Clean, well-stocked central Pharmacy and Budget Hotel, Visa

nomad4ever · Oct 17th, 2009, 11:56

I'm slowly running out of some (anywhere else) expensive medicines, I stocked up in Goa about 6 months ago.

So I was planning to have a 2-3 day trip to Chennai (easiest to reach and cheapest destination for me) to stock up on my medicines.

Which well-stocked pharmacy would you recommend, centrally located in Chennai. And maybe a nice, cosy, clean hotel with a budget to mid-rage price tag nearby?

And are the rumors really true, that when you arrive without the 6-month tourist visa, that it's possible to get a 2-3 day visa for a small fee?

Thanks a million! ;-)

nomad4ever · Oct 18th, 2009, 12:41

42 reads, nobody knows anything? ;-)

Nick-H · Oct 18th, 2009, 12:54

There are pharmacies on every street almost --- and even "central" is two vague for India's fourth-largest city.

capt_mahajan · Oct 18th, 2009, 12:56

This will be of small help and not with the Hotels.

Consider Apollo hospital's pharmacy (also the only one I know, walking distance from the US Consulate side of Mount Road/Anna Salai.

May not be exceptionally clean, but will have a wide variety of medicines.

There are some corporate pharmacy chains now in India that are clean but variably stocked. Apollo has many in Chennai. Some are well stocked.

Another advantage: chances of spurious medicines is lower.

-crossposted with Nick-

http://www.apollopharmacy.in/locator.php

nomad4ever · Oct 18th, 2009, 18:41

Great, thanks for the help, Nick-H and Captn Mahajan.
If central is too vague, what area would you recommend for staying to see at least some sights of the city during the day?

Or is convenient enough around the airport to spare the way back into town? ;-)

Nick-H · Oct 18th, 2009, 18:51

Apollo Pharmacy is a good idea.

If your medicine is exotic, it is quite likely not to be in stock, but they should be able to get it for the next day. Some of the Apollo places are open 24 hours.

In case you haven't come across it, Apollo is a high-class private hospital chain, so the brand name has value in itself.

You could go to the pharmacy counter at any private hospital, if cleanliness is really your thing, but I would say that I can't think I've ever seen a particularly dirty medicals shop!

Mind you... I have local standards about such things

Do have a prescription? Probably doesn't matter at most shops, but it might at a hospital pharmacy.

I always suggest Mylapore as the area to stay in. You have a mixture of temple, old market, not too modern, but it is central to everywhere.

Do see other Chennai threads on accomodation. The ones where KYM yoga students discuss where to stay might be appropriate.

nomad4ever · Oct 19th, 2009, 02:13

Okay, thanks again, will check those Apollo pharmacies out.

How far is it from the airport to Mylapore?

And any update with the Visa Topic? As I'm planning to stay only 2-3 days at all, it would be nice to avoid having to apply for the 6-months tourist visa. A while ago I heard some rumors that people without Visa can get a Transit Stamp which is valid for up to 3 days or so. Can anyone confirm that?

Haylo · Oct 19th, 2009, 02:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomad4ever

And any update with the Visa Topic?

It was tucked away with a bunch of other questions, it's likely that nobody saw it. To get the best response you're better off asking unrelated questions separately.

Quote:

A while ago I heard some rumors that people without Visa can get a Transit Stamp which is valid for up to 3 days or so. Can anyone confirm that?

Yes you can get a transit visa. No, you cannot get it on arrival. No idea what country you are from, but as an example, if you were from the UK a transit visa would be around £30 and a six month tourist visa would be around £45.

Immigration officials do also have the power to issue a "Temporary Landing Permit" (TLP) for a maxiumum of 72 hours by retention of your passport, IF you have an onward ticket and (this is the crux) IF he is satisfied.

BUT

It is not guaranteed
I have never heard of anyone being granted one
Your airline will not allow you to board your flight without a visa

nomad4ever · Oct 19th, 2009, 10:01

Alright, thanks for that, Haylo.

capt_mahajan · Oct 19th, 2009, 11:27

Quote:

How far is it from the airport to Mylapore?

Ten/twelve kilometers, roughly.

45 minutes drive in moderate traffic.

Nick-H · Oct 19th, 2009, 14:14

More like 15 to Kapaliswara Temple.

Gametotravel · Oct 19th, 2009, 14:23

[quote=nomad4ever;839390]I'm slowly running out of some (anywhere else) expensive medicines, I stocked up in Goa about 6 months ago.

So I was planning to have a 2-3 day trip to Chennai (easiest to reach and cheapest destination for me) to stock up on my medicines.

Which well-stocked pharmacy would you recommend, centrally located in Chennai.

Narayanappah Pharmacy on Nungambakkam High Road (next to Ganpat Hotel) is what you may be looking for(googling will also give phone numbers and address/directions).

I am surprised that a lot of people here have not heard of Narayanappah!

Nick-H · Oct 19th, 2009, 14:48

None of us need to have heard of any other medicals shop than the one[s] in our street.

Gametotravel · Oct 19th, 2009, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

None of us need to have heard of any other medicals shop than the one[s] in our street.

Sure one needs to know while advicing and also when one's required medicine is not available down the street!

Nick-H · Oct 19th, 2009, 15:41

Well, mostly it is, "Sorry, will get it for tomorrow... will deliver to your house..." no problem.

But if somewhere is known for having obscure stuff, or stuff not normally available in India, then yes, that would be useful to know.

Oct 17th, 2009, 11:56	#1
nomad4ever Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Goa Posts: 138	Clean, well-stocked central Pharmacy and Budget Hotel, Visa I'm slowly running out of some (anywhere else) expensive medicines, I stocked up in Goa about 6 months ago. So I was planning to have a 2-3 day trip to Chennai (easiest to reach and cheapest destination for me) to stock up on my medicines. Which well-stocked pharmacy would you recommend, centrally located in Chennai. And maybe a nice, cosy, clean hotel with a budget to mid-rage price tag nearby? And are the rumors really true, that when you arrive without the 6-month tourist visa, that it's possible to get a 2-3 day visa for a small fee? Thanks a million! ;-) __________________ Cheers, Chris http://www.nomad4ever.com Life is what you make it!

Oct 18th, 2009, 12:56	#4
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,607	This will be of small help and not with the Hotels. Consider Apollo hospital's pharmacy (also the only one I know, walking distance from the US Consulate side of Mount Road/Anna Salai. May not be exceptionally clean, but will have a wide variety of medicines. There are some corporate pharmacy chains now in India that are clean but variably stocked. Apollo has many in Chennai. Some are well stocked. Another advantage: chances of spurious medicines is lower. -crossposted with Nick- http://www.apollopharmacy.in/locator.php __________________ . Outside the machine

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Oct 18th, 2009, 12:41	#2
nomad4ever Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Goa Posts: 138	42 reads, nobody knows anything? ;-)

Oct 18th, 2009, 12:54	#3
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	There are pharmacies on every street almost --- and even "central" is two vague for India's fourth-largest city.

Oct 18th, 2009, 18:41	#5
nomad4ever Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Goa Posts: 138	Great, thanks for the help, Nick-H and Captn Mahajan. If central is too vague, what area would you recommend for staying to see at least some sights of the city during the day? Or is convenient enough around the airport to spare the way back into town? ;-)

Oct 18th, 2009, 18:51	#6
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Apollo Pharmacy is a good idea. If your medicine is exotic, it is quite likely not to be in stock, but they should be able to get it for the next day. Some of the Apollo places are open 24 hours. In case you haven't come across it, Apollo is a high-class private hospital chain, so the brand name has value in itself. You could go to the pharmacy counter at any private hospital, if cleanliness is really your thing, but I would say that I can't think I've ever seen a particularly dirty medicals shop! Mind you... I have local standards about such things Do have a prescription? Probably doesn't matter at most shops, but it might at a hospital pharmacy. I always suggest Mylapore as the area to stay in. You have a mixture of temple, old market, not too modern, but it is central to everywhere. Do see other Chennai threads on accomodation. The ones where KYM yoga students discuss where to stay might be appropriate.

Oct 19th, 2009, 02:13	#7
nomad4ever Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Goa Posts: 138	Okay, thanks again, will check those Apollo pharmacies out. How far is it from the airport to Mylapore? And any update with the Visa Topic? As I'm planning to stay only 2-3 days at all, it would be nice to avoid having to apply for the 6-months tourist visa. A while ago I heard some rumors that people without Visa can get a Transit Stamp which is valid for up to 3 days or so. Can anyone confirm that?

Oct 19th, 2009, 10:01	#9
nomad4ever Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Goa Posts: 138	Alright, thanks for that, Haylo.

Oct 19th, 2009, 14:14	#11
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	More like 15 to Kapaliswara Temple.

Oct 19th, 2009, 14:23	#12
Gametotravel Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 757	[quote=nomad4ever;839390]I'm slowly running out of some (anywhere else) expensive medicines, I stocked up in Goa about 6 months ago. So I was planning to have a 2-3 day trip to Chennai (easiest to reach and cheapest destination for me) to stock up on my medicines. Which well-stocked pharmacy would you recommend, centrally located in Chennai. Narayanappah Pharmacy on Nungambakkam High Road (next to Ganpat Hotel) is what you may be looking for(googling will also give phone numbers and address/directions). I am surprised that a lot of people here have not heard of Narayanappah!

Oct 19th, 2009, 14:48	#13
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	None of us need to have heard of any other medicals shop than the one[s] in our street.

Oct 19th, 2009, 15:41	#15
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Well, mostly it is, "Sorry, will get it for tomorrow... will deliver to your house..." no problem. But if somewhere is known for having obscure stuff, or stuff not normally available in India, then yes, that would be useful to know.