Welcome to Tamil Nadu—where Dravidian temple towers meet surf-lined coasts and cool hill-station breezes. Chennai, the “Gateway to South India,” is a living museum of Pallava, Chola, and colonial layers, balanced by India’s longest urban beach and a celebrated filter coffee culture.

South along the Bay of Bengal lies Mahabalipuram, a 7th-century port of the Pallavas, chiselled into stone: the Shore Temple watches the tides while the Pancha Rathas stand like a sculptor’s lesson in granite. Westward, silk-city Kanchipuram and the fort town of Vellore lead you into the Shevaroy Hills, where Yercaud’s forests, viewpoints, and coffee estates loop around an emerald lake.

Practical notes: Temple visits favor modest dress (knees/shoulders covered). The NE monsoon (Oct–Dec) can bring showers; the hills are coolest from Oct–Mar. Road conditions are good, but the Yercaud ghat has 20 hairpins—plan drives by daylight. Food highlights include idli-sambar, Chettinad pepper chicken, and fresh hill coffee.

Chennai

Chennai is a city of contrasts: neon fish markets at dawn, sacred chants in Mylapore, Raj-era boulevards in Fort St. George, and the roar of Marina Beach at sunset. It’s also a street-food playground—crispy dosas, fluffy idlis dunked in sambar, and rose-milk breaks in George Town.

• Top sights: Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Basilica, Fort St. George Museum, Marina Beach, George Town (Parry’s Corner), Government Museum (Egmore).
• Why go now: Excellent museum upgrades and a renewed push for walking/food tours make exploring richer than ever.
• Eat and drink: Start at Rayar’s Mess (Mylapore) for ghee-soaked pongal; try sambar-idli at Ratna Cafe (famous since 1948); and order Chettinad at Ponnusamy.

Where to stay: Browse stays on Hotels.com (Chennai) or apartments on VRBO (Chennai). Aim for Mylapore/Alwarpet for temples and food, or near the Marina for sea breezes.

Getting there: Fly into MAA (Chennai International). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. From the airport to the city, allow 45–90 minutes by taxi/ride-hail.

Day 1: Arrive in Chennai, temples and sea air

Morning: Travel day. In-flight, read up on Pallava history and Chennai’s classic foods (idli, dosa, filter coffee) to hit the ground running.

Afternoon: Check in. Start at Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore—watch brass lamps flicker and vendors string jasmine garlands. Coffee at Madras Coffee House–style counters nearby, then stroll to San Thome Basilica, built over the apostle’s shrine.

Evening: Sunset walk at Marina Beach—try roasted corn and pan-fried sundal (chickpeas with coconut). Dinner in Mylapore: Mylai Karpagambal Mess for a banana-leaf thali or Ponnusamy for pepper chicken and parotta. Nightcap idea: Bay 146 (Savera Hotel) for live music most weekends.

Day 2: The best of Chennai—history, markets, and street food

Morning: Join a guided city immersion to cover more in less time. A full overview with hotel pickup, major landmarks, and local lunch is ideal:

Total Chennai city tour in Private car with guide & lunch by Wonder tours

This covers Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Basilica, and more with expert commentary.

Afternoon: Add the Fort St. George Museum for East India Company relics and a quick peek at the old Secretariat. Cool down with rose milk near Parry’s Corner.

Evening: Taste Chennai like a local on a guided food walk through Sowcarpet—famed for chaat, jalebis, and thaen mittai:

Sowcarpet Street Food Walking Tour in Chennai with guide

Prefer a sit-down dinner? Try Ratna Cafe (Triplicane) for their legendary sambar-idli or Ente Keralam (Alwarpet) for appam-stew.

Day 3: Day trip to Mahabalipuram (UNESCO), beach and stone

Morning: Drive the scenic East Coast Road (60–90 minutes) for shore temples and stone-carved epics. Easiest is a guided excursion with transport and a local expert:

Mahabalipuram Private tour from Chennai by car with guide and lunch by Wonder

See the Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, and Arjuna’s Penance, and learn how Pallava sculptors turned granite into poetry.

Afternoon: Lunch on seafood at Moonrakers (a traveler favorite) or try prawn curry with appams at a small local joint. Then a short beach amble; browse stone-carving workshops for small souvenirs.

Evening: Return to Chennai. For a relaxed finale, dine at Paati Veedu for a festive banana-leaf meal, or try The Flying Elephant’s multi-kitchen menus if you’re in a mood to splurge.

Yercaud (via Kanchipuram & Vellore)

Yercaud sits atop the Shevaroy Hills above Salem, a quieter sister to Ooty or Kodaikanal. The air smells of coffee blossoms and eucalyptus; viewpoints—Lady’s Seat, Pagoda Point—frame the plains in silver light.

• Top sights: Emerald Lake (Yercaud Lake) boating, the 32-km Loop Road through coffee estates, Kiliyur Falls (best post-monsoon), Shevaroy Temple, Karadiyur Viewpoint, Orchidarium.
• En route gems: Silk and stone in Kanchipuram (Ekambareswarar, Kailasanathar Temples), Vellore Fort and Jalakandeswarar Temple, and the gilded Sri Lakshmi Narayani Temple (Sripuram).
• Food & drink: Hill-station cafes, Chettinad kitchens, farm-fresh oranges near Lady’s Seat, pepper and coffee to take home from estate shops.

Where to stay: Check hill hotels with views over the plains on Hotels.com (Yercaud) or book bungalows on VRBO (Yercaud). Aim for lake vicinity or cliffside properties for sunrise views.

Getting from Chennai to Yercaud: Easiest by train to Salem Jn. (4.5–6.5 hours), then a 1-hour cab up the 20 hairpins. Search departures on Trip.com Trains (2AC ~ $14–16; 3AC ~ $9–12). A private car/driver offers flexibility for temple stops (expect ~6.5–8 hours total including sightseeing).

Day 4: Chennai → Kanchipuram → Vellore → Yercaud

Morning: Depart around 7:30 a.m. by private car. Reach Kanchipuram (~2 hours). Visit Kailasanathar Temple (7th–8th c., sandstone carvings) and Ekambareswarar’s ancient mango tree. Dress modestly; remove footwear at sanctums.

Afternoon: Continue to Vellore (~1.5 hours). Explore the star-shaped Vellore Fort and the intricately pillared Jalakandeswarar Temple. If time allows, detour to Sripuram Golden Temple (strict dress and security; photography not allowed). Lunch options: Sri Saravana Bhavan (veg thali) or a local mess for meals with sambar, poriyal, and rasam.

Evening: Drive to Yercaud via Salem (~3–3.5 hours). The final ghat section has 20 hairpin bends—aim to reach before dusk. Check in, then catch sunset at Lady’s Seat. Dinner at your hotel or Grand Palace’s rooftop tables (ask for the Sky Walk zone) with pepper fry and hot chapatis.

Day 5: Yercaud’s classics—Lake, Falls, and Loop Road coffee

Morning: Idli-vadai breakfast at Hotel Shevaroys’ Silver Oak restaurant or your hotel. Stroll around Emerald Lake; rent a rowboat or pedal boat (typical ₹150–400 per boat). Then drive to Kiliyur Falls; the final approach includes several hundred steps—carry water and wear grip-friendly shoes.

Afternoon: Do the 32-km Loop Road through coffee and spice estates. Stop at small estate outlets to sample arabica, buy pepper, and nibble on pakoras. Lunch at Sweet Rascal (quirky, reservation suggested) for hearty pastas, grills, and house-style curries.

Evening: Golden hour at Pagoda Point. Dinner at Karuppaiya Chettinadu for aromatic biryani, chicken chukka, and veg kurma; ask for “medium spice” if you prefer milder heat.

Day 6: Peaks, orchids, and orange stops

Morning: Head to Shevaroy (Servarayan) Temple, the highest point on the plateau, for hazy views over Mettur. If you fancy a short hike, plan Karadiyur Viewpoint (check conditions with hotel; trails can be slippery post-rain). Carry a light jacket—mornings can be crisp.

Afternoon: Visit the Orchidarium/Botanical Garden (seasonal blooms; small entry fee). Snack run at The Orange Shop near Lady’s Seat for fresh orange juice, homemade jams, and pepper-coffee gift packs.

Evening: Unwind with a spa hour or bonfire if your hotel offers it. Dinner at your resort or back in town; look for hot kuzhi paniyaram and a simple veg “meals” plate if you want something light.

Day 7: Slow morning in the hills, depart in the afternoon

Morning: Leisure breakfast—try dosa with coconut and tomato chutneys. Pick up last-minute estate coffee and nut brittle around the lake market. A final walk under the silver oak trees seals the hill-station calm.

Afternoon: Drive down to Salem Jn. (~1 hour). Trains to Chennai take ~4.5–6.5 hours; book on Trip.com Trains. If you’re catching a flight from Chennai tonight or tomorrow, compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you have extra time in Chennai before departure, consider a short guided stroll to see the city glow after dark:

Private Night Walking Tour Chennai

Optional add-ons if you extend:

• Mylapore temple-focused walk for ritual insights: Gods of Mylapore walking tour.
• Pondicherry seaside day trip from Chennai (Franco-Tamil vibes): Pondicherry day trip by Wonder tours.

Where to book transport and stays for this trip:

• Chennai stays: Hotels.com | VRBO
• Yercaud stays: Hotels.com | VRBO
• Flights: Trip.com | Kiwi.com
• Trains in India (e.g., Chennai ⇄ Salem): Trip.com Trains

In seven days, you’ve traced Tamil Nadu’s stone-and-sea heritage to the cool coffee hills. From Mahabalipuram’s granite epics to Yercaud’s sunrise viewpoints, this Chennai-to-Yercaud route blends temples, street food, and forest drives into one deeply satisfying journey.