A colonial touch blended with the robust Tamil culture, Pondicherry is just a two-hour picturesque drive away from Chennai. Visit here for the cobblestone cycling-friendly streets, the rich history of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and some of the best cafes in which to hang out. A place where lethargy is a virtue, enjoy the sun rise at the widely used beachfront. The same place converts... More

A colonial touch blended with the robust Tamil culture, Pondicherry is just a two-hour picturesque drive away from Chennai. Visit here for the cobblestone cycling-friendly streets, the rich history of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and some of the best cafes in which to hang out. A place where lethargy is a virtue, enjoy the sun rise at the widely used beachfront. The same place converts into a local hangout at night when traffic is stopped and post-dinner walkers turn out for ice cream. Less

Just 45 minutes out of the city, the East Coast Road first stops at the historic town of Mahabalipuram. The 7th century erstwhile port city is famous for its rock-cut shore temples. A lone lighthouse on a hill watches over a group of temples below. Mahabalipuram also has some great cafes that serve good sea food. A backpacker’s delight, one can find cheap accommodations and plenty of... More

Just 45 minutes out of the city, the East Coast Road first stops at the historic town of Mahabalipuram. The 7th century erstwhile port city is famous for its rock-cut shore temples. A lone lighthouse on a hill watches over a group of temples below. Mahabalipuram also has some great cafes that serve good sea food. A backpacker’s delight, one can find cheap accommodations and plenty of activities. Less

A major pilgrimage site and home to the ancient Shiva temple, Chidambaram is also visited for a unique reason. The small town boasts of an old palm leaves reading tradition; the leaves are used to determine every individual’s past and future life. People travel from great distances to experience this special kind of horoscope reading.

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The second largest brackish water lake in India is along the Coromandel Coast, just 990 kilometers from Chennai. Visit here for the bird sanctuary and the exotic barrier island of Sriharikota, which divides the lake from the Bay of Bengal. The island also houses the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and several commercial fisheries.

The famous sari hub of the country, Kanchipuram is just 83 kilometers from Chennai. Apart from the silk weavers, the temple town is considered one of the holiest destinations in India. If you want to target a single stop to see temples, this is relevant for both Shiv and Vishnu followers.