Father's Day In Chennai: 10 Ideas To Celebrate Your Appa This Special Day

One of my fondest memories with my dad is catching the sunrise at Marina Beach. Both of us have grown up playing catch, running with the waves, and just lazing by the sea there. Take your father to Marina Beach in time for the sunrise and get your morning walk and run sessions done. You can stop for an ice cream or a tender coconut water too. 

Google rating: 4.3/5

Timings: 24 hours

Pro tip: Here are some more things you can do at Marina beach!

If you are not finishing off your early morning beach walking escapades with some breakfast and kaapi at Woodland's, you are doing it wrong. Your dad will definitely see this coming, but that's where the fun lies: kaapi and idli, sambhar, pongal, and dosa with your Appa: a winning combination! Woodland's breakfast buffet will keep you satiated until lunch, so you can get some fun activities done after this. 

Google rating: 4.2/5

Timings: 7 AM to 11 PM

Now that you are filled up on some delish breakfast, head to Muthukaadu for some fun exploring! Dakshinachitra Museum is a living-history site dedicated to the culture and heritage of South India. I have been here with my dad a couple of times during a road trip that ended up with some really cool photos. We also learnt pottery here and painted our creations that we still use to this day. Plan a trip here and indulge in some history and art that your dad will definitely enjoy. 

Google rating: 4.4/5

Timings: 10 AM to 7 PM

Social media: Instagram

Entry: INR 350, register here. 

A half-hour drive from Dakshinachitra is Mahabalipuram. It is filled with temples and monuments built by the Pallava dynasty in the seventh and eighth centuries. The temples are a mix of land and sea-facing structures. The monuments include rathas, mandapas, giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges', and the temple of Rivage, and also Krishna's butter ball: a slant rock on a peak, balanced so intricately you think it would slide down any moment but hasn't in years. Apart from sun-kissed photos and aesthetic picture dumps, I have spent hours sliding down the butter ball at this UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Later, you can also chill by the beachside and have some impending deep conversations with your dad. 

Google rating: 4.3/5

Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM

Entry: INR 40 for Indians, INR 600 for foreigners. 

LBB Tip: Make a picnic lunch and take along lots of water, as this place requires you to walk a lot.

If you want to break from the rut and spin things up, skip the South Indian breakfast and go for some Italian at Writer's Cafe. Your father may or may not like it, but he will definitely appreciate that this cafe is inside a bookstore! You can browse through the books and get some for yourself or your dad. A book haul and wholesome brunch? Things are really going our way! 

Google rating: 4.4/5

Timings: 9 AM to 10 PM

Price: INR 450 for two

Social media: Instagram

Another 30 minutes' drive away is the beach town of Kovalam, where your family can plan a staycation over this Father's Day weekend. Here, you can do everything from surfing to other water sports, dine by the sea, and have refreshing beach walks. You can boat through the Muthukadu backwaters, explore the rocky Kovalam beach, and visit the nearby crocodile park. Or, just let dad get his noon slumber while you walk around the sandy shores.

Where to stay: Taj Fisherman's Cove, Surf Turf

Pro tip: This guide will help you find the best seaside restaurants to eat at! 

On your way back to the city, or if you don't want to leave Chennai, you can always catch some fun activities within the city, like making your own perfume at MYOP, Thousand Lights. All you need to do is grovel to your dad and convince him that he needs a new signature scent. Once that's done, you'll have no trouble finding this white and black lit store in Express Avenue Mall. This is India's first perfume bar where you can pick the bottle size, the notes you prefer, and a name for your new signature scent! You can have fun making one for each other, so the memory stays with you in every spray. 

Google rating: 4.9/5

Timings: 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM

Price: INR 1,000 onwards

Social media: Instagram

I have grown up seeing my dad obsess over cricket, and one of the best ways to make his special day is to acknowledge his obsessions and support them. Like a date at Chepauk stadium would do the trick! You can always catch practice matches between various local teams, and sometimes even next year's IPL training sessions is in progress. Or just geek out over cricket with your father and get some cool pictures with him in the stadium. 

Google rating: 4.5/5

Timings: 8 AM to 4 PM

No matter what your religious beliefs are, you could try to accompany your dad on his religious entourage, and Chennai, being a culturally rich city, has no dearth of beautiful temples, churches, and mosques. After the visit, you can probably head off for some tiffin and good old filter kaapi to seal the deal. 

End your day with a beautiful sunset by the beach. Besant Nagar beach, also called Edward Elliot's Beach, is a beautiful place to rest, reset, and talk over ice cream, corn, and bhajji. The golden sunset will be the perfect ending to your day. You can also explore the bowling alley nearby and show off your skills with dad or learn the sport from him. The bowling alley also has an arcade, so you know you are subscribing to endless fun with your father! 

Google rating: 4.3/5

Timings: Open 24 hours