CROSS COUNTRY CULTURE

CHENNAI TO PUDUCHERRY

165 km

With the sea on one side, unblemished tar below, the East Coast Road is a revelation

While the union territory of Puducherry is a popular weekend destination from Chennai in Tamil Nadu, the journey itself offers a fascinating glimpse into the history, culture and wildlife of the region. The East Coast Road hugs the Bay of Bengal all the way down to Puducherry, and, if you’re lucky enough to make the trip on a weekday, the traffic is sparse too. Aside from the sea on one side throwing up marvellous scenery, and making you feel like you’re driving down locales far removed from our dusty, hot climes, the stops en route are very interesting. Although it’s only about 165km to Puducherry and it won’t take you more than three-four hours to get there, we’d advise you to take your time, make plenty of stops and perhaps keep an extra day just for the road. Stop at the for an insight into the contemporary art scene in India. Detour a little onto for a scenic break, pick up some fresh catch from one of the local fish markets by the (call ahead to your accommodation and let them know you’re bringing your dinner!), and then carry on to the for close encounters with gharials, varieties of Indian turtles and a whole plethora of birds and snakes. Down the road, (or Mamallapuram) is a destination in its own right; set aside a couple of hours to explore the temple town and even do a bit of shopping. This would also be a good spot to grab a late lunch at one of the seaside restaurants or, if you’re there later in the day, enjoy a coffee on the waterfront. And, at the end of the day, the erstwhile French colony awaits.