“Project submission! Meeting deadlines! Achieving targets! Managing reviews and client escalations!”
If you are encumbered with such tag lines in your mind, it’s time for a break from the hustle and bustle of your frantic work life. Plan a few days in serenity which will help to kick start your daily work schedule again with new flavors of enthusiasm. Go and gear up to pack your bags while we present a quick list of unconventional and offbeat Chennai getaways. Trust, you will feel rejuvenated, charged-up and will start loving work again!
14 Best Offbeat Chennai Getaways
Here is a list of the best offbeat Chennai getaways where you can let go of the hustle and bustle. They will cherish your trip right from the start of the journey till the end. Make sure to have a fun time at the below mentioned places:
- Pulicat – For Enjoying A Plethora Of Beauty
- Nagalapuram – The Adventure Destination
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary – Mesmerizing Surroundings
- Kadapakkam Village – A Day With The Remnants
- Chandragiri – Witness Vijayanagar’s History
- Pondicherry – Visit The French Nation
- Nellore – Indulge With The Culture
- Talakona – A Serene Waterfall
- Chidambaram – A Quaint Town
- Yelagiri – For A Serene Holiday
- Tranquebar – Land Of Singing Waves
- Horsley Hills – Live By The Hues Of Nature
- Chettinad – Taste Some Gorgeous Cuisines
- Kolli Hills – The Best Getaway
1. Pulicat – For Enjoying A Plethora Of Beauty
Image Credits: P Jeganathan for Wikimedia
Pulicat is one of the best weekend getaways from Chennai laced with India’s second largest lagoon, the Pulicat Lake and a plethora of natural beauty. The seashore town also attracts nature lovers, birdwatchers and photographers.
Distance from Chennai: 55 km
How to reach: 1 and half hours by car via SH 104 and Ennore Express Road
What to do: Boating in the lake, capturing some amazing photographs and attending the Flamingo festival which celebrates the arrival of migratory birds
Where to stay: Hotel Rishi Gardens, Le Raj Courtyard
Must Read: 20 Exquisite Beach Resorts In Chennai To Appease Your Coastal Cravings
2. Nagalapuram – The Adventure Destination
An amazing destination for adventure seekers, Nagalapuram has amazing trekking trails located in the Eastern Ghats. The natural beauty, mesmerizing waterfalls and lush green hills add to the glory, so much so that even tourists from Bangalore prefer to visit here.
Distance from Chennai: 70 km
How to reach: 2 hours in car via Redhills Thiruvallur High Road
What to do: Trekking in the trails, hiking in the forests, camping at the Nagalapuram falls
Where to stay: Haritha Valley Resort, Ve Vin Lodge
Suggested Read: 32 Places To Visit In Chennai For An Intriguing Vacation In the City
3. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary – Mesmerizing Surroundings
Being one of the oldest bird sanctuaries in India, you can witness some rare creations of nature during the migratory season. Some of them are pintail, garganey and grey wagtail. If you are traveling with family, definitely visit here as the kids will love the perfect climate and sightseeing.
Distance from Chennai: 87 km
How to reach: It is only 3 hours away from Chennai and take the East Coast Road to reach at the earliest
What to do: Bird-watching, picnics and explore the sanctuaries natural aura
Where to stay: Oxyville, Mongoose Camps
Suggested Read: Chennai Shopping: 21 Places Where You Can Splurge Your Money
4. Kadapakkam Village – A Day With The Remnants
Kadapakkam Village is an excellent but very unconventional day trip option from Chennai for people seeking a quick day excursion to a less crowded environ. It’s quick, it’s peaceful and you don’t need days off from work. Good place for a family picnic too.
Distance from Chennai: 100 km
How to reach: An hour by car
What to do: Visit Alamparai Fort – once built by the Mughals now undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India
Where to stay: No stay options available
Suggested Read: 14 Best Beach Restaurants In Chennai For A Dinner Date With Views
South Weekend Holiday Packages On TravelTriangle
5. Chandragiri – Witness Vijayanagar’s History
Chandragiri is a historical place near Tirupati and is ideally not one of the most popular tourist places near Chennai. But be ready to be mesmerized with sprawling lush greenery and small hills. Stay till sunset if you can, it’s a beautiful sight from here. Also, about 5 miles away is a picturesque bridge at Thekkil.
Distance from Chennai: 150 km
How to reach: It will take close to 3 hours to reach Chandragiri from Chennai via Tirupati.
What to do: Visit Chandragiri Fort and Raja Mahal Palace (an archeological museum) inside the fort
Where to stay: Temple Guest House and Sri Padmavathi – A P Tourism Guest House – at Tirupati
Suggested Read: 23 Things To Do In Chennai To Explore The Southern Pearl Of India At Its Best
6. Pondicherry – Visit The French Nation
Go on a lively Tour de France at this old colonial town laced with coastal brilliance and a lot of French influence. The aura of the colonial heritage, old military buildings and the bohemian vibes will make sure you have one of the best offbeat getaways from Chennai.
Distance from Chennai: 155 km
How to reach: Takes about 3 hours to drive in a car via the East Coast Road
What to do: Eat at French restaurants, visit the lovely beaches, admire the French buildings and explore some markets
Where to stay: La Villa, The Promenade
Suggested Read: Nightlife In Chennai – What’s Hot And What’s Not
7. Nellore – Indulge With The Culture
Image Credits: Manoj K Racherla for Wikimedia
While you visit Nellore on your weekend, one thing is for sure. You will have one of the most scenic drives across the way. The city of Nellore is located on the banks of river Penna and is very much likely to lure you with its superb heritage and culture.
Distance from Chennai: 175 km
How to reach: It is going to be a lovely 3 and half hour drive via NH16
What to do: Tour the temples, visit the amusement parks and visit the beach
Where to stay: Minerva Grand, Mypadu Haritha Beach Resort
Suggested Read: 10 Best Churches In Chennai Where You Will Love The Spiritual Vibe
8. Talakona – A Serene Waterfall
The highest waterfall of Andhra Pradesh – Talakona, is located in Sri Venkateswara National Park. It is surrounded by calm and dense forests, rich in biodiversity. This forested hilly area forms a part of the mighty Eastern Ghats. The canopy rope walk is quite thrilling and makes Talakona one of the interesting offbeat Chennai getaways.
Distance from Chennai: 220 km
How to reach: 4 hours by car from Chennai via Tirupati
What to do: Trek till the Talakona waterfall; explore the surrounding forests; and visit Lord Siddeswara Swamy Temple – it is quite close to the waterfall.
Where to stay: Log huts by Seshachala Vanadarshini
Suggested Read: 20 Best Waterfalls Near Chennai That Should Be On Your Travel Itinerary
9. Chidambaram – A Quaint Town
Image Credits: Syamamegham for Wikimedia
A town located in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu is a wonderful place to spend an awesome weekend. There is no shortage of temples around the city while the wet mangrove marshlands are a great tourism site. The town is also famous for worshiping the cosmic dance form of Shiva – Nataraja.
Distance from Chennai: 231 km
How to reach: 4 and half hours is the usual time to reach Chidambaram by car or bus via NH16
What to do: Tour and boat through the Mangroves and visit the huge variety of temples
Where to stay: Hotel Grand Palace Stay, Chidambaram Spiritual Stay
Suggested Read: 16 Road Trips From Chennai For The Roadie In You
10. Yelagiri – For A Serene Holiday
Yelagiri, located at an altitude of 1110 meters, comprises of 14 small hamlets spread over several lush green hills and depicts a true picture postcard view.
Distance from Chennai: 227 km
How to reach: 4.5 hours by car from Chennai via Jolarpettai. It is located on the Vaniyamvadi-Tirupattar road.
What to do: Explore the Punganur Lake, Velavan temple, Vainu Pappu solar observatory, fruit farm and herbal farm. One can also trek up to Jalagamparai waterfalls and Swamimalai Hill, the highest point of the place
Where to stay: Sterling Holiday Resorts, YMCA dormitories and Hotel Woodside
Suggested Read: Top 5 Wildlife Sanctuaries Near Chennai That Are Perfect To Witness The Wild Side Of South India
11. Tranquebar – Land Of Singing Waves
The former Danish colony, now known as Tharangambadi or Tranquebar is a less frequented holiday venue and located at the junction where Cauvery River meets Bay of Bengal.
Distance from Chennai:275 km
How to reach: Travelers need to take a train from Chennai to Nagapattinam (35 km) or Chidambaram (40 km) and then a cab to reach Tranquebar. Total travel time is close to 6 hours.
What to do: Visit Dansborg Fort and Museum, New Jerusalem Church, Church of Zion and Pandiyan Masilamani Nathar temple.
Where to stay: Bungalow by the Beach, Tamil Nadu House and Nayak House
Suggested Read: 4 Handpicked Cottages In Chennai One Must Plan A Stay At And Enjoy A Relaxing Vacation!
12. Horsley Hills – Live By The Hues Of Nature
The summer hill resort, Horsley Hills is situated at an elevation of 4100 feet forms a part of the Eastern Ghats. It is named after a British officer – WD Horsley, who chose it as his summer residence.
Distance from Chennai: 278 km
How to reach: Total travel time is 5.5 hours’ drive from Chennai via NH 205
What to do: Explore Lake Gangotri, Gaalibanda, Environmental Park and Horsley Museum. Other outdoor activities include trekking, zorbing and rappelling
Where to stay: AP Tourism Governor’s Bungalow, Haritha Resort and Forest Guest House
Suggested Read: 18 Romantic Places In Chennai For A Quixotic Day Out With Your Love
13. Chettinad – Taste Some Gorgeous Cuisines
Are you done with the oily and spicy food of the cities? Treat yourself this weekend to Chettinad, a place whose cuisine is world-over famous. Apart from that, witness some 19th-century mansions, which were built from items imported from Italy, Burma, Belgium and Indonesia.
Distance from Chennai: 321 km
How to reach: Takes about 6 hours to reach via NH16
What to do: Shop across Chettinad for the traditional cotton sari, also known as kandaangi, visit the temples and obviously taste some lovely local dishes
Where to stay: Chettinadu Mansion, Chidambara Villas
Suggested Read: 16 Super Fun Places In Chennai To Hang Out With Friends & Family
14. Kolli Hills – The Best Getaway
Laced with a variety of places to visit, Kolli Hills is an ideal weekend getaway to get the best of nature, adventure and rejuvenation. A paradise located in the Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu at 4,265 feet above the sea level.
Distance from Chennai: 367 km
How to reach: It takes about 6 and a half hours to reach from Chennai via the NH32
What to do: Admire the natural beauty, visit the gushing waterfalls and trek through the numerous trails
Where to stay: RVR Rejoice Villa Resorts, NPS Lake View Resort
Further Read: 20 Hill Stations Near Chennai That Will Leave You Loving Summer Forever
We hope the above list helps you in shortlisting a few potential destinations. So, what are you waiting for? Take a quick but energizing break from the stresses of urban life and plan your South Indian trip to visit any of these offbeat Chennai getaways that no one talks about.
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Please Note: Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Offbeat Chennai Getaways
Which are some of the popular places in Chennai?
Chennai is one of the most popular cities of India. Around the city, there are several beautiful places where you can visit. These places include Tranquebar, Horsley Hills, Yelagiri, Chandragiri and Marina Beach.
How many beaches are there in Chennai?
In Chennai, there are four prominent and famous beaches. These beaches are Marina Beach, Kovalam, Mahabalipuram Beach, and Elliot Beach. Marina Beach is the biggest beach among India and the second biggest in the world.
Which places are best for a family in Chennai?
Chennai Rail Museum, Guindy National Park, VGP Universal Kingdom, Vivekananda House, Chennai Snake Park Trust, and Arignar Anna Zoological Park are some of the suitable places for a family in Chennai.
What is the best time to visit Chennai?
The best time to Chennai is between October and February month i.e. before monsoon and winter season. In these months, one can beautifully explore the city of Chennai without any scorching of summer.
What are some religious places in Chennai?
Chennai, a southern city of India, comprises uncountable religious places. Thus, some of the popular among them are St. Andrew’s Church, Masjid e Mamoor, Kamakshi Amman Temple, Shree Sai Baba Temple, and Kundrathur Murugan Temple.
What are some of the top accommodations in Chennai?
Some of the top accommodations in Chennai include The Park Chennai, Hotel Green Park, The Raintree, Treebo Trend Nestlay Airport, Hotel The Ambassador Pallava and Hablis Hotel.
Where can one find some of the best waterfalls near Chennai?
You can find several beautiful waterfalls. Some of the popular among these waterfalls are Talakona waterfall, Siruvani waterfall, Kaigal Falls, Pykara Falls, Shivanasamudra Falls.
What is the distance of Horsley Hills from Chennai?
The distance of Horsley Hills from Chennai is about 278 km. You can go there by driving through NH 205.
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