India Guide
Tamil Nadu
Getting around
Chennai's sights and facilities are spread over such a wide area that it's impossible to get around without using some form of public transport. Most visitors jump in auto-rickshaws, but outside rush hours you can travel around comfortably by bus or suburban train.
On Anna Salai and other major thoroughfares buses have dedicated stops, but on smaller streets you have to flag them down, or wait with the obvious crowd. Buses in Egmore gather opposite the railway station.
If you want to travel south from central Chennai to Guindy (Deer Park) or the airport, the easiest way to go is by train. Services run every fifteen minutes (on average) between 4.30am and 11pm, prices are minimal, and you can guarantee a seat at any time except rush hour (around 9am & 5pm). First-class carriages substitute padded seats for wooden slatted benches, and are a little cleaner; buy a ticket before boarding.
City trains travel between: Beach (opposite the GPO), Fort, Park (for Central), Egmore, Nungambakkam, Kodambakkam, Mambalam (for T Nagar and silk shops), Saidapet (for Little Mount Church), Guindy, St Thomas Mount and Trisulam (for the airport).
Chennai's yellow-top Ambassador taxis gather outside Egmore and Central railway stations, and at the airport. All have meters, but drivers often refuse to use them so prepare yourself for some hard bargaining. At around Rs150 from Central Station to Triplicane, they're practically pricing themselves out of business. For this reason more reliable and economical radio taxis such as Bharati Call Taxi ( 
044/2814 2233) are becoming more popular.
Chennai's auto-rickshaw drivers are notorious for demanding high fares from locals and tourists alike. A rickshaw from Triplicane to either of the bus stations, or Egmore and Central railway stations should cost no more than Rs50, but again meters are rarely employed. If you need to get to the airport or station early in the morning, book a rickshaw and negotiate the price the night before. Only take cycle rickshaws on the smaller roads; riding amid Chennai traffic on a fragile tricycle seat can be extremely hair-raising.