Monday, September 20, 2010

Chennai is a city that has vibrant economy

The Southern Indian city of Chennai is a city that has an extremely vibrant economy. The city actually hosts much of India’s automobile and automotive components industry. Global and domestic auto firms like Hyundai, Ford, BMW, Mitsubishi, Komatsu, The TVS Group, Ashok Leyland, Nissan-Renault, Daimler Trucks, Apollo tires all have a strong presence in Chennai though in addition to the automotive industry Chennai also hosts several other industries like software services, hardware manufacturing, healthcare and financial services. 

All this energetic economic activity has ensured that Chennai has become an established destination in Southern India for overseas travelers.  If you are heading to Chennai from the US then your trip from a US city is likely to be a long trek which extends over eighteen to twenty hours. Such a journey necessitates business class travel if you are to stave off mind numbing jet lag and fatigue.

However business flights to Chennai need not be as expensive as most people believe for you can actually purchase discount business seats to Chennai which are often promoted by airlines like Air India which often have special offers like companion free schemes for their business class cabins. These cheap business class flights to Chennai actually work out well if you are planning to travel with a colleague on work or are planning to visit Chennai in the company of other family members. Moreover these discount business class fares come loaded with all the privileges and amenities of regular business class seats like airline lounge access, dedicated and fast track check-in, seats that convert into fully flat beds (invaluable for the back breaking journey) and elevated service and food and wine on board.

Most people believe that you get to know a destination well through its unique food and cuisine. Almost every destination in the world has its own inimitable specialty in the form of a particular eatery or a store and often that renowned store becomes a must-stop for any visitor to the city. One such store in Chennai is Grand Sweets and Snacks. This sweet and snack shop was founded by G. Natrajan in 1982 and it has quickly became the place to go to in Chennai for sweets and savories.  Once you have safely landed in Chennai you must make sure that you include Grand Sweets and Snack in your visit to Chennai itinerary.

Grand Sweets employs mainly women cooks because the founder thought them to be more responsible and devoted to their tasks. This tradition continues until today and the store which is located at Gandhi Nagar in the Adyar district of Chennai is manned mainly by women staffs who welcome customers with complementary dhonnais which are filled with mixed rice or akkaravadasal (a mixture of rice and sugar). Dhonnais are cups made of semi-dried leaves which are stitched together. These Dhonnais keep the customer satiated as they wait for their orders of podis(coarse mixtures of dried spices which are used as accompaniments for various Southern Indian dishes like Dosa and Idli), Thokkus( chutneys and relishes), murrukus( crunchy savories which are made of lentils and rice and are spiral shaped), Thenga Pollis( a sweet made of split chickpea and flour), thatais( yet another crunchy snack) adhirasams( a traditional sweet made for the Hindu festival of Deepavali) and various other delights which are freshly made onsite or the store’s factory at Perungudi.

Grand Sweets runs like a well oiled machine and it attracts huge crowds daily who seem to  clamor for its myriad sweet and savories that are listed on its two hundred and fifty item strong menu.  Once you have tasted its many delectable morsels you are sure to become a fan as well and perhaps will want to bring home some goodies for your friends and families to taste as well.

Under such circumstances the extra baggage allowance that your cheap business class fare to Chennai affords you will stand you in good stead and thus strengthen the case for tracking down the cheapest business class flights for your voyage to the home of Grand Sweets and Snacks, the Southern Indian city of Chennai.