Visited chokhi Dhani with a couple of friends, last week and here is the detailed review. Chokhi Dhani is a very good place and seems to have recreated North India /
Rajasthan within Chennai. It opens at only 04:00 PM and is till 09:30 - 10:00 pm. We were there from 04:00 PM till 09:30 PM, each and every art or activity is to be
liesurely enjoyed. My tip would be to reach there at dot 4.00 PM, where the crowd is less and you will have all the rides to yourself, as time passess and crowd
increases you have Queues for each rides. The chat counters there do provide with you with energy by giving chats. It is advised not to use all food coupons at one
go,but take breaks in between rides, activity so that you dont eat all chats in one go and become full.
The activity and events may not be in exact order, but whatever best i could say about the Pro and Cons of the place I will write now:
Reception : The reception is very traditional and if you are in group they will play drums etc, before entry one lady will apply tilak on your forehead. The Menu photo
is uploaded. We took the 700 Rs special thali which was very Value for Money for us, as it had maximum of rides and you wont feel anything was left out. Food (Main
Dinner) is the same for all, only for the costliest thali (emperor thali pack) it is served to table and for all other packs you have tables to sit and to top up food
you have to walk to buffet place, which is just 10 steps away. So dont get excited by Emperor Thali. If payment is done by Card they charge 10rs above the rate, as
Bank Charges, which they should not Charge.
Boating: Boating is pedal boat over the small structure created, and you have to pedal the boat. Be careful of the small crocodiles in the pond, They dont bite that
much, unless you put your hand in water.
Camel Ride: Since i went too ahead of my friends, the ridekeeper thought i am alone and for single person he took a very small ride. Two persons can sit on camel, and
that guy did wrong thing. Management person if you read this tell your guys to keep a same ride distance whether its single or more person.
Horse Ride: When we went to horse ride, there was a Q, so everyone got the same distance, ride as in sense you cant drive the horse, we just sit behind and he walks
the horse.
Camel Cart / Horse Cart / Bullock Cart Ridesl: All are the same with different types of carts and different animals, good for a group of 4 people. IF there are more
than 4 some carts dont have space for more than 4 so you have to manage accordingly with your friends.
Different Houses : There are different houses / places wherein the Rajasthani people do their art work. Pottery, Blacksmith, Hand Grinder, singer etc, you can try and
they will teach you how to make the small mud matka and forge iron.
Culturals: Different artists do their dances, puppet show , and there is one magician also who does good magic. They also have the horse which you can wear and dance. The dance with iron spikes and blades is worth watching. You can freely join the artists and they teach you how to dance.
Astrology (Parrot / Palm) : i went to parrot astrologer and he tells me I have to give him whatever i wish to give as his dakshina. It is based on belief, i should
have backed out then and there, still went ahead and the parrot took some card, then he tells good things and bad things about us, which is just nonsense, but may put
off your mood, so my advice is dont ever go to these astrologers. We go there to have a good time, and not to get diagnosed on our life and someone tell us about our
bad and good (no matter how fake or true it be). That is just like you go to Chokhi Dhani and meet a doctor who tells you have cholesterol and sugar and you miss out
eating on Jalebi and the other oil infused rajasthani dishes. This relaxing time is not for astrology.
Hookah: They have tobacco hookah and i tried it, didnt like it , but a good hookah experience.
Food / Chats (Not including Main Dinner) : At two places you get free snacks / unlimited for all packs. One house makes small makka roti with gud (jaggery) and in
another house its again makka roti with fried salted chillis and chaas (buttermilk). Dont be happy and gorge on those, you have to have space for the chats and main
Dinner also. coupons are given for the Chat & rides. There are Chats and each Chat is ticked off on the coupon: Kachori with kadhi (yellow colored liquid), Sundal
(Chana ) , Jalebi, Tomato SOup, Chaai (Rajasthani Tea, was different from Normal Tea which we get in Shops). Apart from that you could always go to the Jaljeera
Counter and have unlimited shots of Jaljeera and drinking water.
Main Dinner: After spending around 4 hours of romaing and having chats and tit bits we were not that much hungry could try only some items of the big buffet, but the buffet is totally worth the amount paid. Daal Baati Churma, Gatte ki subzi, Malpua and other dishes were good. My friends liked the khichadi lot, very bland and simple it was.
Language & Tips: There are signboards asking you to complain if anyone asks for Tips. Many members did post that all people expecting tips, but that is not the case.
We just have to go to their stall and they happily show us their goods, we then leave it thats all. Almost all staff working there are from Rajasthan, also during my
visit I found that many north indian families had come for outing and they only were interacting with the folk artists and telling them which song to play. South
indian families / groups just took photos. I lived in North india for a long time and know more hindi marathi than tamil, but i dont know the folk songs of rajasthan.
Other south indian families too may not have understood. Management should keep a guide / translator at such stalls of cultural interest and explain in Tamil / Telugu
to the south indians , so that they understand what exactly is the Rajasthani Culture and folk songs.
700 rs or so for total entertainment and recreation of 5 hours along with chats / Dinner is worth. Nowhere in Chennai you get such a package, other places dont give such entertainment options and at restaurants even food costs 800-900 rs and you just sit have dinner and come out hardly 1 hour you spend. This is totally VFM of food and other recreations, must visit one time.
Thank you.
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