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On the border between Tamil Nadu and
Andhra
Pradesh lies a small spot of paradise called Tada. So small a spot,
it is not even on the map. Tada is regularly given the slip by the normal
tourist, mainly because of ignorance. But this place is a regular jaunt
for the ones who like to rough it out, to get away, far from the maddening
crowd. Deserted as it may sound, don't be surprised to find a bunch of
die-hard adventurers camping out. 
Main Attractions At Tada
Just a 95-km ride from Chennai, one can come face-to-face with rural
India, connected by dust roads or even worse, badly laid roads. The main
attraction of Tada is that it has got nothing, except the wilderness. The
experience of camping out is what draws people there. Tada is complete
with a waterfall, small hillocks, ideal for climbing (for any
inexperienced climber) and greenery all around.
An ideal trip would be an overnight stay. The road from the last village
towards the hillocks is nothing but a sand pathway with huge boulders and
rocks strewn around, and so it is better to go on motorbikes, a long ride
from Chennai. A word of caution - it will take a lot of guts and skill to
get to the 'base-camp' on the motorbike.
Alternatively, for the green horns, you can always push your bike. If
there is one thing that's close to 'infrastructure' in Tada, it is the
huts, rented by the lone watchman. They are ideal picnic spots, located
near the stream. You can camp for the night here.
The next morning, pack your bags and trek around the hills and the
waterfall (a small one, but nevertheless, an attractive one). Here again
one should get the help of the watchman, who also doubles as a guide. The
surrounding hillocks and its valleys provide unlimited picnic spots all
along the stream. The stream, at shallow points, provides ideal spots for
splashing about in the water.
Tada is an ideal camping ground for Chennaites, at a reasonable distance
from the city.
Tourist Information
One should take one's own food and water. A pair of good sports shoes for
trekking, first aid kit and insect repellent creams would be helpful.
Air: The nearest airport is at Chennai, at a
distance of 95 kms.
Rail: The nearest convenient railway station is at Chennai, which
is well connected by rail with the important towns and cities within and
beyond the state.
Road: Tourists can hire a taxi from Chennai to reach Tada, which
is situated at a distance of 95-km from Chennai.
Accommodation is available at the hotels in Chennai. If one wants stay overnight, only huts are available at Tada.