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| Kanchipuram |
Chennai offers a gamut of interesting tourism destinations. One such destination located 55 km away from Chennai is Mahabalipuram. Established as a sea port during the 7th and 10th centuries of the Pallava dynasty, the city is adorned with rock-cut caves and temples. The city also boasts of white sandy beaches, casuarina trees and local handmade crafts among others. The Alamparai Fort located 50 km from Mahabalipuram, is another tourist destination overlooking the sea. Constructed in late 17th century of the Mughal era, this fort offers a scenic view of the backwaters and the sand and also offers a boating experience around the fort.
Located on the western bank of the Palar river and 71.6 km away from Chennai, Kanchipuram is a place brimming with temples attracting pilgrims from different parts of the country. Considered to be one of the Seven Sacred Cities of India, this ‘golden city of a thousand temples, as it is popularly known, offers other tourist places like Muttukadu Lake and the Crocodile Bank.
Puducherry, located 161 km from Chennai, is reminiscent of the French colonial rule and culture. Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where the saint Aurobindo and the Mother spent their time uplifting the society, is a major tourist attraction.
Located approximately 70 km from Chennai and along the Coromandel Coast, Sadras is a fort town where one of the first naval battles was fought. This town was a Dutch colony and is famous for the Sadras fort which served as the commercial trade centre.
Thiruthani, a holy village situated 98 km from Chennai, is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga. This small village is famous for the Subramanya Swami Temple perched atop a hill that can be reached through 365 steps, representing each day in a year. Yelagiri, 227 km away from Chennai, is a small hill station highly populated with tribals engaged in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Yelagiri with its huge plains is an ideal trekking destination.
Chidambaram, a temple town located 249 km from Chennai is a famous religious destination for Shiva devotees.
