Guindy National Park Dawn Walk: What First-Time Visitors Really Want to Know

Every time the 5:40 alarm goes off, I regret it. Why did I ever start this? But then I step out of the hostel, hop in a rickshaw, and arrive at the park entrance, birdsong pouring down from a still-dark sky, and the regret vanishes in less than five minutes. It's been about eight months since I started my early-morning walks at Guindy National Park. In that time, I've gotten the same questions quite a lot from first-timers. I figured writing it all down might be useful to someone.

What time should I go?

The park gate opens early in the morning. I usually arrive around 6, and by then there are already a fair number of people walking. After 7, the sun gets intense and Chennai's signature humidity starts rising. If it's your first time, try to get there just before sunrise. That moment when light filters through the leaves is the best time the park has to offer.

How much is the entrance fee? What should I bring?

The entrance fee is just a few rupees, so it's no burden. That said, it's safer to bring cash. The first time I went, I showed up relying only on UPI, but the network wouldn't connect, and I ended up borrowing change from the man standing behind me in line. Since then, I keep coins in my pocket.

What to bring is simple: a bottle of water, mosquito repellent, and comfortable shoes. You'll occasionally see people in flip-flops, but there are sections of dirt trail in the park where tree roots jut out, and you could hurt your toes. They don't have to be sneakers, any shoes that cover the top of your feet will do.

Isn't it scary going alone?

Honestly, I was a bit nervous at first. Even though it's a national park in the middle of the city, walking a forest trail alone in the early dawn just feels different. After a few days, you start to notice the people who come at the same time every day: a group of college students jogging, a couple carrying yoga mats, an uncle lugging a tripod to photograph birds. You exchange greetings, and before you know it, you recognise faces. These days, if the one elderly gentleman I see every morning doesn't show up, I actually worry.

Photo: Pazhani Manivannan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Do deer really come out?

They do. You can spot blackbuck, and spotted deer are fairly common. The first time I saw one, I got too close and it bolted. I was the one who ended up startled. If you just stand still and wait, they'll actually come around and check you out instead. Most of them turn and walk away the moment you pull out a camera, so I'd say just watch with your eyes. Phone camera zoom only captures a blurry brown blob anyway.

Is there anything to do besides walking?

Walking alone is plenty for me, but the park has a Children's Park and a Snake Park attached to it, so if you come with friends on the weekend you can visit them all together. These areas don't open early in the morning, though, so it's best to schedule walking and sightseeing separately.

Sometimes after my walk, I buy a cup of filter coffee from a lane just outside the park. Would it be an exaggeration to say that single cup of coffee is the force that keeps this routine going? Coffee after a morning walk is truly a different beverage.

If you've already walked at Guindy, I'd love to hear which route you liked best. There are still plenty of paths I haven't explored.