A Night Train to a New Journey
Every great travel adventure starts with a sense of excitement. For this trip, my journey began at the Tirur railway station. I boarded my train at 8:30 PM, ready for a fresh experience. There is something very relaxing about traveling by train at night. The rhythmic sound of the tracks acts like a gentle lullaby, making it easy to fall fast asleep in my berth.
ISHABIL TRIP AT A GLANCE
The next morning, I woke up early and looked out the train window. The view was absolutely beautiful. The lovely, quiet villages of Tamil Nadu were flashing past the glass. I saw bright green fields, tall coconut trees, and small homes bathed in the soft morning sunlight. It was a wonderful sight that made me feel glad to be traveling again.
By 8:00 AM, the train slowly rolled into the huge and busy Chennai Central Railway Station. The station was filled with energy, with thousands of people moving in every direction. I stepped off the train and immediately felt the warmth and excitement of the big city.
Meeting a Friend and Exploring the City Lines
Right outside the station, I was very happy to be met by my cousin and good friend, Mahmood. It is always great to see a familiar face when you arrive in a new place. Before we started moving, we stopped for a few minutes to look at the amazing building around us. We paused to admire the impressive architecture of the railway station. The grand red-brick structure looks like a historic castle. We also looked at the classic colonial buildings nearby, which tell stories from old times.
💡 ishabil fact
Chennai Central Railway Station is one of the most famous landmarks in South India. It was built during the British rule and is famous for its grand Gothic revival style architecture.
After taking in the historic sights, we decided to try the city's modern transport system. We walked over and hopped onto the Chennai Metro. If you know me, you know I love checking out local metro and train networks whenever I visit a new city. The metro station was incredibly clean, cool, and well-organized. It was a very pleasant escape from the morning heat outside.
Our metro journey took us straight to Guindy. The ride was very smooth and fast. It showed me how easy it is to travel across this massive city without getting stuck in the heavy road traffic.
A Mix of Nature, Education, and Shopping
When we reached Guindy, we started exploring the nearby areas. We briefly checked out Guindy National Park, which is a unique green space because it sits right inside the crowded city limits. It is a peaceful place where wild animals and birds can live safely away from the urban noise.
Right next to the park area, we saw the sprawling campus of IIT Madras. The campus is famous for being incredibly large, quiet, and filled with massive green trees. It looked like a perfect place for students to study and think deeply.
After enjoying these peaceful green views, we decided to change our pace. We headed to one of the city's largest and most famous shopping centers, Phoenix Mall. This mall is enormous! We took a quick tour through the shiny corridors, enjoyed the cool air conditioning, and did a spot of light shopping. It was fun to see the modern side of the city with all its bright stores and international brands. After this, we headed straight to our accommodation to drop off our things and get ready for a big afternoon.
⛪ Elevated Views from St. George Mount
After checking into our room and freshening up with a quick shower, the sightseeing began in earnest. We wanted to see as much as possible, so the rest of the day's travel was conveniently done on Mahmood's bike. Moving on a motorbike is the absolute best way to weave through the busy traffic lanes of Chennai!
📌 ishabil tips
If you are visiting Chennai for only a short time, exploring on a two-wheeler will save you hours of sitting in traffic jams. Just make sure to wear a good helmet and stay alert!
Our very first destination on the bike was St. George Mount, which local people call St. Thomas Mount. This historic hill holds a lot of meaning for visitors. The hill is crowned by a beautiful old church that sits peacefully at the very top. As we walked around the hill station, we saw several statues and small monuments that have stood there for many years.
However, the real draw for me was the magnificent panoramic view it offered from the edge. Standing on top of the mount, the whole world opened up below us. From the mountaintop, we could clearly see the sprawling city stretching out as far as the eye could look. We could see the busy Chennai Airport, watching airplanes take off and land like small toys. We could also see the long metro line snaking its way beautifully through the urban landscape. It was a fantastic spot to appreciate the sheer size and sprawl of this capital city.
🌹 Madras War Cemetery: A Sobering Beauty
After spending some quiet time on the hill, we started descending the hill on the bike. Our next stop was the Madras War Cemetery. I must tell you, this visit was a profoundly moving experience that stayed in my heart for the rest of the trip.
The cemetery is dedicated to those brave people who lost their lives during the terrible times of World War II. It features 856 clean marble plaques, and each one is carefully inscribed with the name of a fallen soldier. Walking among these stones makes you think deeply about life and the sacrifices made by young individuals in the past.
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The immaculate, peaceful gardens and stark white headstones at the Madras War Cemetery.What surprised me the most was how quiet and clean everything was. The site’s meticulous upkeep was absolutely astounding. The manicured lawns were perfectly green, the rows of stark white marble headstones stood in total alignment, and the colorful flowers and trees were beautifully trimmed. It created an atmosphere of deep peace and absolute dignity. The place felt so quiet and calm that it felt almost foreign, making you completely forget you were standing right in the middle of a bustling, noisy Indian city.
🌊 Marina Beach and Coastal Delights
From the quiet and soft solitude of the war cemetery, we shifted our gears completely. We plunged right into the vibrant, loud energy of the world-famous Marina Beach. Marina Beach is one of the longest urban beaches in the entire world, and it is the heart and soul of Chennai's public life.
When we arrived, the beach was full of life. We first visited the prominent memorials built along the edge of the beach. These grand structures are the final resting places of late Chief Ministers who shaped the history of the state: M.G.R. (M.G. Ramachandran), J. Jayalalithaa, and C.N. Annadurai (Anna). Many people gather around these sites to show respect and take photos.
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After seeing the memorials, we walked down across the wide, sandy shores. We walked along the extensive stretch of the beach, feeling the cool, salty ocean breeze on our faces. The late-night atmosphere was fantastic, with kids playing games, families sitting on mats, and small shops twinkling with colorful lights.
😂 ishabil fun
While walking near the water, a sudden large wave came crashing down and completely soaked my footwear! Mahmood had a good laugh, but the cool ocean water felt amazing after a long day of riding around the city.
To cap off this brilliant day, we decided to indulge in the local street food specialties. The beach is lined with tiny food stalls frying fresh catch from the sea. We ordered some hot, savory fried fish and various crispy bajjis. Eating hot, spicy food while sitting under the dark sky with the sound of the ocean waves crashing in front of us was a perfect coastal treat! We thoroughly enjoyed our food and returned to our room late, around 11:00 PM, feeling exhausted but very happy.
✈️ The Little Bobmardier to Calicut
The next morning, my short transit trip was already coming to an end. My day began very early with a quick ride to the Chennai Airport. My flight back to Kozhikode (Calicut) was scheduled on a SpiceJet Bombardier aircraft. This was a highly anticipated moment for me because it was my first time flying on such a small, turboprop plane.
Unlike the massive jet planes that most people use, this small aircraft accommodates fewer than 80 passengers in total. It has large, spinning propellers on the sides. When the engines started turning, I could feel the difference immediately. Compared to larger jets, the engine noise and the shaking vibration were noticeably higher inside the cabin. It felt much more like a real, classic flying experience! I loved looking out the small window as the plane flew low over the clouds, heading back toward Kerala.
The flight was quick and smooth. Upon landing safely in Kozhikode, the familiar green landscapes welcomed me back. I walked out of the terminal and was immediately met by my good friend Umarali, who was waiting for me with his bike. We hopped on and headed straight home, successfully concluding a short but densely packed adventure through the cultural, historical, and modern facets of Chennai. It was a wonderful quick trip full of great memories, beautiful sights, and excellent food!
Read Tamil Nadu Hill Stations & Culture
- Chennai Coastal Walk & Hubs
- Cumbum & Theni Agricultural Valleys
- Kodaikanal: Misty Mountains with Family
- Ooty Family Vacation: High up in the Nilgiris
- Nostalgic Ooty Toy Train Ride from Mettupalayam
- Isha Foundation: A Quiet Spiritual Retreat (Coimbatore)
- The Mettupalam tragedy
- Read my all travel stories
Welcome to my travel stories
Ikbal Valiyathodi is the founder of Ishabil.com, a travel blog sharing budget-friendly travel stories, stopover hacks, and real experiences from around the world. He believes travel should be simple, honest, and possible for everyone.
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