Places to visit around Chennai
You have landed in Chennai and taken care of your teeth. You have also gone around the city. Why stop with that when you can do more? There are very many scenic and historic places which are very close to Chennai and can be visited with ease. Here are some of them:
# 1 Mahabalipuram
This city built by the Pandavas is a great place to head for a day or two or three! The monuments in Mahabalipuram are one amongst the World UNESCO sites and are beyond beautiful. The architecture is splendid and the town is by the shores of the Bay of Bengal. Mahabalipuram is a popular tourist place. You can go around the town on a cycle, watch the waves, surf, and generally chill out eating a variety of mouth watering food! You will be able to find very competitive deals for staying and eating.
# 2 Pondycherry or Puducherry
Pondycherry is a Union Territory which is takes about 2.5 hours to reach from Chennai. Sometimes compared to Goa, Pondycherry (fondly called as Pondy) is located by the sea and is the town of the famous Aurobindo Ashram. Surfing, Rafting, and Scuba Diving are some of the adventure sports that you can indulge in here. You can do a whole lot of other things in Pondy which include sight-seeing, fishing, shopping, clubbing, and the like! Pondicherry is a famous spot for holidaying where you can just lounge and soak in the local ambience. One never visits Pondy just once, but keeps visiting Pondy whenever possible!
# 3 Tada Falls
Tada Falls are located at the outskirts of Chennai and may take about 2.5 hours to reach from the city. These waterfalls are pristine and a refreshing way to beat the belting Chennai heat. A great place to relax and rejuvenate! It is a good spot to go for a one day picnic. You can enjoy tasty local cuisine after taking a cool shower in the falls. Tada Falls is generally not very crowded and hence is a great place to head to!
# 4 Yelagiri Hills
Yelagiri hills are about 4 hours away from Chennai. You can take a train till Jolarpet and then ride on a bus/auto/cab up the hills or you can simply drive down from Chennai directly. Yelagiri hills are famous trekking spots. Nestled in greenery and beauty, these hills are very cool and are an ideal getaway all through the year. There are many trekking spots and trails for one to walk about the hills. Yelagiri Hills are a fantastic way to spend a day or two away from Chennai, and will surely make your trip a memorable one!
# 5 Kancheepuram
Kancheepuram is a district and the town of Kancheepuram is a 3 hour drive from Chennai. Kancheepuram is known for its beautiful silk sarees and intricately carved temples. The town is one of the oldest in India and showcases the Pallava heritage. There are very many historic temples and hence Kanchipuram is also known as the Temple Town. The Kamakshi Amman Temple, The Ekambareshwarar Temple, and The Varadaraaja Swamy Temple are amongst the most popularly visited temples. Silk saree shopping is a famous pastime of anyone who visits Kancheepuram! Visit Kancheepuram to revel in silk and marvel at heritage!
There are many more places around Chennai which can be visited. Chennai is the gateway to South India and depending on the time you have to spend, you can keep Chennai as your base to explore the entire Tamilnadu and Kerala. This means that every time you visit your dentist, you have an exciting new place to visit!
