InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort Destination

A short drive north along the East Coast Road, the Muttukadu Boat House sits on a wide, sheltered backwater lagoon where the creek meets the Bay of Bengal. Run by Tamil Nadu Tourism since 1984, its calm waters make for gentle boating, speedboat rides and windsurfing against an open, breeze-cooled horizon. An easy, unhurried stop for families and couples, it is at its most beautiful in the soft light of late afternoon, when the backwaters turn to gold, a relaxed coastal counterpoint to a day of temple-hopping along the shore.

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a 74-acre protected wetland in Tamil Nadu's Chengalpattu district and the oldest water bird sanctuary in India.Inland from the coast in the Chengalpattu countryside, Vedanthangal is India's oldest water-bird sanctuary, protected by the local village for more than two centuries and declared a sanctuary in 1936. Each winter its shallow, tree-studded lake fills with tens of thousands of migratory birds — painted storks, pelicans, herons, egrets and ibises nesting on half-submerged branches. A designated Ramsar wetland, it is a serene, seasonal spectacle best experienced between November and March. For nature lovers and families, it makes for a rewarding day trip into the quieter rhythms of the Coromandel hinterland.

Set along the East Coast Road and overlooking the Bay of Bengal, the Academy of Maritime Education and Training (AMET) is one of India's foremost maritime universities, established in 1993. Its sea-facing campus, ship-in-campus training facilities and long association with global maritime institutions make it a quiet point of interest for those drawn to the seafaring heritage of the Coromandel Coast. An easy coastal drive from InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, it offers a glimpse of the region's enduring relationship with the ocean.

India's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, the Madras International Circuit, (Formerly MRF Race Track), long known as the Madras Motor Race Track, was inaugurated in 1990 near Sriperumbudur. An FIA-certified track stretching 3.7 kilometres across twelve turns, it hosts national car and motorcycle championships and remains the spiritual home of Indian motorsport. For enthusiasts seeking speed and adrenaline beyond the coast, a day trip to the circuit on a race or track day is a memorable counterpoint to the calm of the shoreline.

For guests who value reassurance, quality healthcare is close at hand along the East Coast Road corridor, with multi-speciality hospitals within easy reach of the resort.

A short drive north along the East Coast Road, MGM Dizzee World is one of South India's earliest and best-loved amusement parks, first opened in the 1990s. Set across a sprawling seaside estate, it brings together family rides, thrilling roller coasters and a water park in one lively destination. For families travelling with children, it makes for an easy, high-spirited day out, a playful contrast to the resort's unhurried coastal rhythm.

In the heart of Chennai, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, known affectionately as Chepauk, is one of India's most storied cricket grounds, in continuous use since 1916. Home to the Tamil Nadu team and to the Chennai Super Kings and celebrated for its knowledgeable crowd and spin-friendly pitch, it is something of a pilgrimage for cricket lovers. A visit on a match day offers a vivid taste of the city's sporting passion, a short journey from the coast.

A short drive north along the East Coast Road, the Muttukadu Boat House sits on a wide, sheltered backwater lagoon where the creek meets the Bay of Bengal. Run by Tamil Nadu Tourism since 1984, its calm waters make for gentle boating, speedboat rides and windsurfing against an open, breeze-cooled horizon. An easy, unhurried stop for families and couples, it is at its most beautiful in the soft light of late afternoon, when the backwaters turn to gold, a relaxed coastal counterpoint to a day of temple-hopping along the shore.

These are five monollithic temples, each created in a different style. They are also known as the Pancha Pandava Rathas. Four of the Rathas are believed to have been scooped out of a single rock formation. They are richly carved with art motifs and wall panels depicting Hindu divinities and royal portraits. Just a short drive from the resort, the Pancha Rathas are among Mahabalipuram's most captivating monuments, five shrines carved from single blocks of granite in the 7th century under the Pallava dynasty. Named for the Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata, each 'chariot' reveals a distinct architectural form, standing unfinished yet timeless. Part of the UNESCO-listed Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, they are a masterclass in early Dravidian craftsmanship and an unmissable chapter of Coromandel history.

This is one of the oldest temples in South India standing on the edge of the sea, enclosed by a row of bulls carved out of rock. It is believed to have been built by King Rajasimha in the later half of the 7th-8th century AD. Rising at the very edge of the Bay of Bengal, the Shore Temple is an 8th-century Pallava masterpiece and one of the earliest structural stone temples in South India. Weathered by centuries of sea and salt, its granite spires and sculpted shrines to Shiva and Vishnu stand in quiet dialogue with the waves. An UNESCO World Heritage monument moments from InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, it is Coromandel history at its most elemental, best experienced in the soft light of early morning.

A living, open-air museum on the East Coast Road, DakshinaChitra gathers authentic heritage homes from across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, each relocated and rebuilt piece by piece. Artisans weave, throw pottery and perform folk arts amid its sunlit courtyards, offering an immersive walk through the daily life and craft of the South. A cultural counterpoint to the coastline, it is culture experienced rather than merely observed.

A short coastal drive from the resort, the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust is one of the world's largest reptile sanctuaries, founded in 1976 by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker. Home to thousands of crocodiles, gharials, turtles and snakes, it offers conservation-led encounters that are equal parts thrilling and educational. A living classroom by the sea, it is a favourite for families and curious minds seeking a closer look at the wild.