Covelong and Muttukadu

Covelong (கோவளம் Kōvaḷam) and Muttukadu are two adjacent towns south of Chennai, at the north coast of Tamil Nadu.

Get in
Covelong and Muttukadu south of Chennai on the way to Mamallapuram. The drive from Pondicherry to Muttukadu is relatively scenic by Indian standards. The drive from Chennai to Muttukadu is mostly through increasingly larger suburbs of Chennai.

Get around
There are few private taxis for hire in Covelong and Muttukadu. If you want to get around or take short trips in the area (e.g. to Mamallapuram), your best bet is to negotiate a fare with an auto-rickshaw. Don't even bother asking the driver to use the meter, instead negotiate a price in advance. Westerners have the tendency to overpay rickshaw drivers. Bargain for as low a price as you can.

Before getting in the auto and once in the auto be firm about your destination. Drivers will try to take you to shopping destinations at which they earn a commission. So, regardless of how forcefully you state your destination at the outset, you may need to continue to state the destination throughout the ride as the driver offers "helpful suggestions" for additional stops. Try stating your destination as "[Destination name], only."

Buy
There is not much to buy in the area.

Go next

 * Chennai
 * Mamallapuram
 * Pondicherry