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The Best Things to See and Do on East Coast Road, Chennai

Surfing and body-boarding are among the most popular activities to do in Kovalam on Chennai's East Coast Road | © Wings and Petals / Flickr
Surfing and body-boarding are among the most popular activities to do in Kovalam on Chennai's East Coast Road | © Wings and Petals / Flickr
Chennai’s East Coast Road is one of the most scenic routes in the city and has been a favourite for late-night long drives for decades. However, what many fail to realise is that the East Coast Road (ECR) is a lot more than just another beautiful road to drive through; instead, it is a destination unto itself with several attractions that deserve a visit. So, if you’re up for an ECR adventure that includes more than just a long drive, here’s every amazing stop you can make along the way.

VGP Golden Beach and Theme Park

One of the oldest amusement/theme parks in the city, the VGP Golden Beach Resort is perhaps the most popular landmark along Chennai’s East Coast Road. Located at the edge of the city in Injambakkam, the VGP Universal Kingdom amusement park attracts large crowds on the weekends and boasts several new and exciting rides and attractions. The resort is also home to a number of restaurants and drinking options and is one of the most visited commercial attractions in the city.

VGP Universal Kingdom, East Coast Road, Injambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, +91 76678 47847

Cholamandal Artists’ Village

If you are an art lover driving along the ECR, then the Cholamandal Artists’ Village is one stop you should definitely make. One of the most important art destinations in the city, it is impossible to talk about the artistic heritage and culture of Chennai without mentioning Cholamandal, the largest artists’ commune in the country. The sprawling campus was founded in 1966 and was the centre of the Madras Art Movement that lasted from the 50s to the 80s. The Village is also home to a gallery that houses some of the important artworks to have come out of Chennai’s art scene.

Cholamandal Artists’ Village, East Coast Rd, Cholamandal Artists Village, Injambakkam, Palavakkam, Tamil Nadu, India, +91 44 2449 0092

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Cholamandal Artists’ Village is largely credited with fostering the Madras Art Movement | © Destination8Infinity / WikiCommons

Akkarai/ECR Beach

Natural Feature
Seashore_at_VGP_golden_beach_resort
Unlike larger and more popular beaches such as Marina and Elliot's, beaches along ECR are known for their lack of crowds | © L.vivian.richard / WikiCommons
If it is possible anywhere in Chennai to find an empty and quiet beach that you can have all to yourself, it is along the East Coast Road. With several quiet and lesser-known beaches flanking this scenic highway, taking a turn towards the sea at any point will probably lead you to a peaceful and mostly empty beach. The most popular and stop-worthy sandy destinations along the ECR are the Akkarai and ECR Beaches. Located in Sholinganallur at the edge of the city, these two beaches might not have the street food or flea-market chops of Marina or even a wealth of restaurants and cafés like Elliot’s, but they offer something you won’t find in any other beaches within the city, which is peace and quiet.
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Accessibility & Audience:

Dog Friendly, Family Friendly

Atmosphere:

Outdoors, Peaceful, Quiet

Offroad Sports/Go Karting

Driving along the ECR is in itself quite a pleasurable experience. But if you’re looking for some excitement and speed without endangering your life, your best option is to stop by one of the several offroad attractions along ECR. The most popular among these are Kart Attack and ECR Speedway for go-karting and Offroad Sports ECR for everything else from Jet Skiing and ATVs to even paintball.

A strange addiction. #shotononeplus5

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Madras Crocodile Bank

Popularly known as Croc Bank, the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust is not only one of the best-known attractions along ECR but is also an extremely important wildlife venue in all of Chennai. Declared a medium zoo in the 90s, the sprawling Croc Bank campus is home to over 2,400 crocodiles and over 4,000 reptiles in total, making it one of the largest reptile conservatories in the country. While visiting the Croc Bank just to witness the majestic reptiles is a worthwhile affair, a highly recommended activity is visiting it in the late evening for the night safari, where visitors can tour the Croc Bank with guides and torches in the dark and witness the crocs at their wildest best.

Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Post Bag No 4, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, +91 90800 00123

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The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust is home to over 2,400 crocodiles | © Sunil S / Flickr

Dakshin Chitra

Museum
A pottery art installation at DakshinaChitra Heritage Village in Chennai
A pottery art installation at DakshinaChitra Heritage Village in Chennai | ©Destination8Infinity/Wiki Commons
A museum dedicated to the accumulated culture of all four southern states of India, the Dakshin Chitra is one of the most culturally fascinating destinations in all of Chennai. A visit to this museum is akin to taking an actual short tour of the features of the four states. Located right on the East Coast Road in Muttukadu, Dakshin Chitra is not only a great cultural attraction, but it is also a great option when it comes to shopping for handicrafts, ethnic and tribal jewellery and souvenirs.
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Kovalam (Surf School)

Natural Feature
Surfing at Kovalam, Chennai
In recent years, surfing has become an extremely popular activity on Chennai's Kovalam Beach | © Wings and Petals / Flickr
One of the most beautiful and picturesque beaches in this region of the Coromandel Coast, Kovalam Beach lies less than 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Chennai along the ECR and is best known for being a great surfing destination. It is also home to Chennai’s leading surf school, the Bay of Life Surf School, which provides professional training in surfing and also has surfboard rentals. Kovalam is also home to a number of excellent restaurants and hotels, including the award-winning Taj Fisherman’s Cove.
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Accessibility & Audience:

Dog Friendly, Family Friendly

Atmosphere:

Outdoors, Scenic, Peaceful, Touristy
These recommendations were updated on February 2, 2018 to keep your travel plans fresh.