Chennai, also known as Madras, which is named after the Telugu ruler, Damarla Mudirasa, who served as a general under Venkata III of the Vijayanagar Empire. It is one of the largest cultural, economic and educational centres of south India. Being the largest city and the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai stretches for over 20 Km across the coromandel coast, which overlooks the Bengal Bay in the Indian ocean.
Climate and Local Timing
India is a hot tropical country, which means you’ll be having the perfect mix between rainy summers, and moderate winters. In Chennai the overall temperature varies between 30-ish to 40 °C in the summertime - which is the majority of the year - and between 10 to 15 °C in the wintertime, which is roughly two/two and half months. Thus, packing heavy clothes won’t do you any good, keep it simple and pack the basics. As for the timing, UTC/GMT +5:30 is the city’s local timing, keep that in mind when booking your student accommodation.
City’s Nature (Urban-Rural)
Labelled as the safest city in India, by The Quality of Living Survey, Chennai is the economic and educational centre of south India where luxurious hotels and fantasy dinners are thriving with tourists all year round; as for the urban nature; it’s definitely an urban one. However, a large section of the agricultural land of Kancheepura and Thiruvallur districts has been added to the city’s circle since, so it’s a great mix between urban lifestyle and green getaways on weekends.
Famous Sightseeing Destinations
Holding the “43rd-most visited city in the world for the year 2015”, Chennai is among the most visited Indian cities by foreign tourists. Looking for a student attraction that is free, fun and beautiful, Marina Beach, the longest beach in India, is the place to check out! Semmozhi Poonga botanical garden is also must-visit greenery where you can enjoy a quiet, sunny day surrounded by rare plants. Other famous student attractions include The Huddleston Gardens of Theosophical Society, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Pulicat Lake, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, National Art Gallery and Connemara Public Library.
The flowers market in George Town is a place you must indulge in when you visit the city’s local market. Imagine having the chance to lather yourself with a salt bath with 100 flowers floating on top, after a long day at school! The ecstatic is so relieving!
Culture and Dressing Code
In rural areas, Indians tend to be quite conservative both in dressing and behaviour, unlike the urban ones, the common behaviour tends to be more open and western-like which is the norm for a city like Chennai. Traditional clothing is the most common, but you will definitely see some western-style clothing here and there, the density depends on the nature of the city you are in, normally in Chennai it’s more of a western style. Overall modest clothing, especially the ones covering the legs and arms are the key code to dressing properly within the Indian culture.
Universities in Chennai
Casita is offering student accommodation near these universities at the moment, KCG College of Technology, Thangavelu Engineering College, Anna University, the MHRD certified SRM University Chennai, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Atlantis Virtual University, and Annamalai University.
Transportation
Buses, Taxies, Rickshaws - Autos or Toktoks in other words - and Local Train stations are the most used among both locals and tourists. Buses owned by CMBT - Chennai Bus Terminal - usually are the most used both within and outside the city, with a moderate fare, that will help you keep your budget intact.
