As a city Chennai continues to maintain the best of South Indian traditions. Besides the modern city itself, there are several interesting towns like Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram, each with a rich collection of ancient temples and an array of traditional handicrafts which are very much their own.
MAHABALIPURAM: Famous for monolithic sculptures on the seashore. These sculptures belong to the period of Pallava Kings who ruled this part of South India many centuries ago. Chariot, Elephant and other huge sculptures out of single stone is worth seeing.
KANCHIPURAM: A famous place for temples and silk sarees. Also one of the place where the Hindu mutt called the Shankaracharya Mutt is situated. Varadaraja Perumal Temple and Kanchi Kamakshi temples are very famous. There are many colonies who involve in weaving pure silk sarees worth seeing and purchasing too as it ranges from a simple Rs.2000/- to Rs. 1 Lakh also.
SRIPERAMBUDUR: On the way to Kanchipuram is another place called the Sriperumbudur, came to light from a sleeping village after the assassination of Shri Rajiv Gandhi, India's youngest elected Prime Minister on May 21, 1991, who in a short span of his politics, brought in a rapid change Information Technolocy, Communications Systems in India.
DAKSHINCHITRA: Situated on the ECR High way at about 25 Kms. from the centre of Chennai. It is worth spending atleast a day here to see the ancient type of common houses of the South India as it depicts the variety of houses built in those days to suit their needs. For e.g the fishermens' house in Kerala, Weavers house in Tamilnadu (Kanchipuram), Karnataka, and Andhra. One can also find the handicrafts of these states and many families actually live here and show you how they work on a potters' wheel, weave silk sarees, make glass idols and the same items are sold here. Many volunteers work here to promote the work of these artisans.
MUTTUKADU: This place is a picnic spot where you can go for boat ride, or row your boat along the backwaters and enjoy the cool breeze of the sea after 3.00 PM.
