Hotels in Madras

As a Gateway City, accommodation in Madras is comparatively expensive. Yet, unlike in Delhi, Calcutta and Bombay, it is possible to find good, mid-range comfort at comparatively low prices. Madras is also one of the few big cities that has cheap, good budget hotels. All prices quoted below are exclusive of tax.Luxury(from US$100-250 per room night)The five-star hotels of Madras do very well, mainly because their tariffs are so low. They are particularly cheap in the summer months (May to July) when rates are discounted. Three top-bracket hotels are very well located, near to the city centre.Taj Coromandel, 17 Nungambakkam High Rd (tel 474849, tlx 41-7194 TAJM IN, fax 044-470070), is a typical Western-style hotel of glitzy Singaporean design, but the upper-storey rooms (single US$95-105, double US$105-120) offer good views and the Indian restaurant is superb. The Taj have recently renovated the Connemara in Binny Rd (tel 860122, tlx 041-8486 CH IN, fax 044-860192), which has considerable charm and large, quiet rooms for US$80 single, US$90 double at the rear of the old building. It used to be an ex-Nawab’s town house. WelcomGroup’s Chola Sheraton, 10 Cathedral Rd (tel 472247, tlx 041-6660, fax 044-478779) has drab, overpriced rooms at US$100 single, US$120 double, but scores on cheerful, personalised hospitality.Oberoi’s venture, the Trident, 2292-l/24 G.S.T Rd, (tel 2244747, tlx 41-26055, fax 044-2246699) is a pleasant hotel with rooms from US$90 single, US$105 double. The hotel is a few miles out of town making it slightly less convenient for sightseeing but, being only 2 km (1 3/4 miles) from the airport, it is useful for an early morning flight departure. The new Park Sheraton Hotel & Towers is a totally renovated hotel in a quiet residential area at 122 T.T.K. Road (tel 452525, tlx 41-6868, fax 044-455912). Rooms are from US$95 single, US$110 double.

Expensive (US$35-100/Rs1000-2850 per room night)
The Ambassador Palladia , 22 Montieth Road, Egmore (tel 868584, tix 41-7453, fax 044-868757) has rooms from Rs1200 single, Rs1200 double. The Savera 69 Dr Radhakrishnan Road (tel 474700, tlx 41-416896, fax 044-472475) is conveniently located, has a pool and rooms from Rsl000 single, Rsl250 double.

 

Mid-range (US$10-25/Rs250-1000 per room night)
Two central, moderately-priced hotels are New Victoria, 2 Kennet Lane, Egmore (tel 8252628, tlx 041-7897) with single air-conditioned rooms for only Rs450, doubles for Rs700; and Hotel Madras International, 692 Mount Rd (tel 861811, tlx 041-7272 ARU IN, fax 044-861520) with single rooms from Rs400, doubles from Rs700) Both have good Indian, Chinese, continental cuisine, and useful facilities. Slightly better and in quiet, downtown Mylapore, is New Woodlands Hotel, 72-75 Dr Radhakrishnan Rd (tel 472111, cable WOODLANDS). This is very reasonable with rooms from Rs300 single, Rs450 double, a swimming-pool and an excellent restaurant.

Budget (under US$10[Rs250 per room night)
Far and away the best budget bet is Broadlands Lodge, 36 Vallabha Agraham St, opposite Star Cinema, Triplicane (tel 845573, 848333). Run by the genial Mr Kumar, it has all sorts of attractions: beautiful gardens, sun-roof, swing-seats, filtered water, good information and noticeboard, even room service. Here you can hire out a cycle, use the library, and meet lots of people. All this and more for just Rs75 single, Rs300 double. Ask for the two prestige rooms: No. 38, with the famous graffiti wall paintings; No. 44, the elite roof cottage. If Broadlands is full, and it often is, you can usually sleep on the roof until a room comes vacant.

Other good economy options are Tourist Homes, 23 Gandhi Irwin Rd (tel 8250079), with single rooms for Rs200, doubles from Rs250; YWCA Guest House and Camping Ground (tel 39920), 3086 Poonamallee High Rd, with rooms from Rs75; and the YMCA in Westcott Rd (tel 833358), opposite Royapettah Hospital, with clean, spacious doubles for Rs300. Both the latter take men and women. Hotel Kanchi, 28 Commander-in-Chief Road (tel 473100) has rooms from Rs350.