problem with URL on main page

[eluser]pickupman[/eluser]
[quote author="smck87" date="1282001116"]Yes, right, but it produces 'main/index' in address bar, so seems like only $route['default_controller'] = 'welcome' works fine :-S[/quote]

Then there is something up with your setup. I don't have any CI sites with this behavior.
http://www.mcfrederickphotography.com (wife's photography gallery using CI).

I still think it's your .htaccess file, but you haven't posted it. You may not welcome as your default controller at some point.