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Kanchipuram
Popularly knowns as the ancient city of Kanchi, this holy pilgrimage site is home to many temples constructed in the 8th century. That is why, Kanchipuram is considered as one of the most spiritual and holy places to visit near Chennai within 500 kms.
Followers of the Hindu religion often come here to visit the Kailasanathar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Architecture enthusiasts also frequent Kanchi to witness the intricate sandstone sculptures and beautiful statues at the Ulagalanda Perumal Temple and the Ekambareswarar Temple. Additionally, for bird-watching enthusiasts, the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary offers a chance to witness the stunning migratory birds that visit here from all over the world.
Distance from Chennai: 76.3 km
Best Time to Visit: Between October and February
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Tirupati
Considered as one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the country, Tirupati is one of the unmissable tourist Places near Chennai within 500 kms. The Venkateshwara temple is visited by thousands of Hindu devotees every year and you can hear the chant of the mantra everywhere in the vicinity of the temple.
The 8-feet tall statue of Lord Venkateshwara, the mad rush of pilgrims, and the spiritual atmosphere will make you feel as if you have stepped into a different world. You can also check out the Silathoranam rock formations at Tirumala hills, and visit other temples like ISKCON, the Parashurameshvara Temple, Sri Kalahasti temple and Sri Govindarajaswami Temple.
Distance from Chennai: 135.5 km
Best Time to Visit: Between October and February
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Vellore
Vellore is another one of the most popular Tourist Places near Chennai within 500 kms. Because of its ornate sculptures and lovely museums, the city has gained quite a bit of popularity as a tourist destination lately. A history buff will find it exhilarating to explore the 16th century fort with its rich history and imposing design, and architects and art lovers can get a glimpse of the fine details like the granite walls and the surrounding moat of the fort.
There is also a Jalakandeswarar temple inside the fort grounds, featuring many intricate sculptures. Near the fort, you can visit the Government museum which has a variety of exhibits displaying natural history relics. And finally, you can also check out the Mandapam memorial house near the Palar river to get a glimpse of the tombs of influential Tamil leaders.
Distance from Chennai: 137.2 km
Best Time to Visit: Between October and February
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Chittoor
The city of Chittoor offers you a chance to explore the natural beauty of its hills along with its historical buildings steeped in culture and heritage – all at the same place. When it comes to Places to visit near chennai within 500 kms, this place features an unparalleled blend of religious and architectural elements. Visit the famous Horsley Hills, have fun splashing water in the Kailasakona falls, and check out the renowned Tirumala temple.
The rolling green hills, cascading milky-white waterfalls, and mango orchards that are spread out as far as the eye can see – Chittoor has a myriad of destinations worth exploring. You can also shop in the famous markets of this city for a variety of souvenirs, gold jewelry and handmade décor items.
Distance from Chennai: 159.3 km
Best Time to Visit: Between October and February
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Pondicherry
A love child of the French and Indian cultures, Pondicherry (Pudducherry) is a beach-side union territory located in Tamil Nadu. Previously until 1954, Pondicherry was French settlement. Now the old Bouganvellia-draped French-style houses, churches and even the newly built French-style shops, bright coloured cafes and restaurants give Pondicherry an exotic character to it.
This French capital of India will definitely make you feel like you are someplace out of India when you visit places like the Rock Beach, Pondicherry Beach, Serenity Beach or the Botanical Gardens. And the best place to see Pondicherry with the same notion is to visit Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Ashram where people from all over the world come to seek spirituality through yoga and meditation.
Pondicherry is such a place, which will never cease to surprise you with its unique style. There are several cafes and restaurants that serve impeccable French cuisine along with some lip-smacking international cuisines as well. As a popular beach-town, Pondicherry also offers you with the amazing nightlife through numerous clubs and beach-parties offering great music and delicious cocktails. There is so much to do and explore here, that you will not want to go back and experience more and more of this quaint French town of India.
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Yelagiri
The beautiful hill station of Yelagiri is situated in the Vellore district of the Tamil Nadu state, off the Vaniyambadi Tirupattur road. The Yelagiri village, also sometimes spelled as the Elagiri Village, is located at an altitude of 1,110.6 meters above the sea level. It is surrounded by eye catching orchards, rose gardens, and a lush green valley, thereby comprising the most amazing Yelagiri Tour Packages.
The hill station of Yelagiri is mainly a cluster of fourteen hamlets, with Athanavur as its main and capital town. Yelagiri is among the most famous places in India that is known for many trekking, climbing and other adventure activities as it has some beautiful hills and mountains to climb on. The highest point in the village of Yelagiri is the Swamimalai Hill which is 4,388 ft in height blessed with some mesmerizing views and places that will make your trek a memorable one.
There is no doubt that a traveller or an adventurer will find plenty of places and sites to explore as the beautiful hills and valleys of the district allows you to give a treat to your eyes with its exotic locales. One of the most amazing and mind boggling place is the man made Punganur Lake in the region which attracts many tourists and visitors every year. It is also one of the many places to visit in Yelagiri while you stay.
Every year during the months of summer, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department celebrates the Summer Festival in the Yelagiri district which showcases different cultural heritage and arts from across the country, which are considered to be the best in Yelagiri Tour. They organize several kinds of cultural programs like the flower show, the dog show, and much more. All of this festivity is conducted every year in which people from different parts of the state and country come down to take a part and is a perfect opportunity to know more about the people and past of Yelagiri.
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Tiruchirappalli
Considered as a unique blend of the ancient and modern, the city of Trichy offers a mix of heaving bazaars and beautiful temples for you to explore. It is dotted with a wide variety of monuments and destinations, which is why it is one of the most unmissable tourist Places near chennai within 500 kms.
Check out the illustrious Ranganathaswamy Temple stretched over an area of 2.5 square km, or visit the Kallanai Dam with its lush greenery and beautiful picnic spots. Frequent the crowded bazaars filled with colourful paraphernalia, or simply admire the historical buildings of the city - Trichy offers a sacred and serene environment where you can relax and observe the rich culture of this ancient Chola capital.
Distance from Chennai: 330 km
Best Time to Visit: Between October and February
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Thanjavur
Holding a historically important place in the heritage of the country as a significant part of the Chola dynasty, Thanjavur is mostly famous for its 11th century temples and palaces. Still, it is one of the most popular Tourist Places near Chennai within 500 kms because of the majestic Brihadeeswarar temple, the unmissable Thanjavur Maratha Palace, and world-renowned, centuries old library called Saraswathi Mahal.
You will find a variety of Tamil historical artefacts in the city, such as manuscripts from the golden ages, paintings and artwork, bronze statues etc. you can also visit the Tamil University Museum is you want to have a look at the coins, musical instruments and fold artifacts displayed here.
Distance from Chennai: 346.4 km
Best Time to Visit: Between October and February
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Bangalore
Bengaluru, formerly known as Bangalore, is the capital of the state of Karnataka. It is located in southern India on Deccan Plateau. The city is a mix of traditions and modernity. The various ethnicities residing in it celebrate their cultural festivities while engaging with the recent upsurge in its café culture and pub-hopping. It is often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley’ being the hub of IT development in India.
The lush green area around Bangalore is interspersed with waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries, and brooks and rivers waiting to be explored. Due to the presence of lush gardens and pastoral land, it has gained a reputation for being the ‘Garden City of India.’ Cubbon Park, Ulsoor Lake, Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park, Bugle Rock Park, and Lumbini Garden are the marvels of this city.
Bangalore is flushed with the picturesque sites where you can try the most adrenaline rushing activities. Trekking or hiking at places like Ramanagara, Nandi Hills, Savandurga, and Narayanagiri are exciting activities undertaken by trek enthusiasts. You can also try camping and fishing over here for a rejuvenating experience.
Bangalore is not just a place for nature lovers, but also music enthusiasts. Hard Rock is an elite pub in Bangalore due to its live performances by renowned bands. There are various other entertainment places within the city including Snow City, which enthuses visitors with activities like ice-skating, gaming arcades and bowling alleys.
Bangalore has two distinct seasons – wet and dry. The wet season begins with the monsoon in June and lasts till September. The rest of the year is mostly dry but may encounter unpredictable showers. The dry days are sunny, with temperatures not going beyond 25 – 30 degrees Celsius. The best time to visit Bangalore is from November to March.
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Yercaud
Steeped in raw natural attractions and a rustic aesthetic, the destination is set at an altitude of 4970 ft above sea level. From flora and fauna to an air of freshness and purity, Yercaud is also called the Ooty of the Poor, given its low cost tourism. The hill-station is seemingly enveloped under picturesque skies above dense forests that grow coffee, spices and fruits, with oranges in abundance. It houses some famous parks and gardens proffering floral masterpieces, like Anna Park and Rose Garden to name a few. Yercaud, discovered in the 19th century by the Britishers, also boasts of some stunning vantage points that help tourists soak in the beauty of the town.
Due to its unspoiled and pristine nature, Yercaud is a paradise for nature lovers, trekkers and adventurers, with various trek tours that take you to spots like Kiliyur Falls and Tipperary Point. It sees less crowd than most hill-stations, which is why it remains fairly raw and thereby, cost-effective. Moreover, Yercaud is a compact destination, easily explorable in a day or two. Beautified by fruit orchards and spice & coffee plantations, the hill also reaps in its merit from its flora and fauna that intrigues all kinds of vacationers. Epitomized as the Jewel of South India, the untouched charm of this lake hill-station and its quaintness, undoubtedly, makes it one of the topmost places to visit in Tamil Nadu.
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Lepakshi
Lepakshi is one of the charming little tourist places near Chennai within 500 Km filled with historical and religious places to traverse. The chief attraction here is the Veerabhadra Temple dedicated to the Lord Veerabhadra that attracts devotees from all over South India.
It is a great example of exquisite craftsmanship whose walls depict different scenes from mythologies like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Another attraction in the village is the huge monolithic idol of Nandi Bull and paintings around it. Besides being a holy hub, Lepakshi is also a treasure trove of fascinating range of traditional crafts and art forms. Colourful items like Kalamkari paintings, Banjara Embroidery, Kondapalli toys and Bidicraft with silver contours are among the best things to buy.
Distance from Chennai: 398.9 Km
Best time to Visit: Between October to March
Guntur
A busy industrial area and an agriculture hub in Andhra Pradesh, Guntur is home to several temples, caves, and forts that you can explore. A lot of history buffs come here to indulge in history by visiting Amravati Mahachaitya which is a ruin of Buddhist monument made in the second century BC. Undavalli Caves also display a fine rock-cut Indian architecture constructed in the 4th century AD.
Adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers can also visit Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Ethipothala Falls, Uppalapadu Nature Conservation. Guntur is one of the places near Chennai within 500 Km, which is also famous for the Red Chilli Biryani, its massive chilli market yard in all of Asia, and is the world’s biggest chilli exporter.
Distance from Chennai: 414.6 Km
Best time to Visit: Between October to March
Amaravathi
Amravati, the proposed capital of Andhra Pradesh is well known for the magnificent Amareswara temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva. The Temple was constructed in the 2nd century BCE and was once the capital city of the Satavahanas and Pallavas.
That is why the city is a hotspot for architecture and history buffs. Amravati offers a unique amalgamation of modern and traditional with its stupas, monasteries and planned modern infrastructure. With its rich history dating back to the Mauryan empire, and holistic integrated development in store, this futuristic city is the ultimate destination for tourism for the nearby areas.
Distance from Chennai: 448.5 km
Best Time to Visit: Between October and February
Madurai
The vibrant city of Madurai is considered as one of the most beautiful Tourist Places near Chennai within 500 kms because of the untouched natural beauty and magnificent temples located here. The skyline of Madurai is dominated by 14 dramatic gopurams or gateway towers of the majestic Meenakshi Amman Temple, which is dedicated to the Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Vishnu.
The temple borrows architectural elements from Dravidian-style and is a major pilgrimage site in the region. You can also visit the colourful bazaars of the city to get a feel of its electricity, and check out the various festivals held at the temple during various times of the year.
Distance from Chennai: 462.5 km
Best Time to Visit: Between October and February
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Mysore
Mysore is a beautiful city located in the state of Karnataka, in southern India. Known for its rich history, culture and heritage, Mysore is a popular tourist destination and attracts millions of visitors every year.
The city is renowned for its stunning beauty, with its lush green parks, elegant palaces, and stunning temples. The most famous of these is the Mysore Palace, which is considered to be one of the most magnificent and largest palaces in India. Another popular leisure spot is the Brindavan Gardens, which is located on the banks of the Kaveri River and is renowned for its beautiful fountains and colorful lights.
One of the main attractions of Mysore is its rich cultural heritage, with numerous temples, museums, and galleries showcasing the city's rich history and art. Some of the must-visit places include the Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysore Zoo, Folklore Museum, and Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Art Gallery.
There are many activities to enjoy in Mysore, from exploring the local markets and shops to taking a leisurely walk in the beautiful parks. The city is also a popular destination for yoga and wellness, with many retreats and centers offering a variety of classes and workshops. In addition, Mysore is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, with numerous bars, clubs, and restaurants providing entertainment for visitors.
Mysore has a tropical savanna climate, having hot and dry summers and mild, pleasant winters. The city experiences a moderate temperature throughout the year, with the average temperature ranging from 15°C to 35°C. Hence, Mysore's cool and breezy weather, particularly during the winter months, makes it an ideal destination for tourists, especially those looking to escape the scorching heat of other Indian cities. The pleasant weather, combined with rich cultural heritage and historical monuments, makes Mysore a popular tourist destination.
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