Two-day Chennai Sight Seeing Guide

Turning the city inside out, in two days' time, can be pretty rewarding! The hotspots to hit off along the coastline will begin by working off the calories with the major fun rides at VGP Universal Kingdom or MGM Dizzie World, on the East Coast Road. In case you are with kids in tow, then Little Folks, a few kilometres down the road, would be a better idea.

If you want to take it slow for a while, Dakshina Chitra's re-creations of ancient South Indian house architecture will prove engaging. From here the next best thrill is the Muthukkadu lake, where long boat rides on placid backwaters help calm the spirits (2 and 3-seater rowboats can be hired for Rs.45/- for half an hour; rower charge - Rs.7/-. 8 and 16-seater motor boats available at Rs.160/- and Rs.320/- respectively). For the wildlife enthusiast, there's good news. On the same road is Crocodile Bank, and by that you can guess what the welcome committee will include! In the household at Crocodile Bank is the largest saltwater crocodile in India - Jaws III. How big is it? How much does it weigh? Well, that's left for you to find out!

For a gourmet indulgence on the East Coast Road, Basera, Hot Kitchen or Food Village will make your day.

In city, the Birla Planetorium at Guindy takes you on a journey through the 'final frontiers' of space (Open 10.00 am to 5.45 pm. Closed on Mondays). The Government Museum at Egmore, one of the best in the country, will help you time-walk through the past (Closed on Fridays).

And the perfect sign-off in the evening would be a stop at the second longest beach in the world - Marina (Or, if you are looking for something a little more secluded, there's Elliot's beach, Besant Nagar).

When you've got your fill of the local sights and want some footloose fun, you can let your hair down at the HFO (Hell Freezes Over) discotheque on Sterling Road (the most happening discotheque in the whole peninsula!) or shoot some relaxed pool at Chennai's first exclusive pool, snooker and billiards parlour - Billiards Point, Lloyds Road.

This two-day whirlwind trip would cost you Rs.3,100/- for a non A/C van to Rs.4,700/- for an A/C Tempo. Remember, this is only for taking you to the right places!

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