What a shock!!!

I finally managed to visit the place that I had been long planning to…well, this place is jus about 3 kms from my house and it takes about 3-5 minutes to drive down here. I had been planning and planning for a long while, but somehow never managed to reach here.

There are controversies surrounding this place recently and we were not sure whether this place is going to stay. Not that we expected anything big inside, but after the controversy, just like numerous other Chennaites, I was even more curious to see what the hell was in there. My daughter was also keen to go and has been trying to motivate me to take her there.

Finally, on a lazy afternoon a lil bored, both of us managed to go there yesterday (my wife has school..so). And we were in for a rude shock. The place though in the heart of the city that is cramped for space, was very spacious with loads of open spaces and sufficient car and two wheeler parking, a welcome miniature pond and fountain...we are really starting to like this giant structure already and we have not even entered it!!

On passing the now familiar city security procedures for tall buildings, we enter a state of the art building – almost looks like a super shopping mall – the crowds are missing though.

We see through the building index (of which floor contains what) and head out to the first floor – B section. There are a few people waiting for the lift, so reluctantly take the stairs; Can’t help commenting on the wide and well-built staircase leading up…as I reach the top, notice that there is an escalator..oops that would have been easier.

Once inside the section that my daughter n me have come for, we are just shell shocked…this place is jus cool and wonderful ;and the collection breath-taking. There are more people here – finally some people, at least here!! There are nice well laid out tables and chairs, where you can loathe around. There is even a nice big artificial tree with a nice carpet around it. Tiny-tots are sitting here with their parents gazing through.

We had planned to be here for 30 mins and then move on to the British council library where we had to go originally (this was a detour). I realized that the time has really flown and it now about 45 minutes, since we entered the place. Time check…Divya and me agree that we will leave at the end of 1 hour.

It is 30 minutes past 1 hour since we came and still no signs of us wanting to leave. British council program cancelled…hmm..Divya has exams, so we finally managed to drag ourselves out of the place (only 2 hours passed by)

We go down the escalator and there is “French Loaf” restaurant…some snacks and it is time to leave..back home, we cant help brag to my wife and parents about the wonderful place that we had been to..!!

Any guesses?

You would have guessed it right – it is the new Anna centenary Library in Kotturpuram…if you have been there already, you would have also experienced the wonders of it.

If not, please take time to go there. The collection of books is amazing – better than so many libraries that I have been to – and it jus right for Indian / NRI kids as well – the spread of authors, publications is outstanding. Be it Amar Chitra kathas or Tinkles or Geography books or great inventors to great discoverers..….you name it and it was there.

Ok, this was jus the kiddos section..there is more for grown ups as well…after all it house 7 floors of books..

Well – if you have tiny-tots in your house, this is a great place to take them to show them real tall/ touch & feel books.
If you have kids in age 5-12 years, great place to spend a lazy Saturday/ Sunday afternoon with the family (place is open till 8 pm on all days)
If your kids > 12 years and you want them to stop watching TV for sometime…a good distraction to have.

The entrance fee is free!!

Take time to go there…it is definitely worth it!! you can have some good family time..with parents and grand parents -- Only thing you might get sucked into some good reading habits apart from spending quality time with THE family..