What to Expect in Chennai...

I found a site with a good synopsis of some things we may come across in Chennai. Above all, I think I'm probably most excited about the food! I have had Indian food a couple of times, but I'm sure the Americanized version will pale in comparison to the authentic!

Chennai Cuisine: 

A sampling of dishes from Chennai

Tamil Nadu is known for its hospitality and traditional food. People in the state are of the belief that serving food to others is a service to mankind. This fortifies the fact that your eating experience in the city will definitely be an unforgettable one. Specifically talking about the cuisine of Chennai, the city offers a wide variety in terms of different types of dishes. The delectable South Indian savories are truly a treat for the foodies. There is a plethora of items for both vegetarians as well as non vegetarians.


This can be made out from the number of restaurants and eating places in Madras. The staple diet of the people of Chennai is rice, which is served with other supplementary food items. The regular South Indian meal, which comprises of steamed rice along with a variety of vegetable dishes like sambar, dry curry, rasam and kootu, is served on a banana leaf. At times, it is also accompanied by crisp appalams. This is followed by a round of rice and curd or buttermilk or both. Finally, the meal concludes with a small banana and a few betel leaves and nuts.


For non vegetarians, the platter consists of rice, along with curries or dishes cooked with mutton, chicken or fish. The breakfast and evening snacks mainly include idli (steamed rice cakes), dosa (pancake made from batter of rice) and lentils crisp fried on a pan, vada (deep fried doughnuts made from a batter of lentils), pongal (rice and lentils boiled together, seasoned with ghee, cashew nuts, pepper and cumin seed) and uppuma (cooked semolina seasoned in oil with mustard, pepper, cumin seed and dry lentils.).


All the above dishes are served with coconut chutney, sambar (seasoned lentil broth) and mulaga podi (powdered mix of several dried lentils eaten with oil). Apart from this, coffee is a must for all the South Indians. Nothing can match the rich taste and aroma of a Tamilian Filter coffee. The coffee beans are Arabic in origin, which are roasted and then powdered to achieve the right taste. A bit of chicory is also added to enhance the aroma. It is then put in a filter set, along with hot water, to prepare a dark liquid called decoction. A portion of this is mixed with milk and sugar to get the perfect coffee.

Idli

Chennai Shopping:

Chennai, being one of the metropolitan cities of India, has a lot to offer to the tourists who come here. It is one of the most important commercial destinations in South India. So, if you are a shopping buff, you don't need to worry. There is a lot in store for you in the lanes of the ethnic city. This can be made out from the glitzy shopping malls in Madras. The new plazas have carved a niche for themselves amongst the shoppers. The old market places have been renovated to attract customers.

The growing competition between the shop keepers and the mall owners has proved to be a boon for the buyers. This has given them more variety and options to choose from. They also have a price range and quality variation to decide from. The crux of the matter is that Chennai is emerging to be a popular shopping destination, nearly a paradise for the shoppers. Amongst the conventional shopping places, there are emporiums, which offer traditional art and craft items picked from all over the state.
You can find items like Pattamara mats, Leaf handicrafts from Tirunellveli, Bronze and Brass castings and traditional jewelry from Kumbakonam, Metal works from Tanjavur and stone carvings from Mamallapuram and Silks from Kanchipuram. Apart from this, there are Government emporiums which offer a wide variety at fixed prices. Moreover, there is SIPA'S Craft link at Kodambakkam, which is a fair price shop, supporting local craftsmen. Besides, items like handicrafts and papier-mâché items can also be bought at reasonable prices.

Chennai Culture:

Chennai is the known as the doorway to South India. This verifies the rich cultural heritage it boasts of. Having a cosmopolitan attribute, it is the mirror of all the diverse cultures, which are nourishing within its boundaries. But the beauty of it is that all the people reside in complete harmony with each other. During festival time, Chennai is swept by the waves of celebration and joy. People practice all the religious ceremonies and rites with utmost devotion. The glorious pat of the city shines by the means of monuments of the yore located here. Apart from this, Madras also preserves the traditional art forms of the past and still practices them in order to keep the tradition alive. This explains the spirit of Chennai, which by all means is a significant part of the Indian Heritage.

History
Chennai, formerly called Madras, has been present since times immemorial. Whatever is known about the capital city of Tamil Nadu, presently serves as the history of the modern city. Originally Chennai was a cluster of villages, perched amidst paddy fields, bordered by palm trees.
People 
Chennai is a metropolitan city in the southern region of India. Due to the fast paced development taking place in the urban area, it has become the hub of all the major activities. This has attracted a huge influx of the people to Chennai for various purposes, such as employment, business, education etc.
Religions
Being a metropolitan city, Chennai houses a number of people from different religion and cultures. There is such a wide variety present here that it can be called one of the best examples of unity in diversity, in India. The most admirable feature of the city of Madras is that all the people live in perfect harmony.






(The above, images and text, has been borrowed from http://www.chennai.org.uk)

We leave in 20 days!!