Make a trip to Mylapore Tank and experience the sights, sounds and incense fragrance walk around the Kapaleeswarar Temple. Walk with the crowds and you will spot a string of tiny shops selling variable merchandise for keepsakes. However, do avoid Fridays, as the place can be hectic even for temple goers themselves.

Elbow your way in the crowded Pondy Bazaar and Ranganathan Street and bargain for knick-knacks, or wander around Spencer Plaza - an excellent place to buy pretty much everything and anything Indian you could think of. If global brands are the preferred choice, then swing down to Ampa Mall, the biggest retail outlet in Chennai.

Chennai is famous for its filter coffee. The detail and delicate process of making a filter coffee is almost a ritual. Thickly immersed in Tamil tradition and culture, rice is the major staple in the Chennaites’ diet. Meals are mixed with variety gravies like curry and toppings are served together onto the banana leaf. Although traditional, the Chennaites like experimenting different types of food as more western food joints and fast food restaurants can be seen popping up in various areas.