Day tripsCountriesIndiaChennaiChennai to Tamil Nadu's Highlights: Private day trip

Chennai to Tamil Nadu's Highlights: Private day trip

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Private ride with a local driver

11h 45m
Round trip
Private driver
Trusted by 1+ million happy travelers across 120 countries
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About your trip

Journey through Tamil Nadu's UNESCO rock-cut wonders, silk-weaving capital, and mysterious cave temples. Marvel at shore temples and massive bas-reliefs, discover temples and legendary sarees, then explore ancient Tiger Cave carvings.
Exclusively yours: private vehicle and professional driver
Discover local insights you won't find in guidebooks
Experience the freedom to explore at your own speed
Perfectly planned for families, friends, or solo travelers
From €33
Private group ride
per person
Select date and travelers
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your pickup time.
For a group of 1-3 travelersTotal€140

What to expect

Your day trip begins wherever you are

Meet our professional driver right where you prefer in Chennai whenever suits you best. No time wasted getting to the pickup point, grab your bag and start your trip right away.

Discover more with local expertise

Your driver’s local insights will set the tone for your day trip. A hidden café here, a must-try restaurant there; insider tips you’ll love sharing later. This isn’t a guided tour but your ride will be rich with stories and discoveries along the way. And throughout the day, your driver will be available for you as needed, ready to assist, happy to help, making your trip stress-free.

Explore at your own pace

Your Daytrip driver transports you from Chennai along the coast to Mahabalipuram, inland to Kanchipuram, then to Tiger Cave, managing routes while you explore ancient monuments, living traditions, and hidden archaeological sites.

Perfect for any private group

Whether you're traveling solo, as a family with kids, or as a large group, this service is tailored for your comfort and flexibility. It's the ideal option especially if you have limited time or a busy schedule.

Good to know

  • Two-way private car transfer
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Personalized pickup and drop-off
  • Professional English-speaking driver
  • Complimentary bottled water
  • Free cancellation 24 hours before departure
  • Entry/Admission tickets to paid attractions Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram, and Tiger Cave should be purchased separately unless specified otherwise
  • Meals, snacks, and gratuity are not included
From €33
Private group ride
per person
Select date and travelers
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your pickup time.
For a group of 1-3 travelersTotal€140

Your trip at a glance

Your trip at a glance

Start in Chennai
You choose the pickup spot.
1
Mahabalipuram
Feel free to explore at your own pace and discover
Stop: 2 hours - admission not included
Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram
Explore this UNESCO World Heritage coastal town, home to India's finest Pallava rock-cut sculptures from the 7th-8th centuries. Marvel at the iconic Shore Temple with twin shrines overlooking the Bay of Bengal, then discover the massive Descent of the Ganges bas-relief, depicting over 100 celestial beings, animals, and serpent deities in an intricate narrative. Explore the Five Rathas, monolithic rock-cut temples each carved from single granite boulders, demonstrating different Dravidian architectural styles named after the Mahabharata Pandava brothers. Visit Krishna's Butterball, a massive boulder inexplicably balanced on hillside slopes, defying gravity. Watch stone carvers in workshops creating temple sculptures using ancient techniques passed through families for generations.
2
Kanchipuram
Feel free to explore at your own pace and discover
Stop: 1 h 30 min - admission not included
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Discover one of India's seven sacred Sapta Puri cities, famous for 1,000 temples and the world's finest silk sarees woven by hereditary craftsmen using pure zari gold thread. Visit Ekambareswarar Temple featuring a massive gopuram gateway tower, an ancient mango tree, and one of Shiva's elemental earth lingas. Explore Kailasanathar Temple, the city's oldest structure, with original frescoes that demonstrate early Dravidian style. Learn about natural dye techniques, zari gold thread work, and quality testing while observing master weavers at work. The town's spiritual atmosphere intensifies during temple festivals when decorated elephants parade through streets and traditional Carnatic music fills the air. Sample authentic South Indian vegetarian cuisine at local restaurants while exploring markets selling silk sarees, temple jewelry, and religious artifacts.
3
Tiger Cave
Feel free to explore at your own pace and discover
Stop: 1 h 30 min - admission not included
Tiger Cave
Discover this mysterious rock-cut cave featuring unique tiger-head carvings and ancient architectural elements dating to the Pallava period, located peacefully away from the main tourist circuits. Marvel at the elaborate yali (composite creature) heads with gaping mouths and fanged expressions carved into the cave entrance. Some scholars believe these represent tigers, while others suggest mythological creatures. Explore the open-air rock-cut mandapa (pillared hall), with its incomplete construction, which provides insights into ancient carving techniques. The cave's original purpose remains debated. It may have been intended as a temple, theater, or royal audience hall before construction ceased.
Back to Chennai
We’ll take you back to your starting point.
Duration of the stops can be changed upon request after booking
Have questions or need help?Contact our Customer Support. We are available 24/7

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions, here are the answers.
Day tripsCountriesIndiaChennaiChennai to Tamil Nadu's Highlights: Private day trip