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The many theme parks and resorts have turned the East Coast Road into a place to unwind over the weekend..
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THE ROAD that leads from Chennai to Pondicherry is a scenic one — the city's southern suburbs give way to swaying casuarina trees and glimpses of the sparkling sea in the distance.
Parts of it are, of course, noisy and congested by human habitation, but on the whole, the East Coast Road, complete with its smooth surface, reflective of cat's eyes and signboards, is a pleasure to drive down on a Saturday evening or a Sunday morning.
The East Coast Road (ECR) snakes along the coastline, beginning in South Chennai at the Thiruvanmiyur bus stand. The ECR is among the key roads connecting many of the outlying villages and districts to Chennai.
It originally comprised a series of small roads connecting various tourist destinations and fishing villages until the late 1990s when the State Government upgraded these roads.
With this development, the Old Mahabalipuram Road, earlier the easiest route to Mahabalipuram, has become more of an industrial centre and majority of the tourist traffic has been diverted to the ECR. Theme parks, multiplexes, entertainment houses, resorts, restaurants and motels have sprung up along the wayside and turned the ECR into a sought-after weekend destination.
For those who want a rush of adrenaline but don't fancy taking the East Coast Express, which hurtles down the ECR at breakneck speed, there is Kart Attack, the go-karting rink and the Silversands Adventure Zone.
Activities at this adventure club include parasailing, artificial rock climbing, shooting, camping, obstacle courses and more. The crowd here usually consists of groups and organisations on package trips and people who have just decided to drive down there to jazz up their weekend. "Parasailing is an absolutely exhilarating experience. They take you up for five minutes and your mind seems to go blank when you're floating up there. It was a little scary in the beginning but then you relax and enjoy it," says one of the visitors to the Adventure Zone.
Another place to get your rush is the MGM Dizzee World, which is among the city's most visited theme parks. There are thrilling rides including the log flume, giant wheel, spider spin, roller coaster, the funny mountain, dashing cars, super trooper, a water world and even special seasonal shows.
The mega-fun pack that includes entry to all the rides and zones is one of the more popular packages, according to an official at the theme park. The normal package that allows entry only to specific points and games is priced a little lower. Schools and groups often visit MGM, which has special offers for them, he adds. There's more for kids at Dolphin City that runs a water show with sea lions. It's a whole lot of fun for kids to see the sea lions splashing around and jumping through hoops.
If you're looking for something a little tamer, there's the Gatsby Village, a good place to hold parties. They organise parties for corporates and individuals on the large lawn or in the open party area, complete with dance floor and audio systems. The open area is equipped with hatches that can be drawn across, so that the party keeps going even if there is a downpour, says the manager. People who would like to hold potluck can hire the penthouse and have their own party. "Plays can also be organised here and The Madras Players perform here quite often," he adds. Gatsby Village also has a regular restaurant that serves vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
For cinema fans, there's the multiplex, Mayajaal that plays the latest movies and has a restaurant and a games arcade as well. Another place to watch movies is the Prarthana Drive In, which has been around long before the ECR got its glossy look. This drive-in theatre plays popular movies and is an old time favourite among movie buffs.
Next door to the ever-popular theme park, Universal Kingdom is the beachside nightclub EC41. Open from 10.30 p.m., it is one of the Saturday night hotspots and a must-do on the city party circuit. Despite the many pubs in central Chennai, EC41 continues to draw the city's well-heeled crowd. "It's a fabulous place. The music is good, and you can just go out onto the beach," says a regular. "It's pretty amazing. No other city has such a fabulous beach disco," says a visitor from Bangalore.
A more peaceful and relaxing pastime though, would be boating on the Muttukadu Lake. Drifting along in a boat — chosen from a variety of rowboats, speedboats or paddleboats — you can commune with Nature. And there is, of course, the beach. All the little roads leading off the ECR take you to the beach, which is much cleaner and more peaceful than the Marina or Elliots Beach. So if you're living in the southern Chennai, you're at an advantage, as all this fun is so much closer to home.
SHALINI UMACHANDRAN
& PRASSANA SRINIVASAN
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