Chennai is a coastal area and welcome visitors with its glory. Chennai contains many traditional old cultures of India blended with the modern era.
You will get a chance to enjoy the colors of both, old and new culture. Chennai is one of the ideal spots for the tourists due to a variety of places to visit, few of the places are given as under.
1. Pondicherry
Distance from Chennai – 169 km
Time Taken – It will take 4 hours to reach there
Pondicherry, commonly known as Pondy, is divided into two areas. French quarters are displaying the colonial and old white building. The other quarter is for Tamil that represents the culture of Tamil people displaying mogra flowers. The place will give you a glimpse of the culture of the area, its language, and food specialties.
Places To See – Ousteri Lake, Seaside Promenade
How to reach the place – It is better to travel by road to enjoy the East coast road. You can use a bus or can hire a taxi.
Where You Can Stay
Luxurious Places to Stay – Hotel Annamalai International
Budget-Friendly Places – Hotel Green Palace
2. Yercaud
Distance from Chennai – 366 km
Time Taken – It is 7-hour drive
Yercaud, means Lake Forest, is a beautiful hill station. The place is full of natural treasures along with the mesmerizing lake. Yercaud is also famous for its spices, fruits, coffee, and wood.
Places To See – Yercaud Lake, Shevaroy Hills, and Temple
How To Reach The Place – You can either use private transport or public transport like buses.
Where You Can Stay
Luxurious Places to Stay – Wellington Hill Resort
Budget-Friendly Places – Grange resort
3. Yelagiri
Distance From Chennai – 227 km
Time Taken – 5 hours
If you are a nature lover, then Yelagiri is the spot for you. The place is famous for its lush green lawns. You can enjoy the views from the hills and can get a chance to relax.
Places To See – Punganoor artificial lake-cum-park, Swami Malai Hills
How To Reach The Place – One can either use a bus or hire a private taxi
Where You Can Stay
Luxurious Places to Stay – O’Nila Resort
Budget-Friendly Places – ACE Friends Park Resort
4. Kodaikanal
Distance From Chennai – 518 km
Time Taken – 9-10 hours
It is considered as one of the ideal honeymoon destinations for newlyweds. The place is cozy, and its extraordinary sights make you fall in love with the place. The beautiful waterfalls increase the beauty of the place.
Places To See – Coaker’s Walk, Green Valley view, Bear Shola Falls
How To Reach The Place – Bus or private transport
Where You Can Stay
Luxurious Places to Stay – Sterling Hotels Valley View
Budget-Friendly Places – United 21 Resort
5. Ooty
Distance from Chennai – 547 km
Time Taken – 9-10 hours
The green and quiet neighborhoods of the area will make your weekends relaxing. There are numerous temples, gardens, bungalows, and parks from the British period. Museums are also there to explore the history of the place.
Places To See – St. Stephen’s Church, Thread Garden, and Tribal Research Centre Museum
How To Reach The Place – Public Transport like a bus or private transport like taxi
Where You Can Stay
Luxurious Places to Stay – Club Mahindra Derby Green
Budget-Friendly Places – Danish Villa
6. Mahabalipuram
Distance from Chennai – 52 km
Time Taken – Less than an hour
It is considered as one of the best heritage sites in the world that is full of ancient wonders. The Shore Temple located on the edge of the water is also a worthy place to visit.
Places to See – Mamallapuram Dance Festival, Trimurti Cave Temple
How To Reach The Place – As the place is close, the bus is a cheap option
7. Kanchipuram
Distance from Chennai – 72 km
Time Taken – 1 hour
Kanchipuram, often named as Silk City, is a hub of culture and civilization of Chennai. The place has thousands of temples that hold religious importance. Vedanthangla Bird Sanctuary is another spot that makes it an ideal place for bird’s lovers.
Places To See – Kamakshi Amman, KanchiKudil, Vedanthangla Bird Sanctuary
How To Reach The Place – You can use a bus, car or a bike as well.
8. Tirupati
Distance from Chennai – 135 km
Time Taken – It takes 1 to 2 hours
If you are planning to visit any place near Chennai, then Tirupati is an ideal spot due to its historical importance. It is one of the major cultural cities, people from different religions and cultures visit this place.
Places to See – TirumalaTirupatiDevasthanam, TTD Gardens
How to reach the place – Many public and private buses take this route. Going by bus is a cheap option. However, if budget is not an issue, you can also hire a taxi.
9. Vellore
Distance from Chennai – 136 km
Time Taken – It takes more than 2 hours to reach Vellore from Chennai
Vellore that holds an important position in terms of cultural representation of the area. The place was a home for ancient Dravidian civilization. You can get to know about the culture of the area by visiting various places in Vellore.
Places To See – Vellore Fort, Srilakshmi Golden Temple, and State Government Museum.
How To Reach The Place – You can either take a bus from Chennai to Vellore. Well, hiring a private taxi is another available option for you.
10. Pulicat
Distance from Chennai – 55 km
Time Taken – Less than an hour
Pulicat is a small town located on a seashore. The hypnotic sights of the place will force you to come again.
Places To See – The beach, the Dutch cemetery, church, Fort. It is recommended to visit nearby villages as well like Nelapattu and Vedurupattu. The period from October to March is ideal for visiting Pulicat due to pleasant weather.
How To Reach The Place – You can use buses for traveling or private taxi. The ship is another available option if you are planning to visit Pulicat city.