Hotel Century

Being at No 197, Bells Road means things get very loud when there is a cricket match. Hotel Century is right there in Chepauk, just opposite the stadium. During the season, the whole street is full of people in yellow shirts and police officers directing traffic. The rest of the year, it is just a normal road in Chennai. The heat is pretty constant here, so we keep the windows shut to try and stay cool. Our address is in the 600005 zip code area. The building has been standing for a long time and you can tell by the way the stairs are worn down in the middle. We have a few staff members who have lived in this neighborhood their whole lives. They know where to get the best coffee around the corner. We don't use any big signs inside, just some handwritten notes for the guests about the water timings. The rooms have basic furniture and the paint is a bit dull in some corners. It’s a busy spot. You can hear the sounds of the city through the walls, especially the buses on the main road. Sometimes we sit on the steps in the evening when the air cools down a little. We don't have a big fancy lobby, just a small space with a table and a couple of ledgers. It’s mostly just a place for people to sleep after they’ve been out all day in the city or at the grounds.