logo

Experience Top 5 Stunning Scenic Drives Near Chennai This Rainy Season

India.com15 hours ago

As the capital city of Tamil Nadu Chennai offers both historical interests and cultural events together with coastal destinations. During monsoon months Chennai develops into a rain-filled paradise featuring multiple prospects to explore scenic locations in the area. Travel enthusiasts along with others seeking urban relief should consider the following best road journeys around Chennai that reach their peak during monsoon season. Vacationers can discover amazing natural panoramas and pleasant temperatures while creating lasting memories at these attractive places.
1. Mahabalipuram
The 50-kilometers drive south from Chennai brings you to Mahabalipuram where you can admire World Heritage Site temples carved into rocks and beautiful beach scenery. The rain-strengthened waves from the Bay of Bengal produce an enchanting spectacle when they strike against the shoreline. All travelers must see the Shore Temple and Arjuna's Penance and the Five Rathas in this destination. Visit Elliot's Beach or Mamallapuram Beach after visiting historical wonders since these beaches offer relaxed time enjoying misty elements and ocean air.
2. Pondicherry
Pondicherry (mainly referred to as Puducherry) exists as a fascinating union territory where French elegance and Indian heritage live in harmony about 160 kilometers due south of Chennai. During the monsoon season Pondicherry shows its true beauty through sweetened streets decorated by red bougainvillea flowers while it's quiet backwaters create a peaceful setting. All tourists should explore all three sites which include Promenade Beach and Auroville together with Sri Aurobindo Ashram. During monsoon season the country landscape surrounding Pondicherry transforms into lush vegetation suitable for bicycle tours combined with relaxed paddy field drives.
3. Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram situated 75 kilometers west of Chennai holds a status as one of the seven sacred Indian cities along with serving as a spiritual center. During monsoon the city reveals itself to travelers as 'The City of Thousand Temples' where they can experience serene peacefulness. Three architectural marvels within the lush surroundings of the rainy season are the Ekambareswarar Temple and Kamakshi Amman Temple and Kailasanathar Temple. Under the monsoon months Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary turns into a sanctuary for migratory birds which offers nature enthusiasts an enjoyable experience.
4. Yelagiri Hills
Anyone who wants to experience cooler weather alongside breathtaking landscape views will find Yelagiri Hills near Chennai at 220 kilometers to be an outstanding hill station. The poorly known hill station showcases picturesque landscapes which flourish with waterfalls and blooming flower gardens throughout the monsoon period. The trekking paths at Swamimalai Hill alongside Punganoor Lake allow visitors to experience the splendor of nature. The gentle rainfall during this time creates an enchanting atmosphere which makes the location excellent for photographers.
5. Vellore
Vellore lies approximately 140 kilometers from Chennai as it unites ancient landmarks with picturesque natural vistas seamlessly. Since the 16th century the impressive Vellore Fort has existed as a powerful stone formation during the monsoon season. Visitors can see animals in their wilderness at the Amirthi Zoological Park combined with the Jungle Trail located nearby. Adventurers should explore the Jalagamparai Falls which rests in the forested region of Eastern Ghats. The flowing water creates peaceful music which draws people toward nature.
Conclusion
Chennai serves as an outstanding starting point for road trips because it surrounds various terrain options such as beaches together with mountain areas and traditional cities. These destinations reach maximum beauty during the monsoon period which transforms typical drives into unforgettable travel experiences. You can experience incredible scenes by driving through rainforest locations due to which you should instantly begin your adventure with packed luggage.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Thinking of going to Africa for an animal safari? Here's why you should plan one soon
Thinking of going to Africa for an animal safari? Here's why you should plan one soon

Hindustan Times

time5 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Thinking of going to Africa for an animal safari? Here's why you should plan one soon

The thrill of the chase, the anticipation of seeing a big cat in their natural habitat, the bumpy jeep rides & the satisfaction of finally getting what you came for - a safari, be it in Africa or India, is an exciting break away from the work-life hustle. Far removed from the luxuries that a city can offer, swapping a relaxing vacation to live in the jungle means roughing it, but this trend has become increasingly popular among people of all ages. A recent Thomas Cook report notes that, for around 75% of Indians, experiential travel is taking centre stage. And one such experience that's seeing an uptick is Wildlife Safaris (around 32%). They are all-inclusive, adventurous and allow travellers to come face-to-face with Nature. With safari season in Africa from May to August and Indian Safari season best done between October to June, this is the perfect time to plan your next trip. A post shared by Sydney Sweeney (@sydney_sweeney) Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Leisure Travel & M.I.C.E, Thomas Cook India Limited, says, 'Africa has emerged as a highly sought-after destination for leisure travel for multigenerational families, young working professionals, and friend groups seeking one-of-a-kind outdoor and luxury experiences. There is also a lot of demand for wildlife safaris retreats from corporate MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) groups.' Botswana and Rwanda offer eco-conscious lodges, while other prefer to combine 'beach-and-bush' itineraries as travelers combine safaris in Kenya or Tanzania with a luxury retreat in Zanzibar, Seychelles, or South Africa's Cape Town. With the Indian passport ranked at 85 (Henley Passport Index 2025) and some 50 destinations allowing visa-free/visa-on-arrival, the travel preference leans to locations that make entry easy. Its also no secret that countries which make the visa process a breeze have seen Indians flock to those locales. A post shared by Ananya 🌙 (@ananyapanday) Africa wants to get in on the action. In January, South Africa introduced a new visa regime - the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS). "This allows approved tour operators to register with the department and submit group visa applications for their travellers, streamlining the process and cutting through red tape," read a press note by South Africa's Department of Home Affairs. Another reason that African safaris are gaining popularity? An increasing number of celebrities are vacationing there. Recently, actors Sydney Sweeney and Luke Evans, and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles shared snips from their jungle safaris. Even actors like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ananya Panday have visited the continent and enjoyed an adventurous trip. A post shared by SIMONE BILES (@simonebiles) For travel blogger Mahek Desai, travelling to Africa's Masai Mara is a dream come true. 'I am doing a solo safari trip. It's my birthday gift to myself. I find myself happier with animals and I just know it is going to be amazing,' she says. On the other hand, retiree Rajnikant Mirkar and his wife Trupti have just got back form an 'unforgettable experience' with a jeep-load of memories. He says, 'We are nature lovers and we have visited most of India's wildlife sanctuaries. So we decided to head to Africa to experience it as well. We visited Kenya and Tanzania, along with the Masai Mara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro National Park. We're lucky to spot the big 5 - the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, African elephant, and African buffalo.' Engineering student Nile Lopes has grown up watching wildlife documentaries on television. He says, 'Visiting Africa and going on a safari has been a childhood dream. We were followed by African buffalo, spotted a herd of elephant and zebras, and even saw a pride of lions resting in the shades of acacia trees.' If you are making plans to travel to Africa for the safari season, Manoj Adlakha, Founder & CEO, RedBeryl, shares a few tips that will help: Back home in India, jungle safaris are also gaining traction with celebrities like actor-couple Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, and former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar spending time in Jhalana Leopard Reserve in Jaipur and Kaziranga National Park, Assam. In May, giving further impetus to the tourism trend of safaris, the Maharashtra government approved a ₹286 crore tiger safari project in Chandrapur. On the other hand, in the Botanical Garden in Kondapur in Hyderabad, one can hop on a bus, don a VR headset and let nature come alive across a 2-kilometre safari ride, where you are transported to the dense forests of the Western and Eastern Ghats or Antarctica's icy slopes. You can also have digital encounters with big cats, penguins, and other exotic creatures. However, if you've been under the impression that safaris only happen in the summer or winter months in India, think again. Several Indian national parks are open to tourists during the monsoons. Wildlife photographer Priyansha Singh tells us, 'While the core zones in northern and central parts of India are closed in the rainy months (usually July to September), the southern parks, like Periyar (in Kerala), Nagarhole, Kabini, Bandipur (in Karnataka), and Ranthambore (in Rajasthan), etc, and the buffer zones are open." And publicist Priyanka Deepak Joshi couldn't agree more. During her recent trip ot Gir National Park (Gujarat) with her family, she spotted several big cats and has 'amazing experience'. 'I saw a lioness walk by our jeep and it was so thrilling. While the rains have made a difference, it actually makes spotting animals like lions more visually striking against the green background,' she tells us. Even resorts and hotels present in and around sanctuaries are seeing a higher number of requests for monsoon safaris. Rajat Gera, Commercial Director of Six Senses Fort Barwara, which is located in Ranthambore National Park, says, 'We've observed a notable evolution in the profile of luxury travelers visiting us during the rainy season." If you ask him what makes this type of safari an interesting travel time, he shares, "The Monsoon Safari reveals the forest in its most vibrant form — lush and teeming with new life. Following the dry summer, the rains breathe life back into the landscape and wildlife sightings take on an unexpected character. With fewer safari gates open, the experience becomes is exclusive and personal, as animals roam, play, and hunt once again.'

Sonali Bendre recalls visiting Babulnath Temple and Siddhivinayak Temple with Coldplay's Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson: ‘She's such a lovely person'
Sonali Bendre recalls visiting Babulnath Temple and Siddhivinayak Temple with Coldplay's Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson: ‘She's such a lovely person'

Time of India

time8 hours ago

  • Time of India

Sonali Bendre recalls visiting Babulnath Temple and Siddhivinayak Temple with Coldplay's Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson: ‘She's such a lovely person'

When British singer Chris Martin of Coldplay visited India earlier this year, it wasn't just his music that stole hearts. Alongside Hollywood actress Dakota Johnson , the duo surprised fans by exploring the spiritual side of Mumbai. They were joined by Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre and 'Swades' star Gayatri Oberoi during their quiet yet meaningful visit to some of the city's most iconic temples. Before Coldplay's big concerts at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 18 and 19, Chris and Dakota paid a special visit to the Babulnath Temple. Photos and videos of the couple offering prayers along with Sonali and Gayatri quickly went viral, showing them soaking in the spiritual vibe. Sonali recalls taking Dakota and Chris to Mumbai's famous temples In her interview with ANI, Sonali Bendre fondly remembered the moment she was asked to join the group on their spiritual journey. She said, "She's (Dakota) such a lovely person. It was my yoga teacher who told me that, you know what, somebody is coming in and they want to be taken to a few temples. Will you do this? I'm like, okay, who is it? And that's how I get to know. So I think Chris and her (Dakota) wanted to have a temple experience. And I think that's an experience everybody should have at some point. It was lovely. With her (and Chris), we had visited Babulnath Temple. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like NYC Hotel Smartphone Booking | Bookmark Now! | New York City Hotel Booking | Mill Canyon Road Click Here Undo And then the next day, we visited Siddhivinayak Temple." From their dress to their demeanour, Chris and Dakota were seen fully embracing Indian customs. At the Babulnath Temple, they offered prayers, and the next day, the group went to Siddhivinayak Temple, one of Mumbai's most famous religious spots. Dakota wore traditional attire and was seen chatting happily with Sonali and Gayatri as they walked through the temple grounds. Break-up rumours surround Chris and Dakota While their temple visits showed a peaceful side, Chris and Dakota's relationship has been in the news for other reasons. Reports say they have split. A source told PEOPLE magazine, 'It feels final this time.' Neither Chris nor Dakota's teams have commented on this. Earlier in 2024, it was said that the couple had been engaged for years but were not rushing to marry. When rumours of a breakup started in August 2024, Dakota's representative said they were 'happily together.' A source added, 'Sure, they've had issues and taken breaks in the past, but things are great now. They both love their careers. They are balancing things the best they can.' In June 2024, it was reported they had 'ups and downs, but now they're definitely back on.' So far, Chris and Dakota have not spoken about the recent split rumours. Payal Dhare, Rahul Dua, Varun Purthi & More; Meet India's Top Power Creators of 2025 Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .

Philippines to offer visa-free entry to Indians from June 8
Philippines to offer visa-free entry to Indians from June 8

Hindustan Times

time9 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Philippines to offer visa-free entry to Indians from June 8

The Philippines said on Saturday that Indian nationals will be allowed to enter the country without a visa for tourism purposes beginning June 8. The visa-free arrangement is aimed at boosting tourism arrivals from India, which rose 12% in 2024 to nearly 80,000, according to data from the Department of Tourism. Despite the growth, Indian arrivals to the Philippines remain a small portion of the over five million who travelled to Southeast Asia last year. Under the visa-free policy, Indian nationals can enter the Philippines without a visa for up to 14 days. Those holding valid visas or residence permits from the United States, Australia, Canada, Schengen countries, Singapore, or the United Kingdom can stay in the Philippines visa-free for up to 30 days.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store