One Day Getaways from Chennai

If you are in the beautiful beach town of Chennai and are planning a getaway somewhere around the city, there are wonderful locations near Chennai that will wow you! From Mahalabipuram to Auroville – this Things2do list of amazing places to visit near Chennai, your weekend getaways are sorted!

1Mahabalipuram

If you are a beach lover, Mahabalipuram is a perfect weekend getaway from the city. Book a beach resort to chill and spend quality time with family and friends. Not just that, it is a home for rich culture and heritage. Shore Temple, Sea Shell Museum, Krishna’s Butter Ball are some of the must visit places when in Mahabalipuram. Make your weekend getaway plan with this place on your list to visit in Chennai.

2Pulicat lake

Pulicat Lake, a scenic place located on the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, is a great place to immerse yourself in nature! It is spread over 600 sq km and functions as a bird sanctuary creating a beautiful home for a variety of birds like Kingfishers, Flamingos, Storks and more. It is a super fascinating place for bird watchers and ornithologists. The Dutch style buildings in the area are also a major tourist attraction making it one of the best places to visit in Chennai.

3Pondicherry

Pondicherry, officially known as Puducherry, and commonly referred to as Pondy is a whole different world in itself! A former French colony, it is a perfect amalgamation of Indian and French architecture and actually astonishes everyone of how two cultures can beautifully coexist. One must visit the French Quarter of Pondicherry, also known as White Town, which is dotted with French buildings, cosy cafes, chic boutiques, French bakeries and more. The scenic beaches are something which you shouldn’t miss when in Pondicherry. The seaside promenade and Rock Beach are great places to watch beautiful sunrises and sunsets. 

4Auroville

Conceived as the ‘Universal Town’, Auroville, located around 15 km from the city of Pondicherry, is an experimental township where people from across the world of all cultures and traditions come and live together in peace. It was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa known as “The Mother”. One must visit the Matrimandir, located in the middle of the town, is an edifice of spiritual significance for practitioners of Integral yoga. If you are in search of peace, Auroville should be your pick! 

5Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram or Kanchi, “The Golden City of Thousand Temples”, attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world who are interested to enjoy the marvel of South Indian culture and architecture. One come here to visit the famous temples such as Kamakshi Amman Temple, Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Kailasanathar Temple, Devarajaswami Temple, etc., and to shop the world famous Kanchivaram Silk Sarees. Visiting handloom factories is a must when in Kanchipuram to learn about the art of weaving! So make your weekend plans with the best places to visit in Chennai with your gang!

6Talakona Falls

Talakona Waterfalls, located in Sri Venkateswara National Park is the highest waterfall in the region and is a very famous trekking and picnic spot from Chennai. The water is believed to have medicinal properties. If you’re a person who loves to trek and to immerse yourself in nature’s glory, Talakona Waterfalls would make an ideal one day trip in Chennai. One must visit the Lord Siddheswara Swamy Temple, which is located close to the waterfall. 

7Vellore

Vellore, known as the Fort City of Tamil Nadu is situated on the banks of the Palar River and is one of the oldest cities of South India. It is one of the nearest places to go on a road trip from Chennai. One must visit Vellore Fort, Jalakandeswarar Temple, Tipu and Hyder Mahal, State Government Museum, Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple, Amirthi Zoological Park when in Vellore. 

8Yelagiri

Yelagiri is an offbeat hill station located in Vellore. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers making it a perfect Summer Getaway and is one of the hidden gems of South India. Right from sunset points to lakes and parks, Yelagiri makes a perfect picnic spot especially to take a break from the fast-paced city life. Punganur Lake, Nature Park, Jalagamparai Falls, Telescope Observatory, Swami Malai Hills are a few attractions you should not miss checking out here. 

So this was the Things2do recommendation of some of the best one day getaways near Chennai. For more regular updates about namma Chennai follow Things2doinChennai on Instagram and never miss out on the exciting Things to do in Chennai!

by Swetha Parthiban

Writer at Things2do