Revel around the Marina Beach, Take a walk through Thalankuppam Pier, Stroll around Elliot’s Beach, Enjoy Nature Photography at Ubbalamadugu Falls, Fun rides in MGM Dizee World, Visit Mahabalipuram, Heritage tour to Royapuram Fishing Harbour, Enjoy Water sports in Muttukadu and many more.
Being a great part of history, you do not have to think about What to do in Chennai. It was a significant place in the British era and gained a lot of attention which in turn left a lot of historical monuments in the city like forts, temples, churches, mosques and more. Besides this, the city is edging the Bay of Bengal so one can expect a lot of serene beaches in the area where you can indulge in different water sports and have a walk.
After visiting distinct places there are a lot of amazing activities in Chennai which can give you amazing experiences like camping on the edge of one of the calm beaches and lighting a bonfire at night. Moreover, you can engage in treks to various waterfalls. And then you can buy some souvenirs from the local market and try some traditional food to make your Chennai Trip memorable.
One of the famous coastlines of Chennai, Marina Beach is best known for its breath taking view and serene surroundings. Nested within the city premises, the placid beauty of the beachfront, the rolling waves and the picturesque surroundings attract almost everyone visiting this kaleidoscopic city! With a coastline of around 13km, Marina Beach has bagged the title of being the second largest beach in the world; well, this makes it a must visit places in Chennai.
Being one of the most popular tourist spots in the city, this place is calling people to discover it in its raw form. Be it the azure waters, soft sands and the openness of the ocean, Marina Beach is sure to keep you enchanted with its alluring charm and appeal. Enjoy your vacation at this spellbinding seashore along with your family and friends; you will surely cherish these moments for a lifetime!
Check out the best beach resorts in Chennai, that makes a perfect place to stay by the shores.
Thalankuppan, a small fishing hamlet located in the northern part of Chennai, is another mind soothing destination that will leave you with a therapeutic experience! A quaint and silent destination near the metropolis, this is the village where the Thalankuppam River meets the sea. An ideal place for the peace and silence lovers, the pier in this region is one of the must to visit locations.
Extremely popular with the South Indian Film Industry, a walk along this pier is one of the best things to do in Chennai. Visit this spot during the morning or evening and you can witness the golden rays of the sun paying hide and seek with the sparkling waves. Take a walk through the Thalankuppam Pier, feel the tranquillity that exists here and curate some of the memorable moments of your holiday.
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Named after Edward Elliot, the then Governor of Madras; Elliot’s Beach is another exciting beach destination in Chennai. Not far from the city premises this stunning beach marks the end of Marina Beach and is located in the Besant Nagar. Also known as the ‘Bessie’ or ‘Besant Nagar Beach’, it is one of the most popular destinations among the locals.
Owing to the Pictorial beauty, calm and tranquil surroundings, easy accessibility and the lesser amount of crowd within this sandy retreat, it is also gaining popularity among the tourists who prefers to avoid the rush and stay away from the crowd. A walk along the long stretches of Eliot’s Beach will not only pamper your sense, but will also take you to the ‘Schmidt Memorial’ that serves as a major landmark to the city.
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Set out the water baby in you and explore this exquisite tourist spot in Chennai with a visit to the Ubbalamadugu Falls. Around 35km from the metropolis, this stunning cascade flows graciously in the forests of Siddulaiah Kona and truly makes for a must to experience site.
In addition to the opulent beauty and appeal of the waterfall, it also serves as a sacred place among the Hindus; devotees visit this cascade during ‘Maha Shivratri’ and offer puja. Visit this falls, witness the magical beauty it creates as the splashing water hits the base; unravel the best of the nature’s bountiful beauty while being a shutterbug and capturing some of the best clicks of your life!
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For those of you that love amusement parks and water sports, MGM Dizee World is the place to be in Chennai. With some of the most entertaining rides and water slides, a fun-filled day in this amusement park is also among the best things to do in Chennai with your kids. It is a destination that keeps the visitors engaged throughout the day.
Water World of this park is something that every visitor of MGM Dizee World looks forward to explore in Chennai. If you are looking for some fun and exciting things on your way to Chennai, you now know where to go!
The modern state of Mahabalipuram; a weekend getaway near Chennai, was established in the year 1827 and has a pre-history from the time of Pallavas. The town is an historical venture which attracts maximum number of tourists flocking Chennai, and keeps them engaged with its ancient architecture. With several temples and monuments in the town, this place gained much popularity among the visitors; it is a hub for the history, culture, architecture and archaeology enthusiasts.
On your visit to this historic town, you can visit many of the ancient temples that has deities like Lord Krishna and other Gods and Goddesses; temple caves dedicated other deities can also be visited within the town. Among the other major attractions in Mahabalipuram, there are enchanting Pancha Rathas, Krishna's Butter Ball, Mahabalipuram Beach and several others. Owing to its opulent beauty and religious importance, the range of temples and other historical monuments in Mahabalipuram has now been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Being a coastline, Chennai has enough and more destinations for a sea food lover. One of them, Royapuram Fishing Harbour is the place where one can experience the exhilarating and buzzing life of a fish market and nearby harbour. It is one such places in Chennai, where you can have a glimpse of the daily life of the locals and their fishing cultures.
An absolute delight for the fish lovers, it is best visited at dusk when the entire harbour gets lighted up with the majestic sea reflecting them back! A visit to this quaint and bustling fishing village is one of the best things to do in Chennai and get introduced with some of the heritage and cultures of the city.
Adorned with lush greenery and wonderful landscapes, Muttukadu is a small town that is famous for its serene beauty and enchanting back waters. The place is also known for some of the exciting water activities that keeps the adventure junkies enthral during their Chennai tour! Amidst the extremely elegant and historical traditions of this metropolis, here is a chance for you to let yourself loose and dive into the water adventure sports at Muttukadu.
Some of the activities that you can enjoy at this destination are kayaking, boating, canoeing and surfing. The most popular among all the activities that are organized here is windsurfing regatta, which is generally scheduled during the month of February.
Don't miss any of the amazing adventure sports to take in Chennai if you are looking for some thrill.
Dedicated to the divine trinity of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra, Jagannath Temple in Chennai is another attraction for the devotees of these deities. The wonderfully carved temple is astonishingly stunning and engages all its tourists in its intimate splendour. Built according to the Kalinga architecture, the temple is a mirror that reflects great art and architectural designs of ancient times. Granites and white marbles that decorate the temple make the stone carvings look much prettier and splendid.
It also has separate shrines that are dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ganesha and Bimala which can be visited by the tourists. The annual festival of this magnificent temple is something all devotees and tourists look forward to attend as it showcases the Rathayatra; one of the most prominent rituals of the festival.
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Built during the Portuguese rule in Chennai, what was earlier called Madras, San Thome Cathedral is one of the most popular shrines in Tamil Nadu. Built in the neo-gothic style, this church is beautifully decorated with amazing architecture that will leave every traveller spell bound.
Believed to be built on the grave of St Thomas, it was recently declared as a ‘National Shrine’ by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India. A major religious centre for the catholic, it has also become one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Chennai.
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Chennai is one of those tourist places which has something for every sort of tourist. Chennai is a great place for adventure enthusiasts or adrenaline junkies. Chennai has a lot of options for adventure activities in and around the city. Some of the best adventure activities to do in Chennai are listed below:
1. Trekking in the Nagalapuram Hills
2. Camping in Tada Falls
3. Rappelling in Kelambakkam
4. Surfing in Marina Beach
5. Surfing at Covelong Beach
6. ATV Rides on Marina Beach
Chennai’s long coastline offers a scintillating view of the sea and the beaches. The beaches are very comfortable and are best suited for relaxing, away from the generally hot and dry climate prevalent over all of India. So if someone is an admirer of natural beauty and want some time off to relax, Chennai is the best place with its lovely beaches. There are also great facilities for watersports in the beaches of Chennai. From surfing to kayaking, there’s something for everyone. Some of the best beaches for watersports in Chennai are:
1. Marina Beach
2. Elliot’s Beach
3. Covelong Beach
Chennai’s location just beside the beach makes it an exciting place for surfers, novice or experienced, to try out their skills against the fiery waves of the Bay of Bengal. Surfing is taught here by the many surf schools that have been set up with skilled surfers training the students. Proper safety is always maintained by them.
The best surfing site in Chennai is the Marina Beach, where one can notice many surfing activities by both Indian and foreigners alike, along with Muttukadu. Covelong has become the country’s first surfing village and is a surfing haven visited by surfers from all over the world.
Chennai is the gateway to some beautiful trekking spots located very close to it. The tourists looking for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city often choose to go to these nearby treks to relax their mind and work their bodies. The treks also give a fantastic ringside view of the beauty of the nature and wildlife of South India. Some of the best places for trekking in and around Chennai are:
1. Nagalapuram Hills located close to Tirupati
2. Tada Falls in Andhra Pradesh
3. Peerumedu Waterfalls, Yelagiri
4. Takalana Falls, Chittoor
5. Dolphin’s Nose Trek, Kodaikanal
Chennai is one of the places which provides an engrossing natural experience which is why it has remained one of the top places for tourists to visit over and over again. So someone with the love of the outdoors has a great time in Chennai. From rugged terrains to the majestic Bay of Bengal, Chennai does offer a lot. No wonder it has many popular camping locations as well. Here are some of the best camping locations in Chennai:
1. Yercaud
2. Tada Falls
3. Nagalapuram
4. Yelagiri
5. Mahabalipuram
6. Pichavaram
7. Hogenakkal
8. Pulicat Lake
9. Alamparai Fort
ATV or All Terrain Vehicle rides are a popular adventure sport all around the globe and Chennai is no exception to that. Chennai’s Marina Beach provides a fine location for ATV Rides. There are many private operators which provide ATV Rides on the beach, and they also have their own tracks. The rides are performed with top quality bikes and safety measures.
There are different charges for ATV Rides. In the tracks it starts from INR 400 and goes to INR 2000, the beach ATV rides start from INR 2000 and go till INR 3000 depending on bike and distance.
Tamil Nadu is home to some of the most diverse animal and plant life in the country and has many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in it, some of which are a jump away from Chennai. Some of the parks offer wildlife safaris to take the tourists into the interiors of the forest for seeing the animals up close. The best destinations for wildlife safari in and around Chennai are:
1. Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Arignar Anna Zoological Park
4. Guindy National Park
5. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
6. Periyar National Park
7. Rajiv Gandhi National Park
Chennai, albeit a modern city, has not lost touch with its history and divine roots. Chennai was part of massive kingdoms in South India ruled by some of the mightiest kings in the country’s history who worshipped their gods by creating beautiful and mammoth temples of them and those temples are now striking proof of their legacy. Chennai is a holy place for Hindu devotees. Some of the best pilgrimage places in Chennai are:
1. Parthasarathy Temple
2. Kapaleeswarar Temple
3. Ashtalakshmi Temple
4. Kalikambal Temple
5. Ayyappan Temple
6. Thirumalai Thirupathi Devasthanam Temple
7. Mahabalipuram
Fishing is a well-known activity in Chennai, being a coastal city. Many of the people here base their entire livelihood on fishing. Sports fishing is slowly becoming popular in Chennai. The Yacht Club in Chennai Port often hosts many sport fishing competitions that bring sports fishers from all around the world for a shot at glory. The tourists are properly taken care of with state of the art speed boats and complete safety of them. On the other hand, the Marina beach is another option for fishing.
Rappelling is an adventure sport that is a mix of rock climbing and mountaineering. It is the perfect thing to do for an adrenaline junkie who wants an adrenaline rush along with some healthy exercise for the body. In Chennai, there are many adventure resorts like Silver Sands Resort which has rappelling areas.
Some professional trainers take individual classes on rappelling as well. But the best place for this is Kelambakkam, a hill 100 kilometres from the city limits. This place offers a range of climbing options and is a haven for a climbing enthusiast.
If anyone wants to escape the hustle bustle of the city, taking a sail in a private yacht in the ocean is a great way to spend some romantic or family time. There are many inland water bodies that are man-made near the Chennai harbour for sailing.
Chennai has some very old sailing club which teaches sailing to novices and holds races regularly. Private yacht sailing costs INR 30,000 a person.
Paintball is a fun and competitive shooting game in which players eliminate their opponents by hitting them with round dye-filled pellets. It is a really popular and exciting sport that can be played anywhere both indoors and outdoors. Paintballing helps build up team coordination and corporates often send teams to play paintball for the same purpose.
Headshot provides international quality paintball in Chennai, and they are one of the best in the country. Go Bananas is another similar place in Chennai. The cost begins from INR 500 for a round of paintball.
Chennai Port is one of the busiest and most important ports in the country. But not only is it used for transportation of cargo to and from all over the world, it also serves as a starting point for different cruise ships which then start a trip to all around the world. From Chennai Port, a tourist looking for a great cruise experience can ride a luxury cruise to Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar or Islands or to Lakshadweep, or Vishakhapatnam. The luxury cruises are very comforting and relaxing giving one a complete peace of mind.
Housing over 200 species of birds, Chennai has been a hotspot for bird watchers forever. It is the only urban city where many rare birds are spotted right in the city. Some of the popular bird watching locations in Chennai are:
1. Guindy National Park
2. Theosophical Society Gardens
3. Siruthavur Lake
4. IIT Madras Campus
5. Pallikaranai Marsh
Chennai, being one of the most important cities in the country has lots of people here from different places and is one of the busiest cities. So naturally, it has a colourful and vibrant nightlife. From pubs to cinemas, Chennai offers a lot to the night-crawler. There are some great nightclubs and pubs like 10 Downing Street, Pasha The Park, Cloud 9, The Flying Elephant, Illusions, Blend where one can dance, eat and have drinks.
Movie theatres like PVR, Cinepolis, Lux, Palazzo stay open until late for you to watch a regional or English movie. One could even take a drive to the beach and lie down there for a view of the tranquil skyline and experience the calming air.
Chennai has gone through three foreign rulers, the Portuguese, the French and the British. All of them have left their mark on the city in the form of architecture and monuments. Chennai is a city with a rich history which is still present in the form of buildings to stand proof of those times. Here are some famous archaeological sites to visit in Chennai:
1. Madras War Cemetery
2. Rippon Building
3. Senate House
4. Vivekananda Illam
5. Kapaleeswarar Temple
6. Chyavan Eshwara Temple
7. Thousand Light Mosque
8. Fort St George
Queensland Amusement Park is a theme park in Chennai which opened in 2003 and has now become one of the largest such parks in the country. One can spend a fun time here with family or friends by enjoying the fascinating rides in the park. Some of the things to do or rides to take in the park are:
1. Free Fall Tower
2. Alpen Bridge
3. Centrox
4. Cable Car
5. Himalayan Water Ride
6. Hanging Coaster
7. Go-Kart
The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology were created in 1976 by Rom and Zai Whitaker to protect the three endangered species of crocodiles, the mugger, the saltwater crocodile and the gharials. They were immensely successful and soon enough, they began to include turtles and snakes for breeding and protection.
This place is very important as it houses many rare and threatened species of animals. The bank is open from 9 am to 5:30 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Entry tickets cost INR 50 for adults and INR 30 for children below 10 years. They also have night safari facilities from 7 pm to 8:30 pm at the cost of INR 200 for adults and INR 100 for children.
Chennai is home to the Marina Beach, the second largest beach in the world and being a coastal city, Chennai has immense scope for water sports. Thus, surfing is a very popular water sports activity at the beaches of Chennai.
There are many surfing schools in Marina Beach itself, which teach you the basics of surfing in three to four hours after which you are allowed to surf with the help of a professional trainer on the ocean. Other than surfing, some of the other water sports that can be enjoyed in the beaches are windsurfing, canoeing, and kayaking.





