Covers over 426 square kilometres by land area, Chennai is a 369-year-old city and also acts as the capital of the southern state of Tamilnadu. It was formerly known as Madras and serves as one of the main gateways to South India. Chennai is also India's sixth-largest city in terms of population with an estimated population of 7.45 million and considered as one of the world's fastest growing cities. Besides becoming one of the major destinations for medical tourism, it also has the second longest beach in front of any municipality in the world. The official language in Chennai is Tamil and also acts as the first language used by locals. Other than Tamil language, English education is also essential in Chennai as it is used by most companies and schools.

Airports in Chennai

1. Chennai International Airport

Opened in 1910, Chennai International Airport is an international airport serving the city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and its metropolitan area. It was the first airport in India to have international and domestic terminals located adjacent to each other. Spread over 1323 acres by land area, this airport serves as a hub for Blue Dart Aviation, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Alliance Air, IndiGo.

It is located in Meenambakkam and Tirusulam and becomes the 4th busiest airport in India behind Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru in 2018. Chennai International Airport consists of three terminals. The old terminal at Meenambakkam is used for cargo, and the new passenger terminal complex at Tirusulam serves as passenger operations. Also, it handled over 20 million passengers annually, and the car parks can accommodate up to 1,200 cars. This airport also acts as the regional headquarters of the Airports Authority of India for South India comprising the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala and the union territories of Puducherry and Lakshadweep.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Chennai?

Traveloka is a very easy travel internet site for travellers to find the low-priced flights to Chennai. The step you need to do is to input the information in the search box, and the application will propose the best trip according to your budget. It also compares flight prices given by trusted airlines to help you to get the best deal. To get your preferred price range, you can use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights to get the best flight price to Chennai.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Chennai?

Situated in the Thermal Equator zone, there are two main seasons in Chennai which are summer from 35 degree Celsius to 42 degree Celsius between April to June. Summer is usually very hot and humid and makes sure only to use light clothing. Another season is monsoon which usually occurs from October to December. Heavy rainfalls alongside strong winds happen during this time. December to March is probably the best time to visit Chennai when the temperatures rarely exceed 30 degree Celsius which is slightly dry and hot.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Chennai?

1. Arignar Anna Zoological Park/Vandalur Zoo - Vandalur Zoo started as the Madras Zoo back in 1855 when it is located in the Government Museum complex by noted conservationist Edward Balfour. It acts as the first public zoo in India and the largest zoological park in the country. It covers over more than 600 hectares and attracts thousands of visitors daily. It is home to over 1,500 wild species, including 46 endangered species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. All in all, there are 2,302 animals in the zoo recorded in 2017. It opens daily except on Tuesdays from 9 am to 6 pm.

2. Guindy National Park - Although Guindy National park is the eighth smallest national park in the country; the green space is home to various flora and fauna. The park spreads over 2.7 square kilometers and is home to over 130 species of birds and 14 species of mammals, including the Blackbuck, spotted deer and jackal. This park also attracts 700,000 visitors annually, and one of the highlights in this park is the snake park and a children’s park. The National Park also breeds pythons and crocodiles and has been approved by the Central Zoo Authority.

3. Government Museum, Egmore - Also known as Madras Museum, Government Museum acts as the first and oldest public museum in India. It has been one of Chennai’s most famous recreational and educational attractions for more than 160 years. This majestic complex comprises six buildings and fifty galleries and showcasing extensive numismatics collection and artefacts related to Tamil history. The museum complex also houses other popular attractions such as the Museum Theatre, a popular stage venue in the city and the oldest public library in India which is Connemara Public Library. It opens daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm except on Fridays.