A prominent landmark and feature with its distinctive red and white paintwork, near the coast .

The lighthouse in Chennai on the Marina beach is often missed by most tourists and many locals. (Built during the British Colonial era ). It’s worth spending a few extra minutes to go up Marina to the light house for spectacular views of Chennai.

It’s interesting to trace the history of light house in Chennai. Chennai has had four light houses in the past .The history of the Madras Lighthouse dates back to 1795. In 1796, the roof of the Officers Mess in what is now known as Fort St George, was selected as the site for the first warning beacon. It was nothing more than a large lantern. The first Light House of Chennai functioned (1796 – 1841) at the Building in the Fort St George where the Fort Museum is located.The second light house was erected between the 1838 and 1844 on the north side of Fort St George.
Light House (Old), Chennai .This lighthouse operated until 1894. Though its lantern room was removed long ago to fit in the third light house also located in the Madras High Court Complex, the Tower stands tall even today.The third light House was functioning from the tallest dome of the Madras High Court. It started functioning on June 1, 1894, with argand lamps and reflectors manufactured by Chance Bros, Birmingham which had originally been installed in the 160-ft-tall lighthouse tower. The present light House is located opposite the office of the Director General of Police and was opened in January 1977. It is one of the few lighthouses in the world and the only one in India with an elevator.

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Light House of Chennai is one of most beautiful places to visit – The cool breeze from the sea and the panoramic view of the long beaches and roads on either side looked stunning. For a local like me, these views were so fresh and it was such a delight to have a look at my own city at angles never seen before. A must visit for every tourist and local. The whole visit wont take more than 30 minutes. So just go for it. Great photo ops for you to carry back with you  .

~~RIYA HARAN

Ever thought of eating thayir saadam in the form of flitters? You heard it right, Broken Bridge cafe in Chennai serves such kind of fusions. It is located in RA Puram. According to me, this is Chennai’s best fusion restaurant. The food is excellent. I hate to my heart’s content. It had been a very long time since I had an excellent brunch with so much to choose from until I visited Broken Bridge cafe. Some of the dishes left me stunned. I mean have you ever even heard of weird combinations such as thayir saadam flitters? Or Chicken Makhni papad? Or Rasam buttermilk? Or even Gulab jamun creme brulee tarts? I can’t wait to get back to the place and try the stuff I couldn’t get to try this time. Their presentation is so good and the staff here is extremely courteous and friendly. I love BBC.
Thayir saadam flitters- this dish is a never-heard-before-combination served with a sauce which adds on to the taste. I couldn’t have even imagined a dish like this. And there’s this authentic taste of curd rice (thayir saadam)

Rasam buttermilk and paan flavoured lassi- Rasam and buttermilk? Totally opposite. But opposites attract and combining them together was definitely a great choice. Paan flavoured lassi had an amazing paan smell and flavour in it.

Peri peri paneer tikka- Pretty sure your mouth will start watering just by hearing peri peri panner tikka served with mint chutney. It has amazing spicy taste and is best for tangy food lovers.

Vegetable fontina kulcha melt- Kulcha stuffed with cooked vegetables is an amazing new combination. It is served with two different types of sauces which enhances the taste of these kulchas.

Paneer tikka masala with burnt garlic pulao- Garlic lover? You should definitely try this. The pulao and the paneer tikka masala both are loaded with garlic

I’d definitely give this place a 5/5 and recommend you all to go try this place. It’s a feast for all food lovers. And if you visit this place, don’t forget to drop in the dishes which you liked so that I can try them during my next visit 😉

~Muskaan Shah

A plate of Pav Bhaji and Cheese Pudina Dosa? Well, it’s a beautiful combination having a North Indian and a South Indian dish together. This weirdly awesome combination is served at Novelty tea house. Apart from being one of the most famous restaurants in Chennai, it is also one of the oldest. The crowded narrow streets of sowcarpet are filled with the smell of the dishes from this eatout. It is specially known for it’s pav bhaji, variety of dosas and masala tea.
The first dish is sizzling hot cheese pav bhaji. The bhaji is filled with chesse which adds on to the taste of the bhaji. The pav is loaded with butter which makes it even more soft and gives an amazing taste. The chopped onions also add on to the crispiness of the pav. Novelty’s pav bhaji is the best in the city. There’s some special ingredient which distinguishes this pav bhaji from the rest.

The second is cheese pudina dosa. Ever had pudina with dosa loaded with cheese? Definitely one of the best varieties of dosa. This dosa is served with two chutneys- coconut and tomato along with sambar. It’s a pretty big dosa and is tummy filling.

I’d rate this place a 4.2/5. Even if you don’t eat the dosa, pav bhaji is a MUST TRY. If you’ve already visited this place, drop in your favourite dish. How many stars would you give this restaurant? I would definitely give it 5/5. If not, do drop in to eat the special pav bhaji and let me know in the comment section how your first experience was.

~Muskaan Shah

One of the most famous North Indian breakfast is obviously the Gujarati food. A plate which includes delicious varieties like Dhokla, Khandvi, Jalebi Fafda with Papaya Masala. It’s a feast in the morning to devour it. A Sunday morning in my house without these dishes is totally incomplete. These dishes are enjoyed by all age groups.
Ajabs Mithai Ghar in Chennai is one of the famous places to enjoy this delightful Gujarati cuisine. It’s located in Alagappa road which is near purusaiwalkam.

Dhoklas which are very spongy and juicy, are made with the batter of rice gram and chickpeas and looks yellow in colour. It is garnished with mustard seeds, sesame seeds, curry leaves, green chillies, coriander and grated with coconut which is optional. It is served with coriander and mint chutney. Khandvi is the tightly rolled bite sized pieces made out of gram flour and yogurt. It’s is seasoned with a little oil, mustard seeds, sesame seeds, curry leaves and green chillies. Coriander leaves add up to make Khandvi more delicious. Next, the Jalebis have it’s origin from Western Asia and India. It is made by deep frying maida flour batter which moves in circular motion to it the shape and is soaked in sugar syrup. I personally love thin and crisp jalebis. It can be eaten plain or served with rabdi which makes it sweeter and is an amazing dessert. It can also be served with fafda. Fafda is the crispy papad like snack of Gujarat mainly. It is basically made of gram flour, oil, papad khar and carom seeds and is deep fried until it turns out to be crispy. Moreover, it is served with the papaya masala which is more like a chutney to eat with which makes it more yummy. The combination of Jalebi and Fafda is like sweets and savouries fulfilling your taste buds completely.
The Gujarati platter is very famous among the north Indians but not many south Indians know about this. All these dishes are a must try for everyone. If you’ve already eaten all of these, do comment and let me know which is your favourite among these and if not, do try them all and drop in how was your first experience.
Personally, my favourite is fafda with papaya masala 😋

~ Muskaan Shah

Imagine a steamed juicy stuffing of chicken or vegetables that come wrapped in a flimsy exterior of the finest flour, in a bamboo basket. I bet you drooled merely by the thought of it. Oh yes, momos are real and so appetizing. They are supposed to be originated from Nepal and Tibet. They can be steamed or fried, it depends on your choice. Two of the best places for momos in Chennai is Wow momo and Asian station.
The first one is from Asian station. They taste as delicious as they look. These are the authentic momos. They are steamed and filled with vegetables such as cabbage, carrot, beans and chunks of paneer. The banana leaf not only adds to the looks but gives another flavour too. The coriander leaves make these momos irresistible. The bamboo basket is a tradition followed in China. It helps in keeping the momos hot. These momos are served with a hot and sour sauce and red chutney whose ingredients are unknown.

The second place where I had momos is from Wow momo. These are also steamed like the previous one and filled with paneer and corn. These are topped with french beans and spring onions which enhances the taste of these momos. They are also served with salsa sauce which makes it yummy and gives a tangy taste which complements the plain spiceless momos.

Not a lot of people have actually tried momos. Trust me, momos are really tasty and delicious. Along with this, it’s a bit healthy also as it has vegetables and aren’t fried. If you haven’t eaten momos, do try them. I’m sure you’ll love it. Don’t forget to drop in your favourite momo stuffing and if it’s your first experience, you can always share it in the comments option below!

~ Muskaan Shah

Madras, now Chennai, is an embodiment of the age old Tamilian hospitality.Its motto is ‘Vandharai Va Va Endrazhaithu Vazhavidal”.
Many examples of this virtue can be seen in this short note.
To begin with, a question. May sound silly but can be explained.Can a Mylapore-origin Madrasi become a Chief Minister in Malayalam speaking Kerala?Impossible.But two Malayalis became Chief Ministers here in Madras.Yes, one is MGR.We called him Makkal Thilagam and made him the Chief Minister.In fact, he did not take birth in India. He was born in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka.His wife V.N. Janaki was a Malayali.We made her Chief Minister too.Selvi Jayalalitha was born in Mandya Dt, Mysore State, now Karnataka.Can a Mylaporean become the Chief Minister of Karnataka?Impossible.But as per law permissible.
We have the following Statues of Foreigners on the Marina,giving them the same status as Mahatma, Subhas Bose and Swami Vivekananda.They are G.U. Pope,Robert Caldwel and Annie Besant.In fact, we have a locality named after her, Besant Nagar.The Founder of Kalakshetra was Mrs. George Arundale.Nowhere in this country can you see this spectacle.
We are Cinema lovers.Telugu Stars N. T. Rama Rao, Nageswara Rao were given pride of place in our movies.Similarly Anjali Devi, Bhanumathy, Savithri and others from Andhra,Saroja Devi from Karnataka,Padmini, Mammooty and others from Kerala,Simran, Nagma, Jyothika from North India were given important roles in our movies.
Why Kushbu has got a “KOIL’ built to worship?
The biggest extravaganza every year in the Music Worldis performed at Thiruvaiyaru to sing Pancha Ratnasof Saint Thyagaraja?What was the language of the Krithis?TELUGU. Madras and Tamil Nadu go by the dictum,”Yadhum Oore Yavarum Keleer”.
Vazhiya Senthamizh, Vazhka Natramizhar, Vazhiya Bharatha Manithiru NaduVandhe Matharam.

-S SAMYUKTHA

The hold of Madras Celluloid World in Tamil Nadu Politics.

That Kodambakkam rules Tamil Nadu is no exaggeration.It is a front-runner and a model for other Indian States.The charismatic Stars hold a sway on people and grasp political power.This maxim is supported by facts.
The first towering figure from the Drama and Cinema field of Madras who entered Politics and transformed it completely was Thiru C.N Annadurai, now called lovingly as Arignar Anna.He was the First Chief Minister of Madras from a Dravidian Party.He was a popular and towering personality.He was much loved for his oratorical skills and friendly attitude.In his honour, a Memorial is built on the Marina Beach.
He was followed by another impressive figure who reigned supreme in Madras Politics. He breathed his last a few months ago at the age of 95. He was Chief Minister for almost two decades in Tamil Nadu. He was noted for his screen writing and contribution to Tamil Literature. He was known as Kalaignar, in honour and recognition of his scholarly achievements. A Memorial has been built at Marina Beach in his honour,close to Anna Memorial.
The third representative from Kollywood was a Super Hero of those days, called M.G. Ramachandran, MGR for short.He broke away from the parent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)and started his own outfit and named it as Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK). He was a great Actor, Producer, Philanthropist and finally the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu  for nearly 10 long years.He was awarded the highest civilian title of Bharat Ratna.An impressive Memorial has been built on Marina for MGR.
Then  came Selvi Jayalalitha who became the most popular and towering Woman Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu representing ADMK.She died a couple of years back after a successful tenure.She was a great actress who made a mark in politics too.Her departure has left a void in Tamil Nadu Politics.
Two other Celluloid Greats who are waiting to make the grade in the political arena are Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.Will they make it?The future has the answers.

-S SAMYUKTHA

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Many a Lady made a mark in her chosen subject and made Madrasis proud.The number cannot be counted in one’s hand.A few great ones that lie uppermost in my mind I mention here with respect and awe.They hail from Carnatic Music, from Bharat Natyam Field, from Literature and also from Cinema.
The one and only Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi, MSS for short, takes the cakeand tops the list. Panditji called her ‘The Queen of Music”.She was non pareil in every form of Music, be it chaste Sastriya Sangeeth, Bhakthi Music or Cinema Music.
She was the first woman Bharat Rathna Awardee from Madras.It was a great honour to Madras.The Music Academy had conferred on her the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award.
The other Lady Musicians who contributed richly to Carnatic Musicand who hailed from Madras and received Sangeetha Kalanidhi Awards are listed out below:Kanya Kumari, Sudha Raghunathan, Bombay Sisters,Vedavalli,Mani Krishnaswamy, M.L.V, Brinda, D.K.P
Though not a Sangeetha Kalanishi, Veenai Dhanammal was the tutor of many stalwarts.Nithya Shree, Sowmya, Bombay Jayashree are witing in the wings.
From the Dance Field, two names spring up immediately.Rukmimi Arundale, the Founder of Kala Kshetra  and T. Balasaraswathi.Others who have also contributed were Kumari KamalaPandanallur Jayalakshmi, Padma Subramanyam.
There are many women writers whose list is long who have made the grade in literature.
From the Cinema Field, names that spring up are Vyjayanthimala,Padmini (though a Keralite), Jayalalitha and a few others.
Jaya’s name extended to the political arena also and needless to point out she made it big.
Let me salute the Bigwigs finding a mention here and countless others whom I have not mentioned for making MADRAS great.

. -S SAMYUKTHA

~ DAKSHINA CHITRA , CHENNAI .

Being a cultural enthusiast I love watching cultures of different states of India . Dakshin Chitra actually means “picture of the south” and that’s exactly what you should expect to see.  It is a little out of the city around 25km but its worth your while . It brings to you an unique concept of South India’s cultural traditions all under one roof .

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The museum has around 18 houses representing the lifestyle of the people from various states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala etc. The museum bought these houses and installed them as it were. Along with houses, they also contain various artifacts that were used by the communities. When you enter each of the houses, you will see the vast difference in the basic lifestyle of the people from the various parts of the states. 

The museum also has a place for various artisans to stay and practice their art. There are weavers, potters, glass blowers, fortune tellers, Mehandi designers, arts and crafts, etc. They make and also sell. There is a small market as well for buying the different show-pieces, handicrafts and various kinds of jewelry from all over India. 

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There is a restaurant as well. Do try out the veg thali there. The meal is tasty. Also, as you walk around you will find people selling coconut water, butter-milk, jaggery-ginger water and some other eatables. 

I would rate this 5 out of 5 stars because of the knowledge that it provides on our heritage. The place is well-maintained and clean.  It is must visit place for cultural enthusiasts . It’ll also be enjoyed by both kids and adults .

~Riya Haran

Being a North Indian who lives in Chennai, I have a specific liking towards south indian food and especially if it’s a little different from the usual idly dosa. When I found out there’s a place called ‘Eating Circles’ which serves Bengaluru style sambhar, which is a little sweet with a bit of jaggery, I couldn’t wait to go and try it out! This restaurant is setup on the Poonamallee high road and has become really very famous for its variety of South Indian food items and the sambhar, of course. This restaurant provides a Karnataka based cuisine with very different items.
I went along with one of my friends and the first dish we ordered was malgapudi thattu idly. This idly is not like the usual ones. It’s a little larger, softer and fluffier and the taste is also very different. It is topped with gun powder locally known as malgapudi. It is served with sambhar coconut chutney and tomato chutney. It was a treat eating this dish.

The second dish which we ordered was a special butter dosa. It was filled with butter and had an amazing taste. We specifically told them to make it crisp. The dosa was served with sambhar, coconut chutney and tomato chutney.

Since we were only two of us, our tummies were already full. This is a drool worthy spot and is a must try for every south indian looking for soulful food and the prices are also very reasonable. I’d rate this place 4/5. If you’ve already visited it, drop in your favourite food item so that I can try it out during my next visit and if you’re planning to visit it, do try out the neer dosa and Kaju rose milk as well and let me know which you loved the most.

– Muskaan Shah