Here are some of the Homestays in Chennai where you can stay:
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The Cocoon Serviced Residence
Unwind in the essence of your being. Space out to the extent of being nothing but yourself, in the pleasure of your very own personalized home, catering to your every need and spoiling you b… |
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No.88, A/C Block, 2nd Street, Shanti Colony, Anna Nagar, Chennai, India |
Chennai, also known as Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu, and the country’s fourth largest city. Owing to the beauty of the city tourists are thronging the city to get a piece of its history and charm. But with a dearth of hotels, travelers are opting for the beautiful and affordable Chennai homestays which apart from offering just accommodation also give a local touch to one’s stay.
Compared to the other major metros of India, it is far less congested and polluted. Chennai was the site of the first settlement of the East India Company. It was founded in 1639, on a piece of land given by the Raja of Chandragiri, the last representative of the Vijayanagar rulers of Hampi.
The city grew up around the English settlement of Fort Saint George and gradually absorbed the surrounding towns and villages. However, despite the strong British influence, Chennai has retained its traditional Tamil Hindu culture and effectively blended it with the foreign influence.
Chennai, the gracious capital city of Tamil Nadu is the fourth largest metropolis in India. Located on a 17 km stretch of the Coramandel coast, the city is trisected by the waterways of Cooum and Adyar and the Buckingham Canal. The city is widely spread in about 180 sq. km. It is a major trade center, being well linked by road, rail and air to important cities besides being a sea port.
Chennai, is a journey into timeless India, a kaleidoscope of moods. rich in the treasures of history, from temples and shrines to forts and palaces, the landscape of the past lives easily with the present. Retaining much of its traditional charm, this 350 year old city is the gateway to the south, providing many a fascinating vignette of southern heritage.
With a population of 6 million people, Chennai is a vibrant city ever growing, expanding and changing every year. Popularly regarded as the “Gateway to the South”, Chennai presents culture that is distinctly different from that of northern India. Music, dance and all other art forms of the South are cherished and nurtured in this city which, though industrialized, continues to be traditional and conventional in many ways.
The region of Chennai was called Tondaimandalm in those days and had its military headquarters at Puzhal, which is now a small and rather insignificant village on the outskirts of the city.
Modern Chennai grew out of a small village when in 1639 a fishing hamlet called Madraspatnam was selected by early English merchants of the East India Company as a site for the settlement.
Chennai is marked by a clear skyline, long sandy beaches, parks, historic landmarks and tourist infrastructural facilities which make it a convenient entry point or base to start your tour of Tamil Nadu and South India.
There are a number of churches in Chennai that are connected with the life and times of this apostle. There are also several ancient temples around Chennai and within the city itself are two magnificent temples - a temple in Triplicane and another in Mylapore.
CERTAIN FACTS ABOUT CHENNAI:
AREA: 174 Sq.Km.
ALTITUDE: Sea level
TEMPERATURE: Max- 37 C and Min-21 C in Summer, Max-32C and Min-20C in Winter.
RAINFALL: 1,272 Mm ( June to Sept ) BEST SEASON: Throughout the Year.
CLOTHING: Summer-cottons, Winter- Woolen,
STD CODE: 044
REACHING CHENNAI:
By air: Kamraj National and Anna International Airports are situated at Tirusulam about 20 Km from city.
By rail: Chennai is connected by rail with all major towns and cities in India. Main Railway Stations: Central and Egmore.
By road: Chennai is connected by good network of roads with all important places in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India.
Nearby Cities:
Kancheepuram (75 km), Bangalore (334 km), Pondicherry (162 km), Tirupati (154 km), Mamallapuram (58 km), Vellore (145 km), Thirukkazhukundram (74km), Vedanthangal (85 km).
So next time you are on a trip to Chennai, make sure you opt for a homestay. Take my word you will not be disappointed.
Despite the economic slowdown and safety concerns arising from the Mumbai terrorist attacks which resulted into the overall decline in foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) to India at 5.16 million in 2009 from 5.36 million in 2008, the medical tourism market in the country is expected to reach Rs 44 billion mark with India enjoying a 25 per cent share in inbound medical tourism in Asia by 2012.
As per the FICCI-Evalueserve study the number of medical tourists in India is expected to reach one million by 2012, with country’s share in the global medical tourism industry reaching 2.4 percent.
The factors which continue to propel growth in the medical tourism segment are low-cost and vast range of healthcare facilities and availability of traditional therapies in the country.
It says that all medical procedures including hospitalisation and recovery costs are relatively low in India as compared to Europe and America. For example a heart bypass surgery costs 6,000 dollars in India, whereas the same costs up to 19,700 dollars in the US.
Moreover, patients covered by medical insurance in regions such as Europe and America have to wait a long time before they can undergo treatment in their country as compared to India.
Furthermore, state governments encourage international tourists by leveraging the traditional wellness systems of India. Various healthcare traditions practised in the country include Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, homeopathy, naturopathy and yoga.
Meanwhile, foreigners for mesothelioma peritoneal treatment is increasing too with various specialty hospitals coming up across the country. Today India has dozens of cancer hospitals which offer mesothelioma peritoneal treatment amongst other forms of cancer.
Apart from patients coming to India for mesothelioma peritoneal treatment, 450,000 inbound patients were treated in India in 2007.
Although there are no exact figure on the number of patients who visit the country for mesothelioma peritoneal treatment, several unofficial sources say that the numbers were increasing and is also like to see more in the coming years.
Singapore and Malaysia are the countries competing with India in this segment, the study said.
The number of patient arrivals from the US, the UK and Europe has increased in India, apart from the usual inbound patients from neighbouring countries and West Asia.
However, the current market for Indian medical tourism is predominantly limited to patients from the West Asia and South Asian economies but there is an immense potential to cater to African patients as well.
It is estimated that Afro-Asians spend up to 20 billion dollars per annum on healthcare outside their countries.
The West Asia region is an important market for India’s medical tourism industry.
Though the West is the traditional medical tourism destination for citizens in the West Asia, the trend saw change after the 2001 terror attacks in the US.
Moreover, campaigns such as Incredible India have changed the perceptions towards the country and helped in promoting it as a cost effective and reliable medical tourism destination.
Though, the marketing of medical value tourism is a relatively new concept in the country, India already has world-class hospitals and treatment centres. In 2009, there were over 3,000 hospitals and 7,26,000 registered practitioners in the country.
The study points out that Wellness tourism a sub-set of medical tourism, comprises Ayurveda treatment, spa therapy, yoga and meditation. A niche segment, it draws high-end inbound tourists.
Ayurveda draws medical tourists from countries like the US, Canada, South America, the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands and even countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Japan.
Visitors can choose between Ayurveda treatments or a combined package of Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation.
Kerala is the most popular wellness destination in India, but other states are also emerging in this segment.
There is a huge demand for wellness treatments, especially Ayurvedic and herbal Ayurveda, as the effects are long term and the treatments are safe. Panchakarma, detoxification, rejuvenation, stress management and weight loss programmes are most popular among inbound tourists.
Meanwhile, many people are restoring to Ayurveda treatments for cancer including for mesothelioma peritoneal treatment. According to ayurvedic thought, having the three doshas out of sync might be a cause of cancer. One possible explanation for the rise in cancer diagnoses in modern times can be traced to the increased use of chemicals and other synthetic materials in our diets.
These chemicals prevent us from obtaining the natural minerals our bodies need in order to function correctly. Also, anxiety and stress lead to increased toxins in the body, which then puts us at higher risk for cancer. Because there are so many different types of cancer, like skin cancer, mesothelioma peritoneal, etc., this makes determining the causes and treatments that much more difficult for ayurvedic practitioners.
Delhi, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu and Kerala lead the list of medical tourism destinations for medical tourism in India, the study said.
Here are some of the cancer hospitals in India:
1. AMRI Apollo Hospital
2. Amala Cancer Hospital & Research Centre
3. Bangalore Institute of Oncology (BIO)
4. Cancer Centre Welfare Home And Research Centre
5. Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital and Research Centre
6. Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital
7. Kamayani Hospital
8. Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology
9. MNJ Institute Of Oncology & Regional Cancer Center
10. P.N. Memorial Neuro Centre and Research Institute Limited
11. Prankur Hospital And Cancer Research Center
12. Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre
13. Shri Ram Krishna Cancer Hospital
14. Tata Memorial Hospital
15. The Gujarat Cancer Society
16. The Kailash Cancer Hospital and Research Center (KCHRC)
17. VS Hospital
18. Vasantha Memorial Trust
19. Vydehi Institute of Oncology
20. vedic cancer clinic
Most tourists forget that insurance is an important requirement while visiting any country. Insurance for traveling in India is a must and as important as traveling to any other country. With various cheap life insurance policies, one can get himself and his family covered easily. One can always claim insurance in case of an emergency. It relieves the tension of financial crunch during the time of an emergency.
However one should be very careful before choosing a insurance. While cheap life insurance policies are offered by many companies, getting the best and cheap life insurance in India can be a Herculean task.
So when you plan a trip to India check your travel insurance papers if they offer medical coverage in case of an untoward incident in a foreign land.
Most hospitals in India do not treat foreign nationals if they do not have proper medical insurance.
Affordability is a major concern. Though most medical help in India is affordable, it depends on the intensity of the emergency as to how much treatment is needed. In all good and reputed hospitals, it may reach a high amount. All the more important to get a cheap life insurance coverage for the entire family.
It also acts as an additional security in case of flight cancellation, damaged or lost baggage, illness, etc.
To get a travel insurance policy or a cheap life insurance one needs to take the following into account:
1. Age of the traveler or visitor
2. Age of the traveler’s spouse if coverage for spouse is required
3. Number & ages of dependents under 18 requiring coverage (Child less than 18 years and accompanied by a parent or guardian.)
4. Coverage limit for medical expenses (Maximum that the plan will cover)
5. Deductible amount (The initial amount that you are responsible for before the insurance pays for medical expense.)
6. Dates for coverage
Today in India most insurance companies offer travel insurance or very cheap life insurance coverage online to citizens of India and travelers to India. Get a quote now and purchase travel medical and evacuation coverage online via a secure form. The travel insurance plans are great for Indian nationals immigrating to the USA, Canada, Europe and beyond. In fact, if you are traveling abroad for pleasure or business or if you have employees working abroad, maintaining multiple countries of residence or seeking private health care alternatives, these insurance companies can provide you with very cheap life insurance policies which are short-term or long-term international health insurance with a full range of benefits suited for individual and family coverage.
So this time you are coming to India or if you are travelling abroad don’t forget to get yourself and your family covered with Health Insurance and travel medical insurance coverage. A cheap life insurance policy can do away with many worries.
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) was established by the Department of Information Technology, Govt. of India in January 2004 with a specific mandate to respond to computer security incidents. With the passage of Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008, CERT-In has been designated as Nodal agency for coordinating all matters related to cyber security and emergency response. It is now assigned with the task of oversight of the Indian cyber space for enhancing cyber protection, enabling security compliance and assurance in Government and critical sectors and facilitating early warning & response as well as information sharing and cooperation.
Within few years of existence, CERT-In has been able to establish itself as a trusted referral agency with necessary capabilities to respond to cyber security incidents. In the process, CERT-In has been able to get into working relationships with all the leading security organizations and vendors across the world in the form of MoU, to achieve the necessary force multiplier effect in responding to cyber security incidents. In addition, specific capabilities have been developed to engage itself in effective cyber forensic as well as analysis of malicious codes.
CERT-In has published a Crisis Management Plan for Countering Cyber Attacks and Cyber Terrorism in the country and is working towards its implementation across Govt. and critical sectors in the country. In order to support the organizations in the critical sector and the Government in enhancing their ability to resist cyber attacks and improving their security posture, CERT-In has created a panel of IT security auditors that can provide wide range of security auditing services on commercial basis. With this kind of institution building activities, CERT-In is now able to provide its reactive and proactive services on 24×7 basis and is effectively collaborating the international agencies engaged in similar work for real time information sharing and problem resolution in the cyber space.
In order to effectively secure the Indian cyber space, CERT-In is assisting the Department of Information Technology to put in place a national cyber security strategy and a national information security governance policy. The elements of national cyber security strategy are:
- Security legal framework and law-enforcement
- Security early warning and response
- Security compliance and assurance
- Security education awareness and training
- Security technology R&D
- Security information sharing and cooperation
In pursuit of the cyber security strategy, CERT-In has been working towards Preventing cyber attacks against country’s critical information infrastructure; Reducing national vulnerability of cyber attacks and Minimizing damage and recovery time from cyber attacks.
Specific challenges in securing the cyber space are:
- Reaching out to the user community in creating necessary awareness on the need for cyber security and also on the need for them to play their roles in a responsible manner.
- Sharing of information with CERT-In with regard to the occurrence of cyber security incidents to enable better preparation and prevention.
- Overcoming the technical and legal barriers to move beyond our country’s borders to reach the sources of trouble - Most serious cyber crimes such as economic fraud, cyber terrorism and cyber war fare are invariably perpetrated from sources located outside the country using networks of compromised computers located both inside and outside the country. Since the sources of trouble are outside the country, invariably there would be technical and legal challenges to deal with and actually getting to the root of the problem. For this purpose, increased international cooperation is the need of the hour and CERT-In has been able establish good working relationships with international organizations such as AP CERT & Forum of Incident response (FIRST, US) and overseas CERTs.
For ensuring safety and security of cyber space, it is not only necessary to have an effective incident response mechanism such as the one already established by CERT-In, but also develop suitable ability and mechanism to harness real time information on the cyber security incidents even before they occur. In view of this, future roadmap of CERT-In includes real time incidents information collection, analysis and dissemination for effective security incidents prevention and protection. With this, it would be possible for CERT-In to provide tailored security advisories to the users community in the country enabling them to take timely and effective preventive actions. (PIB Features)
One of the world’s oldest religious gatherings may become the world’s biggest this year as the Hindu faithful carry forward a tradition first recorded in the Vedas.
Every 12 years, millions gather at Haridwar — the gateway to the abode of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas — for the Mahakumbh Mela in a show of faith that is rivalled only by the Mahakumbh Mela at Prayag (in Allahabad), the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers.
The belief has not only been sustained over millennia but has grown, as the rest of the world — from Huang Tsang in the seventh century to Mark Twain in the 19th to many more in the 20th — has looked on amazed.
The BBC described the 2001 Maha Kumbh Mela at Allahabad the biggest religious gathering in the world — with 60 million people. Hardwar is set to surpass that figure this year, with 70 million expected.
What draws the layman among the Hindu faithful is a drop of immortality. In Hindu mythology, the Kumbh Mela traces its origin to the Samudra Manthana — the churning of the primordial ocean — described in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
When the churning brought up the kumbh (pot) of amrit, the nectar of immortality, the gods had to safeguard it from the demons. Lord Vishnu’s carrier Garuda the king of eagles flew away with the elixir. Four drops spilled on four places — Hardwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik — where the Kumbh Mela is held to this day.
The symbology is of the triumph of good over evil and the beginning of a prosperous cycle in the world. To be a part of it, there is no better time than to bathe in the holy Ganga during a Maha Kumbh Mela.
While it is a religious fair (mela) in every sense of the term for the laiety, it is a very important theological gathering for the priesthood. The Kumbh Mela is when the numerous sects of Hindu priests come together to discuss and debate scriptures, to meet their lay devotees, to formally initiate recruits into their akharas (sects) and of course for the holy dip in the river.
It was such a gathering that Chinese traveller and historian Huang Tsang chronicled during his travels in India 629-645 AD during the reign of king Harshavardhana. The tradition was already many hundreds of years old, he was told.
It came from the time of the Vedas, when religious gatherings were held on the banks of rivers.
For many sadhus — especially those from the Naga (naked) sects — the Kumbh Mela may be the only time they interact with other people. Little wonder that the sight of hundreds of dreadlocked and ash-smeared naked sadhus — many armed with spears, tridents, swords and sticks — marching down to the river in their hundreds evokes an equal mixture of fear, reverence and curiosity among the thousands who gather to watch.
Mark Twain wrote after visiting a Kumbh Mela in 1895: “Kumbh Mela is the most sacred of all pilgrimages. Thousands of holy men and women attend the fair and the auspiciousness of the festival is attributed to this. The sadhus are clad in saffron and some of them are called Naga Sanyasis. They are seen without clothes even in winter and generally lead an extreme lifestyle.” (Source: Sindh Today)
