Want to break away from your corporate life for a while, seeking different travelling opportunities that you can opt for a travelling spree out of Chennai? Here are a few of the best places that you can travel to for your weekend break. We have created this list based on the experiences shared by travelers online, and hence, we are pretty sure that these would satiate all your exploration carvings at once.
Freedom is of profound importance while travelling, it’s the sheer feeling of being able to command your way through a city unfettered and unhindered that soothes the soul. But, opting for public transport buses and auto’s often hampers your personal travelling goals, so why not opt for Self Drive Car Rentals in Chennai. Being able to drive yourself would empower you to choose your own destination and route freely.
List of places that you should visit from Chennai:
Pondicherry
Nothing could beat the beautiful and serene surroundings of Pondicherry for a weekend trip. The town offers an eclectic mix of beautiful beaches, invigorating nightlife, and the infusion of French culture with an Indian demeanour.
If you are planning to visit Pondicherry, here are a few of the places that you should not miss: the Promenade Beach (witness the sunset in the evening at the beach), and the boat ride to Paradise Island Beach, which offers the most mesmerizing views of the endless sea that surrounds you.
Pichavaram Mangrove Forests
Located in the Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu, the place offers an experience of the most beautiful mangrove forests, along with the backwaters running amongst them. The Pichvaram backwaters span all the way to the precipice of Killai backwaters along with the Vellar and Coleroon estuaries.
The location is about 225 km from Chennai, and hence, you can easily reach here after a drive of only about 4 hours; the boat rides along the mangrove forests would bring you closer to nature, and bird enthusiasts would be able to spot some of the rarest bird species along these backwaters. November to February would be the best time to visit the place as then you would be able to spot some of the most beautiful birds.
View more: Pichavaram Mangrove Forests
Pulicat
A small and quaint town in the Thiruvallur District of Tamil, the town has a history of Dutch Colonization which adds to the cultural diaspora.
The place has further gained recognition due to the second-largest Brackish Water Lagoon that presides here. Some of the other major attractions of Pulicat are the exotic birds that often fly here during the winter season. These include Flamingoes, Spotted Pelican, Gray Horn Little Terns and other birds that fly here all the way from Siberia and the Himalayan Regions.
Yelagiri
If lakes and waterbodies are not your ideal for a relaxing environment, then the lush green mountains of Yelagiri would surely seem amenable to you. If that’s not all, the mountain ranges are quite popular amongst trekking adventurers and are often flocked by adventure enthusiasts from all over India.
Some of the must-visit places here are Fundera Bird Park, the shores of Attaru River that cascades over rocks and plunges down mountain ranges to form the spectacular Jalagamparai Falls. Some of the other attractions that you must visit are Velavan Temple, Yelagiri Herbal Garden and the beautiful Nature park.
View more: Yelagiri
Horsely Hills
Cascading waterfalls, tranquil lakes, winding roads, and pleasant weather combine to offer a place that offers everything you need for relaxation. Some of the most beautiful attractions are Legal Falls, Lush Greenery, and Elephant Camp. Located close by the Horsley Hills is Gangotri Lake, the Whisper Winds Viewpoint, Galibanda Viewpoint, and other panoramic views of the mountains.
Arignar Anna Zoological Park
If you want to keep your trip short and sweet, this could be a perfect location, with thrill and adventure all rolled into a single experience where you get to come close to the local wildlife as well. You can explore and witness the diverse wildlife specific to this place.
Apart from being a full-on Zoo it’s a famous picnic spot where you can easily relax and have a good time. The destination is a must- visit for wildlife enthusiasts. You can indulge in Elephant joyrides, Children’s Parks and the Education Centre. You can also take part in Elephant Safari as well as Deer Safari.
View more: Arignar Anna Zoological Park
This place is a must-visit if you have any interest in birds or wildlife, located closer to Mahabalipuram, this place is one of the best tourist places that you can visit. This is one of the prime bird sanctuaries of India and is home to about 330,000 birds, quite a few of them fly to be here from all around the world.
You can easily spot Spoonbills, Storks, Egrets, Herons and more over here. This place is located a distance of about 89 km from Chennai, and the best time to visit the place would be from November to February.
View more: Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Vellore Fort
Most prominent landmarks in the city, Vellore as a city has its own unique prospects for travelers, such as rich cultural heritage and architectural marvels from the Dravidian Civilization. This could be a perfect weekend spot for you if you have an interest in History.
Distance from Chennai to the Vellore fort is only about 136 km and the best time to visit the place would be from October to March. A few other places that you can visit nearby are Sri Lakshmi Golden Temple and Sri Venkateshwara Museum. These are some of the best places that we recommend you visit from Chennai.
To roam around you can either use public transport or if you don’t want to miss out on the places and want to roam freely we would recommend you to opt for an self drive rental cars. A lot of local Car Rental providers these days provide travelers with self drive cars but if you are looking for any reliable Car rental company you can opt one from RenTrip Rentals. RenTrip is a renowned brand which offers self-drive Cars in more than 35 cities. Further their easy-to-use Mobile application and website make booking a rental cars more easy and wide options and range to choose from.
We hope you have a wonderful time travelling to all the places listed in the blog, further we would recommend that you try and be safe and enjoy your travelling spree.
The monuments at Mahabalipuram are monolith beautiful sculptures depicting our rich history and culture. The monuments and temples at Mahabalipuram including the Shore Temple complex were collectively classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
The Mahabalipuram stone sculptures carved in stone have been inspired by the Pallava style of art. Each of the monuments at Mahabalipuram is dedicated to a deity or character from Hindu mythology and thereby represents Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism.
The monuments include – Rathas (chariot shaped temples), Mandapas (cave temples), Rock Reliefs, Structural Temples and Excavations.
The monuments at Mahabalipuram have lots in store for art lovers and history buffs. Mahabalipuram falls in Kanchipuram District and is well connected to all major cities through road. The nearest airport is at Chennai (around 60 kilometres away).
Napier bridge in Chennai, built over Coovam river connects Fort St. George with Marina beach with span of 138m long. named after a Governor of Madras, Francis Napier.
The People of Chennai call it “Irumbu Varavadhi”. It is the oldest tied-arch structural bridge. The bridge is visible from Air when the plane approaches from the seaside and looks beautiful at night when it is fully lit.
It provides a gateway to the famous Marina Beach, the bridge now forms a striking image at night to re-enforce the efforts towards developing the city’s urban nightscape.
We can enjoy the breathtaking cityscape crystal clear view of Chennai from here. As part of the Marina Beach beautification project, special lights have been fixed beneath the bridge providing a visual effect as if the bridge is floating on the river water. A combination of lighting effects has been created on the arches and surface. It is being the prime icon of the city.
Temples in Chennai :
Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, is renowned for its architectural marvels and spiritual significance. The city is home to several temples that are a testament to its rich cultural heritage and attract devotees and tourists alike.
From the iconic Kapaleeswarar Temple to the revered Marundheeswarar Temple, every temple in Chennai has its own distinctive historical background and architectural design. These temples offer visitors an immersive experience into the spiritual heritage of Chennai.
Churches in Chennai :
Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is a city that boasts a rich and diverse cultural heritage. Among the myriad historical landmarks that grace its landscape, the city’s churches stand out as some of the most compelling and evocative structures. These churches are not just places of worship; they are repositories of history, culture, and architectural marvels.
Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, is a unique blend of modernity and tradition. It is home to several gorgeous parks that offer a perfect way to relax and unwind amidst nature.
Chennai’s parks are nature’s embrace, where tranquility and wildlife coexist in perfect harmony. These verdant oases offer a sanctuary for visitors to immerse themselves in the serene environment, forging an unbreakable bond with the natural world. Whether you seek solace in a leisurely stroll or yearn for an encounter with the untamed, Chennai’s parks are a gateway to an enchanting realm that caters to all.
Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Chennai is among the most visited and respected places of worship In Tamil Nadu as well as India. The resident deity of the temple, Sai Baba of Shirdi, was an esteemed saint of the 18th century and the stories of his origin and teachings are mostly born out of folklore. However, Sai Baba later became the center of a cult called All India Sai Samaj, and the temple acts as the headquarters for the community.
The Samaj was found in the 1940s by Narasimha Swamiji, and the same person founded the temple as well in 1952. The temple now has followers and devotees in hundreds of thousands. Every year, a large number of people pay their tributes to the mysterious saint – even celebrities and public figures are a part of his following.
Sai Baba is recognized as one of those spiritual reformers who does not have ties to any particular god of any religion but is a figure of worship himself. So, there are no religious restrictions imposed upon those who visit the temple. In fact, this temple has fixed days and hours for reading Islamic text Quran and the book of Christianity, the Holy Bible – something that you will not find in any other spiritual establishment. Another unique feature of the Sai Baba Temple is that it still has a part of the flame that was lit by Sai Baba in Shirdi to mark his contribution to society.
Every Sunday, devotees pay tribute to Sai Baba and his work by worshipping the flame with Agni Puja. The temple offers a peaceful retreat for anyone, whether or not they are followers of the saint. The premises welcome people of any faith with open arms. Anyone who takes an interest in listening to holy texts or spiritual songs can spend some time here in the calm and serene environment.
