What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Chennai? Hot and humid temperatures, right? What Chennai lacks in its hot and humid weather, it overcompensates with its pristine beaches, ancient Temples, and other stunning places.
Chennai is known as the cultural capital of Southern India, which exudes rich culture, heritage, and tradition.From hair-raising adventure activities to pristine beaches, and nature lovers to history buffs, these best tourist places near Chennai within 100 kms are a perfect getaway. If you are planning a perfect trip for your upcoming weekend, there are numerous amazing tourist destinations near Chennai, which will impart an ideal experience.
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Best Tourist Places Near Chennai Within 100 kms
Here is a curated listicle of the best tourist places to visit near Chennai within 100 kms, which will help you select the best of the lot.
1. V.G.P Golden Beach Resort
A stone’s throw from the city of Chennai, VGP Golden Beach is one of the best tourist places to visit near Chennai within 100 km, which attracts thousands of footfalls every year. Privately owned by V.G.P Universal Kingdom Amusement Park, the beach is one of the cleanest and most pristine beaches, which is perfect for having a refreshing break from daily life.
Distance from Chennai: 22 km
Major Tourist Attractions:
The beach offers one of the best sea-facing cottages, which allows you to enjoy the scenic view of the endless sea meeting the sky over the horizon. The resort offers a variety of activities like dashing cars, go-karting, Super Trooper, Dragon’s Belly, etc, which is perfect for planning a perfect weekend getaway within city limits. Collect various memoirs or souvenirs at the Art Centre, which sells collectibles made out of sea shells.
Best Time To Visit: Although the beach resorts welcome tourists with open arms throughout the year imparting a soothing experience. The best time to visit is the post-monsoon and winter season, which oscillates between mid-October and February.
Location: 5, 159, SH 49, Injambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600115
Entry Fee: Adult: INR 100 and Children: INR 50
2. Covelong Beach
Located on the captivating Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Covelong Beach is one of the best tourist places near Chennai within 100 kms. Also known as the Kovalam, the serene beach treats its visitors with calm waters, beautifully dotted vegetation, dazzling golden sun, and glittery sands, which makes it one of the best beaches near Chennai.
Distance from Chennai: 35 km
Major Tourist Attractions: India’s first surfing school, Covelong village, fishing, and adventurous activities. Catch glimpses of one of the rarest species of turtles, Olive Ridley turtles which return to the shore to hatch their eggs in the warm shimmering sand of the beach.
Best Time To Visit: Although Covelong Beach is a year-round destination, the best time to plan a trip is during the winter season, which starts in November and continues until February.
3. Arignar Anna Zoological Park
Brought into existence in 1855, the Arignar Anna Zoological Park is one of the best tourist places near Chennai within 100 km. Spreading over an area of 602 hectares, the park is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. The park is home to more than 1500 species of birds, reptiles, and mammals, which attract thousands of visitors from around the world.
Distance from Chennai: 37 km
Major Tourist Attractions: Children’s park, reptile House, Elephant safari, Gaur Safari, Deer Safari, Lion Safari, and Library.
Best Time To Visit: October to February.
Location: Grand Southern Trunk Rd, Vandalur, Tamil Nadu 600048
Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM. Except Tuesday.
Entry Fee: Indian Adults(Above 12 years): INR 50
Foreign Nationals: INR 200
Children(5-11 years): INR 50,
Infants(Less than 5 years): Free
4. Pulicat Lake
One of the best tourist places near Chennai within 100 kms, Pulicat Lake is India’s second largest brackish water lagoon, only after Chilka Lake in Orissa. The large barrier island, Sriharikota separates the Pulicat Lagoon from the Bay of Bengal.
Renowned for its abundant flora and fauna and thousands of migratory birds that flock during the winter season, Pulicat Lake is the perfect place for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts. The lake is the ideal stopover for various migratory birds like herons, pelicans, painted storks, kingfishers, spoonbills, and ducks, which attracts birdwatchers and visitors worldwide.
Distance from Chennai: 54 km
Major Tourist Attractions: Pulicat Lake, Dutch Cemetery, and Pulicat Bird Sanctuary.
Best Time To Visit: The peak season starts from October to March when the temperature is favorable for sightings of migratory birds and various flora and fauna that call it home. Chennai Tourism Board organizes a Flamingo Festival spanning over three days in December, which attracts huge swarms of visitors every year.
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm
5. Mahabalipuram
Mamallapuram, or Mahabalipuram is one of the best tamil nadu tourist places which allows its visitors to unfurl the rich history of the land by exploring the prehistoric sculptures. Known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, this beautiful town traces its roots back to the 7th Century.
Distance from Chennai: 55 km
Major Tourist Attractions: Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance, Pancha Rathas, Krishnas ButterballCave Temples, Mamallapuram Dance Festival, Olakkanesvara temple, Thirukadalmallai Temple, Mahabalipuram Beach and Lighthouse.
Best time to visit: December to March
You can book your Private Day Tour To Mahabalipuram From Chennai here.
6. Kanchipuram
Renowned as Silk City or Golden City of a Thousand Temples, Kanchipuram is one of the best places to visit around Chennai. Also known as Kanjeevaram, the city is famous for its delicate temple architecture, traditional Kanjeevaram Silk sarees, and towering temple towers, attracting domestic and foreign nationals from every corner of the world.
Distance from Chennai: 75 km
Major Tourist Attractions: Ekambaranathar Temple, Kailasanathar Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Arulmigu Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple, Arulmigu Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Sri Vaikunta Perumal Temple, etc
Best time to visit: The best time to plan a visit to Kanchipuram is during the post-monsoon and winter season, which starts in November and continues until March.
7. Thiruttani
Located in the Tiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu, the holy town of Tiruttani is one of the best tourist places near Chennai within 100 kms, which attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. Renowned for the Murugan temple, which is located on the hill is said to be the place where Lord Subramanya married one of his consorts, Valli. The most striking highlight of the temple is the 365 steps of the temple which represent the 365 days of a year.
Distance from Chennai: 86 km
Major Tourist Attractions: Murugan Temple. Check your calendar and plan accordingly to witness the Aadi Krithigai festival, Float Festival, Brahmotsavams, Valli Kalyanam, Skanda Sashti, and Thai Pusam to uncover the traditional rituals and ceremonies.
Best Time To Visit: October to February
Timings For Murugan Temple: 5:45 AM to 9 PM
Special days: All day long except 12 PM to 3 PM(Closed)
8. Vedanthangal
Located in the Chengalpattu District of Tamil Nadu, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is one of the best tourist places in Chennai within 100 km. Dating back to 1796, Vedanthangal is the oldest bird Sanctuary in India, which was declared a bird conservation site to protect the species of birds from the British soldiers. The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is home to more than 40,000 thousand species of birds including migratory birds from various corners of the world.
Distance from Chennai: 87 km
Major Tourist Attractions: Catch glimpses of rare bird species like kingfishers, pelicans, egrets, spoonbills, parakeets, ibis, darters,open-billed storks, etc, to name a few. Various species of migratory birds from various corners of the world fill up the sanctuary, which attracts keen bird watchers and nature lovers.
Best Time To Visit: The best time to plan a trip to Vedanthangal is in the post-monsoon and winter season, which starts in November and ends in March.
Location: GVW4+5CP, Vedanthangal, Madurantakam, Tamil Nadu 603314
Entry Fee: Adult: INR 25 & Children: INR 5
Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM
9. Kailasakona Waterfalls
Located in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, Kailasakona Waterfalls also known as Kailasanatha Waterfalls is an off-beat tourist destination, which you should not miss while on a trip to the best tourist places to visit near Chennai within 100 km. Although the height of the waterfall is 30 meters, the unique pool created amidst the rock formations provides one of the best places to relax and soak in the enchanting aura of the place.
Distance from Chennai: 92 km
Major Tourist Attractions: Shiv Parvati Temple, Picturesque scenic views, trekking.
Location: 9JQM+868, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh 517581
Best Time to Visit: October to February.
10. Ubbalamadugu Falls
Located in the Tirupati District, also known as Tada Falls, is one of the best tourist places near Chennai within 100 kms. The crystal clear water falling from a height of 100m, the cascading waterfall is a sight to behold. Bestowed with stunning scenic views and green emerald valleys, Ubbalamadugu Falls attracts tourists worldwide.
Distance from Chennai: 95 km
Major Tourist Attractions: The Ubbalamadugu Falls offers one of the best hiking experiences in Chennai. The 7-km long trek to the summit allows you to uncover a variety of flora and fauna, bird sightings accompanied by mesmerizing views make it one of the best Chennai sightseeing places.
Best Time To Visit: The best time to visit Ubbalamadugu Falls is during the tapering end of the monsoon season and the entire winter season, from October to February. Cool windy days accompanied by chilly nights are perfect for engaging in thrilling outdoor activities and exploring Mother Nature at its prime.
Also read: Best Hill Stations Near Chennai To Beat The Heat
Keeping this above-mentioned listicle of the best tourist places near Chennai within 100 kms as your guide, embark on a memorable journey with your friends and family which will be forever etched in your hearts. Do let us know which of the above-mentioned places made it to the top of your list in the section below.
FAQs
Chennai is famous for its rich culture, heritage, Carnatic music, ancient temples, mesmerizing beaches, and sumptuous traditional delicacies. Chennai is a perfect destination, which allows a perfect amalgamation of relaxing and thrilling activities that are perfect for all ages.
The best time to visit Chennai is during the post-monsoon and the entire winter season, which stretches from October until February. The cool winds during the day are accompanied by chilly nights, which makes it perfect for engaging in various thrilling outdoor activities without breaking a sweat.
Chennai treats its visitors with a plethora of thrilling activities, which include surfing, scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking, etc, to name a few off the list.
Chennai is bestowed with some of the most surreal waterfalls, like Ubbalamadugu Falls, Kailasakona Waterfalls, Talakona Falls and Kaigal Falls, which makes it one of the best tourist places around chennai.
