Some people judge the prosperity of a city by the economy and commercial activity it offers and some others prefer to see it from the perspective of the cost of the standard of living versus the actual living standard. And then there are those who think that the best way of evaluating a city is by tasting the life that it has to offer, not in monetary terms of course but by the way the city inhabitants enjoy their free time and the quality of recreational life that they have.

Fortunately enough, Chennai scores full marks on every aspect, be it in terms of the economy, commercialization, travel, infrastructure and recreation. Not only Chennai is counted to be among the world’s 20 fastest growing cities of the world, moreover the city’s industries such as the manufacturing, automobile and IT hub have rightly earned it the appropriate epithet- The Gateway of South India. What’s more, the city offers a vibrancy that offers inhabitants a life beyond narrow lanes, traffic snarls and train timetables.

If you haven’t yet explored it, perhaps its time you did!

See you in Vellore

As we said before, there are many places that are located at fairly short distances from Chennai and are probably good options for a weekend visit or even a day’s visit if time is short. Vellore is one such place; situated on the banks of the Palar River, Vellore is renowned for its history as much as it is known for its famous touristy sights.

However, the city is famous for its educational institutions namely the Christian Medical College and Hospital and the VIT University, both of which are enumerated among India’s leading institutions, besides which Vellore is known for medical tourism and is considered to be the foremost finished leather goods exporter in India.

It makes sense to commence your journey from a place that will take you to Vellore quickly and without encountering any of Chennai’s traffic jams. Oragadam is a good place to start from and one can take the NH4 and NH 46, making the journey time roughly about 2 hours or so.

Roots that run deep

Vellore also means “A city of spears” and this in itself should give a brief idea about the history of this city. Tracing its roots back to the Dravidian culture, Vellore is steeped in legacy and is recounted as an ancient city with a glorious past. Ruled by a number of South Indian dynasties such as the Pallavas, Cholas, Vijaynagaris, the Carnatic Empire and even the Britishers, Vellore is a multi-hued city with many shades and relics of the bygone days.

With a number of places to see, the city offers an interesting mix of forts and temples, places of worship, a Zoological Park, an observatory and other spots that will interest people of all ages.

Vellore Fort

A 16th century fort, built by the Aravindu Dynasty of the Vijaynagar Empire, the fort has been a base to many other ruling dynasties. Famous for having as prisoners Tipu Sultan’s family and even the last emperor of Sri Lanka, the Vellore Fort, built entirely of granite blocks, has within its premises a temple, a church and a mosque.

The Jalakanteshwara Temple

A fine example of Dravidian architecture, this Lord Shiva’s temple is located within the Vellore fort and is beautifully adorned with carvings of Nandi, gopuras and a beautifully carved stone pillar.

Srilakshmi Golden Temple

A breathtaking sight, the temple is situated in the temple town of Sripuram. Coated in gold leaf, the temple is a shrine that will please the eye and soul.

What else to do while in Vellore?

The Vainu Bappu Observatory is a must see as it has a 93 inch telescope which is considered to be the largest in Asia. Besides this, the 150 year old St. John’s Church, the Amirthi Zoological Park located near the Amirthi River and the Assumption Cathedral are places that are worth a dekko.