Banks: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday
Post offices: 10:00 to 20:30; daily
Department stores and shops: 09:00 to 19:30; daily
Museums: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, closed Saturday
Business offices: 09:30 to 18:30, Monday to Friday; 09:30 to 14:30, Saturday

Chennai is a relatively safe destination and sees less crime that the more popular destinations of Mumbai or Calcutta . Most crime comes from the pickpockets who operate around the few tourist attractions, transport centres and the like. A good rule of thumb is to just exercise caution and use good common sense when travelling. Keep your valuables safely tucked against your body and avoid flashing money in public . 

Electricity: 220V AC, 50Hz; all plugs are round two-pin types.

Food poisoning caused by bacteria is a very real concern for visitors to India. All water, and even ice, should be considered contaminated; and only properly-sealed bottled water should be considered potable. Both fish and meats should also be considered suspect, unless thoroughly cooked and served hot in one of the better restaurants. Salads and fruits that have not been peeled should be avoided as they may not have been properly cleaned. The more serious dangers are the presence of diseases such as hepatitis, cholera, malaria, typhoid and tetanus. All travellers should make sure they have had booster shots for these diseases before visiting Chennai

If you contract something minor like an upset stomach, a pharmacy such as Health and Glow in Spencer Plaza can give you what you need. Pharmacies can be found on nearly every street, so don’t hesitate to ask your hotel for a little help retrieving the medicine you need. For serious problems, there are adequate hospitals right in Chennai that should be able to cure any of the locally common diseases. Nearly every doctor in Chennai can speak a little English, so communication should not be an issue. 

Apollo Hospital: +91 44 2829 3333 

Emergency services: 94440 78878

Among India’s hundreds of regional languages, Hindi is the most widely spoken. Since Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu, visitors will find that English is understood by a fair number of people, especially those who work in government offices or the tourism industry.

India uses the Indian rupee, which comes in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 notes. There are 100 paise in a rupee. Coins come in denominations of Rs5, 2 and 1, as well as 50 and 25 paise.

One of the quirky things about India is that it is technically illegal to take any rupees out of the country. This means you will probably arrive in Chennai without a single rupee in your pocket. If you fly, you will have to exchange at least a small amount of currency in order to catch a prepaid taxi to your hotel. Airport currency exchange kiosks give the worst rates in the city, so only change as much as you’ll need to pay your taxi fare.

Once you get into Chennai, the bank is the best place to exchange your foreign currency. They offer much better rates than changing money at your hotel or with unauthorised money changers on the street. ATMs have become prevalent throughout Chennai, which gives travellers another convenient option for withdrawing rupees. IDBI, ICICI and UTI Indian banks have ATMs all over the city, and most of them accept PLUS and Cirrus bank cards. There’s even an HSBC bank branch at Spencer Plaza, and Thomas Cook has three branches devoted to currency exchange spread around the downtown area.

Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted each year, particularly at higher-end hotels, shops and restaurants. This is an easy way to pay for large expenses, but be prepared for a service charge of 2 to 3 per cent on each purchase. Keep a supply of small bills on you, like Rp100s, to use as tips and at small shops. Most people won’t be able to make change for a Rp500 note. Also check the condition of your banknotes when you receive change. Torn and badly damaged notes won’t be accepted by shopkeepers, so you also should not accept them as change.

All visitors over the age of 17 are allowed to bring 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 2 litres of alcohol and up to 60ml of perfume without incurring a duty fee. Special electronic equipment such as laptop computers, video cameras or photographic gear will need a Tourist Baggage Re-Export form, available upon arrival at the airport. Technically, you must fill out this form to prove that you did not purchase the electronics in Chennai. Although customs officers don’t always check when you depart, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

India has more social rules than most countries due to its deeply entrenched social and religious tenets. It will serve you well to study up on the basics of Indian etiquette before arriving. Most Indians are Hindu, which means they are vegetarian and don’t drink much alcohol. You may have to adjust your eating and drinking habits a bit to ease into life in Chennai.

You’ll notice right away that Indians don’t touch each other. This has many roots and many reasons, but keep the physical contact to a minimum. Indians greet other with a namaste, the traditional greeting involving bowing your head slightly and putting your palms together. Don’t try to shake hands with someone unless they offer first. Chennai is a fairly modern city, so you may find some of the locals trying to use their global exposure to impress you with a handshake.

The biggest taboos in Indian society are the feet and the left hand. Be very careful with your feet, as they are considered the lowest part of the body and should never be used to deliberately touch someone or point at something. Take your shoes off if you enter a Hindu temple or someone’s house. Indians only use their right hand when they eat or touch a religious object.

Chennai is one of the more conservative large Indian cities, so try and dress accordingly. Revealing clothes are considered very rude on both women and men). Even at the beach, you won’t see Indians flaunting their skin. Lightweight, loose-fitting cotton clothes are the best bet for staying cool in Chennai’s climate.

Dining Etiquette
The only serious thing to try and remember when dining in Chennai is not to use your left hand. Nearly every Indian uses their right hand to eat their meals. This is a timeless tradition which has survived the country’s movement into the modern world. If you don’t feel comfortable eating with your (right) hand, ask for a fork and spoon, which most restaurants will have available. However, you may want to try eating the local way: it’s certainly interesting, and gives you a deeper relationship with the food you eat.

All visitors to India need to apply for a tourist visa ahead of their trip. This can be done rather easily at your local Indian consulate. Tourist visas are valid for stays up to 6 months after issue, and are typically issued without any hassle. You will need two passport-size photos, and a small fee to submit your visa application. Check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the day you plan to enter India.

There are Tamil Nadu state and Indian national tourism offices in the arrivals area of both terminals at Chennai’s airport, as well as the two main train stations in the city. In Chennai, there are several options. Indiatourism provides general tourism information, and is located across from Spencer’s Plaza. Tamil Nadu Tourism Information is another good choice for city and regional information. You can find Indiatourism at 145 Anna Salai, or contact them at: +91 44 2846 0285; or website: www.incredibleindia.org Tamil Nadu Tourist Information is at Tourism Complex Two, Wallajah road; Phone: +91 44 2538 3333.