Getting Around Chennai

Trains

While Chennai is a bustling city, the people here are friendly and English is widely spoken which makes getting around that much easier for those on a medical tourism vacation.  Like most Indian cities, Chennai’s road transport systems are overcrowded.  Trains are reliable and are the quickest way to get around the city.  The areas of Arakonam, Tambaram, Chengalpet, Thiruvanmur, and Gummidipondi are connected to Chennai Beach and the Central parts of the city through Chennai’s efficient train network.  Book a seat in first class to avoid the crowds.   

Buses

There are close to 2,700 buses serving Chennai on 375 marked routes that transport close to 4.2 million passengers a day.  While these affordable buses ply along different routes all over the city, most of them are old and run down. Sign are often in Tamil which makes navigating routes difficult.  Make sure you have a map handy. 

Taxis and Car Hire

The best way to get around Chennai is to hire a private taxi and driver for a day.  You will have to shell out more for an air conditioned one, but the cost is more than worth it in Chennai’s hot and dusty climate.  Driving yourself around may make you feel more in control of your time but is not recommended in Indian cities.  In Chennai, two-wheelers and autos use the roads with little regard for other commuters or traffic rules. Cars think nothing of going the wrong way down highways, motorbikes commonly ferry twice the recommended number of passengers, and large trucks careen through narrow streets at dangerously high speeds.   

Auto Rickshaws

India’s three wheeler auto rickshaws are a common fixture in Chennai.  However, they demand a flat rate at the beginning of a trip, and are well known for overcharging tourists and locals alike.  If you don’t want to be at the mercy of the famously suicidal rickshaw drivers, hire a bicycle, motorbike, or moped.  Two-wheelers can be uncomfortable for long distances or in Chennai’s notoriously scorching summers, but they give you the ability to enjoy the scenery and “get off the beaten track” as you’re not confined to the city’s heavily trafficked streets.