Month: February 2019

Summer is almost here, and we are at that sweet spot – a crossover between the embracing chill of the tamil month of Thai and the piping hot rays of March. Ripe for nostalgia…ah, the summers of childhood. Gully cricket matches, lazy summer afternoons full of misadventures, juicy mangoes aplenty, cartoon network marathons, evening dips in the beach, and those occasional trips to a hill station.

Here’s hoping that we make it this summer, sound and super, with some stories to tell.

A mango celebration

This June, taste more than 500 varieties of mangoes from different states in India, at the International Mango Festival organized by Delhi Tourism. Savor your favorites out of Banganpalli, Langda, Dussehri, Alphonso, Neelam, Bombay Green, and many more. That’s not all. You can rejoice and participate in mango eating contests, quizzes, and mango folk performances, too! There are also competitions for mango growers. Don’t miss this festival of colours, fragrances, and tasteful songs.

Beat the heat

Get yourself a cool bowl of ice-apple, popularly known as nungu, (palmyra palm fruit) from local street side vendors. Stay hydrated with plenty of water and fruit juices. Make cucumbers, coconut water, and watermelons a part of your daily regime.

It doesn’t take a lot to go from a glorious sun tan to damaging sunburn. So, remember sunscreens as you head out for the day.

Be a spectator to this celestial wedding

Chithirai festival, celebrated between April and May, marks the marriage of goddess Meenakshi of Madurai with Lord Sundareshwara. The story goes that, in the month of Chithirai, Lord Vishnu, aka Kallazhagar of Azhagarmalai, and brother of Meenakshi, traveled down to Madurai to give off his sister in marriage to Sundareshwara or Lord Shiva. Hoards of crowds throng Madurai every year to reenact this event, revel in the Chithirai celebrations, and enjoy the local food and art. With decorated processions, fairs, fun rides and food stalls, it is one extravagant affair. Do take part in this lively spiritual tradition this year.

Summer reading

Find a cool poolside or a cozy hammock by the beach and settle for a good read. Pick a theme for the summer and set yourself a reading challenge on Goodreads.  Here is a reading list to survive the summer heat, and a worthy compilation of some other interesting books to look forward to this year.

And a little bit for our Earth

It’s been a good three years since the north-east monsoon paid us a memorable visit. The impending water crisis calls for us to expend a little more care towards water conservation.

Recycle grey water from sinks, showers, and washing machines using simple, eco-friendly economical methods.  Direct the water from air conditioners into your garden or ground water stores. Do your bit to save water.

All that said, let’s make the most of this summer with just the right balance of fun, frolic and forethought

Old Mahabalipuram Road to the Madrasis and OMR to the Chennaiites, this iconic passage in Chennai has seen the best of urban growth in the last two decades. As with every swiftly developing region, OMR sees a riveting mix of towering structures, neatly trimmed hedges, people on wheels, and chaotic Monday mornings.

OMR snakes its way through over fifteen localities in a 45-kilometer stretch, connecting the delightful coastal town of Mahabalipuram (from which the Road gets its name) to Chennai City. Home to numerous IT Parks and prominent MNCs, it doesn’t come as a surprise that this particular part of Chennai is highly coveted by office spaces and homeowners alike.

While traditional homeowners may think that moving to suburbs is not the best choice for them, hotspots like Kandanchavadi, Perungudi, Sholinganallur, Semmencherry, and Siruseri have seen staggering appreciation in real estate prices in the last 5 years alone. The steep rise in new flats for sale in Chennai has also seen a consequent growth of reputed schools and colleges in this part of the city.

Apartments in OMR are ideal for those that want the bustle of city life and still be able to beat the traffic home on a workday. Most of these projects offer a plethora of amenities including fully fitted homes, expansive recreation spaces, and through security; residents hardly travel far for everyday luxuries.

On the other hand, however, this rapid urbanization does not take away the charm that the other face of OMR has to offer. The lilting sounds of the beach are less than 15 minutes away, and a casual drive to Mahabalipuram might be just the thing for a lazy weekend. The entire passage is peppered with food joints and eateries of every cuisine, adding to the hip urban new-city appeal.

The massive growth that OMR has seen is certainly not overlooked by the city’s authorities. The recent Global Investors Meet in Chennai has reiterated the Government’s interest in developing the localities across OMR. With the latest Metro Rail line that goes all the way till Siruseri, and a proposal to add a Metro Water plant for better groundwater in these areas, authorities are well on their way to delivering a high standard of living for its inhabitants.

The slew of office spaces and infrastructure projects ensures that OMR continues to attract millennials, residential investment, and the authorities’ attention, making it a bigger and better Chennai. We don’t see it going away any time soon.

Appaswamy’s Splendour is located in Semmenchery, Old Mahabalipuram Road. Offering a host of modern amenities, these apartments are the answer for those seeking the coveted life on OMR.