The Historic Sights and Beaches of South India: Chennai, Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram

Get deep into South India with these top places to visit!
by Karla Ramos | November 14, 2017

This long stretch of beach along the Bengal Bay is the longest beach in India, and the second longest in the whole world. Sunrises and sunsets are absolutely stunning from here. And while it’s not legal and very dangerous to swim here because of the rough undercurrents, the popular activity done here is horseback riding. Imagine trotting candidly on such long stretches of beach.

Parthasarathy Temple

The charm of this beautiful and intricate temple is in its colored towers. It has a lot of devotees coming in and out. But public transportation going there is very easy, and being able to see the beautiful art makes it well worth the trip.

Kapaleeshwarar Temple

The bright temple colored in rich tones of red and blue is decorated by many Hindu figures. The eye-popping color and rich design is something not to be missed. Just remember that they are closed on Mondays.

Ashtalakshmi Temple

This temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess of Wealth is among the oldest. It looks unique because it is made with a different method from other South Indian temples. The crowd is no issue since only groups of 20-30 at a time can enter. Plus, it’s close to Marina Beach.

Things to see in Pondicherry

Promenade Beach

This beach stretching 1.5 kilometers has many of Pondicherry’s important war landmarks along its coast. Among these is a statue of Joan de Arc, and Mahatma Gandhi. There are many street vendors along the beach.

Matrimandir