It has the aroma of South Indian tradition spread over the air and the food. Chennai is also the best place for a weekend getaway. You will find numerous options to add to your weekend getaway bucket list. Let’s check out some weekend getaways from Chennai within 100 km here.
Page Contents
Mahabalipuram:
Also known as Mamallapuram, Mahabalipuram is a well-known town in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the famous tourist places in India. Once the port city of Pallava Kingdom, Mahabalipuram got its name from the Pallava King Narasimhavarman I, who was called Mahabali. Dated to the 7th and 8th centuries, the site boasts royal monuments like rathas, mandapas, Descent of Ganges, and Shore temple. Mahabalipuram has a tropical wet and dry climate, so tourists can have a pleasant time here.
Best time to visit: October to March
Distance from Chennai: 58 km
Kanchipuram:
Proudly presenting its ancient architectural and cultural heritage, Kanchipuram is called The City of Thousand Temples. Replete with thousands of temples, statues, and shrines, Kanchipuram is the favorite pilgrim hub in Tamil Nadu for many. You will find plenty of street food centers almost on every corner of the city. Kanchipuram has a huge list of weekend getaways around Chennai; Ekambareshwar Temple, Vaikuntha Perumal Temple, Kanchi Kudil Museum, Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary to name a few.
Best time to visit: March to October.
Distance from Chennai: 74 km
Suggested Read: Best Resorts to visit in India
Nagalapuram:
Built during the time of Krishnadevaraya, the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, Nagalapuam is a temple town that was previously called Harigandapuram. You must visit Nagalapuram waterfall which is among the stunning waterfalls in Nagalapuram. Here you get an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature, and it is also great for trekking. You can camp atop the hills if you want to enjoy the night place in the dark with lanterns or candles, soothing music along some tasty food. Don’t fail to offer your prayers at Sri Veda Narayana Perumal Temple and find peace for yourself.
Best time to visit: November to March.
Distance from Chennai: 70 km via the NH16.
Pulicat:
Located in the Thiruvallur district, Pulicat is a fascinating beach town in India and the best weekend getaway from Chennai. Pulicat Lake is the second-largest saltwater lake in India that is picturesque. The seaside township got another feather in its crown that is Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, which shelters thousands of birds flying from across the world every year. The major loadstone in the Pulicat is the flamingo festival held in the winter months. Besides the Dutch Cemetery, Churches and forts are worth a visit.
Best time to visit: October to March is the best time to visit Pulicat as it is the time for many birds to fly to Pulicat.
Distance from Chennai: 53.4 km
Arignar Ann Zoological Park:
Arignar Anna Zoo is the first public zoo in India and one of the biggest zoos in South East Asia. Established in 1855, opened to the public in 1985, the zoo is among the best weekend getaways from Chennai. The zoo is home to more than 2,500 wildlife species. It also houses a free-range zone where animals roam freely. A butterfly house, two sanctuary aviaries, a reptile house, an amphibian house, a crocodile one, an aquarium in shark shape are the parts of the zoo. There is also a library stacked with books on wildlife and its conservation.
Best time to visit: Visiting in summers is best to get away from the scorching heat.
Distance from Chennai: 38 km
Timings: 9 AM- 6 PM (Wednesday – Sunday)
Covelong Beach:
Covelong Beach is one of the top tourist places near Chennai and one of the popular beach resorts in South India. Initially, it was a fishing town but now it is a classy and exquisite beach resort near Chennai. Widely popular Olive Ridley Turtles travel to the beaches of Kovalam every year to hatch their eggs which is a feast to the eyes; thousands of Turtles crawl over the beaches.
Best time to visit: November to February
Distance from Chennai: 35 km
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary:
The sanctuary is an eminent bird sanctuary, declared in 1798 is the oldest of all sanctuaries in India. Home to almost 40,000 bird species from across the globe with many lakes with enough fish to feed the birds. You can visit the sanctuary and do bird-watching or you can take amazing snaps of this flora and fauna.
Best time to visit: November to March
Distance from Chennai: 89 km
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry fee: Rs.25 for adults (extra 25 rupees for the camera)
