The fifth and final Hyundai weekend getaway sees Car India explore the coastal magnificence of Chennai as we leave the city behind and first head to Mahabalipuram before moving on to Pondicherry.
Story: Jim Gorde
Photography: Crystelle Rita Nunes
“To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wildflower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.”
— William Blake
Get away from life as you know it before life gets away from you. In this final edition of Hyundai Weekend Getaways, we head from the bustling city of Chennai on to Mahabalipuram, a place rich in history, and on to Puducherry, a distance of just about 200 kilometres.
Our journey began just as the sun rose in Tamil Nadu’s capital. Our car for the getaway was the Hyundai Verna 4S diesel, a sedan made it easier to pile all our luggage in and still have a lot of space left over for other equipment. Eager to beat the Chennai traffic, we made our way towards the scenic East Coast Road, or ECR highway as it’s popularly known.
The Madras Crocodile Bank and Centre for Herpetology comes up just about 40 km out of Chennai. The entrance is visible thanks to a large signboard resembling a crocodile with its jaw open. The Bank was founded in 1976 and is Asia’s largest sanctuary of its kind. It was developed to protect the highly endangered Mugger crocodile and, today, is also home to several other species.
Approaching Mahabalipuram, or Mammallapuram as it is called now, our first stop was the Shore Temple. The intricacy of the carvings, ‘Krishna’s Butter Ball’, a giant round boulder seemingly supporting itself on a fraction of its surface area, and the relief carvings in stone from eras gone by are sights to behold indeed. The group of monuments are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As the East Coast Road passes by the town of Odiyur, an expanse of white takes over the surroundings on the right. Forest on one side and this expansive salt plain on the other.
Located off the ECR highway at the village of Kadappakkam, about 50 km from Mammallapuram, Alamparai was primarily an important port on the Coromandel Coast, with a dockyard measuring 100 metres long. The Fort was constructed in the 17th century.
The road then led to Pondicherry; our first destination was Goubert Avenue running along the shore. As we turned in, though, the sights were astounding. The Rock Beach runs alongside what is widely known as the Promenade.
A statue of Mahatma Gandhi surrounded by eight towering pillars of granite is a landmark for sure.
Just across the road is the French War Memorial. Built in 1971, the memorial is a tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the First World War. Further down the Avenue is the statue of Joseph François Dupleix, Governor-General of French India.
Other spots of tourist interest are the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, situated on South Boulevard, and the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, with a statue of the legendary Joan of Arc. Further inside is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Another important place is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a world-famous spiritual ashram. Visitors need to register a day earlier.
There are several places of historical significance to visit in and around Pondicherry, and even a weekend here may not be enough. It does give you several reasons to come back, though. And serenity is certainly one of them.
