Chennai to Ahmedabad

About the city:

About the city:One of Gujarat’s most popular cities, Ahmedabad effortlessly blends a rich history, with modern charm. From mosques to museums, tombs, temples, step-wells and lakes to theme parks, galleries and spas, Ahmedabad, has a lot to offer.

Airports and Railways: : The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport lies 14 kilometres away from the city. The airport caters to both domestic and international flights. Ahmedabad’s Kalupur Station is well connected to cities in Gujarat and all major cities across India like Delhi, Mumbai, Jodhpur, Jammu, Goa, Cochin, Patna and Mangalore among others.

Hotels and Restaurants: If you’re looking for a luxury stay in Ahmedabad then you can consider hotels such as Hyatt Ahmedabad, The Fern, The Pride Ahmedabad and The Ramada Ahmedabad. Popular hotels in Ahmedabad are Novotel Ahmedabad, Hotel Armoise, Country Inn and Suites by Carlson and Hotel Vibrant Palace.

Don’t forget to sample local Gujarati flavours in Ahmedabad. Dhokla, khandvi and puran poli are some of the items you must try. Savour a delicious Gujarati meal at Agashiy, where the menu changes every day. With its unlimited servings you can eat to your heart’s content.

Markets: Ahmedabad is a great place to buy traditional Gujarati handicrafts such as bandhani, mirror work fabric, jootis, oxidized jewellery and hand block printed bed sheets and table cloths. Ahmedabad Haat is a great place to shop, where you’re bound to get authentic items at a great price. The rustic interiors of the place are sure to charm you and there are also folk dancers and musicians to entertain you at the entrance.

City Transportation: Buses and auto rickshaws are a great and convenient way to get around Ahmedabad.

Must-See Places: On your Ahmedabad trip make sure you visit Thor Lake, Sabarmati Riverfront, Hathee Singh Temple, Ahmed Shah Mosque and Sabarmati Ashram. Others places of interest in the city are the Kite Museum, Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhadra Fort and ISKCON Temple.

Climate of Ahmedabad: November to February are the winter months in Ahmedabad and the best time to visit, as the weather is pleasant. March to May are summers in Ahmedabad and the temperatures tend to shoot up. June to October are the monsoon months and the temperature drops and is a great time to enjoy the city.

About the city:

About Chennai

Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu, situated on the Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal. It is the fifth largest urbane settlement in India, a hub for culture, commerce, and education in all of South India. The main city and its adjoining regions form the limits of what was initially known as Madras, presently called the Chennai Metropolitan Area. Chennai is visited by many foreign and domestic tourists. While one of the reasons is that Chennai is considered among the safest cities in India, many tourists come here seeking health.

How to reach Chennai

• Chennai By Air

– Chennai International Airport (IATA: MAA) is the main airport serving people taking flights to Chennai or from Chennai. Located in Meenambakkam, the airport is 21 km from Chennai’s city centre. Major domestic carriers operate direct flights to Chennai and from the city, while all major international carriers fly from and to the city too.

• Chennai By Rail

– Chennai houses the headquarters of Southern Railway, one of the 17 zones of the Indian Railways. Three of the major railway stations in the city are Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore (2 km from the city) and Tambaram (which lies in the suburbs). Most super-fast and express trains travel to Chennai on a daily basis, with direct connectivity to top metropolitan cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

• Chennai By Road

– The Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal (CMBT) connects cities like Tirupati, Pondicherry, Coimbatore, and Tirunelveli. Among the bus services offered, one could select between deluxe, semi-deluxe, hi-tech, Rajahamsa executive, and sleeper buses; they also connect major cities like Bangalore and Calicut to Chennai.
Chennai is well connected to most neighbouring cities by a network of highways. The five major highways connect Kolkata, Bengaluru, Madurai, Tiruvallur, Nellore, Vellore, and Pondicherry to Chennai.

What to do in Chennai

Chennai has some very classical looking structures and is one of the metropolitan cities in the country, which has the largest number of heritage monuments. The Marina Beach has a 6 km coastline, the longest coastline in India. The San Thomas Cathedral Basilica, built by the Portuguese in 1523 and designed in the Neo–Gothic style, is one of the only 23 Basilicas in India. Chennai is also about 74 km away from spiritual destinations like Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram. Pondicherry and Vellore are two cities that are a drive’s distance from the metropolitan capital city. This city is combination of experiences that bring in foreign and domestic tourists on a daily basis. One must-explore beyond the obvious to really soak in that well-preserved southern culture of the country. If you also want to experience the famous Pongal festival, try to travel here around January. Following places should form your list of must-see places when in Chennai.
1. Mylapore temple
2. Fort Saint George Secretariat
3. Madras High Court
4. George Town Markets and Bazaars
5. Marina Beach
6. T Nagar
7. Cholamandal Artists’ Village
8. Kalakshetra Arts Academy
9. Vivekananda House (Vivekananda Illam)
10. The Turtle Walk: To See Olive Ridley Turtle
11. The Ripon Building
The best time to visit the city is from November until February, when the temperatures range between 20°C and 25°C. During the day, cool breeze from the sea provides relief from the regular sultry weather. Pongal, celebrated in the month of January, makes this a special season to travel to Chennai. From March to June, summers make the city extremely hot and humid, with temperatures rising to a whopping 40°C and above. However, the city is less crowded then, and one can expect good hotel deals during this time. Monsoons in Chennai last from July to September, with the city being engulfed in heavy rainfall and strong winds.

Major Airports in and near Chennai

Chennai International Airport (IATA: MAA) is the main international airport, serving people taking flights to Chennai or from the city. It is located in Meenambakkam, which is 21 km from Chennai. The airport is ranked as the fourth busiest airport in India. The Chennai International Airport has two adjacent domestic and international terminals, which were the first of its kind back in the day. They are named after former chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, K. Kamaraj and C. N. Annadurai.
• The Chennai airport serves as the South Indian regional headquarters for the Airports Authority of India.
• The airport also serves as the nucleus for Blue Dart Aviation, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo airlines, and a focal point city for Air India and GoAir airlines.
MakeMyTrip offers a wide range of flights to Chennai. One can easily use the website to book a flight to Chennai or from Chennai, with the major airport being a hub to domestic and international airlines. MakeMyTrip flights to Chennai can be availed at highly discounted rates during festivals and off seasons.