Fast Facts

Airlines -- Phone numbers you may need are: Jet Airways (tel. 044/2841-4141, or airport 044/2256-1818); Spice Jet (tel. 098-7180-333 or 098-7180-3333); Kingfisher (tel. 1800/233-1131).

Ambulance -- Dial tel. 044/2815-0311 or -0700 or Apollo tel. 1066.

American Express -- 501 Spencer Plaza, Anna Salai; tel. 044/2849-2582. Open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 6:30pm; Saturday 9:30am to 2:30pm.

Area Code -- The area code for Chennai is 044. For directory inquiries dial 197; time in English 174; change of telephone number in English 1952; 24-hour tele-information service 4444-4444.

ATMs -- There are numerous ATMs around the city; ask your hotel concierge or driver about a machine near you, or head for Spencer mall.

Banks & Currency Exchange -- There are a large number of foreign exchange dealers. Thomas Cook: Eldorado Building, 112 Nungambakkam High Rd. (tel. 044/2827-2610); Ceebros Centre, 45 Monteith Rd. (tel. 044/2855-3276 or -4600); 20 Rajaji Rd., George Town (tel. 044/2534-2374 or 044/2533-0105). Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm.

Bookstores -- Landmark (3 Nungambakkam High Rd./M.G. Rd.; tel. 044/2827-9637 or 044/2823-7438; daily 9am-9pm) is said to be Chennai's largest and most popular bookstore, and also has a selection of music, stationery, and other items. Higginbothams (116 Anna Salai; tel. 044/2256-0586; daily 9am-7:30pm) is another recommendation with a great selection of books as well as Indian music.

Car Rentals -- Welcome Tours and Travels (tel. 044/2846-0614 or -0908; www.allindiatours.com; agnesh@vsnl.com) has a wide range of vehicles for rent at reasonable rates: you're looking at around Rs 630 ($15/£8) a day. Compare rates with Bala Service (tel. 044/2822-4444) or International Travel House (tel. 044/2811-1206).

Drugstore -- Located on the second floor of Spencer Plaza (769 Anna Salai) is Health & Glow (tel. 044/ 5205-6013; Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm).

Embassies & Consulates -- U.K.: 20 Anderson Rd.; tel. 044/5219-2151; Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4pm. U.S.: 220 Anna Salai; tel. 044/2811-2000; Monday to Friday 8:15am to 5pm. New Zealand: "Maithri," 132 Cathedral Rd.; tel. 044/2811-2473; Monday to Friday 8am to 12:30pm, Saturday 8 to 11:45am.

Emergencies -- Police tel. 100. Fire tel. 101. Ambulance tel. 102.

Hospital -- Internationally acclaimed Apollo Hospital (21 Greams Lane, off Greams Rd.; tel. 044/2829-3333 or -0200) offers the city's top medical services; it also has a good round-the-clock pharmacy.

Internet -- As is the case in other cities, your most reliable bet is to find a Sify iway (when in Mylapore, head for the outlet on 59 Dr. Radhakrishnan Rd.) or Reliance Web World (there's one in Spencer Plaza).

Police -- For emergencies, dial tel. 100. For traffic police, dial tel. 103.

Post Office -- Although the General Post Office (Rajaji Salai; tel. 044) is in George Town, you're best off making use of the Head Post Office on Anna Salai (tel. 044/2852-1892 or 044/2851-8668). Its hours are daily 10am to 8:30pm.

Taxis -- Additional call-taxi services include Fast Track (tel. 044/2473-2020) and Dial-a-Car (tel. 044/2811-1098).