Chennai to Orlando Flights

  About Chennai

Chennai falls in the top 10 cities of India with an illustrious history and thriving heritage. The 369-year-old city is one of the most developed cities in India and stands proudly as the capital of Tamil Nadu. Formerly known as Madras, the city of Chennai is known for its glorious history, arts and culture and its ardent enthusiasm towards automobiles. The city is also known as India's health capital as attracts the highest number of foreign tourists with 45 percent catering to health. The thriving city's melange of a modern vibe and traditional roots makes it one of the best urban cities in the world. The airport has excellent flight connectivity to and from Chennai and other domestic and international cities. You can make your flight bookings to Chennai as well as find a range of hotels to book from in the city.

Best time to visit

As Chennai is a tropical city located by the coast, the temperatures are incredibly high. Even the seasons are binary. The summers in Chennai are between April to June but is hot for the rest of the year too. The monsoon season in Chennai takes place twice in a year. While it receives scanty rainfall between June to September (as opposed to the rest of the country, which receives bountiful rain), the months from October to December see heavy rain in the city, owing to the north-east monsoon. The climate is hot and humid all-round the year, but December is the most pleasant time in the year to visit Chennai.

Places to visit

Beaches

As Chennai rests comfortably on the coastal parts of Tamil Nadu, the city has some pristine beaches to check out. Touted to be the second-largest urban beach in the entire world, the Marina Beach is the jewel of Chennai with a shoreline of 12 km long. The sandy shores of the beach teamed with the exquisite Colonial buildings on the street-side make for quite a spectacle.

While Marina Beach is more on the populous side, to enjoy the serenity of a quieter beach, you can visit Edward Elliot's beach and Breezy Beach, to name a few. These beaches are quaint and attract individuals who need to step away from the city's bustle. The peaceful ambience of these beaches has turned into quite the tourist attraction.

Temples

The temples in Chennai are centuries old and found aplenty. Every corner of the street has at least one temple. These temples have fascinating stories and exquisite architecture. The temples are known to have a specific structure in South India with detailed gopurams, enormous water tanks in the back of the temple, domestic animals such as cows and dogs, hawkers selling toys and snacks, quaint ponds and shrines of several deities. Some of the famous temples in the city that you can visit are the Kapaleeswarar Temple, the Parthasarathy Temple, Sri Ramakrishna Math-Universal Temple, Kumaran Kundram and Karaneeswarar temple.

The city is also home to a bunch of churches and mosques. In fact, the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Thomas can be found in Chennai. The shrine is believed to be built over the tomb of St Thomas the Apostle, who had visited India in 52 AD. After his death, the saint's body is said to have been buried under the same spot where the Basilica now stands. Other notable churches and mosques include St. Thomas Mount, St. Mary's Church, Big Mosque (Wallajah Mosque) and more.

Museums and Monuments

Chennai's rich culture is reflected not just from the slew of temples and coastal delights but also the monuments and museums in the city. Since the city was also under the direct influence of the British East India Company, much of the architecture, culture and infrastructure have an English vibe. Visit the National Government Museum to learn more about the city's history. You can further go on an artistic voyage by visiting the National Art Gallery, which is more than 100 years old.

Ecological parks

Another major highlight of the city is the number of ecological parks and gardens that can be explored. The city runs a crocodile preservation park as well as a snake park called the Guindy Snake Park. Sprawled across 280 hectares of land is the Guindy National Park which is known to be the smallest national park in India. While the national park is inhabited by very few flora and fauna, it does hold a dedicated space to preserve reptiles and other amphibian species. Besides these two, one can opt to visit the Arinjar Anna Zoological Park, also known as Vandalur Zoo, which is located in the outskirts of the city.

Things to do

Chennai is heavily invested not just in the automobiles but also the literary, arts and culture fields. To them, dance and music play a significant role in their daily lives. In fact, the city also observes a bunch of festivals such as Madras Music Season, Madras Day, The Hindu Lit for Life and Chennai Book Fair to commemorate some of their indulgences. These events are a rage and definitely worth attending. You can visit some of the music and dance functions held by the Nungambakkam Cultural Academy Trust, The Music Academy in TTK Road, Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha and Indian Institute of Music and Arts to name a few.

Another fun activity to take up would be to watch a movie of a South star at one of the single-screen or even a multiplex. The fervour of fandom during the release of their favourite celebrity's movie release is euphoric and definitely worth experiencing. As for bibliography enthusiasts, you can visit the Theosophical Society to explore the library set by Anne Besant. There are various malls with high-end fashion brands that you could check out. Or you can always go to Pondy Bazaar in T Nagar to shop silk ensembles and golden accessories.

Food and Restaurants

T Nagar and Anna Nagar in Chennai are known market places with many food and restaurant options too. In fact, some of the best joints in the city can be found here. One of the most popular restaurants, Saravana Bhavan, is a must-visit to get the best of South Indian vegetarian food. Sri Anandam Hotel, Geetha Cafe in Pondy Bazaar, Rathna Cafe in Triplicane and Karpagambal Mess in Mylapore are some of the best restaurants that will you give quite the experience of the delicious South Indian cuisine. Dakshin and Southern Spice also offer tasty food.

However, if you do wish to explore a little more, Mansuk's shop in T Nagar is known to emulate Mumbai-chaat and Gujarati Thali. For sweets and desserts, you must let your tastebuds acquaint with Mysore Paks, Tarti Paal and other such sweets, which you will find at Sri Krishna Sweets and Aavin corners. DOJO Kulfis is also a famous hub for traditional ice creams such as kulfi, faloodas and smoothies.

How to reach Chennai (Transportation)

By Air

After Delhi airport and Mumbai airport, the Chennai airport is the third most active airport in India for domestic as well as international departures and arrivals. The airport is divided into two terminals, the Anna Terminal reserved for international flights and the Kamraj Terminal for domestic flights. Located in the same long stretched airport, the flight connectivity to and from Chennai is excellent.

Not just domestic but even international cities are well-connected with Chennai. Major international flight routes from Chennai to cities such as London, Frankfurt, Singapore, Malaysia, the Middle East, New York, Hong Kong, etc. can be reached as flights are available from Chennai Airport. Since Chennai is one of the busiest cities in India, the flight demands are also quite high. Make your flight bookings to Chennai months in advance to avoid high ticket costs.

Another perk of the Chennai airport is how it is well-connected with the city too. While it is located in the outskirts, the airport has a Metro which directly connects with the main city, making travelling far more convenient.

By Rail

There are two central stations which connect Chennai to other major cities in the country. Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore are the two central stations with regular trains entering and exiting the city from different parts of India. While Chennai Central is known to connect the city to other cities, Chennai Egmore has intercity trains that run regularly. Interestingly, both the stations are well-connected with the Chennai airport.

Chennai Central sees trains coming in from cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Madurai, Ahmedabad and Coimbatore daily. Since the rail connectivity is so good, it is often considered by travellers. You must book your rail tickets well in advance as the demand is always high to travel to Chennai.

By Road

The city's bus station is touted to be one of the largest in Asia. Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) is a state-owned property and provides transport services to a plethora of destinations in the South of India. Located in the main city, there are several direct buses to the airport as well as the Egmore station. Considered to be a cheap and affordable means of travelling, you can visit Chennai as long as your location is in the neighbouring states. The travel time to Pondicherry, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Trivandrum, etc. is considerably low.

  About Orlando

Orlando is one of the most visited cities in Florida and the perfect place to head to with your family. There are quite a few theme parks, world-class spas and sports. Orlando must be the destination for your next vacation. While it has a lot of theme parks for you to visit with your kids, you can always revisit your childhood by going to the theme parks here with your friends. The Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure and SeaWorld are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. If you are a cinema buff, this place is like paradise to you. If you are lucky, you might get a chance to be a member of the audience for the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Orlando also has a diverse culture and eclectic dining scenes. The city also has museums for every art and history buff. You can attend the ballet, orchestra, dance performances and Broadway show in the city when you visit here. Make sure that you book your seats for the same in advance. Orlando is one city that makes sure you never get bored. There are plenty of entertaining options that will make your holiday special. The city also has pristine beaches and parks for nature and water lovers.

Best Time to Visit

Unlike other cities in Florida, the best time to visit Orlando is from December to February during winter. Make sure you book your hotel in Orlando several weeks in advance since it gets pretty packed as soon as winter begins. You might also want to book your flight tickets to Orlando in advance. The top attractions in the city will be jammed and since it does get quite chilly, make sure you also pack your warm clothes. The temperature ranges from 10 to 23 degree Celsius. If you are planning a visit to the theme parks, please ensure that you reach early to avoid long queues or to get in. The theme parks do reach a point when they have to stop admitting people into the park to stop overcrowding. You can also attend events like Citrus Bowl, Downtown Food and Wine Fest, Annual Winter Park Bach Festival, Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort and Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld Orlando. The city has its spirits up during winter with so many events, festivals and carnivals happening in the city.

Spring season hits Orlando from March to May, and the temperature ranges from 14 to 31 degree Celsius. It is a very pleasant time to visit the city. The hotel prices drop considerably, and you might even get cheap flight tickets to Orlando. While the theme parks will be more accessible and not packed with a lot of tourists, the numbers might increase after March. The Annual Winter Park Bach Festival, Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort and Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld Orlando continue from February to March. Apart from these, you can also attend the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort, Florida Film Festival and Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival.

June to August is summer in Orlando, and though it is not the best time to visit the city, a lot of families head to the city for their summer vacations. The temperature ranges from 23 to 33 degree Celsius with a high humidity level which makes it a very uncomfortable time to visit Orlando. The city also witnesses a hurricane threat during this time. Make sure you are well-hydrated, not outside a lot and use a sunblock frequently if you are visiting Orlando in summer.

You will come across great flight deals to Orlando along with hotel accommodations in the fall season. September to November, however, is not an ideal time to head to Orlando. The temperature ranges from 15 to 32 degree Celsius, and the chances of hurricanes only increase, which might ruin your vacation. Please ensure that you check the refund policy on the flights and hotels that you book in case you have to cancel it, owing to bad weather. If you are on a budget, it would be best to end your trip right before Thanksgiving.

Places to Visit in Orlando

The Walt Disney World is every kid's paradise. It has about four parks called Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. You can either choose from the options or visit all of them in a day. Since the theme park is pretty crowded during summer, you can head to the city in the spring season. Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando is the best place to head to if you want to spend a peaceful day. You can take a ride on the swan boat or take a stroll through the park. It is also a popular place to head to during fairs and festivals. Orlando Eye is a new attraction in Orlando, and the ride offers you an enchanting view of the city. It is one of the best experiences in Orlando that tourists love. SeaWorld is another popular tourist attraction in the city and one of the best places to visit with your family. You can catch the dolphin and whale shows here, and even interact with them. Universal Orlando is a theme park that does not have any Disney characters in it. However, you will find Minion-like characters here along with a glimpse into Steven Spielberg's artwork and mind-blowing rides.

Discovery Cove is right next to SeaWorld Orlando and is one of the best places to go snorkelling and swim with the dolphins. Treat the science buff in you and head over to the Science Centre in Orlando. If you want to go on a shopping spree, head over to Old Town. The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary is an architectural marvel and one of the beautiful places in Orlando. It attracts a lot of visitors and tourists throughout the year.

Things to do in Orlando

One of the major attractions is Walt Disney World. You can spend about 2-3 days at the mega-resort here. You cannot miss The Wizarding World of Harry Potter if you are a Potterhead. You can sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city or explore it on your own. Make sure you have pre-booked or bought tickets to attractions, so you don't have to wait in long queues. You can also sign up for a food tour or a history tour of Orlando. Catch the dolphin and whale shows at SeaWorld Orlando. You can also interact with and pet the marine animals here. It will be an experience of a lifetime. Make sure you take loads of pictures at every tourist spot that you head to in Orlando. The Mall at Millenia is a great place to go to for a shopping spree. You can also go golfing at the Harry P. Leu Gardens if you want a break from all the kid stuff.

Foods and Restaurants

Orlando offers a very diverse culinary experience for tourists. While you will find a lot of American restaurant chains and fast-food joints, you will also come across restaurants that serve Japanese, Italian and Cuban cuisines, among others. Bull & Bear steakhouse in Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Eddie V's Prime Seafood is a popular American eatery in the city. You can also head to NYPD Pizza for some delicious pizzas. You can also dine at Victoria & Albert in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa or Chatham's Place Restaurant. Q'Kenan Restaurant, Melao Bakery and Padrino's Cuban Cuisine are some of Orlando's best Latin-inspired cuisines. You can head over to Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine for authentic Turkish, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. It would help if you definitely tried the doughnuts at Krispy Kreme year. Make sure you try the glazed one instead of going for chocolate. The Gnarly Barley and Zeta Asia are some of the popular pubs in the city that are worth visiting.

How to reach Orlando (Transportation)

Orlando International Airport is about 10 km from Downtown Orlando. The flight connectivity to Orlando from India is excellent. United Airlines, Lufthansa, American Airlines have frequent flights to Orlando with layovers at Newark, Frankfurt, Munich, London, Miami and so on. If you book in advance, you might get a great deal on flights to Orlando from India. It takes more than 20 hours of journey by air to finally reach Orlando. It is easy to get a taxi or car rental from the airport. You will find several facilities at the airport, like WiFi, restaurants, cafes, shopping areas, and so on. If you travel during the offseason, you might even get cheap flight tickets to Orlando. If you are travelling from another city in Florida or nearby states, you can opt for road travel. Hire a car or a taxi to head to the hotel or go for an airport shuttle to take you to the hotel. The bus might be a cheaper option, but it does not quite like that girl.

  About Chennai Airport

Chennai International Airport serves as the international airport to the city of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu. The airport is situated in Tirusulam, which is about 21 km away from the city centre. It has been recognised as the third busiest airport in the country in terms of international traffic as well as cargo capacity. The airport falls behind New Delhi and Mumbai to be on the list of the busiest airport. The Chennai International Airport is also the fourth busiest in India, with respect to passenger traffic and follows New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. In India, the airport falls in the top five list of busiest international and domestic airports. The Chennai International Airport has also been acknowledged as the 49th busiest on the Asia level, becoming one of the four top cities to be on the top 50 Asia list. The airport is perfectly connected with Chennai Metro as well as Tirusulam railway station, which falls in the Chennai Suburban Railway line.

About Chennai Airport Terminals

The airport has two terminals which have been named after the state's former chief ministers. The domestic terminal is also known as K. Kamaraj while the international terminal is named C. N. Annadurai. They are interconnected by a building. The building now serves as an older international block that deals with administrative offices, along with a restaurant. The whole stretch is one linear structure that was built additionally as Anna terminal (T3) was brought about in 1988 to align with the Kamaraj terminal (T1). The first domestic terminal that was built at the Chennai airport had two aero-bridges. This was considered a milestone as the Chennai airport became the first one in the country to have aerobridges in the domestic terminal. Terminal 1 and 2 are not used for passenger traffic any more. They have been reserved for cargo. Meanwhile, the newly built Terminals 3 and 4 serve the international departures and arrivals. Annadurai terminal deals with international passengers. The terminal has about 45 check-in counters, 38 immigration booths with 16 at the departure terminal and 22 at the arrivals and 18 customs counters which are at the departure as well as arrival terminal.

About airport authority

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Department handled the Chennai Airport in 1952. However, the operations were later taken over by the Airports Authority of India in 1972. Since then, there have been extensive infrastructural development plans and schemes that have been conducted. Much recently, the airport underwent some extensive construction to modernise the amenities prevalent in the airport. The new international terminal (T4), was built just while ago. Simultaneously, the existing international terminal (T3) was renovated, and a second runway was extended. The parallel runway also includes new taxiways, parking bays as well as a cargo terminal. The Airports Authority of India is responsible for working on the designs, maintenance and management of the airport. Not to mention how AAI brings forth funds to expand the development projects and schemes for the airport. The statutory body has also introduced two sustainable gardens which have been installed within the airport premises. Along with this, they have worked towards many other expansions.

Facilities at the Chennai Airport

Child care rooms: The Chennai airport has reserved specific rooms for mothers with infants. The space is perfect for feeding, changing table and other such activities to take care of the kids. The room is perfectly maintained and is regularly sanitised.

Wheelchair services: The airport also has wheelchair services that have been reserved for senior citizens, expectant mothers and passengers with medical ailments. You can find these services at the departure and arrival gates of both the terminals.

WiFi: WiFi services have also been provided at the airport. There is free WiFi that is available for close to 45 minutes in the premise. You can also find paid services of WiFi for better connectivity and longer duration of access. You will need an Indian phone number to get hold of the services.

Medical aid: The airport also has special medical kits and rooms available for emergencies. To ensure that emergency cases are tended to with prompt medical assistance, there are kits and services available at close intervals. There are health scan facilities also available at the airport to get a better understanding of the medical concern if need be.

Prayer rooms: Multi faith rooms have been reserved for passengers. The prayer rooms are open for people of all faith as there are religious books also present in the hall. These rooms can also be used as meditation halls.

Lost and found: Lost and found facilities are also available at the airport premise. Details of the same can be received at the information desk. A few dedicated spaces have been allotted at close intervals for lost and found desks.

ATMs and Forex: The airport has a slew of ATM kiosks and foreign exchange counters at regular intervals to help passengers. In case you are running short of cash or need to exchange some currency, you can find counters at the airport.

Post Office: One of the cool facilities that the airport has is postal services. There are courier services and post offices in the airport vicinity. You can find them at both the terminals. This can be ideal for last-minute mails and documents that need to be sent out.

Restaurants and cafes:

Chennai airport has a bunch of hotels and famous food establishments. The airport cafeteria has many options to choose from for food. From Indian cuisine to dishes from the international kitchen, there are many choices that can be made for food while you wait to board the flight.

Smoking zone: The airport has dedicated smoking rooms too. The rooms also have provisions for cigarette boxes, in case passengers run out of them or need to purchase them.

Baggage wrapping: The luggage facilities at Chennai airport are also good. Aside from trolley services and luggage counters to store them, the airport also has baggage wrap services. The airport is equipped with professional staff that package the bags with plastic to avoid various concerns ranging from baggage mishandling to thefts.

VIP lounge: Chennai airport has reserved halls for VIP lounges. Individuals with first-class flight tickets and premium memberships with specific airlines will have access to the VIP Lounge. The lounge services are quite good and upscaled.

Top airlines flying from the Chennai Airport

Domestic flights flying from Chennai Airport are from Terminal 1. The Chennai International Airport is touted to be the HQ of the Airports Authority of India, with states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep and Puducherry under its wing. The Chennai airport has immaculate connectivity with most of the Southern cities and hence, has various domestic airlines catering to the same. Airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, Air Asia India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet and Vistara, operate from the Chennai International Airport. These airlines have flights connecting to specific small towns within the Southern belt and hence, make the airport an important hub.

Along with the domestic airlines that operate from the city, there are a plethora of international airlines that also function from the airport. A majority of flights connecting to Australia and New Zealand have airlines available. The most important international airlines that operate from Chennai Airport are Air Arabia, Air Austral, Air Canada, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Seychelles, Air Asia, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Batik Air, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, flydubai, Flynas, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Maldivian, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Air Asia, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines and Virgin Australia. Terminal 3 and 4 are reserved for international airlines as departures and arrivals take place from them.

How to reach the Chennai Airport

The Chennai International Airport is located on the National Highway 32, also recognised as the Grand Southern trunk Road. The highway is known to be a famous link that connects the city to other important cities in Tamil Nadu. The best way to reach the Chennai International Airport is by opting for its closest railway station, the Tirusulam railway station. The station falls on the Suburban railway network. Often this route is considered as it directly connects with the city centre. Another famous route connecting the city centre to the airport is via the metro station. The airport metro station falls in the Chennai Metro line. The metro line is also considered to be the ideal way to reach the Chennai Airport. Aside from the Tirusulam railway station, the Metro station is favoured more. It is also acknowledged to be the second metro station which connects with an airport in India.

There are expansion plans that are in the making to make the connectivity to Chennai airport better from the city centre. It has been announced that a direct tube will be constructed to bridge the distance from the metro station to the Chennai airport. Flyovers are also being erected to connect the metro station directly to the departure and airport terminals. Simultaneously, the government is also planning on facilitating a connection between the Tirusulam train station with the metro station.