Overview
Take a trip to Chennai on your India Vacation
Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is the capital city of Tamil Nadu State and is the largest city in southern India. Located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, Chennai is the gateway to South India on India tours and features India’s second-largest port.
Although the site of earlier settlements, Chennai has a history which began in colonial times. Once a fishing village, Chennai has since grown into a cosmopolitan city featuring India’s second-largest port. Known as the ‘Detroit of India’, Chennai has a huge automobile manufacturing industry and boasts of being India’s second largest exporter of information technology.
With clay underlying the city, Chennai features many sandy areas along the coast, and is home to Marina Beach, the second largest urban beach in the world, running 6 km (3.7 miles) along the shore, all to be enjoyed on trips to India.
Various temples and monuments can be visited in the nearby seaside village of Mahabalipuram, as well as various granite sculptures.
Inland, the pilgrimage city of Kanchipuram, known as a temple city, is considered one of the Hindu’s holiest cities in India and is also famous for its hand-woven silk saris.
Pondicherry, located further down the coast, was once a French colonial town. Now officially known as Puducherry, the town is considered the ‘French Riviera of the East for its many beaches, making it a popular tourist destination for Indian travel. The visionary town of Auroville is just 6 km from Pondicherry and can be visited on the way back to Chennai.
A bustling metropolis with classical and colonial-styled buildings, Chennai is steeped in Tamil tradition and features flourishing art, music, and dance culture. There is a lot to enjoy on a trip to India, including Chennai’s South Indian cuisine, in what is considered one of the world’s fastest-growing cities.
Various temples and monuments can be visited in the nearby seaside village of Mahabalipuram, as well as various granite sculptures.
Inland, the pilgrimage city of Kanchipuram, known as a temple city, is considered one of the Hindu’s holiest cities in India and is also famous for its hand-woven silk saris.
Pondicherry, located further down the coast, was once a French colonial town. Now officially known as Puducherry, the town is considered the ‘French Riviera of the East for its many beaches, making it a popular tourist destination for Indian travel. The visionary town of Auroville is just 6 km from Pondicherry and can be visited on the way back to Chennai.
A bustling metropolis with classical and colonial-styled buildings, Chennai is steeped in Tamil tradition and features flourishing art, music, and dance culture. There is a lot to enjoy on a trip to India, including Chennai’s South Indian cuisine, in what is considered one of the world’s fastest-growing cities.
At a Glance
Languages
Hindi, EnglishCurrency
Indian Rupee (INR)Trending Trips
Unforgettable Journeys.2 Trips Found
Showper page
9
2 Trips Found
Culinary Journey of India
Mumbai, Chennai, and DelhiSavour the essence of India on this culinary adventure, where markets, iconic landmarks, and regional flavours come together to celebrate the nation’s rich food heritage.
14 days
From US$5,014/p.p.
Request a Quote
Best of South India: Chennai, Pondicherry, Kerala
Mumbai, Cochin, and ChennaiVivid landscapes and rich history await in South India. Visit ancient temples, serene beaches, and bustling streets, all while soaking in the culture along the way.
15 days
From US$2,979/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
Culinary Journey of India
Mumbai, Chennai, and DelhiSavour the essence of India on this culinary adventure, where markets, iconic landmarks, and regional flavours come together to celebrate the nation’s rich food heritage.
14 days
From US$5,014/p.p.
Request a Quote
Best of South India: Chennai, Pondicherry, Kerala
Mumbai, Cochin, and ChennaiVivid landscapes and rich history await in South India. Visit ancient temples, serene beaches, and bustling streets, all while soaking in the culture along the way.
15 days
From US$2,979/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
What I love most about visiting India is how alive everything feels. The colours, the food, the people. Every place has its own vibe and story. One moment you’re in a quiet temple, the next you’re in a bustling street market. It’s chaotic in the best way
My favourite drinks are aam panna, a traditional Indian summer drink made from raw mangoes, known for its refreshing taste and cooling properties, and mango lassi, the iconic Indian yogurt drink
Coconut oil lamps in Kapaleeswarar temple
Sunset in Chennai - a perfect destination to be...
Silhouette of fishing boats at sunset
Murugan Temple
Santhome Bascillica
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
ChennaiPartly Cloudy
35°C / 95°F
40mm / 1.6"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
Travel Stories
Get Inspired About Your Trip to India
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,315 ReviewsWe decided to go to France for 3 weeks in September and knew we needed help planning the trip (we made this decision in August so a very short time frame. We had traveled with Goway a few years ago and were hoping they could help. Our specialist, Farnaz Bagheri, was fantastic, she listened to what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. She literally arranged everything with her French partners. The guides and drivers were wonderful the accommodations were excellent. Communication was easy from the first discussion to the time we got home. Farnaz planned for us an exceptional trip in a very short time frame. Promise next trip we will contact Goway much earlier. Thanks againSue BlakeOur experience was amazing! The booking process went great. We just had to pack our clothes and everything else was taken care of thanks to Goway Travel… Lori Mezzomo!!! Lori was fantastic. Everything from flights to transfers to excursions was perfect! Can’t wait to go back and i would definitely use Goway Travel again!!!Marie IdolMaria Spitman provided exemplary service to us! Her expertise, attention to detail, timely replies and kindness were unmatched. We will definitely recommend her to others who we know are considering travel to Asia. Alice StaniforthMichael Keon and his crew did a fine job coordinating our trip to Turkey. His contact in Turkey, Mr. Omer was in contact with us almost daily reminding us of our schedule and pick up info. He was terrific. Very informative and insightful guides. And large comfortable vehicles on every trip. Awesome trip. Tom and Sharon Tom and Sharon, Toronto, Canada We loved the trip itinerary and everything was organized so well! Lori was always very responsive and answered our questions promptly. Thank you for an amazing trip!Jelena PoprzenAs a travel advisor, I recently booked a group of clients on a Goway tour in China following their paddleboat competition, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience.
Christine and Tanya in the groups department were incredibly helpful and made the entire process seamless. Their support was greatly appreciated!
The feedback from my clients was overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the local tour guides, who helped make the trip so memorable. Everyone had a wonderful time.
Thank you, Christine, Tanya, and the Goway team, for taking such great care of my clients. I would happily recommend Goway and look forward to working with them again!customerI wanna start off by saying that Farnaz our agent was excellent!!! she planned the whole experience from start to finish. We did not have to worry about one thing the entire trip. All the hotels were great. Our transfers from hotels to fairies to airports were all available and always on time. The excursions she planned for us were all top-notch. I was a little skeptical, but just finding GOWAY online stumbling across it. But I’m so glad I made the choice to use them. I hope they definitely using the company again and especially our agent Farnaz!!! Thank you do mych for a wonderful experience! CatherineOur goal for this trip was a stress free honeymoon where we did not have to think about anything! Goway made that successful. Everything was planned and ready for us. We just had to show up. Brooke recommended fantastic accommodations that were in great locations, clean and comfortable. The tours were took with Thompson's Africa were incredible as well. Brooke was helpful throughout the entire booking process & we wouldn't have had such an incredible experience without her. We really loved our South African holiday and hope to travel there or other locations again with Goway.TaylorOctober 9, 2026, was our 50th wedding anniversary. To celebrate, I wanted to take my bride to Europe for 50 days. Also, other than the flight over, I wanted to make the trip by train. I contacted Farnaz at Goway. The trip we planned ultimately extended to 60 days. It was absolutely flawless. We had great hotels, great tours. Even though this trip was complex and had a lot of moving parts, there were no problems. Farnaz and the folks at Goway done a great job. I highly recommend them and will definitely use them on any future tripsDaniel GraffWe had a fabulous Croatia vacation with a cruise from Dubrovnik to Split, followed by land tours on Split and Opatija. Lodging was always comfortable and conveniently located. Tours and activities were perfectly suited to our interests. We have used GoWay for 2 vacations and are currently working on another. Karen
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified