East Coast Trail

The East Coast Trail from Chennai to Tranquebar offers an immersive journey along the Coromandel coast, highlighting cultural heritage, ancient architecture, spiritual centres and serene natural landscapes. The experience begins with an introduction to South Indian art, craft and architecture at Dakshin Chitra before moving on to Mahabalipuram’s iconic granite monuments, including the Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna’s Butterball and the Panch Rathas. The trail then continues to Pondicherry, known for its French heritage, its peaceful ashram associated with Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and the international township of Auroville with its distinctive Matri Mandir. Travelling onward, the journey explores the enchanting mangrove forests of Pichavaram, home to rich birdlife and tranquil waterways, followed by the historic temple town of Chidambaram, famed for its ancient Thillai Nataraja Temple and its associations with Patanjali. The final stretch leads to the quietly charming coastal town of Tranquebar, once a flourishing 17th-century Danish settlement known for its beach, colonial architecture, early Tamil printing history and the imposing Fort Dansborg, before returning to Chennai along the scenic coastline.