Known For : Punganur Lake Nature Park Jalagamparai Falls
Yelagiri is small hill station, in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. If your looking for a hill station out of the ordinary, then you need to make your way to Tamil Nadu!
Distance from Chennai: 227 km
Best Time: November to February
Located near the south western border of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the mighty Horsley Hills is a hill station which is the perfect amalgam of the charms of Andhra Pradesh and Ooty. This natural marvel is situated at an astonishing height of 4312 metres and is very well known for its breath taking landscape, rich biodiversity, countless holiday options and comparative exclusivity.
Distance from Chennai: 275 km
Hidden like a jewel behind the lush green forests of Andhra Pradesh lies a serene and tranquil place named Nagalapuram. Surrounded by majestic hills and gurgling waterfalls, this place is ideal to take a break from the buzzing city life and spend some peaceful days amidst soft breezes, flourishing trees and gushing waterfalls. Famously also known as Nagala Hills, this is the place to pump up your adrenaline with the various adventurous activities proffered in this scenic village.
Distance from Chennai: 74 km
Known For : Fort Dansborg The town gate The Zion Church
Forgotten to be touched by time, and still known for its tranquility, is Tharagambadi, otherwise known as Tranquebar- The land of the singing waves.
Distance from Chennai: 266 km
Best Time: August to February
Known For : Paradise Beach, Pondicherry Aurobindo Ashram Auroville
Puducherry was the largest French colony in India and the French influence on the city can still be seen.
Distance from Chennai: 151 km
Best Time: October to March
Lying at the boundary of the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Pulicat Lake is the second largest lagoon in the country. This fantastic destination is a natural beauty and also serves as an asylum for birds under the name of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary. The lake is separated by the Bay of Bengal by the barrier island of Sriharikota, which is also a rocket launching centre. Lying in the midst of scintillating virgin charms and cutting edge technological hotspot, the Pulicat Lake has something for everyone.
Distance from Chennai: 104 km
Known For : Sri Venkateswara Temple Akasaganga Teertham Silathoranam
The holy town of Tirupati is one amongst the 8 most scared places of Lord Mahavishnu and is highly revered, glorified and worshiped.
Distance from Chennai: 147 km
Best Time: September to March
Known For : Shore Temple Mahabalipuram Beach Five Rathas
Famous for its intricately carved temples and rock-cut caves, Mahabalipuram also offers beautiful white sand beaches and an exotic shopping experience to the tourists.
Distance from Chennai: 52 km
Best Time: November to February
Known For : Kamakshi Amman Temple Varadharaja Perumal Temple Devarajaswami Temple
Widely known for its 'Kanchipuram sarees' and also referred to as the 'golden city of thousand temples', Kanchipuram has various temples of religious and cultural importance spread all over the city.
Distance from Chennai: 72 km
Best Time: October to May
Known For : Gingee Fort Sathanur Dam Annamalaiyar Temple
Perched on top of the Malai hill, Thiruvannamali is a holy town, most famous for its Arunachala temple among numerous other temples and ashrams dedicated to saints of olden times.
Distance from Chennai: 193 km
Best Time: October to March
Known For : Sri Venkateshwara National Park Srikalahasti Temple Nagalapuram
Steeped in religion, devotion and architecture, Chittoor is a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.
Distance from Chennai: 158 km
Best Time: September to February
Known For : Srikalahasteeswara Temple Veyilingala Kona Waterfall Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple
Overflowing with a rich and vivacious yesteryears, this place has showcased its potential to allure the visitors with its extravagant shrines and pristine beauty.
Distance from Chennai: 120 km
Best Time: July to March
Known For : Adi Kumbeshwara Temple Nageswaran Temple Shopping in Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam is a gorgeous temple town in the heart of the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.
Distance from Chennai: 281 km
Best Time: November to February
Known For : Emerald Lake, Yercaud Pagoda Point Botanical Garden, Yercaud
Nestled in the Eastern Ghats, Yercaud is a hill station called poor man's Ooty with abundant forests, vast coffee plantations and some unique species of flora and fauna resulting in gorgeous views.
Distance from Chennai: 359 km
Best Time: October to June
Known For : Ramalingeswara Temple Narasimhaswamy Temple Patu Ru
Nellore is a beautiful city lying on the banks of River Penna and a Municipal Corporation in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Distance from Chennai: 174 km
Best Time: October to February
Known For : Pichavaram Mangrove Forests Shopping in Chidambaram The Nataraja Temple
A beautiful temple town in the eastern part of Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram is famous for housing the marvelous Lord Nataraja Temple and a few others which highlight its importance as a special place of pilgrim.
Distance from Chennai: 212 km
Best Time: October to January
The second largest Mangrove forest in the world, Pichavaram is located off the tourist trail but is totally worth the effort. One can be enchanted by the complex river system and canal network that bind this beautiful place together and support the rich biodiversity of the place.
Distance from Chennai: 212 km
Known For : Vedanthangal Bird sanctuary Karikili Bird Sanctuary
Lying close to the important district of Mahabalipuram, is Vedanthangal, best known for its bird sanctuary.
Distance from Chennai: 86 km
Best Time: November to February
A place which is testimony to the architectural and engineering genius of the region and the pride of one of the greatest empires of India - Chola Empire, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a place worth exploring. The magnificence of the Brihadishwara temple along with few others will enchant you and thrill you with its history and engineering.
Distance from Chennai: 274 km
With an ominous name which means 'Mountain of Death', Koli Hills are a mountain range located in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. It is relatively untouched by commercial tourism and therefore has retained most of its natural magnificence.
Distance from Chennai: 362 km
A quaint place near Bangalore, Muthyala Maduvu is a perfect weekend getaway to rejuvenate yourself and spend some quality time in the lap of nature. The picturesque beauty, dense forests, enchanting waterfalls, diverse flora and fauna will make you fall in love with this place. The liveliness of this place is very welcoming and the mysterious forest will beckon you to explore its mysteries adding thrill and excitement.
Distance from Chennai: 329 km
Known For : Adi Kumbeshwara Temple Nageswaran Temple Shopping in Kumbakonam
Sandwiched between two great rivers of southern India, Cauvery and Arsala, Kumbakonam is a gorgeous temple town in the heart of the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.The town is a place for the lovers of history and those seeking to understand India's cultural roots and Hinduism.
Distance from Chennai: 281 km
Best Time: November to February
Known For : Matrimandir Marc's Cafe Arka
Situated in the union territory of Pondicherry, this township is wholly and solely based on the principles of peace, harmony, sustainable living and 'divine consciousness' which was the brainchild of the Mother of Sri Aurobindo Society, Mirra Alfassa.
Distance from Chennai: 147 km
Best Time: November to March
So where are you headed towards, this weekend from Chennai? Do share your experiences with us down in the comment section below.