Kanyakumari & Chennai

tstfs

A) we ( 2 adults and 2 Kids) will be reaching KK on the 1st of june, and plan to stay overnight. Would love to see the Sunrise and sunset amongst other things.
I was wondering if I could get suggestions/help on
1) the taxi fare to and fro from Kovalam.
2) a decent hotel close to the beach if not on it.
3) and the things we can see

B) will be reaching Chennai by train and am in the city for one day, catching an early morning flight out. Would laso like some help on a nice hotel and some ideas on a 2 hour trip to the beach plus a few good areas to shop in

Nick-H

You can shop for silks, clothes and jewelery in T. Nagar. You can shop for almost anything in Spencer Plaza (and, being indoors, it will be cool).

I'm not good at Chennai hotels, but please indicate your budget and someone will suggest.

Chennai's Marina Beach is just a long strip of sand with the city on one side and the sea on the other. I think you'll have seen better already, and might as well stick to the shops here.

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

zoltan

Kaniyakumari...

When you get out at the railway station, there will be loads of taxis shuttling people down to the hotels along the beach & back again.

Keep in mind:
1) most of the hotels have a 24 hour check-in/out policy. If you arrive at 6:00am you have to be out at that time the next morning otherwise, you may be hit for an extra part/full days tariff.

2) there are many hotels along the beach front (I can't remember where I stayed last time). Prices vary considerably and views are also varied.

Things to see /do:
1) join the queue to take a ferry ride out to the 2 tourist spots. one is the enormous statue of the Hindu philosopher (can't remember his name) and the other is a temple (?) on a small rocky outcrop.

2) take a walk around the beach area.

That's about it - it's a small location & not a lot on offer.

Cheers
Zoltan

__________________
India (and other) photos click here

shashank.aggarwal

From Kovalam to KK and back would cost you around Rs.800 to Rs.1500 in a taxi...even if you do not want to come back then also you have to pay both ways.

We managed to get a taxi from Tirvandrum, for Rs.650 (AC) only, however the driver was going to back to KK without any passengers as he had come to drop some guys off, so he had already charged for to and fro journey but driver wanted to make a quick buck...

The best place to stay is Swami Vivekananda Ashram. We paid around Rs. 900 for four us in a large room, with extra beds and all. It was air conditioned, very neat and quite.

The Ashram has its own Sunrise beach, and you can walk inside to it in the morning. you will lot of people heading that way.

For suset you have to go to the main area...however the Ashram has free bus service for the same...its hardly 1 or 2 km. There you can take the ferry and go to Swami Vivekanada memorial, its made on a rock and is the place where swami Vivekanada Meditated. The other structure is a Giant statue of some god or king, looks nice from a distance, however nothing great in the premises. The ferry ride would cover both of them.

__________________
Travelogue - Around India
Random Reviews

Nick-H

The giant statue is Vivekananda, isn't it?

nayan

No its not Swami Vivekananda.
As far as I remember its of the tamil poet tiruvallavur (not sure....the author of trikural).....
But definitely not Swami Vivekananda.

shashank.aggarwal

Yes, that sounds correct...I only remember the Tiru part..

tstfs

Thank you

tstfs

so you cant see the sunrise and sunset from one beach?

tstfs

I remember a beach- with a temple close by. haad been there as a kid. some golden beach I think.

shashank.aggarwal

You might be able to, but the effect might not be that good..

Secondly, don't expect those beaches to be like Goa or Kerela...

Especially the beach at the Ashram, they open it only for the Sunrise, I guess around an hour or so.

Nick-H

Just a guess: Elliot's Beach, Besant Nagar. There is a big area there with a temple and church fairly close to each other.

Further South, and nicer than Marina. Shops and cafes nearby too

snonymous

T Nagar is a veritable shoppers paradise, keep lots of place in your bags for your goodies. Rangachari at Luz Church is also good for cotton silk and pure cotton sarees, and you will get excellent temple jewellery in silver with gold plating, at a reasonable price opp. Kapaleeswar temple in Mylapore, forgotten the famous shops name but Im sure Nick or someone else will know.

You get nice handicrafts at Poompuhar and VTI. Ive bought a lot of the traditional papiermache sculptures from there which people think are granite sculptures here - until they feel the weight! Tanjore paintings are also an excellent buy, but you will get them better and cheaper from smaller shops.

Im going to be there in July for a family function so was also checking reasonably priced hotels. We're seriously considering Sangeetha Residency at Luz Church www.sangeetharesidency.net

Someone also suggested Nilgiris Nest on Radhakrishna Salai www.hotelschennai.com/hotels/nilgiri.htm. Maris and New Woodlands are also decent, modestly priced hotels in that area.
Try a search on www.hotelstamilnadu.com/chennaihotels

Hope this helps. Im sure you will get better details from local Chennai members.

Nick-H

The best shops for gold-plated silver jewellery are the Narayana Pearls chain. Not in Mylapore, but there are branches in Pondy Bazaar, Adyar, and several other locations.

Lots of small jeweller's shops in Myalapore, yes, and lots of shops selling sacred and religious items. Mylapore, both the temple and the streets around it is my favourite part of Chennai. See the vegetable sellers in the evening, with their lamps!

snonymous

Will check Narayanas when in Chennai next, Nick. The shop I was talking about specialises in Temple jewellery, the type traditionally worn by Bharata Natyam dancers. I now remember the name : SUKRA jewellers exactly opposite the Kapaleeswar temple. Ive bought a lot of fantastic pieces from there which are quite unique to wear, at least here in Mumbai. When I bought them they were very modestly priced, I expect everything will be higher now.