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Chennai Offbeat getaways
Written by Siddhi on May 31, 2020 Share on

Top Offbeat Getaways From Chennai For All Madrasis!

Chennai, the heart of South India carries the remnants of British rule as well as the rich Indian cultural heritage. Chennai is the home to temples, churches and British architecture that still attract pilgrims and history lovers to this city. If you are encumbered with such tag lines in your mind, it’s time for a break from the hustle and bustle of your frantic work life. Don’t worry, you can plan a few days in the serenity that will help to kick start your scheduled work again with new flavours of enthusiasm. Though there are famous tourist attractions, Chennai also has some unexplored places that are loved by curious travellers.

Hiding Caves of Little Mount

These are caves at Little Mount where St. Thomas one of Christ’s of 12 apostles stayed for several years. Little Mount caves are well-maintained and visited by the native people to offer their prayers. It still has footprints of St. Thomas’ feet on the rocks. Legends say that there’s a tiny spring situated at a distance from the cave that never dries.

Bodyguard Muneeswaran Temple

This is a small temple located in Pallavan Salai dedicated to Lord Muneeswaran. There is a legend that a British officer raised objections to the building of the temple and he faced a severe accident that same day. So the local people believed that praying to the Lord Muneeswaran assures safety and so it got the name Bodyguard. It is one of the best unexplored places in Chennai.

Demonte Colony

This is considered as one of the most haunted places in Chennai from the time Britishers left India. The Demonte Colony in Alwarpet has a lot of tourist places nearby in Chennai within a radius of 100 km. The area was named after John Demonte, who used to live in this place when he used to be a part of the Madras Presidency. After the death of Demonte and his family, ghost stories about the house being haunted spread so much that the area became deserted.

Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes in Chennai
Image Credits: Google Images

The eyes of the statue of Mother Mary in the church blinked ages back and this drove a lot of visitors to the Lourdes Church. Pilgrims visit the church from far away just to see if they get to witness the event again. This beautiful and lively church located in Chennai has always been one place that’s not missed out and tourists visit the place for its beauty.

Broken Bridge

Broken Bridge in Chennai
Image Credits: Google Images

The Broken Bridge in Adyar is one of the most offbeat places to visit in Chennai. The beautiful view from the Broken Bridge is the place where you can see the Adyar River join the Bay of Bengal. This popular place has been a place for film shoots and thus the Broken Bridge has become one popular tourist attraction in Chennai.

Armenian Church

During 17th-century, Chennai used to have a community of Armenian merchants who settled here and constructed a church. You must visit this place to experience the Armenian architecture and is one of the oldest churches in Chennai. This is an important heritage site. The church also has information about the Armenians in Chennai, their magazines and a cemetery.

Theosophical Society

Formed by a group of students, the theosophical society does not belong to any specific religion or no one. Take a peaceful walk in the Huddleston Gardens of the Theosophical Society. The society’s theme and aim is to unite people closer irrespective of their religion or caste. India is a place with a rich diversity of religion and culture and intrigues a peaceful existence. The Theosophical society portrays how accepting the people are irrespective of their differences.

Muttukadu Lake

Muttukadu Lake in Chennai
Image Credits: Google Images

Muttukadu Lake on the East Coast Road is an amazing place to take boat trips which tourists love to do when in Chennai. You can do rowing, windsurfing, water skiing, Aqua scooters and explore all other watersports during your trip to Chennai. There are beautiful bamboo boathouses and floating boat jetty here. If you are looking to visit this place at its best time then plan your visit between October and February. Only during this time, you can take a boat trip in the Lake of Muttukadu.

St Thomas Mount

The St Thomas Mount cathedral is a must-visit place as it is unexplored places by most Chennai-ites. Between 16th and 17th-century this place used to be a lighthouse that guided the British and Portuguese ships. The cathedral is built using granite with a beautiful arch engraved with three crosses. The prayer services are available on all days of the week. If you visit the place anytime between Monday to Saturday, check out the place at 6:30 AM, 12 PM or 6 PM to get the best vibe. On Sundays you can visit at 7 AM, 12 PM or 6 PM.

Lighthouse

This famous landmark located on Marina Beach, is one of the most less explored tourist attraction in Chennai. In 2013 it was opened to the visitors. This is the only lighthouse with an elevator. This is open for tourists from 10 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 5 PM. You can have a breathtaking glimpse of the coastline from this lighthouse.

Besant Nagar Beach

Besant Nagar Beach
Image Credits: Google Images

Elliot Beach called the Besant Nagar Beach or Bessie is one of the best beaches in Chennai. Also, you can visit the Velankanni Church and Ashtalakshmi Temple located close to Bessie beach. The serene beach lined with coconut trees along the seashore offers a relaxing time.

Film City Chennai

Don’t miss out to visit this thriving film industry in Chennai which has a huge number of film studios as well as a film school. The MGR Film City is one special tourist place for all visitors. Located in the busy Taramani area, the MGR Film city is home to many famous film shootings sets and recording theatres.

Reasons outnumbered for you to kick-start your bookings. I’m sure you are all set to plan your weekend getaway with your loved ones. We at Pickyourtrail make sure our best travel experience is put into planning your vacation with lots of excitement. Explore different countries with the International tour packages on PickYourTrail.

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