Satisfy your pursuit of tranquility by visiting the beautiful hill stations near Chennai

With a large collection of interesting and unique tourist attractions including beautiful churches, old Chennai temples, beautiful beaches, museums, entertainment centres, etc. Chennai ranks amongst the best tourist destinations in India. Visit the city on your next holiday and spend it exploring the captivating tourist attractions of the city.

Chennai is one of the biggest cities in India. It is the capital of Tamil Nadu, a state located in the southern end of the Indian sub-continent. Home to a mass of large and varied industries, it is a chief commerce city of India and fondly referred as the "Detroit of India" for housing a large automobile industry. It is also the fourth most populated metropolitan in the country and one of the most crowded one. People from different parts of India arrive here in large masses in search of quality education, good work opportunities, healthcare, etc. It is perhaps the most significant city in entire south India and just often used as a transit point in order to access rest of south India, as it shares an excellent rail, road, as well as air connectivity. Therefore, it is called the "Gateway to the South".

Presently, Chennai is also one of the most-favored holiday destinations in India. It is a city with great culture, long and checkered past, huge range of sumptuous food, colorful and lively lifestyle, and splendid natural beauty. It has a very modern and practical attitude towards life with commercialization quickly capping the city. However, it still puts the centuries old traditions and religious customs and beliefs on a high rank. There are many Chennai temples dotting the city, of which many are not only highly significant religiously but also important in archaeological aspect. Adeeswar Temple, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Parthasarathy Temple, Kalikambal Temple, etc. are some of the chief temples, which are also amongst the oldest temples in the city. There is so much to do, see, and relish on your tour of the city that there will be hardly any idle time for you. In addition to the sightseeing spots in the city, there are a couple of good tourist destinations or escapades situated nearby the city.

Yercaud is a beautiful and serene hill station that you may like to visit. It is some 360 k.m. away from Chennai and has a fine network of roads linking it to the city. The hill station is most famous for its untouched and unpolluted natural beauty. There is a stunning lake set in the midst of lush greenery, beautiful enough to get you spellbound. Services like boating, photography, etc. are available here. The place is also noted for its large, miles long coffee estates and orange plantations that adorn the beauty of the place. With numerous parks, waterfalls, caves, vantage points, and several other attractions the hill station ensures of a holiday that is refreshing and fun.

Kolli Hills is yet another good nearby destination that tourists often visit. Just like Yercaud, the place also remains untouched by modernization. It is most noted for Agaya Gangai, which is a magnificent waterfall near Arapaleeswarar temple. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the region and generates a huge amount of tourist interest. Two lookout points, namely Seeku Parai and Selur Nadu, offering stunning panoramic views of the region are today being developed in order to encourage tourism. They are a must-visit if you are in the town. Apart from these there are several other attractions like trekking, hiking, nature walk, practicing Yoga, etc.

Cuddalore also makes a good offbeat getaway from Chennai. It is a small town located on the eastern shore of the country. Broad on a Chennai to Cuddalore train and get into the place to spend a laid-back and refreshing vacation.

Sandeep is an experienced travel consultant, who enjoys travelling and loves to write about the destinations he has been to and shares his experience. He also writes about travel tips, world's best holiday destinations, best hotels in a destination,