Anna Salai Shopping: Spencer Plaza and Mount Road Guide

Why is Anna Salai a shopping street?

Anna Salai started as a cart track used by East India Company staff. Wikipedia says it gained importance after 1726, when the Marmalong Bridge opened, and that garden houses for Company merchants and officials lined the road in the 18th and 19th centuries. By the early 20th century it was a favourite shopping destination among the city's elite.

It was renamed Anna Salai in 1974 after C. N. Annadurai, though many Chennai residents still say Mount Road. The road is about 13 km long, and the Chennai Metro runs along its median, so it remains a major commercial spine.

What is Spencer Plaza?

Spencer Plaza is a shopping and office complex on Anna Salai. The present building opened in 1991 on a site of around 10 acres, according to Wikipedia, and is an eight-storey complex with about 600,000 square feet of air-conditioned shops and 400,000 square feet of offices. It lists over 700 shops, with clothing, books, electronics and banks.

It stands on the site of the original Spencer and Company store, which Wikipedia describes as the first department store in the Indian subcontinent, opened in 1895. A fire in 1983 destroyed the old Indo-Saracenic building, which is why the present plaza is modern.

Wikipedia notes that Spencer Plaza includes anchor stores and international brands as well as banking and food services, so it works for a quick errand as well as a long browse. Because it is a large building, note which entrance you use so you can find your way out.

What else is on the road?

Useful reference points on Anna Salai include the LIC Building, described as Chennai's first skyscraper, the Thousand Lights Mosque from the early 1800s and Gemini Flyover. Teynampet and Saidapet are commercial hubs further along. These landmarks help when you give directions to a driver, because Mount Road is long and busy.

The Thousand Lights Mosque, built in 1810, is a functioning place of worship and a landmark. If you wish to visit, ask first whether visitors are allowed and dress modestly. I could not verify visiting hours.

Wikipedia also lists the Gemini Flyover as a reference point on the road. If you are not sure where you are, look for the metro entrances along the median, which are easy to spot and carry station names that match these landmarks.

How should you plan a shopping trip?

Pick a time that avoids traffic and heat. Mornings after 10 AM and early afternoons are usually calmer than evenings, though this is a general guess. I could not verify store timings, so check with shops or the mall before you leave.

Decide what you want before you go. Mount Road offers branded stores, large complexes and small shops in side lanes. Bring photo ID in case a shop asks for it for a card transaction, and keep a power bank for navigation and payments.

Plan payment in advance. Most large stores accept cards and digital payments, but small shops may prefer cash or UPI, so carry a mix. Ask about the return and exchange policy before paying for clothes or gifts, since policies differ between shops.

If you are travelling by train after your shopping trip, think about space. A new suitcase or a bulky purchase can push you over your luggage limit, and the Indian Railways free allowance is weight-based by class. Book excess luggage in advance if you are close to the limit.

• Carry a small bag, not luggage.
• Compare prices across two or three shops for big purchases.
• Keep receipts for returns or warranty claims.
• Use the hotel as a base and return to drop shopping bags before dinner.

Staying close to the shops

Hotel Royal Park is on Perumal Mudali Street, EB Link Road, off Anna Salai. That makes it a practical base for a shopping weekend or a business trip with errands. We offer free parking for those who arrive by car, 24-hour room service, free Wi-Fi and luggage assistance, so heavy shopping bags are not a problem at the end of the day.

Rooms start at Rs 1,600 for a Double Deluxe Room and go up to Rs 2,500 for a Triple Bed Room or Suite Room, which suits a family trip. Check-in is at 1 PM and check-out is at 11 AM, and hourly booking is available on request. Reconfirm the rate and taxes when you book.

A simple half-day route

Start with a late breakfast, take a cab or short ride to Spencer Plaza and spend two hours there. Walk or take a short ride to another stretch of Anna Salai, stop at a landmark for a rest and be back at the hotel by mid-afternoon. If you are leaving the same day and your bags are packed, ask the front desk about luggage storage after check-out.