Chennai is rich in tradition and if you are the classical music-and-dance sort, there's a concert on every night. You can also do some great shopping especially for cotton and silk sarees and gold jewellery. Our shops are tourist-friendly and we offer a variety of options for gastronomic pursuits. Chennai can make you fat and fashionable, but while making a decision between these choices you might simply want to hang out. What can you do? Here are a few things you can try.

Chennai by day

STROLLING

South and Central Chennai are the best places for an evening stroll. T-Nagar, Nungambakkam High Road, Alsa Mall and Fountain Plaza in Egmore and Spencer's Plaza on Mount Road are great places for window-shopping and light eats and chaat. You get cool, comfortable cotton fabric on the platform in Pantheon Road. A must for Chennai's blazing summers. The Nageshwara Rao Park in Mylapore and the Tower Park in Annanagar are great for strolls and jogging. But nothing can match an early morning run by the Marina.

MARKETS

Buy your vegetables, fruits and flowers at throwaway prices at the country's largest wholesale market in Koyambedu. You could also depend on your friendly neighbourhood vegetable vendor, paying a few rupees more. Burma Bazaar in Parry's Corner is the official grey market for foreign stuff especially electronic goods. Ranganathan Street, T Nagar, is a great place to buy this-and-that.

BOOK BROWSING

The city has a selection of large bookshops. There is at least one good bookshop in all the upmarket localities in the city. Nungambakkam High Road and Mount Road have many good book shops. The Moore Market traders near the Chennai Central Railway stations have an incredible collection of second-hand books. They also stock pirated editions of foreign and Indian publications. The pavements outside Luz corner are also a good source of second-hand books. Mount Road is the best place for back issues of expensive magazines at throwaway prices

SITTING IN CAFES

Chatting is not a favourite past time with the locals, who prefer to get going with their work. However, there are places on Nugambakkam High Road, Monteith Lane and Egmore, for cosy get-togethers.

ART GALLERIES

There are many in the city. You can find a string of art galleries on Nungambakkam High Road. Exhibitions are on throughout the year. Most galleries are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

SURFING THE NET

This is the latest obsession with everyone in Chennai. Every main road has at least a couple of cyber cafés where one can browse for as little as Rs 25 for an hour. Most net centres are open 24 hours.

WALKING ON THE BEACH

Early morning walks on the Marina are a treat and could get you bumping into the who's who of the city. The world's second largest beach, Marina is open till mid-night. Elliot's Beach on Besant Nagar is a great place to hang out if you are young at heart. You could grab some great tandoor stuff on the beach side and party till dawn.

AMUSEMENT ARCADES

The amusement parks on Old Mahabalipuram Road are great hangouts if you are the roller coaster sort or have kids. Check out the Amusement Park section for more details. The city also has many bowling alleys and pool tables.

Chennai By Night

DISCOS

Most discos are open only on Saturday nights and charge a nominal fee. Stags (that's male single men) are not allowed.

POOL PARLOURS AND BOWLING ALLEYS

These are open till wee hours of the morning. Plan and book your tables in advance.

ALTERNATE ENTERTAINMENT

There is no organised red-light area or official adult entertainment in the city. Locals know that Kodambakkam, the saddle of the Tamil film world, is the place to look