From the world of vehicular fumes, ear- piercing honking, tiring noise, bumper to bumper traffic and burning heat, you pass a non-descript gate which is always open, and you are transported to a totally different world. It is a world where there are huge trees, where there is shade, where there is no noise except the singing of birds and the leaves rustling in the breeze.
You see many vehicles inside but surprisingly there is no honking or revving engines. The ambience is peaceful, tranquil and quiet, a far cry from the outside world a few yards away.
That is what the Woodlands Drive-in restaurant surrounded by huge trees used to symbolise; a unique place without the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a landmark in Chennai like Fort St George or the Marina or Elliots Beach.
It is a rendezvous frequented by people from all walks of life; from film-stars to writers to filmmakers to ordinary citizens. And everyone has some memory to carry along with them.
Now, it will forever remain a memory for the people of Chennai, a landmark about to be erased from the map of the city.
Text : Shobha Warrier in Chennai | Photographs : Sreeram Selvaraj
Also read: An evening with a legend
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