Top Places to Visit on a Chennai Holiday:Chennai Charm is Irresistible

A colorful- crowded city full of great contrasts and diversities, Chennai, India, and has remarkable temples, fine dining, pompous festivals and shining beaches that add gusto to the city’s attractions…..

Madras to some and Chennai to some, this is a rugged city that will take a toll on you.  Crowded, dusty and polluted, Chennai is definitely not the city that will allure many at the first sight; however, with a little sweat one can find the city’s numerous treasures characterized in delicious cuisine, astonishing historical monuments and popular shopping places.

Chennai is a city where modernity and traditions co-exist in the light of wealthy heritage and culture. Chennai is fast evolving as one of the most sophisticated and advanced metropolitans. With its glut of ancient temples, art forms and historical features, the city is widely known as the Gateway to South India.

Perched on the Coromandel Coast, Chennai is an interesting fusion of the modern and ancient. With a riveting past, it is a window to incredible art forms and culture of South India. From Bharatnatyaman to Carnatic music, from beautiful churches to ancient temples, this city is a delight for tourists.

Chennai is a marvelous tourist attraction and every year hundreds of thousands of European visitors take flights to this city. Chennai tour-packages are always in huge demand and along the key British airlines, many India-based carriers provide convenient and affordable London to Chennai flights. 

Places to See on your Chennai Holiday

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Following are the Places to visit on a Chennai Holiday

By the Bay – Explore Beaches

Beaches are the top attractions in the magnificent city Chennai. Chennai is a coastal city offering myriad beaches to choose from. You could explore Marine beach, the world’s 2^nd largest beach and the most famous beach in the city.

The beach boasts of 14-galleries, a high-tech lighting system that attracts visitors during night and an internal walkway along the sands. Or you can choose Elliot’s beach in Besant Nagar, a nice young sibling of the revered Marine Beach.

Explore the Golden Sand, Shimmering Blue Marine Beach in Chennai 

Spend an Evening at the Magnificent Elliot’s Beach in Chennai

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There are serene and quaint beaches along the coastline including Covelong beach or Thiruvanmiyur beach, as well as Rameswaram, Muttukkadu and Kurusadai islands. 

Sacred Tales – Pay a Visit to the Temples

Chennai is a place with immense spirituality and spiritual faith, which is clearly reflected by means of medley of temples in the city. Temples in the city range from giant monumental structures to small stone edifices, each embracing some sort of significance in the lives of people.

A charming temple, Kapaleeswarar Temple is over 2,000 years old and is dedicated to the Great God, Lord Shiva. The temple observes special prayers and hosts festivals almost daily.

Satisfy your Spiritual Side, Visit Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai 

Parthasarathy Temple is one of the chief tourist attractions in the city. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, the temple is situated in the heart of the city and offers peaceful refuge in the hustle-bustle of the city.

Parthasarathy Temple in Chennai

Other marvelous temples in Chennai are Mangadu Kamakshi Temple, Thiruverkadu Mariammam Temple, Kalikambal Temple and Vadapalani Dandayudhapani Temple.

Southern Talkies…….. Explore Dakshinachitra

Other must visit place on Chennai Holiday is Dakshinachitra. Situated in Muttukkadu, a 25km ride from the centre of the city, along the East Coast Road is this living museum and heritage centre. Established in 1996, Dakshinachitra is truly a showcase of South India along with elaborative models of the performing arts, architecture and crafts of the Deccan region.

Carnatic music concerts and exquisite performances of southern dance styles like Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam are hosted at the spacious open air theatre.  Weavers, traders and potters can be seen at work here and some of their wares are offered for sale.

The craftsmen are always willing to show and teach, so you can try your hand at any or all these activities. The heart of the museum has life-sized models of conventional Southern homes to take you back to older days.

Dakshinachitra in Chennai

Shopping Spree

With innumerable shopping opportunities, Chennai is rightly a shopper’s delight, popular especially for its silk; the city has a wide range of hip malls and high-street designer boutiques off late. Traditional and modern artworks, paintings, jewelry and antiques items are also fairly sought-after in the area.

The great place for street shopping in the city, you must not-dare-to-miss Chennai being jostled in the rush of famous Ranganathan Street. Narrow roads full of shops and wide assortment of goods for sale make this street the busiest stretch of Chennai.

These artifacts are generally pretty affordable and ideally complement the cheap flights to India.

Ranganathan Street in Chennai

Speak Philosophy…… Vivekananda House

Nestles opposite to Marina, this is a remarkable landmark everyone passes by, but only a few walk into. The great Philosopher Swami Vivekananda resided here for a small duration in 1897 after which the building was transformed into a museum.

It houses a wide collection of Swami Vivekananda’s pictures, plaques engraved with his famous quotes and paintings showing the cultural evolution of India.

The bedroom of Vivekananda has been transformed into a place for meditation; however, the dining room, parlor and kitchen are open for visitors to see how the legend lived.

Vivekananda House in Chennai

Fauna and Flora……..Rendezvous with the Wildlife

Apart from the holy temples and magnificent beaches, wildlife is one of the most significant places to visit on Chennai Holiday. The wildlife in Chennai attracts travelers worldwide to its stunning shores.

Guindy National Park is a splendid attraction that irresistibly appeals to the nature buffs. It is relatively a small national park, but is among the very few situated inside the city. Having tropical dry evergreen vegetation, the Park is home to black bucks, jackals, snakes, spotted deer, and numerous differed invertebrates and over 100-species of birds.

 Guindy National Park in Chennai

The Arignar Anna Zoological Park is a not-to-miss for animal lovers. Frequented by around 700,000 people every year, the park has a wide variety species of wild life. The zoological park is a home to different species of amphibians, mammals, birds and reptiles.

Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai

Picturesque Landscape….. Alamparai Fort

Get ready in the morning and pack up a picnic basket to head to Alamparai Fort for a serene picnic away from the hustle-bustle of the city. The fort is based near Kadapakkam, a simple village 50km away from Mamallapuram and is one of the lesser known intriguing places near the city.

Built in the 17^th century during the Mughal era, Alamparai Fort was captured and destructed by the British in 1760AD and even recently the structure was further harmed in 2004 tsunami. Only the battered ruins of the Fort now remain; nevertheless it is a picture-perfect spot by the beautiful sea by the waves resting at its base.

Alamparai Fort in Chennai

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These were some of the sumptuous attractions of the city that allures tourists from all over the world to take flights to Chennai. Lots of stunning sights to explore is what make Chennai Holidays adventurous. Hoodaki.com has a great array of flights to Krabi, Thailand from all key London and UK airports. 

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Romantic Getaways: Top 5 Honeymoon Destinations in Southeast Asia

Once the big-day has come and gone, you will need a cozy, romantic and a beautiful place to go on a honeymoon with your better half to spend some quality lovey-dovey time together……head to South East Asia.

With unspoiled white sandy beaches, amazing food, great cultures, vistas of incomparable beauty, turquoise waters and friendliest people, Southeast Asia has some impeccable honeymoon destinations for newly-weds looking to have an ultimate time together. Southeast Asia is a place of mystique and timeless beauty, and is ideal to spend your honeymoon.

 Spend your Honeymoon in Southeast Asia to Experience a Super Romantic Time

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What more?

Honeymoon destinations in Southeast Asia offers some of the most stunning vistas, adrenaline rush activities and luxurious experiences for far less money than Morocco or Hawaii.

Here we are providing our readers with the top 5 honeymoon destinations across Southeast Asia. 

All the five honeymoon destinations mentioned below:

·         Close to the Airports

·         Enough interesting and fun activities to indulge in for present generation adventure seeking couples

·         Have premium accommodation

·         Pocket-friendly

Read on…….

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia 

Bali has been the most popular place among the honeymooners since a very long time, so it is no surprise that it finds a top place on our list. When in Bali, most honeymooners go to the beach resorts that are relatively pricey and crowded.

We on the contrary recommend Ubud to the honeymooners, located in central Bali and boasts of ample Balinese culture and far away from the heavy traffic of South Bali. The bulls-eye way to enjoy your honeymoon is to stay in a private Balinese homestay situated amidst the paddy fields.

Balinese Hinduism culture, incredible temples, tranquility and lots of shopping opportunities are on offer in and around Ubud. Moreover, if you feel like hitting the beach with your partner, you can head to the coast that is just an hour away.

Ideal for:  Couples looking to spent time in the laps of Mother Nature and wanting a native experience.

Thing to do/ Places to Visit: Pura Tirtha Empul Temple, Goa Gajah Cave, Nusa Dua to experience the South beach culture, Pura Ulan Danu Batur Temple and Volcano, Sukowati Market, many lakes and Kintamani for cooler climes

Nearest Airport: Denpasar, Bali

Best Time to Visit: June to October and in case, you love rain, then all year round

Couples looking to spent time in the laps of Mother Nature, Come to Ubud, Bali

Koh Lanta, Thailand

The beautiful islands and shimmering beaches of Thailand have to find a place in our list of best honeymoon destinations in Southeast Asia. Right on the top of all islands nestles Koh Lanta, a charming and long tropical island that is located in the upper Andaman waters of Thailand.

It embraces all the elements required for an ideal beach vacation minus the crowds. 

The water here is great for snorkeling and scuba diving, it has finger-licking good seafood, rocking nightlife with lots of lounges and clubs, its long stretch of seas and green forests that can be easily explored on a motorbike or jeep and finally it has lots of caves and national parks that offer incredible bird watching and trekking opportunities.

Perfect for: Couples looking for a stunning beach destination with some splendid land adventures in addition to underwater sports

Things to do/ Places to Visit: Relax on the beach and watch the sky full of stars while sipping cocktails and eating tasty sea food, Snorkeling, Scuba diving, Beach parties. Visit Phangnga Bay to see the amazing limestone karsts bulging out of the ocean, Phi-Phi for scuba diving and Krabi for rock climbing

Best Season: All year round, excluding two months - March and April when it get a little hot, but such climate brings in high underwater visibility and offers a the right excuse to spend time in water with your partner.

Nearest Airport: Phuket

Celebrate Your Honeymoon in the Beautiful Islands of Thailand

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Luang Prabang, Laos

This French colonial town’s serene, calm and laidback riverside ambience is the perfect way for a newly-wed couple to explore together. There are marvelous river facing hotels designed in French architecture, amazing waterfalls, beautiful countryside, world-class river cruises, golden Buddhist temple and more. Also, there are several street markets and high-fashion stores.

Ideal for:  Honeymooners keen on spending a relaxed time with good culture experience, gourmet good local food and captivating natural sights

Things to Do/Places to Visit: The city is itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ting Cave, Wat Xieng Thong and Mount Funsi Kuang Xi Waterfall. Visit Muang Koi and Nong Khiaw for a calm riverside retreat

Best Time to Visit: September to March

Nearest Airport: Luang Prabang

Go on a Honeymoon to the City that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Luang Prabang, Laos

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An takes the fourth place in our list of top 5 honeymoon destinations in Southeast Asia. Tropical islands close to white corals, a river that runs through it, enchanting paddy fields, countryside, two UNESCO World Heritage sites and extremely close to South China sea and beaches – this how I can describe Hoi An in simple words.

Perched in central Vietnam, this destination has it all and therefore, regardless of your interests and choices, you will find this place amazingly special. You can go enjoy the pristine beaches, go on cycling through the alluring countryside; you can do lots of shopping, relish the beautiful culture and eat the tasty local food.

Ideal For:  Honeymooners desiring a complete holiday experience that has a bit of everything

Things to do/Places to Visit: Dine by the Hoi An riverside, Hoi An Heritage area, the ruins of My Son, Cham Islands, Marble Mountains, Hue and Tam Coc river close to Ninh Binh

Best Time to Visit – All the year round

Nearest Airport: Danang

 For an Amazingly Special Honeymoon, Visit Hoi An, Vietnam 

Chiang Mai, Thailand

 Thailand is not just about sizzling beaches - and the place that rightly justifies this statement is Chiang Mai.  The place is located at the foothills and is known for its beautiful temples, the Tiger temple, pompous festivals, tribal statements, sensational local food, national parks and the vibrant night markets. 

Moreover, when you want to indulge in a little adventure, you can rent a motorbike and explore the spectacular mountains of North Thailand.

Ideal for:  Honeymooners wanting to go to a place that is cosmopolitan yet offers plenty of opportunities to understand the culture.

Things to do/Places to Visit: The Tiger Temple, Wat Chedi Luang, Doi Suthep Temple, Doi Inthanon National Park, Sunday night markets

Best Time to Visit: All year round – the place rocks during New Years Eve and Loi Krathong Festival

Nearest Airport: Chiang Mai

To have a Sensational Honeymoon, along with a Touch of Adventure, Visit Chiang Mai

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Choosing one best destination to celebrate your honeymoon in Southeast Asia is not an easy task; however, we hope that our list of top-5 honeymoon destinations in Southeast Asia narrow down the options and helps you to decide your romantic getaway with your soulmate.

Did we miss out a honeymoon destination?  Tell us to which place did you go on for your honeymoon in Southeast Asia and Share your experience with us.

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