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**Sunny** · 11-14-2009, 05:09 AM

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**thechamp** · 11-14-2009, 11:23 PM

Guys Please help

No need to answer full question, Just drop whatever you know
even small pieces of info can also prove very helpful

**thaker1985** · 11-15-2009, 12:19 AM

Originally posted by thechamp View Post

Guys Please help

No need to answer full question, Just drop whatever you know
even small pieces of info can also prove very helpful

Hi,

You could consider visiting the Aurobindo ashram, in Pondicherry. rougly 150 Km from Chennai. I understand you are looking for a romantic getaway, but this place is worth the visit. And Pondicherry is one of the most romantic places, with the beaches and all. Its great for walks, and quiet day trips. Almost like small french town.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Regards,

**ceeone** · 11-15-2009, 12:23 AM

There are many places to visit in chennai

In Chennai

Marina beach, Elliots beach (beseant nagar), Guindy Childrens park

around chennai

around 50 kms from city

St thomas mount near airport, ECR, Muttukadu boat house, crocodile farm, Vandalur Zoo, MGM , VGP

around 100 kms

Mamallapuram, vedanthangal bird sanctuary, Kanchipuram

there are many decent hotels around the airport and in the city

u can search them travel web sites

as far as i know there is no reputed bike renting firms in chennai

any way Enjoy ur stay in chennai
dont forget to have Idli & Dosa

**krishnan6015** · 11-15-2009, 12:30 AM

Dude, Monsoon has started in Chennai so take the necessary items before coming.If not raining you can take her a ride to Mahabalipuram (around 50 km from Chennai) via Kovalam.Besant Nagar beach will be good (its inside city).

**thechamp** · 11-15-2009, 05:17 PM

Originally posted by thaker1985 View Post

Hi,

You could consider visiting the Aurobindo ashram, in Pondicherry. rougly 150 Km from Chennai. I understand you are looking for a romantic getaway, but this place is worth the visit. And Pondicherry is one of the most romantic places, with the beaches and all. Its great for walks, and quiet day trips. Almost like small french town.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Regards,

Thanks Brother, will surely wisit there

Originally posted by ceeone View Post

There are many places to visit in chennai

In Chennai

Marina beach, Elliots beach (beseant nagar), Guindy Childrens park

around chennai

around 50 kms from city

St thomas mount near airport, ECR, Muttukadu boat house, crocodile farm, Vandalur Zoo, MGM , VGP

around 100 kms

Mamallapuram, vedanthangal bird sanctuary, Kanchipuram

there are many decent hotels around the airport and in the city

u can search them travel web sites

as far as i know there is no reputed bike renting firms in chennai

any way Enjoy ur stay in chennai
dont forget to have Idli & Dosa

Thanks Bro, Information given by you is really helpful

Originally posted by krishnan6015 View Post

Dude, Monsoon has started in Chennai so take the necessary items before coming.If not raining you can take her a ride to Mahabalipuram (around 50 km from Chennai) via Kovalam.Besant Nagar beach will be good (its inside city).

Thanks for idea Dude, for how long does the Mansoon season last ???

**whizzkid_ram** · 11-15-2009, 08:23 PM

TN is engulfed in rain & planning for outing in the bike is not advisable...So enjoyment is restricted on the 2 wheelers till the monsoon gets over

...Better u could hire a 4 wheeler if you are pushed to go... so plan accordingly...

**xinfii** · 11-15-2009, 08:35 PM

Here comes some help!

Mahabalipuram

Distance from Chennai: 40 kms
Archeology and outdoor places to visit.
Fairly decent resorts, but little to the expensive side.
Beaches in plenty.

Yelagiri

Distance from Chennai: 250 kms
Hill station with nothing much out there. So privacy (or what you call as 'romantic' environment) guaranteed.
Decent hotels, fair price. If over a long weekend or public holiday, book in advance.
Will keep you entertained for a day.
No frequent public transport available. Cab would be a good idea.

Yercaud

Distance from Chennai: Slightly over 300 kms.
Hill station, slightly populated.
Decent hotels and resorts. Pricing from fair to slightly expensive.
Will keep you entertained for a day or two.
Good thing is that this is the same way as Yelagiri, just that its a little further down. So you can plan to visit Yelagiri, stay there for a day, and then shirt here.
Possibly take a night bus/train to Salem. Then get on a bus/cab to Yercaud. This hill is just in the outskirts of Salem.

Gingee

Distance from Chennai: 160 kms
Archeology, nothing else.
Not worth staying, but can just pay a visit on the way.
The temples and forts are really good early in the morning and during sunset.

Pondicherry

Distance from Chennai: 160 kms
Just another hyped up place. Nothing much other than beaches.
Can keep you entertained for a day.
Decent hotels, fair prices.
Alcohol in plenty and is cheap!

Vedanthangal

Distance from Chennai: Around 100 kms
Bird sanctuary, nothing other than that.
Sparsely populated.

Any other place would be further down and distance will increase. Or may not fall in Tamil Nadu.

**bluevolt** · 11-15-2009, 09:50 PM

Pondicherry is the best place to chill out, though there is not much to see there. But it is the only tourist hotel in India where the hotel prices are not obscene, even in the best hotels there. Nice to go for a day, walk on the road facing the beach and enjoy food and drinks in many of the open air terrace restaurants. That place is just meant to chill out and relax. Nice road from Chennai too!

Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is also a scenic place, with lots of sightseeing and relatively clean beaches (beaches on the bay of Bengal side are very average). If you have some spare cash, try staying a night at the GRT grand for 'romantic experience'. Great property with a decent beachfront. Some pictures of the beach/hotel and some historical monuments - check out 'Krishna's butter ball', a huge rock precariously perched on the edge! And both the beach pictures had been shot from the GRT grand.

**thechamp** · 11-16-2009, 11:34 PM

@whizzkid_ram : thanks for the mansoon tip bro

@xinfii : Dude

, You really are a life saver, post by you will really help mr alot, Some nice shots at your Blog

PS: Is there any connection between your avatar and my signature

@Bluevolt : Thanks a lot for the info, and some super cool pics, they have exponentially increases my excitement
Hope you get your Ninja soon

At the moment Pondi and Mahabalipuram seems to be good choices

What all modes of travel available to them from chennai
How much time it will take to reach pondi from bus, Is cab better option, whats the time of last and first bus

**xinfii** · 11-17-2009, 08:10 AM

^^

If you wish to go to Mahabalipuram or Pondy, there is a bus from Chennai every 5 to 10 minutes. It might be a little slow, but after all, you are here to kill time, right?

**steveburnside2001** · 11-17-2009, 10:46 AM

pondi and mahabs fall on the same route.if you start early you can visit mahabs for breakfast(beforeitgets too hot) and push off to Pondi.

Pondi - place is ok,nothingtoreally brag about, the ride on the ecr road to pondi is orgasmic.

**thechamp** · 11-17-2009, 04:22 PM

@Xinfi : Ya I will be there to kill time

@Steve : Where is Mahabs fall bro, unable to find it on google earth

Whats the time of first and last Bus (I think bus willl take around 3-3.5 hrs) Am I correct

Any one on how I can get a bike on rent in Chennai for 2-3 days

**kirosh_03** · 11-18-2009, 04:22 PM

I was waiting until you zeroed-in on a few places... Now that you have finalized Pondy and Mahabs, here is some help for you.

It is the North-East monsoon season here and it is raining consistently. Be prepared to get wet, no matter where ever you want to go. However, if you are planning to come after the first or second week of December, you can have a sigh of relief.

Renting a bike in Chennai... AFAIK, there aren't any. There are a lot of used two-wheeler dealers. They are keen only on selling the bikes. However, you can rent bikes in Mahabalipuram and Pondy.

You have mentioned that, on Day 1, you will reach Chennai around 10am. Take it light on Day 1, you can hit the Marina beach in the evening and a dinner there-after.

For the next few days, you can consider the following:

Visit to Mahabalipuram: Beaches, shore temples (make it a one-day trip, at leisure)
Tamil Nadu Tourism plies a lot of "Hop-on Hop-off" buses towards Mahabalipuram from Chennai (See here: :::TTDC-HOP ON - HOP OFF TOUR:::).
Trip to Pondicherry (requires one full day or two). As Thaker pointed, you can visit Auroville.
There are a lot of state transport buses (run by both Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry governments) that run between Chennai (CMBT) and Pondy. Take the buses that go thru East Coast Road (ECR). And remember to grab a seat along the left side.

You can even club Mahabs and Pondy together.

Day 1

Morning: Leave early from Chennai, board a Pondy-bound bus, alight at Mahabalipuram. You can have your breakfast in Mahabs and go around visiting the shore temples/caves.
Post lunch: You can continue your journey towards Pondy; wait for a Pondy-bound bus to come. No idea if you will get a seat though.
Late-afternoon: Reach Pondy, check-in to hotel.
As for accommodation, there are lot of hotels and beach resorts. Try booking one in advance.
Evening: Take a stroll along the Pondy beach, dinner.

Day 2

Morning: Wake-up, refresh
Visit: Auroville and other places
Early-evening: Board bus to Chennai
Late-evening: Reach Chennai

There are a lot of places of interests, use Wiki and Tamil Nadu tourism websites to get to know more.

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