7 IDEAL WEEKEND GETAWAYS FROM CHENNAI
From, the Royal wedding to the return of CSK, 2018 has started on a high and given us enough reasons to celebrate. To add to the list, 2018 is rewarded with many long weekends and each calls for a trip of its own. Here is a list of seven getaways for your impromptu trips:
Pondicherry
Pondi also known as the French Colony of South, is a perfect blend of French and Tamil culture, with vintage buildings, ashrams, beaches, temples and churches, preserved with colonials ambience.
How to Reach : Approximately 150kms,2.5 hour drive.
What to see : Rock beach, Paradise beach, Auroville, Aurabindo Ashram, Manakula Vinayagar temple, Basicilla and Immaculate churches and French Colony.
Yercuad
Situated amongst luscious greenery in Salem district, Yercaud is a perfect panoramic getaway for nature lovers. Yercaud Lake makes for an ideal camping spot for the trekkers who flock there.
How to Reach : Approximately 349kms, 5 hour drive
What to see : Shevaroy hills, Kiliyur falls, 32-km loop road, Pagoda point and Big Lake, Japanese gardens.
Yelagiri
Get yourself recharged at this hillock located in Vellore district, with its picturesque Swami Malai, from which one can view the entire landscape.
How to Reach : Approximately 229 kms, 4 hour drive.
What to see : Swami malai, Jalagamparai Fall, Herbal farm, Nilavoor lake. For adventure aficionados, the Yelagiri Adventure Sports Association (YASA) offers a host of thrilling activities.
Mahabalipuram
Featured in the world heritage sites for its stellar architectural work, Mahabalipuram is a quaint coastal town known for monuments built by Pallava dynasty.
How to Reach : Approximately 60kms, 2 hour drive.
What to see : Light house, Shore temple, Moon rakers, Wide beach, Varaha Cave, Descent of the Ganges, Vennai rock.
Vellore
The Fort City of Tamil Nadu, Vellore is famous for its golden temple. But it’s little known that Vellore was originally a battle ground and hence called ‘The City of Spears’. It reflects the enriching Dravidian culture, ruled by famous Chera, Chola, Pandia.
How to Reach : Approximately 135kms, 3 hour drive.
What to see : Sripuram Golden Temple, Vellore Fort, Jalakanteswara Temple and the epic State Government Museum.
Kanchipuram
Called the ‘City of Thousand Temples’, Kanchipuram beams unadulterated culture. It would be a crime to leave this place without shopping for the world famous Kanchipuram Saree.
How to Reach : Approximately 80kms, 2 hour drive.
What to see : Kailasanatha Temple, Varadaraja Temple, Silk Weaving farm
Bangalore
Bangalore is the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, and is hub for major IT linchpins. Contrary to the stereotype, that it’s just a metropolitan city with an active nightlife, Bangalore is dominantly covered with greenery and called ‘The Garden City of India’.
How to Reach : Approximately 340kms, 6 hour drive.
What to see : Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, ISKON temple, Wonderla, Art of Living International Centre.
