Chennai makes more room for music lovers this season

CHENNAI: Hotel rooms are packed till New Year’s Eve, and renting out rooms, apartments and homestays has become the norm of the day. This season though, a number of people are opening up their house to music lovers for the first time. Be it one-bedroom apartments or independent bungalows, visitors have a plethora of options.
“I have travelled abroad for concerts and have always rented a room in someone’s house.My experience abroad prompted me to rent out my three bedrooms this year to people coming for the music season,” says Madhulika Manning, who is renting her rooms on Greenways Road to single women. “This is the time of year when many tourists from abroad and the rest of the country come to Chennai. It is my way of helping them find a home away from home in this city,” she says.
Nirupama Reddy of Hanu Reddy Residencies also decided to rent out rooms this season. “Since my house is close to all major sabhas, commuting will be easy for visitors,” says Nirupama, whose house is in R A Puram.
Apart from non-resident Indians, many foreigners come to take part in the music festival. Most of them look for facilities close to the concert halls. “This is our first Margazhi season,” says Balaji Ramesh, who runs the accommodation facility, Opendors, with his brother. “We primarily cater to the requirements of corporates, business travellers and leisure travellers,” he says.
“Room rents depend on location and can range from 1,449 to 3,099 a day. In case of apartments, rents are between 2,999 and 7,499 a month. We pay attention to minute details such as providing cooks, room decor, mattresses and cab facilities,” Balaji adds.
A resident of Alwarpet, who did not want to be named, decided to rent out rooms in his house which is vacant. “I belong to a family of musicians. My son is a performer as well. So I know what kind of environment a performer needs while practising,” says the resident, whose three-bedroom apartment is situated close to some of the prominent sabhas.
Most visitors coming down for the season prefer to make their bookings in advance. “Our bookings are usually over by September and October. Those who miss out on the bookings are left disappointed towards the beginning of the season as most hotels near the sabhas run out of rooms,” says Babu, manager, Hotel New Woodlands.
“I am open to renting out my apartment from December 2012 to February 2013. People can book individual rooms or the entire apartment,” says K Ramalingam, another first-timer looking to rent out his three-bedroom apartment on Sterling Road.