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Chennai is surrounded by beautiful locations in and around. If you are in Chennai and are planning a weekend getaway, we have a list of places for you to visit during the Diwali long weekend. If you enjoy treks, cool hill stations, and beaches then this list is made for you!
1Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal also known as the Princess of hill stations is one of the favourite getaway destinations of south India. Kodaikanal is situated around 500 kms away from Chennai. It can take 9 hours to reach by road. You can drive or take a bus from Chennai. The fastest way to reach would be taking a flight to Madurai airport and then taking a cab to Kodaikanal. You can visit Thalaiyar falls, Silver Cascade falls, Berijam lake, Pillar rocks, Green valley and Kodai lake in a day. Boating, Cycling, and Horse riding are a few activities you can do at Kodai lake.
2Yelagiri
Yelagiri is an offbeat hill station located in Vellore. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers making it a perfect Summer Getaway. It is one of the hidden gems of South India. Yelagiri is located at a distance of 228 kms from Chennai. You can take a bus or train to Yelagiri from the city. A train journey can be taken up until Jolarpettai, which is the nearest railway station. Thereafter you can hire a cab. Punganur Lake, Nature Park, Jalagamparai Falls, Telescope Observatory, and Swami Malai Hills are a few attractions you should not miss while in Yelagiri. Yelagiri’s most popular hill, the Swami Malai Hill is the highest point of the hill station. A 3 km trek from Punganur lake will take you to the hilltop.
3Horsely Hills
Horsley Hills is a series of Hills in Andhra Pradesh, also known as the Ooty of AP since it is one of the coolest places in South India. The hillocks named after WH Horsley, a British civil servant, who built a summer bungalow in 1862, exist to date as the ‘Forest Bungalow’. Horsley Hills is located at a distance of 260 kms from Chennai. The most preferred way of travelling there would be by road, you can drive or take a bus. However, there might not be any direct buses to Horsley Hills. The Major attractions in Horsley Hills include Kaigal Falls, Chennakesava Temple, Whisper Wind viewpoint, Gali Bandalu, Gangotri Lake, and Mallamma Temple. You can trek to the whisper wind viewpoint top to see the entire hills.
4Gingee Fort
Gingee fort, also known as Senji fort is situated in the Villupuram district about 160 km from Chennai. The fort is situated on top of a hill consisting of 400 steps which makes it a 1 hr trek and is considered a moderate trek. At the Gingee fort, one needs adequate time to cover the entire fort complex which has three parts to visit:
-The base of the fort spread across the Kalyana mahal, temples, Pondicherry gate, and other structures which need about 2 hours
-Rajagiri fort around 2 hours and
-Krishnagiri fort which should take about 1 hour.
The entire fort complex opens at 9 am and closes by 5 pm so plan your trek accordingly.
5Talakona Waterfalls
Talakona waterfalls situated in Sri Venkateswara National Park in Tirupati is the highest waterfall in the region. It is located at a distance of 190 kms from Chennai. The fastest and most preferred way to reach Talakona from Chennai would be by road. It takes approximately 2 hours 45 mins to drive from Chennai to Talakona Waterfalls. One must visit the Lord Siddheswara Swamy Temple, which is located close to the waterfall. The water from the waterfalls is considered to have medicinal properties. The region surrounding the falls has a pleasant climate most of the year. 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 to Chennai.
6Parvathamalai Mountain
Parvathamalai is one of the most sacred places in India where a temple for Lord Shiva was set up by Siddhars to meditate and attain enlightenment. It is located at a distance of 189 kms from Chennai. It takes about 5 hrs to reach there from Chennai. The trek in all takes about 4+ hours to climb up. It is considered a difficult trek however the view from the top makes it worth the while and difficulty. At the top of the mountain is a temple that is dedicated to the supreme power Lord Shiva. It is popular among devotees which makes Pavithramalai a pilgrimage spot too.
This Diwali long weekend instead of celebrating the traditional way, plan a weekend getaway with your friends or family. For more regular updates about namma Chennai follow Things2doinChennai on Instagram and never miss out on the exciting Things to do in Chennai!
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