Chennai’s Burrp! Diaries

LINK: http://know.burrp.com/my-city/chennai%E2%80%99s-burrp-diaries/44575

It’s one of those evenings when you can’t decide what to do? Friends aren’t being helpful either? Sandhya Ramachandran gives you a tried and tested solution for every evening of the week.

Chennai is a city that has been branded conservative, dull, insipid, and old fashioned by many. It is a pity, really, for we believe that they have just spent their evenings locked up behind doors waiting for sleep to hit them. If only they knew what we knew! Psst… We know exactly where’s the party tonight! So here are the pages from the burrp diaries on what you can do every evening of the week in Chennai.

Monday Nights

Begin with the cliché – they are time tested. Culturally inclined city, you say? Well, start with a late evening stroll across the Ashta Lakshmi temple in Besant Nagar as shadows begin to haunt. Chomping on a handful of thengai-manga-pattani sundal (a mixture of green peas mixed with grated mangoes and a smattering of scraped coconut), walk down the breezy lanes to Bessie Beach. Shoot down some bright balloons for a measly 10 bucks and take a crazy carousel ride for a 30. Grab some pink panjumittais (cotton candy) and let the waves welcome you to Chennai.

And you could always head to 10 Downing after to hear DJ Gavin spin some vintage rock music for their Vintage Monday nights.

Tuesday Night

Ride on the local train, get down at Guindy, and take a share auto till the Guindy National Park. After a quick ‘hi’ to the animals, go for a leisurely walk in the neighbouring IIT Campus to beat the beginning-of-the-week blues.  And as the Saarang deer play hide and seek between the trees, let the peace and quiet envelope you.

Wednesday Night
You might go to any fancy-swanky theatre in the country, but nothing would ever beat the charm (and the caramel popcorn) of Satyam Cinemas. Catch a night show at one of its glorious screens, one that has seen the rise of Rajnikant, Vijay, Ajith, Surya and many more.  Then go for a ride in the late hours on a now-serene Mount road. Take the Marina Beach road and whiz past the wonderful Indo-Saracenic architecture that has stood witness to the history of this city from days when it was Madras.

Thursday Night

How can one leave out the time tested retail therapy? And for this you have three options. If it is books you want to take home, Moore market with its very many shops of old, rare and pirated (hush!) books should be your destination. Go on further to Parrys for the old-world charm-hunt in the wholesale markets, bargain and also experience the beauty of old Madras, the Anderson church and the yummy samosas at Agarwal Sweets.

You could also go brand-crazy at Express Avenue Mall and drop down for an energizing Lime Mint Cooler at Fruit Shop in the basement. Otherwise, run to where the entire city does, T.Nagar, and choose between the many Saravana Stores, Pothys, RMKV and the like. Or maybe it is Ranganathan Street and Pondy bazaar’s street hawkers and roadside chaaya kadai (tea shop) that might catch your fancy.

Friday Night

Head to Zara’s the tapas bar, down some shots, grab some yummy short eats and unwind. Once you are a little tipsy, take off to Dublin at Hotel Park Sheraton and dance away till the wee hours of the morning. And you will know how we can Mambo with our Madisaars (the 9 yards sari) too!

Saturday Night

If you are in Chennai during the month ofMaargazhi (mid-December to mid-January) attending a Carnatic music/Dance recital is a must-do. Douse yourself in the brilliance and precision of the craft in one of the many sabhas.  Else, there is always a play or performance going on in Spaces/Sivagami Pettachi Auditorium. Contemporary or cultural – Chennai has it all!

If you want something more fun, you could head to VGP Universal Kingdom and Aqua World at the end of East Coast Road for a ride back to childhood. Go karting or take a dizzying ride on the roller coaster. Grab some dinner at their food court and finally head for a meditative night to the VGP Golden Beach Resort and fall sleep to the sound of the waves.

Sunday Night

Take a drive across the IT corridor and head for a relaxing evening at The Farm. Bite into your cheesy homemade pizza accompanied by many glasses of chilled lemonade. Lounge in the hammocks, chase some cows, or adventurously tread the Burmese Bridge. And on your way back, take the East Coast Road and let the sea breeze take your breath away!

So the next time you feel like life needs some stirring up, sulk not. Just relax, follow our advice and get to know your city better than anyone else.

Photos: Sandhya Ramachandran