Chennai-Mamallapuram

shirleyart · Jan 2nd, 2004, 00:30

1- am landing in Chennai Jan 17/04. Need quiet, clean, non a/c double room under R350. does this exist?(email address or fax, would like to book in advance if possible)

2-is it possible to go from the Chennai airport to Mamallapuram by bus. LP says bus goes the other way (bus # and hours of departure would be helpful, plus where to catch it?)

4-is there money exchange at Chennai airport 24 hours?

4 - anyone ever got sick eating yoghurt in India...I need the calcium badly in my diet.

varun_dreams · Jan 2nd, 2004, 11:18

Hello,
Please see the link
http://hotels.indiantravelportal.com/chennai.html
Rates in good hotesl start from 600-700 for Non AC. Guess you can do online reservation only in such good hotels.
But then you can get cheap hotels for Rs 350.
I would suggest you to try Adayar Guest house.From Airport, you need to take a taxi to Adayar (Say Adayar Signal).
The hotel is right over there, its cheap and best and safe.
If you are coming to bangalore,or Trivandrum do let me know if i can help you.
You can mail me in varun_dreams@rediffmail.com .will reply soon.

bijapuri · Jan 2nd, 2004, 14:15

taxi from airport to Mahabs is very reasonable.

there are basically 2 ways to do Mahabs: in town and a few km north. In town is hectic, cheaper

out of town is wonderful, mostly, clean and quiet, and rs1000 and up.

When I'm coming off a long flight, still thinking about money in western terms, and needing a rest for a day, out of town is the only way to go for me.

wonderwomanusa · Jan 2nd, 2004, 15:16

I think you might have to take a taxi or bus from the airport to the new bus station in Chennai, and then get on a bus for Mamalipuram. First bus leaves at about 5:45am and takes just under two hours...costs about Rs25

butterball · Jan 2nd, 2004, 15:42

Yes - there is now a new bus terminal ( I photocopied old guide book pages which still didn't have this and I was CONVINCED the rickshaw driver was trying it on when I requested the "old" station which should have been only 1km away - instead of a 70rs 8km ! ) I eat humble pie..

The bus is a fun 2 hrs.

Personally , I didn't really enjoy Mahaballipuram. Sure, the site was wonderful and the stoneworks interesting , but I found the whole place a little too "sceney" and I like to avoid the whole "Muesli" thing..

I can recommend the "Vinodhara" Guest House opposite the (rather culty looking) "Lakshmi Lodge" - Nice guys running it making a real effort. Go for an upstairs room ( I took the one on the corner of the road - more windows & a nice breeze ) - 250rs for a double.

Have a Thali in the "Golden Palate" Annexe on the main Road - superb every time.

Don't expect a pleasant beach - more of a toilet. One morning I took a walk right along and encountered a dead bull washed up ( no head and decomposing ?? ) , a dead dog & rat also washed up and on the way back found myself walking over an enormous carpet of maggots - as far as the eye could see !

The PANDIAN in Egmore is a very efficient and tidy option for Madras - attatched A/C bar for that cold beer(s) before you hit the sack. They take email bookings and it's convenient and around 450rs for a "Standard" non A/C single ( + taxes at around 11% )

shirleyart · Jan 5th, 2004, 21:06

Thanks for the tips. If I understand correctly, there is no bus pick up at the airport???
to get to Mahabs from the airport, I must first take an autorickshaw to the "new bus terminal" (r80- how far away from the airport is it?) and then get the bus to Mahabs? Is this correct?

beach · Jan 5th, 2004, 21:24

You can even catch a city bus to the new bus terminus from the airport if it is not the peak hours (morning and evening). I think it cost about 5rs by bus. The bus stops at the same side of the airport. Yes Mahabs is more of Historical sites.But if you are interested in the primitive structures this is the place. Kanchipuram is interesting and you can do a day trip from the same new bus stand.Its about two and half hour bus ride from chennai.

Jan 2nd, 2004, 00:30	#1
shirleyart Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 47	Chennai-Mamallapuram 1- am landing in Chennai Jan 17/04. Need quiet, clean, non a/c double room under R350. does this exist?(email address or fax, would like to book in advance if possible) 2-is it possible to go from the Chennai airport to Mamallapuram by bus. LP says bus goes the other way (bus # and hours of departure would be helpful, plus where to catch it?) 4-is there money exchange at Chennai airport 24 hours? 4 - anyone ever got sick eating yoghurt in India...I need the calcium badly in my diet.

Jan 2nd, 2004, 14:15	#3
bijapuri Lord of Kalinjar Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: the real surf city Posts: 2,646	taxi from airport to Mahabs is very reasonable. there are basically 2 ways to do Mahabs: in town and a few km north. In town is hectic, cheaper out of town is wonderful, mostly, clean and quiet, and rs1000 and up. When I'm coming off a long flight, still thinking about money in western terms, and needing a rest for a day, out of town is the only way to go for me. __________________ lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Jan 2nd, 2004, 15:16	#4
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,234	I think you might have to take a taxi or bus from the airport to the new bus station in Chennai, and then get on a bus for Mamalipuram. First bus leaves at about 5:45am and takes just under two hours...costs about Rs25 __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

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Jan 2nd, 2004, 11:18	#2
varun_dreams Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bangalore Posts: 8	Hello, Please see the link http://hotels.indiantravelportal.com/chennai.html Rates in good hotesl start from 600-700 for Non AC. Guess you can do online reservation only in such good hotels. But then you can get cheap hotels for Rs 350. I would suggest you to try Adayar Guest house.From Airport, you need to take a taxi to Adayar (Say Adayar Signal). The hotel is right over there, its cheap and best and safe. If you are coming to bangalore,or Trivandrum do let me know if i can help you. You can mail me in varun_dreams@rediffmail.com .will reply soon.

Jan 2nd, 2004, 15:42	#5
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London.. sometimes.. Posts: 689	Yes - there is now a new bus terminal ( I photocopied old guide book pages which still didn't have this and I was CONVINCED the rickshaw driver was trying it on when I requested the "old" station which should have been only 1km away - instead of a 70rs 8km ! ) I eat humble pie.. The bus is a fun 2 hrs. Personally , I didn't really enjoy Mahaballipuram. Sure, the site was wonderful and the stoneworks interesting , but I found the whole place a little too "sceney" and I like to avoid the whole "Muesli" thing.. I can recommend the "Vinodhara" Guest House opposite the (rather culty looking) "Lakshmi Lodge" - Nice guys running it making a real effort. Go for an upstairs room ( I took the one on the corner of the road - more windows & a nice breeze ) - 250rs for a double. Have a Thali in the "Golden Palate" Annexe on the main Road - superb every time. Don't expect a pleasant beach - more of a toilet. One morning I took a walk right along and encountered a dead bull washed up ( no head and decomposing ?? ) , a dead dog & rat also washed up and on the way back found myself walking over an enormous carpet of maggots - as far as the eye could see ! The PANDIAN in Egmore is a very efficient and tidy option for Madras - attatched A/C bar for that cold beer(s) before you hit the sack. They take email bookings and it's convenient and around 450rs for a "Standard" non A/C single ( + taxes at around 11% )

Jan 5th, 2004, 21:06	#6
shirleyart Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 47	Thanks for the tips. If I understand correctly, there is no bus pick up at the airport??? to get to Mahabs from the airport, I must first take an autorickshaw to the "new bus terminal" (r80- how far away from the airport is it?) and then get the bus to Mahabs? Is this correct?

Jan 5th, 2004, 21:24	#7
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	You can even catch a city bus to the new bus terminus from the airport if it is not the peak hours (morning and evening). I think it cost about 5rs by bus. The bus stops at the same side of the airport. Yes Mahabs is more of Historical sites.But if you are interested in the primitive structures this is the place. Kanchipuram is interesting and you can do a day trip from the same new bus stand.Its about two and half hour bus ride from chennai.