The princely city of Vellore is an ancient city that has been ruled by many prosperous dynasties over the years. The Pallavas, The Cholas, Vijaynagar Kingdom, Carnatic Empire and the British are the various powers that ruled the region of Vellore.
Different rulers of Vellore are responsible for the city’s mixed and interesting cultural heritage. The city is famous for its grand forts, royal temples, and natural wonders. Check out these popular and charming places to visit in Vellore.
19 Best Places To Visit In Vellore
Are you planning to visit Vellore? Here are the best places to visit in Vellore that make this city in Tamil Nadu a famous destination for sightseeing. Make sure you visit all these places on your trip.
1. Jalakandeswarar Temple: Dravidian Style Architecture
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Located inside the Vellore fort complex, the Jalakandeswarar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is built in an extraordinary Dravidian style architecture. It houses a great intricate stone pillar and there are intricate engravings on the ceiling of the temple. Chaitra Poornima (April / May), Mahashivaratri (around Feb), Aadipooram (July/August), Vinayaka Chaturthi (August/September), Navarathri (September/October) are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. If you want to experience the culture of Vellore, this is one of the main tourist places in Vellore to visit for you. This is among the most popular Vellore tourist places.
Location: Balaji Nagar, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: NA
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2. Srilakshmi Golden Temple: Marvellous Structure Made Of Gold
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The most amazing feature of this temple is very evident, the gold-coated architecture. One of the most magnificent places to see in Vellore, the whole structure is coated in gold leaf and costs a whopping 65 million US dollars. The amount of gold used is 1500 kilograms. Constructed in the year 2007, the temple is built in 100 acres area of land and constructed by Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peedam, headed by spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Amma.
Location: Javadi Hills, Alangayam, Kavalur, Tamil Nadu 635701
Timings: Saturday 7-10 PM
Entry Fee: Free
3. Vellore Fort: 16th-Century Granite Fort
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One of the top tourist places in Vellore, the Vellore Fort is a must-visit. Located at a distance of 1.5 km from the main railway station, this fort is a 16th-century granite fort located in the heart of the town. It is surrounded by a deep moat that was once full of crocodiles. The fort spreads over an area of 133 acres. There’s a boating facility available here too. Visiting this fort is one of the mandatory things to do in Vellore on your trip.
Location: Balaji Nagar, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: INR 5
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4. Ratnagiri Murugan Temple: Religious Visit
If you are wondering about more places to visit in Vellore, then you must ass ratnagiri Murugan Temple to your list. Built around the 14th century, the temple is located on top of a hill. Hundreds of people visit the temple every day to pay their respect to Lord Murugan. According to the ancient scriptures, where there is a hill, there is Lord Murugan. It is only 14 km from the city of Vellore and can easily be reached via public transport or taxi.
Location: Ratnagiri Kilminnal, Tamil Nadu 632517
Timings: 6 AM – 1 PM, 4-8 PM
Entry Fee: No entry fee
5. St John’s Church: Illuminating Hours
One of the oldest churches in Vellore, St. John has a great religious significance. It is one of the most popular religious and tourist places in Vellore. The church is associated with many NGOs and support schools to help those in need. S, if you ever feel like giving back to society, you may visit the church and get in touch with the authorities.
Location: Vellore Fort, Fort Round Rd, Balaji Nagar, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004
Timings: Open 24 hours
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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6. Periyar Park: Manicured Gardens
Periyar Park is among tourist places in Vellore where you can go for some respite. The beautiful park is known for its manicured gardens, fountains, well-laden jogger’s path, and other top facilities. The charming promenades and attractive sitting benches will make Periyar Park your favorite spot in the town for sure. There is alsa a children’s area with swings and battery-powered cars and motorcycles. People of all ages can have fun in the park. You must surely plan a visit to this one of the famous Vellore tourist places.
Location: Fort Round Rd, Balaji Nagar, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004
Timings: 4:30 AM –9:30 PM
Entry Fee: No entry fee
7. Sri Margabandeeswarar Temple: Spiritual Visits
Vellore is a town of temples. Sri Margabandeeswarar Temple is another temple that should be on your list. It is one of the most beautiful and holy places to see in Vellore. In case you have ever noticed, the temples in the South are colorful and have a peculiar architecture. Sri Margabandeeswarar is also an example of South Indian temple architecture.
Location: Virinjipuram, Tamil Nadu 632104
Timings: 6 AM – 12 PM, 4:30-8 PM
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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8. Tipu and Hyder Mahal: Magnificent Architecture
When you visit Vellore Fort, don’t forget to visit Tipu and Hyder forts that are located inside the premises. These are both separate forts, hence giving you a double dealon places to visit in Vellore. The forts are dedicated to Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali, the 18th century rulers of Mysore. Even though the exteriors of the forts are tarnished due to climate change, their significance and aplomb remain unaltered.
Location: Balaji Nagar, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632004
Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: No entry fee
9. Palamathi Hills: Serene Escape
Isolated from the hustle-bustle, Palamathi Hills is one of the best places to visit in Vellore to escape pollution and crowds. Also known as Balamathi Hills, the region is a part of the Western Ghat. The lush greenery and salubrious air will do wonders to your health. It is one of the best places to visit in South India during summer. Sit by the Otteri Lake for hours and enjoy tranquility and serene. The panoramic views from the vantage point in Palamathi Reserve Forest are simply breathtaking. It is one of the most amazing Vellore tourist places to soak in nature.
Location: Vellore, Tamil Nadu
Timings: Throughout the day
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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10. Amirthi Zoological Park: Vibrant Flora And Fauna
Vellore Amirthi Zoological Park is yet another one of the best places to visit in Vellore sprawling over a region of 25 acres. Profusely rich in flora and fauna, one can spot species like hedgehog, red headed parrots, pythons, love birds, rabbits, etc. The park is located just half-an-hour drive from the city. It is visited by a group of families and friends on the weekends for a day picnic making it one of the most popular tourist places in Vellore.
Location: Kannamangalam, Kathalampattu R.F, Amirthi, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632102
Timings: 8 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: INR 2 per person
4 Places To Visit Near Vellore
In case you are falling short of places to visit near Vellore, here are a few more attractions that should be on your mind if you happen to visit Vellore.
11. Kaigal Waterfalls: Mesmerizing Views
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This waterfall is located at a distance of 2.5 km from Kaigal village. The waterfall is a natural one and the water comes from a height of 40 feet. The falls are formed by the Kaigal stream, which is one of the two streams flowing through Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary. Since the area around the forest is dense, gorgeous, and peaceful, it becomes a great picnic spot in the summer season. If you’re looking for places to visit in Vellore with family or friends, Kaigal waterfall is the place for you.
Things to do: picnic, take a dip in the falls, take pictures
12. Vainu Bappa Observatory: Science And More!
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Called the telescope of the city, this astronomical observatory is one of the most popular Vellore tourist places. Located in the midst of a 100-acre forest, this observatory has a 93-inch telescope. One of the great places to visit around Vellore, this also houses India’s largest optical telescope: the 2.3m Vainu Bappu telescope, 1.3-meter J.C Bhattacharya telescope, 1m Carl Zeiss Telescope, and many other smaller ones. Currently, the visitors are not allowed inside due to some renovation work.
Things to do: Observe wildlife, explore telescope, learn about astronomy
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13. Yelagiri: Pristine Hill Station
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This is a small but pristine hill station located in Vellore. Yelagiri is located at an altitude of 1410 metres. One can see flowery meadows, tea estates, and orchards as well. One of the great places to visit around Vellore, there are many lakes and waterfalls here. If you want to go a level ahead, you can try paragliding and rock climbing as well. It’s one of the great places to visit in Vellore. Yellagiri is among the best tourist places in Tamil Nadu.
Things to do: Trekking, paragliding, rock climbing, visiting waterfalls and lakes.
14. Delhi Gate: Historical Visit
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One of the most important historical monuments in Tamil Nadu, the Delhi Gate was used to function as an entrance of the 18th-century fort built by Daulat Khan Panni, a governor of the Mughal Empire. A number of historical battles have been done here like the most famous Seige of Arcot, led by the famous British officer Robert Clive. It’s one of the best places to see in Vellore for history buffs.
Things to do: Exploring the area
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15. District Science Center: Explore The Telescopic View
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
When it comes to visiting the best places in Vellore, it can be said that the District science center should be there on everyone’s list. The spot provides that science vibe, with which all visitors will fall in love. With an advanced telescopic view and lots of facts about science fiction and astrophysics, this place will be ideal for science geeks. The place is one of the most visited locations in Vellore, especially by the students. Starting from matters of earth tours today camp exhibitions, this place is ideal for anyone who loves the logic behind any kind of life from existence.
Things to do: Earth tours today camp exhibitions
16. State Government Museum: A Hub For Architectural Objects
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Vellore is a place full of history and art with a handful of religious sites as well. The museum established by the State Government here is one of the most visited sites and throughout the year, because of the interesting facts here, people from all around the country gather here. The museum consists of ancient statues and architectural pattern objects that act as an art gallery. Among the many museums in the city, this is the most important one and it is also one of the oldest ones as well. It has been here since the time of the Pallavas.
Things to do: Sneak peek at the ancient statues and architectural pattern objects
17. Sripuram: Worship The Almighty
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Among the many temples in Vellore, this is one of the oldest ones here. The temple sports a golden color pattern that can be seen from almost all important sites in Vellore. This pilgrimage is considered as the golden pride of Vellore and the path to the monument is so simple and well-constructed, that devotees get easily attracted to it. With real gold foil covering, it is also one of the most valuable monuments in all of India.
Things to do: Explore the site
18. Archeological Survey Of Indian Museum: Discover The Ancient Artifacts
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Close the Vellore fort we can find the archeological survey of Indian museum. It is important for ancient artifacts and the vivid display of old exhibits, which is a part of Indian art and culture. The museum houses old age stones and coins of the prehistoric currency, etc, and many more. It is one of the most important places in Vellore that one can visit.
Things to do: Check out the old age stones and coins of the prehistoric currency
19. Cup And Saucer Waterfalls: Take A Stroll Around
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
There are a number of waterfalls in Tamil Nadu and one of the most beautiful ones is situated in our very own Vellore. If you’re willing to spend a quiet time in the wild, then this place will be ideal for you. One can take the Vellore highway and drive 30-35 kms north to reach this place. It can be considered as a weekend getaway as well since there are a number of places nearby to reside at.
Things to do: Plan a picnic with your loved ones
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Vellore being the princely state, it’s wonderfully endowed with a lot of riches. Have you been there? If not, book a holiday in Tamil Nadu right away and explore this beautiful city that offers profuse flora-fauna and magnificent temples.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Places To Visit In Vellore
Which are the best places to visit in Vellore?
Some of the top places to visit in Vellore are Vellore Fort, Vainu Bappu Observatory, Srilakshmi Golden Temple, and St. John Church.
Who built Vellore Fort?
Chinna Bommi Reddy along with Thimma Reddy Nayak built the famous Vellore Fort in 1566 AD and it still stands strong. It is now one of the top tourist attractions in Vellore.
How do I get to Golden Temple from the Vellore bus stand?
There are several ways to reach Golden Temple form the Vellore bus stand and they are very cheap options. You can either sharing auto which will take INR 10 or INR 20 or you can take a seat in the bus for INR 5 only.
Is Vellore a good place to live?
The town of Vellore is tucked in Tamil Nadu amidst greenery and natural beauty which makes it one of the quaint places to live in. There are decent employment opportunities in Vellore to have a decent livelihood.
Who built Vellore Jalakandeswarar Temple?
Jalakandeswarar Temple was constructed during the reign of the Vijayanagaram King Sadasivadeva Maharaya (1540 - 1572 AD). You will also find a statue of Sri Akhilandeshwari Amma who was the consort of Jalakandeswarar.
How the name Vellore came?
Vellore got its name from the weapon of Murugan or Velayudayaan, a Hindu deity. Vel + uur literally translated into the City of Spears in Tamil language.
Does Vellore have an airport?
Earlier, there were no airports in Vellore but with government plans, it now equipped with an airport. The airport is very well-maintained and equipped with a decent fleet size of more than 50 planes.
How can I reach Vellore?
One of the best ways to reach Vellore is by taking a flight to Chennai and then take a bus to Vellore. One can travel by car from Chennai to Vellore as well.
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A journalism graduate with a love for reading, writing, and travel, Kiran has trekked through various offbeat paths in the Himalayas. She writes travel stories and indulges in landscape photography every now and then, which, considering where you’re reading this, makes perfect sense.
