Pongal long weekend trips from Chennai

By the Nexara Holidays travel desk · 2 min read

Pongal, Tamil Nadu's harvest festival in mid-January, often creates a long weekend. Here are ideas for making the most of it.

Experience Pongal

• Village celebrations: kolam designs, pongal cooked in clay pots, decorated cattle on Mattu Pongal and traditional games.
• Thanjavur and the Kaveri delta: the heart of Tamil agricultural traditions, plus the Chola temples.
• Madurai: the Meenakshi temple and the surrounding region's festivities.

Some heritage resorts and village stays organise Pongal celebrations for guests.

Coastal escapes

• Puducherry: cafés, beaches and Auroville.
• Mahabalipuram: monuments and the dance festival season.

Hill escapes

• Kodaikanal, Ooty and Yercaud: cool, clear January weather.
• Munnar: crisp mornings and tea estates.

Short trips abroad

• Sri Lanka: a short flight from Chennai.
• Singapore or Malaysia: Pongal is celebrated in their Tamil communities too.

Tips

• Trains and buses within Tamil Nadu are very busy over Pongal; book early.
• Many businesses close on the main festival days.
• Combine with the weekend for a three- or four-night trip.

See our Weekend getaways and Cultural holidays pages.

Pongal traditions to look out for

• Bhogi: old things are discarded and bonfires lit on the first day.
• Thai Pongal: pongal is cooked in decorated pots and offered to the sun.
• Mattu Pongal: cattle are bathed, decorated and honoured.
• Kaanum Pongal: families visit relatives and go on outings.

In some districts, jallikattu events are held; these are local and regulated, and visitors should follow official arrangements.