is an Indian Restaurant at the top of Hocker Hill Street. There are quite a few pubs serving food as well as tea-rooms. Chepstow even has a local department store, Herbert Lewis, in the High Street, which has a coffee shop. Late in 2004, a Greek Meze Bar opened in Welsh Street.

Drink
there is a lot of pubs here

Go next

 * A few miles upstream from Chepstow, on the river Wye, are the ruins of the Cistercian Tintern Abbey, founded in 1131.
 * The first part of the Wye Valley Walk, which starts at the bottom of The Dell, by the Castle will take you to Tintern. The Offa's Dyke Path will also get you there. Cross the 1816 Bridge over the Wye and follow the steep path up the hill on the other side. You really need walking boots because there are usually some muddy sections. Allow about 3–4 hours for either way. Go one way and come back the other is a good day out, lunching in Tintern.
 * Go climbing at Woodcroft, a couple of miles out of Chepstow, on the Gloucestershire side of the Wye. Wintour's Leap is a limestone cliff popular with climbers and considered "the gem of the Wye Valley".
 * Visit the Dean Forest Railway which is based at the Norchard Steam Centre, on the B4234 Forest Road between Lydney and Whitecroft, about 9 miles from Chepstow. Entrance is free on non-passenger train days. An example of steam train fares is Adult: £6.50, Senior: £5.50, Child aged 5 to 16: £4.50, child under 5 is free, for all day, travel as many times as you like. But see the web site for alternatives.
 * A map of the area (available from most good bookshops and tourist information centres in Chepstow) will allow you to plan your own walks - although beware that several footpaths marked do not exist or will not be in a suitable state. Nonetheless, this can allow some excellent views of the landscape without going far from Chepstow. Check that the map does mark footpaths clearly before buying however, as many don't.

title: Chepstow


text:
Brockton (Ontario)

Brockton is a municipality of about 9800 people (2021) in Bruce County, Southwestern Ontario. It includes Walkerton and the villages in the former Brant and Greenock Townships (Bradley, Cargill, Chepstow, Dunkeld, Eden Grove, Glammis, Greenock, Little Egypt, Malcolm, Maple Hill, Narva, Marle Lake, Lake Rosalind, Pearl Lake, Pinkerton, Portal, Riversdale and Solway).

Understand
The municipality was formed in 1999, by amalgamating the former township of Brant, former township of Greenock and the town of Walkerton. Brockton's name was formed as a portmanteau of the names of three merged municipalities (Brant Greenock Walkerton).

Many Canadians have heard of Walkerton because in May 2000, the water system in Walkerton became contaminated with the highly dangerous E. coli bacteria strain. Nearly half the population fell ill, and seven people died as a result.

By car
From Toronto, take Highway 10 North to Orangeville, then Highway 9 West through Arthur to Teviotdale then North through Harriston, Clifford, Mildmay and Walkerton.

Get around

 * TJ Taxi & Delivery, Walkerton; +1 519-901-1262

Beaches
Beaches at Port Elgin, Kincardine, Southampton or Sauble Beach offer miles of beautiful sand on the shores of Lake Huron.

Port Elgin features a sand beach and harbour just five blocks west of "downtown" on the warm waters of Lake Huron. At the beach you will find landscaped boardwalks, regular band shell concerts, fishing charter boats and a swimming beach for all ages. There is a flea market every Wednesday during the summer, and a miniature 24-gauge steam train that chugs along the harbour and into the picturesque North Shore Park. Play equipment for the youngsters can be found on the main beach as well as North Shore Park. Several beach shelters offer protection from the sun's bright rays for those who love the beach, but prefer to lounge in the shade. There are also benches facing the lake to watch the sunset.

Kincardine Beach is bisected by the river and marina. The southern beach or Station Beach as it is called features a landscaped boardwalk with benches and a gazebo. Giant beach chairs make a great photo opportunity. From the north side of the Pier to Saugeen Street, this small stretch of beach is great for children. Tiny Tot Park, the Snack Bar, washrooms, a covered picnic area (at Dunsmoor Park), lots of shade trees, the Rock Gardens, the Pavilion and Lovers Lane add to the ambiance of this part of the beach.

Southampton Beach features Family Fun Nights each Friday in the sheltered picnic area. Swing sets dot the beach and, of course, kids (large and small) have to stop and try out each one! Benches line the "boardwalk" for sunset viewing and star gazing.

Sauble Beach's over 11 km of pure, golden sands embrace the clean, warm waters of Lake Huron.

Canoe and kayaking
The Saugeen River is one of the best canoe routes in Southern Ontario. Winding 102 km through the scenic countryside and pretty "small-town Ontario", the Saugeen River stretches from Hanover to Southampton, where it empties into Lake Huron.

Local outfitters include Thorncrest Outfitters.

Sailing, power boating and lake fishing
Nearby Port Elgin and Kincardine have deep water harbours and marinas with launch ramps and slips available for transient boaters.

In Port Elgin, the harbour is situated next to the large sand beach, 5 blocks from downtown. The harbour-beach area features landscaped boardwalks, regular band shell concerts, a flea market every Wednesday during the summer, and a miniature 24-gauge steam train that chugs along the harbour and into the picturesque North Shore Park. Then, around the last week of July and first week of August, fisherman from all over come to enter the "CFPS Chantry Chinook Fishing Classic" fishing derby.

Kincardine's harbour stands in the shadow of the lighthouse, famous for the tranquil sounds of the Phantom Piper, which can be heard during July and August, as the sun is serenaded to sleep from atop the lighthouse. The marina is 3 blocks from downtown, and next the beach and boardwalks. During the summer, there is a Pipe Band Parade down the main street, each Saturday evening, followed by a free concert in the park. Around mid May, you can enter the Kincardine fishing derby.

Snowmobile trails
Winter is treasured in Bruce County with over 1000 km of groomed snowmobile trails connecting this long, scenic county. Chepstow is situated at the intersection of Trail 25, from Dunkeld, and Trail B-108, the major local inland trail.

The South Bruce Snowmobile trail in Brockton region consists of a groomed 50 km double trail through woods and fields, accessible at many point along the trail. The 2000 sq ft clubhouse has all facilities including a full-sized kitchen and heated washrooms. Local clubs take care of trail grooming and purchase of trail equipment, signage, special winter events and fundraisers. Snowmobile trail maps and permits are available at the Chamber of Commerce Office or call the Saugeen Snowmobile Club at.

Check out the snowmobiling page on the Bruce County Tourism website for more information on maps, trails and tours.

For updated trail conditions and more information, also check out the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC).

Fishing
Bruce County offers a variety of fishing experiences for almost any angler:

 * river fishing
 * big lake fishing
 * small lake fishing
 * fly fishing

Annual fishing derbies are hosted by communities and conservation clubs. Gear up for your fishing trip at one of the many local tackle shops. Fishing licences (mandatory in Ontario) are available locally and so is the Ministry of Natural Resources Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary, which includes everything the angler needs to know about seasons, possession limits and general fishing regulations. Visit the MNR website for an on-line version.

Cycling
Truly a cyclist's paradise. The highways and byways surrounding Chepstow offer some of the best back road, trail and off road riding in Southern Ontario for riders of all types. Quiet back roads, winding trails and scenic vistas around every turn.

Wind surfing
The beach of nearby Port Elgin boasts near perfect wind surfing conditions, whenever there is wind to be had. The shallow waters past the breakwater and off the main beach, provide long runs and exciting wind and wave conditions.

Buy
The towns of Walkerton and Hanover have lots of stores to provide what you need.

There are 2 grocery stores in Walkerton.

 * Murphy's Valumart, 1200 Yonge St.; +1 519-881-2280.
 * Wright's Foodmarket, 125 Durham St. E.; +1 519-881-1021.

Religious services

 * Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic Church, 41 Conc. 6, Chepstow; +1 519-366-2353
 * Knox Presbyterian Church, 208 Cayley St., Walkerton; +1 519-881-1431
 * St. Paul's United Church, 303 Jackson St., Walkerton; +1 519-881-1110
 * St. Thomas Anglican Church, 305 Colborne St., Walkerton; +1 519-881-4414
 * Trinity Lutheran Church, 611 Colborne St., Walkerton; +1 519-881-0010
 * Walkerton Baptist Church, 102 Cayley St., Walkerton; +1 519-881-1964
 * Walkerton Pentacostal Church, Hwy. 9 S., Walkerton; +1 519-881-1831
 * Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 221 Victoria St., Walkerton; +1 519-881-0692

Go next

 * Hanover
 * Kincardine (30 minutes west)
 * London (1½ hours south)
 * Kitchener-Waterloo (1 hour 15 min south)
 * Guelph (1 hour 15 min south east)
 * Orangeville (1 hour east)
 * Owen Sound (1 hour 15 min north)
 * Toronto (2½ hours south east)

title: Brockton (Ontario)


text:
Cherating

Cherating is a popular beach resort area in Pahang. It is located about 30 km north of Kuantan on Peninsular Malaysia's East Coast.

Cherating village is a typical small lazy East Coast fishing village although backpacker-tourism now is the major income earner here. The village, which is just off the main East Coast trunk road between Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu is dotted with guesthouses and small hotels (called chalets here). Asia's first Club Med is also located here. The place is extremely laid-back and the beach is nice and wide, although not as beautiful as the beaches on the islands off the East Coast.

By road
Cherating is located off the main East Coast trunk road (Federal Route 5) about 30 km north of Kuantan. From Kuantan town, follow signboards to Kemaman which will bring you past Beserah and Balok. If you are coming from Kuala Lumpur on the East Coast Expressway (Route E8), you can bypass Kuantan and head straight to Cherating. Stick to the expressway until the final exit (Jabor exit). After paying toll, follow signboards to Kemaman, along the new highway. At Sg Ular you will join the main East Coast trunk road. Cherating is another 15 km from there. Coming from Kuala Terengganu, proceed south along the East Coast trunk road. The Cherating turn off (left turn from this direction) is about 25 km south of Kemaman.

By bus
is a shed along the main road so don't be afraid if the bus driver drops you in the middle of nowhere. The center of the town is only a 5-minute walk away.

 * To/from Kuantan: After the introduction of the rapidKuantan bus service in 2015, the same red-white-blue buses as in other metropolitan areas of Malaysia can be used to travel between Kuantan and Cherating. From Kuantan city bus terminal (Hentian Bandar) you can take the rapidKuantan bus 600 or 602 to Balok Makmur (MYR 4) and change to rapidKuantan bus 604 to Cherating (MYR 2, takes about 1h, run only every 2h, July 2017). To go to Kuantan from Cherating you also have to use the rapidKuantan buses, no express buses will stop for you. (Updated in July 2017)
 * To/from Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu: Some interstate express buses to/from Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu pick up/drop off passengers from/at Cherating. To get on the bus at Cherating, you will have to book the ticket beforehand and the agent will inform the bus company to stop for you. You will be given a time (about half hour after the bus departs from Kuantan) and be told to wait at a particular spot along the main road. If coming from the north, just tell the bus driver/assistant that you want to get off the bus at Cherating.
 * To/from Perhentian Islands: No direct buses are available from Kuala Besut to Cherating. From the jetty you can walk to Kuala Besut bus station (10 min) and take a bus to Jerteh or Kota Bharu if you feel like going the wrong way). Express bus can stop at Jerteh but a red cityliner bus is cheaper. From Jerteh, express buses runs to Kuantan and can stop at Cherating (30-35RM, the journey takes at least 5 hours, July 2017). You will have to request the stop to your bus driver. (Updated in July 2017)

From other destinations, it will be easier for you to get to/go to Kuantan first where there are connections to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Johor Bahru, Mersing (for Tioman Island, Jerantut (for Taman Negara) and elsewhere. Plan your journey ahead as the local buses to Kuantan do not run often.

By taxi
Taxi from/to Kuantan can be hired for about 80RM.

Get around
Cherating village is tiny, and you can get around on foot. Some guesthouses and tour agents have bicycles for rent.

Surf

 * Cherating beach, during the monsoon season (November–March but surfing is recommended during high-peak season from December–February), is one of the only beaches in Peninsula Malaysia with waves good enough for surfing. Sand-bottom point breaks with left waves starting from chest height up to 4.5 ft. Ride up to 500 meters or longer. Can be packed during weekends. A long sandy beach with a lack of dangerous rocks or coral, makes the area attractive for beginners.
 * Boards and instructor can be hired on the beach or in town (about 75RM for full day without lesson, private 1h lesson starts from 200RM). If you have your own board, repair shops can also easily be found in town.

Kitesurf

 * At the beach, the wind also offers opportunities for kite surfing. During dry season (July–September especially) winds can be expected between 8-14 knots and the sea will be flat and shallow. Perfect conditions for beginners. In rainy season (November - March) wind goes up to 25 knots.

Eat
During off season (outside of Dec-March and even in July–August) the town can feel a bit abandoned as lots of shops close (sometimes unexpectedly).

Go next

 * Kuantan For most of the destinations you will have to go to Kuantan first
 * Kuala Terengganu
 * Kota Bharu

title: Cherating


text:
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin

Cherbourg is a port town at the north end of the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France.

Cherbourg is located near the D-Day beaches where Allied forces landed in 1944 during World War II. The town was liberated by American troops shortly after that.

Understand
The municipality was established in 2016 by merger of the former communes of Cherbourg-Octeville, Équeurdreville-Hainneville, La Glacerie, Querqueville and Tourlaville.

By ferry
Cherbourg can be reached by ferry from Poole and Portsmouth in the UK. Crossing times are 4½ hours from Poole and 3 hours from Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries. It is also possible to reach Cherbourg from Rosslare in Ireland with Irish Ferries, crossing time is around 19-20 hours depending on season. If you're on foot, the ferry terminal is close to the centre of town but you have to take a long roundabout route if you try to walk. There is a free shuttle leaving shortly after the ferries arrive, which takes you to La Cite de la Mer - which is still a 5-10 minute walk to the old town. You can also get taxis from the terminal - ask the staff to call one if necessary.

By car
Cherbourg is easily accessible from Normandy and the rest of France and is around 6 hr from Paris and around 11 hr from Bordeaux. There is not much traffic except during rush hours. There is limited parking close to the old town (e.g., at the station) and you may have to pay for it during the day.

By train

Cherbourg can be reached from Paris St Lazare on a direct train, otherwise, there are services to Brittany and to (sometimes) the southwest of France. Be careful: few trains, mainly delayed.

Get around
A decent enough network of buses runs round the town, but everything can be reached by foot

See

Eat

There are numerous other restaurants in the streets and squares of the old town and along the quay.

Budget

 * There is a campsite to the east of the town and is signposted from the Ferry Terminal.

Consulates

 * 🇬🇷 Greece

Go next
Phare de Gatteville (a lighthouse) is at the north-east point of the Cotentin, about 20 minutes drive from Cherbourg. It is a lovely, peaceful spot, surrounded by fields and villages. For a few euro, you can climb the 349 steps for some incredible views.

title: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin


text:
Cherchen

Cherchen (且末; Qiěmò) is a city in Xinjiang Province in China.

Understand
Cherchen is a river oasis town along the southeastern rim of the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. It is the largest town east of Khotan in southern Xinjiang.

This area has a truly ancient human history, based on the 3,500-year-old cemetery along the ancient Jade Road that traded with the earliest Chinese dynasties and the similarly dated Bronze Age rock carvings south of town along another ancient trade route to what is now Tibet and a forgotten back door to central China.

More than a thousand years later, the area was ruled as the kingdom of Calmadana during the earliest heyday of the Silk Road. Its fortunes have since ebbed and flowed, mainly with the popularity of the southern trade route: sometimes abandoned, as when Buddhist monk Xuan Zang passed through in the year 644, and other times bustling, as when Marco Polo came by in 1273.

Cherchen has a large modern center with modern hotels, modern restaurants, a hospital, a large central square, a commercial airport, a computer store, Internet cafés, and several large apartment blocks.

Visitors can also explore pleasant Uyghur residential neighborhoods, including a large district just across the street from the center of town. There are rural pasturelands, with flocks of sheep, and agricultural fields to wander about a bit farther from the center. The Uyghur bazaar is small but interesting, and the traveler can pick up a game of pool at one of a dozen tables at the bazaar entrance.

Although it has much to offer, Cherchen received only 448 foreign visitors in 2005 (in contrast to over 60,000 Chinese travelers that year).

Cherchen County spent ¥8 million in 2005 alone on tourist infrastructure such as roads and ¥2.5 million in 2005 on tourism sights, and tourism spending continues apace so access and support will continue to improve.

Get in
Many foreign travelers coming through Cherchen are headed for Dunhuang, Xining or Golmud (and onward to Lhasa) through Qinghai Province. A 4WD vehicle is needed for just one leg of this trip. This means, if you are taking a private tour, you have 4WD vehicles the entire way from Kashgar or Khotan or wherever you begin, so travel agents tell you the whole thing is a 4WD track. But you can go by bus, independently, on great roads, for every other leg, and take a 4WD public car. Much of southern Xinjiang was closed to tourists, except with special permission, into the 1990s. Today, however, there are daily long-distance buses east and west, including a daily bus to and from Hotan. The roads, now well-paved asphalt highways, are in good shape, both west to Niya / Minfeng and Khotan. One can also fly here.

By bus

 * Khotan - 605km, daily bus takes 11 hours (also spelled Hotan or Hetian)
 * Ruoqiang - 351km, daily bus takes 6 hours (also called Charklik)
 * Korla - 708km, four daily buses take about 10 hours (also spelled Kuerle)

Sights farther afield
There are several sights farther afield, four in the cool, high mountains south of the Taklamakan Desert and a fifth deep inside that desert.

Some challenges in visiting Cherchen
Though easy to reach, with modern facilities, and with much to see, Cherchen is still not an easy destination for foreigners:
 * Sand storms, especially frequent in spring, continue into summer but are rare in the fall, can delay travel. Allow a few days of flexibility in your schedule and expect wind and skies hazy with desert dust, the breath of the yellow dragon. On the other hand, though fiercely cold at night in winter, the days are brisk but clear, and all transit and tourist sites are operating.
 * Few people in town speak English. One of the managers of the Muztag Hotel speaks English well, but no one at the Cherchen / Qiemo County Travel Bureau does. Both a Mandarin Chinese phrasebook and one with Uyghur, such as Lonely Planet's Central Asia Phrasebook, will be helpful to visitors. Uyghurs make up the vast majority of the population but most do not speak Chinese well and, in any case, would be honored if you try to communicate in their native language.
 * The town has an airport, though it offers only two weekly flights to and from Urumqi via Korla, and these may be cancelled if there are too few passengers. (There is talk of increasing these to daily flights in summer.)
 * No English-speaking tour guides have set up shop here. You can easily travel independently to and around the town and to the main sights, so you don't really need a guide. If you prefer to have an English-speaking guide, however, you would have to arrange it in Kashgar, Hotan, Korla, or even Ürümqi -- and few guides from elsewhere are familiar with Cherchen / Qiemo, so s/he would be serving mainly as a translator.
 * Though there are several quality restaurants, none have English menus. Phrase books have a restaurant section that should get you through, as they will in the rest of Xinjiang, or you can enter the kitchen and point to what you would like. Street signs are in English, however, and the two museums have English signage.
 * In the several good hotels the bathrooms are quite modern, but in this oasis in the desert, water supply and energy seem to be rationed. So you may have some hours without running water, and hot running water may be scheduled for only certain hours each day. This is the case in most towns in the south outside of Kashgar and Hotan. Ask at check-in about the water supply schedule.
 * The lone bank in town does not have an ATM and does not provide currency exchange nor cash advances on foreign cards. None of the hotels in town accept foreign currency or exchange currency. You'll need to bring all the RMB you'll need from Hotan or Korla.
 * The local PSB (police) station does not have an Aliens Entry and Exit Administration office, so you cannot get your visa extended here. You can do this in Hotan and Korla.

Despite the challenges, Cherchen is a rewarding destination, with history and mystery to spare, along with surprisingly modern comforts.

Go next
Silk Road - The route between Dunhuang and Cherchen is probably the hardest in all of the Silk Road since public transit does not exist between the two points. Buses run from Cherchen to Charklik (Ruoqiang) taking about 13-16 hours. Between Charklik (Ruoqiang) and Qinghai Province the use of private jeep and/or minibuses is required to get you over the border so that you can pick up public transit either direct to Dunhuang or Golmud then on to Dunhuang.

title: Cherchen