Chennai is a thriving metropolis with a bustling city centre. The fourth largest city in India, Chennai, formerly Madras, is the capital of the coastal region Tamil Nadu and looks out over India's spectacular Bay of Bengal. With its rich heritage and coastal proximity, Chennai offers many opportunities for tourist activities from site seeing to water sports.
When the time comes to either relax and unwind or get out of the city altogether, outer Chennai offers a wealth of opportunities, from ancient temples to world renowned beaches and modern cinemas.
One of the most popular ways to unwind in Chennai is to visit one of three central or nearby beaches. Elliot, Marina and Covelong beaches are all individually spectacular. Elliot Beach is renowned as one of the most pristine beaches in Tamil Nadu; its calm and tranquil surround, uncluttered by minimal retail development, means it's ideal for a relaxing walk, or swim. Marina Beach is Chennai's best known; at over 12km in length, it's also one of the world's longest beaches and is situated just north of Elliot. Covelong Beach is equally highly regarded on the Coromandel Coast of India. At around 40km south of Chennai and surrounded by shops and cafes, Covelong Beach makes for an ideal day trip for young and old alike.
A common site at many waterside areas of Chennai is people participating in water sports, whether adventurous or tranquil by nature. Popular activities include water skiing, scuba diving, wake boarding, banana boat riding and kayaking, while boats trips, fishing and swimming are more popular for those looking for something a little more sedate.
Life by the beach may sustain some for many hours, but if you prefer to be more active, then you'll be pleased to hear that there are equally ample opportunities to get out and about in surrounding Chennai and Tamil Nadu to see the sights of ancient and modern India.
Tourist sites of interest offer an interesting insight into how centuries of traditional Indian civilisation came to live side by side with the modern hand of British colonialism. To glimpse traditional Chennai, visit Mahabalipuram – once the seat of the Pallava Kings and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located 60KM outside Chennai in the Kanchipuram District. Mahabalipuram's intricate stone-cut temples and architecture stem from the 7th and 9th centuries AD and make for an enthralling day out.
Thanjavur is yet another historical site that's well worth a visit on any trip to Chennai. As Thanjavur is located slightly further away from Chennai city, roughly 350km south, it makes for an ideal long day trip or short overnight break. This particular site was the royal seat of the Chola Kingdom between the 9th and 13th Centuries. Also known as the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu, this area was prolific in the production of grain. Thanjavur makes for a fascinating visit; fit with palaces, temples and even an 18th century library full of delicate manuscripts.
For something altogether more modern, you could enjoy a visit to the Crocodile Bank, where founder Romulus Whitaker's work to conserve three main species of native crocodile continues. The Mugger, Gharial and saltwater crocodile all have a home at the Bank. The rescue and conservation centre is spread across 3.2 hectares and has an impressive population of over 2,400 reptiles, making for an interesting and full day out, in Chennai.
With so much to offer, Chennai makes for a great holiday destination and with flights to Chennai now more available and faster than ever, you could be discovering the sites and sounds of India's east coast, in no time.
When the time comes to either relax and unwind or get out of the city altogether, outer Chennai offers a wealth of opportunities, from ancient temples to world renowned beaches and modern cinemas.
One of the most popular ways to unwind in Chennai is to visit one of three central or nearby beaches. Elliot, Marina and Covelong beaches are all individually spectacular. Elliot Beach is renowned as one of the most pristine beaches in Tamil Nadu; its calm and tranquil surround, uncluttered by minimal retail development, means it's ideal for a relaxing walk, or swim. Marina Beach is Chennai's best known; at over 12km in length, it's also one of the world's longest beaches and is situated just north of Elliot. Covelong Beach is equally highly regarded on the Coromandel Coast of India. At around 40km south of Chennai and surrounded by shops and cafes, Covelong Beach makes for an ideal day trip for young and old alike.
A common site at many waterside areas of Chennai is people participating in water sports, whether adventurous or tranquil by nature. Popular activities include water skiing, scuba diving, wake boarding, banana boat riding and kayaking, while boats trips, fishing and swimming are more popular for those looking for something a little more sedate.
Life by the beach may sustain some for many hours, but if you prefer to be more active, then you'll be pleased to hear that there are equally ample opportunities to get out and about in surrounding Chennai and Tamil Nadu to see the sights of ancient and modern India.
Tourist sites of interest offer an interesting insight into how centuries of traditional Indian civilisation came to live side by side with the modern hand of British colonialism. To glimpse traditional Chennai, visit Mahabalipuram – once the seat of the Pallava Kings and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located 60KM outside Chennai in the Kanchipuram District. Mahabalipuram's intricate stone-cut temples and architecture stem from the 7th and 9th centuries AD and make for an enthralling day out.
Thanjavur is yet another historical site that's well worth a visit on any trip to Chennai. As Thanjavur is located slightly further away from Chennai city, roughly 350km south, it makes for an ideal long day trip or short overnight break. This particular site was the royal seat of the Chola Kingdom between the 9th and 13th Centuries. Also known as the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu, this area was prolific in the production of grain. Thanjavur makes for a fascinating visit; fit with palaces, temples and even an 18th century library full of delicate manuscripts.
For something altogether more modern, you could enjoy a visit to the Crocodile Bank, where founder Romulus Whitaker's work to conserve three main species of native crocodile continues. The Mugger, Gharial and saltwater crocodile all have a home at the Bank. The rescue and conservation centre is spread across 3.2 hectares and has an impressive population of over 2,400 reptiles, making for an interesting and full day out, in Chennai.
With so much to offer, Chennai makes for a great holiday destination and with flights to Chennai now more available and faster than ever, you could be discovering the sites and sounds of India's east coast, in no time.