Around Bangalore & Chennai
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,335
Around Bangalore & Chennai
Hi all
On previous visits to India I've - predictably perhaps - spent the majority of my time in the north.
I'm not quite ready for Kerala and given that Bangalore & Chennai feature so rarely in any tourist guides, my interest is piqued.
For a stay of around five days, with the emphasis of getting out of both cities and exploring the surrounding regions, what would your suggestions be for things to do?
Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
On previous visits to India I've - predictably perhaps - spent the majority of my time in the north.
I'm not quite ready for Kerala and given that Bangalore & Chennai feature so rarely in any tourist guides, my interest is piqued.
For a stay of around five days, with the emphasis of getting out of both cities and exploring the surrounding regions, what would your suggestions be for things to do?
Thanks in advance for your recommendations.
#2
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
It depends on what kind of stuff you want to see.
You can easily spend five days in and around MAA.
City sights = one day or two days
Mahabalipuram plus lunch / dinner at Taj Fisherman's cove = one day
Kanchipuram (temples, silk shops) = one or 1/2 day
Beaches = evenings
Snake park, crocodile park, bird sanctuary, zoo (all different places)
Catch a Tamil movie.
Pondicherry = one day
EAT! (Every day )
Plenty to do.
You can easily spend five days in and around MAA.
City sights = one day or two days
Mahabalipuram plus lunch / dinner at Taj Fisherman's cove = one day
Kanchipuram (temples, silk shops) = one or 1/2 day
Beaches = evenings
Snake park, crocodile park, bird sanctuary, zoo (all different places)
Catch a Tamil movie.
Pondicherry = one day
EAT! (Every day )
Plenty to do.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Time of the year will also matter.
April / May are super hot (40 degrees centigrade easily on several days)
I am not a BLR expert. Although, BLR traffic has made me not want to go there.
April / May are super hot (40 degrees centigrade easily on several days)
I am not a BLR expert. Although, BLR traffic has made me not want to go there.
#4
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,335
Was thinking about late Oct / early Nov.
And thanks for the suggestions Snod08, but I'm looking for the accent to be on cultural sightseeing, so not sure Bangalore and its environs are going to hold much interest for me, based on what you described in your post. But perfectly happy to be proven wrong.
And thanks for the suggestions Snod08, but I'm looking for the accent to be on cultural sightseeing, so not sure Bangalore and its environs are going to hold much interest for me, based on what you described in your post. But perfectly happy to be proven wrong.
Last edited by nth_utsera_sth_utsera; Oct 3, 2011 at 11:35 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,652
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,652
#7
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: SAT / MAA / BOM
Programs: CO Plat; UA 1K; EK Gold
Posts: 5,110
Crocodile park is at least an hour or more away from town. I used to enjoy going there. Havent gone in last 5/6 years. So, not sure how good it still is.
Bird sanctuary (Vedanthangal) - November is high season. So December may be good too. Its at least 2 hours away from the city.
TO just kill time for one day in the daytime....go visit the "Museum". Its a really old Museum, and next to it is the "Connemara Public Library". These two places are very cool. The public library has really old texts and stuff.
After that, get some lunch at the Vivanta Taj Connemara (not too far from the museum).
Afternoon (after 3:30PM), drive to see the Adyar Banyan Tree (its the oldest banyan tree in Asia or the world (dont remember). Its incredible and very peaceful. That tree is located in "Adyar". Everyone knows where it is. Also located in the same spot is the Theosophical society started by J.Krishnamurthy.
Later in the afternoon, you can visit the beach at Besant Nagar, which is not far from Adyar area. (Now, Adyar is also near IIT campus and snake park).
THat will be a light day and easy way to kill some time.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,652
The snake park is a "city" location. Its near the IIT campus in Madras. Its decent. Can spend an hour or so.
Crocodile park is at least an hour or more away from town. I used to enjoy going there. Havent gone in last 5/6 years. So, not sure how good it still is.
Bird sanctuary (Vedanthangal) - November is high season. So December may be good too. Its at least 2 hours away from the city.
TO just kill time for one day in the daytime....go visit the "Museum". Its a really old Museum, and next to it is the "Connemara Public Library". These two places are very cool. The public library has really old texts and stuff.
After that, get some lunch at the Vivanta Taj Connemara (not too far from the museum).
Afternoon (after 3:30PM), drive to see the Adyar Banyan Tree (its the oldest banyan tree in Asia or the world (dont remember). Its incredible and very peaceful. That tree is located in "Adyar". Everyone knows where it is. Also located in the same spot is the Theosophical society started by J.Krishnamurthy.
Later in the afternoon, you can visit the beach at Besant Nagar, which is not far from Adyar area. (Now, Adyar is also near IIT campus and snake park).
THat will be a light day and easy way to kill some time.
Crocodile park is at least an hour or more away from town. I used to enjoy going there. Havent gone in last 5/6 years. So, not sure how good it still is.
Bird sanctuary (Vedanthangal) - November is high season. So December may be good too. Its at least 2 hours away from the city.
TO just kill time for one day in the daytime....go visit the "Museum". Its a really old Museum, and next to it is the "Connemara Public Library". These two places are very cool. The public library has really old texts and stuff.
After that, get some lunch at the Vivanta Taj Connemara (not too far from the museum).
Afternoon (after 3:30PM), drive to see the Adyar Banyan Tree (its the oldest banyan tree in Asia or the world (dont remember). Its incredible and very peaceful. That tree is located in "Adyar". Everyone knows where it is. Also located in the same spot is the Theosophical society started by J.Krishnamurthy.
Later in the afternoon, you can visit the beach at Besant Nagar, which is not far from Adyar area. (Now, Adyar is also near IIT campus and snake park).
THat will be a light day and easy way to kill some time.
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
But the time I was coherent in Mysore was truly lovely.
I wrote a bit about that day of our trip here: 1,000 steps to dysentery