Chennai, a metropolitan city rich in culture
Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu is one of the most popular cities located on the South Eastern coast of India. Formerly known as 'Madras', this bustling metropolis will amaze each traveler with its great religious architecture, classical South Indian art, rich culture and one of the yummiest cuisine you can taste.
As from 12 April 2024, Air Mauritius will resume its flights to Chennai, with a weekly direct flight every Friday served by an Airbus A330 aircraft.
Excited to discover Chennai and neighbouring cities?
Book your direct flight to Chennai
Discover the colorful Dravidian architecture of South India through its famous temples like the Kapaleeswarar temple or the Ekambareswarar Temple. Explore Mahabalipuram UNESCO world heritage site with its beautiful cave and rock-cut shore temples. Chennai is also popular for its white-washed churches and splendid architectural designs such as the St Mary's church, Santhome Basilica church, Fort St George or Ripon Building to name a few.
Chennai is also known as the gatekeeper of South Indian art, traditions and culture with a popular classical dance style of their own, Bharatnatyam, Indian classic carnatic music and the Tamil film industry 'Kollywood' . The city has also positioned itself as a leading destination for medical tourism with several achievements in the healthcare sector.
Visiting Chennai would be incomplete without some shopping. Discover traditional shops selling Kanchipuram silk sarees, traditional jewelries, bags, footwear and much more. Some of the best markets are Pondy Bazar, T.Nagar, Ritchie Street, Sowcarpet and George Town.
Chennai has a never-ending list of famous and delicious dishes. Enjoy a typical South Indian breakfast with idly-sambar or taste the famous masala dosa, all this served with a hot filtered coffee. For lunch, try the mouthwatering South Indian thali consisting of rice, sambar, dal, rasam, curries and curd. You may enjoy these served in the traditional way, on a banana leaf. Finish with some popular sweets such as the mouthwatering Mysore pak, creamy badam halwa or the traditional jangiri.
Wondering what else you can do?
From old buildings, museums, art galleries, beaches and parks, every visitor will find something interesting in Chennai. Here are some other popular activities:
- Take a stroll at Marina Beach or the famous Golden Beach
- Visit the Ubbalamadugu Falls
- Discover the fishing market of Royalpuram
Ready to discover Chennai?
Book your direct flight with Air Mauritius
Travel information
As we continuously welcome more visitors back to our island, we also want to ensure that you adhere to all measures and requirements that are in place prior to your arrival. Find out more about the latest travel advisory for visitors traveling to Mauritius.
