Ten hours to kill in Chennai/MAA
 

Next month, I'll be arriving on a domestic flight to MAA at 14:30, with an international flight out at 23:00, leaving me with around 10 hours to kill. This will be after spending a few days in Chennai on the way in, so I presume I'll already have done the obligatory sights by then, and if MAA's anything like most Indian airports it's not the kind of place you'd want to stick around in for 10 hours. So, a few questions for the local experts...

a) MAA apparently completed some renovations recently, can anybody make heads or tails of this? (It would actually be quite handy if my dom flight arrives at the int'l terminal!)
b) In either case, where can I stow my bags? (My airline flies only once a day and thus won't accept them until a few hours before the flight.)
c) Any places for a nice leisurely dinner in the vicinity?
d) Are any of the lounges at MAA int'l worth buying access to?
e) Any other ideas for what to do on a sweltering hot Sunday?

Thank ye muchly ^

a) It means that there won't be any jet bridge and you will arrive at a remote bay and bused to the terminal. The international terminal arrival hall will be partitioned and one side will be used as domestic arrival. Also, you will not have access to anything on the international terminal until you checkin for the international flight.

Since your arrive at 2.30 PM it will take atleast 30 minutes for you to get bused, collect your luggage and assuming you check in for your international flight at 8 PM that leaves you with only 5 hours to kill. Best thing is get a book and there is a restaurant where you can spend your time. http://www.tajsats.com/srv_services_restaurant.htm I think this one is located between international and domestic terminals in the second floor.

I don't know about luggage storage facilities, but if you can find them, or check bags through (have a small piece for changes), then do so.

Its only 5 hours, but you can certainly get some good grub (how adventurous?) by finding a few different places with a few different foods and eating. mmmm, top it off with a drink maybe at the Trident Hotel or something near the airport?

Vague? Yes, but an idea. You could also go shopping.

OK - I have some reasonably good news for you.

1. The BICA lounge in the international, and in the domestic terminal looks like a lounge bar, has a decent selection of food and booze, comfy sofas, free wifi (ask the lounge staff for a password) .. though you could just step out of the hotel and dump your bags in the left luggage booth that's in the parking lot. Ask a security guy for where it is .. small standalone room that's quite a haul from the terminal building entrance if you have to carry your bags there.

2. Dinner in the vicinity - not too many actually good restaurants that are very near the airport except five star hotels. Half an hour or so away is another story - you can find a few if you are ok with that long a trip.

There's a Radisson GRT not too far away that has a decent restaurant. Also nearby - a le meridien, a trident (used to be a trident hilton). Could just book a dayroom at one of those, maybe?