Camping in Chennai

Located on the Bay of Bengal, this beautiful seaside capital draws you in with its vibrant, energetic South Indian culture. Chennai in Tamil Nadu is more than its iconic Marina beach and for tourists ready to discover the many shades of their travel destination, it can open up hidden secrets that will enrich your journey to this coastal region. 

With long golden beaches, seaside markets filled with fish sellers calling out their wares in cheerful voices, stone temples embedded with rock art and majestic sculptures, and food that carries with its flavours, the taste of this state; sightseeing in Chennai will leave you spellbound. 

Travel to the multi-domed Thousand Lights Mosque, a place of religious worship that lights up the surrounding area with different neon lights so that you feel like you’re looking at a sparkling gem. Sightseeing in Chennai isn’t complete without making your way to the one-of-a-kind Marina Beach, the longest beach in India and one of the longest in the world. Slurp on an ice-cream cone sold beachside and take in the blues of the ocean, as its waves crash gently onto the shore. 

Other great spots for sightseeing in Chennai include Elliot’s Beach, Dakshinachitra, Ashtalakshmi Temple, Valluvar Kottam and for film lovers, MGR Film City! The list goes on and its going to be tough to fit all the spectacular wonders of Chennai in this page, but we’re going to try our best. 

Scroll through our list of the top places to visit in Chennai and discover the tiny special elements about it that make these spots a must visit. 

Chennai the capital of Tamil Nadu is primarily known for its wealth of golden beaches, rich Tamil culture and hot, humid climate. But if you’re a rock-climber looking to conquer some beautiful rock formations, rock climbing in Chennai shouldn’t be off your list. The landscape around the city is rugged, promising an exhilarating rock climbing experience amidst lush greenery and deep blue skies. 

For a rock climber, making your way to the summit of majestic rocks is a test of fitness, skill and determination. Using your strength and agility to navigate up these natural beauties is a challenge for your body and mind. Rock climbing in Chennai is a fairly recent trend and is still in its early days but a variety of boulder problems and routes have been emerging in the crags around this coastal hub, largely due to the efforts of a budding, active group of enthusiastic climbers. 

Rock climbing in Chennai involves clambering up granite rock formations and bouldering dominates the climbing scene. However, taller routes are slowly being put up just a few kilometers out of the city and provide gorgeous vistas once you’re done with your climb. Because of this regions sweltering heat, the best time to go rock climbing is December to February. 

Get your climbing gear ready and read on to discover climbing hotspots in Chennai that will give you a satisfying rush of endorphins! 

Blue and seemingly bottomless, the ocean calls out to us to explore its hidden depths. For those of us who love the water, the aquatic world is our dream destination, with delicate jellyfish fanning out their tendrils, manta rays swimming serenely under the waves, lionfish with elegant spikes and more, splashing about their natural habitat. Scuba diving in Chennai takes you into the mysterious Bay of Bengal and treats you to the beautiful sight of its ocean bed. 

Although you might be ready to begin scuba diving in Chennai, this lovely coastal region does not have many dive sites and the visibility is low. However, right near Chennai is Pondicherry, and this enchanting Union Territory has plenty of stunning dive sights to leave you spellbound and fulfilled. 

So, if scuba diving in Chennai is on your mind and you’re disappointed you can’t dip into the Bay of Bengal, we give you the next best thing with scuba diving in Pondicherry! Scroll through this page to discover the spectacular dive sites that are available in Tamil Nadu.