Muttukadu Boathouse: Boating on backwaters, ECR, Chennai

Muttukadu Lake is the backwater between MGM & Kovalam beach and on the way to Mahabalipuram we can access it from the East Coast Road. Muttukadu Lake is located around 30 KM from Chennai. You can enjoy rowing, windsurfing, water skiing, Aqua scooters, and explore all other watersports here. This boathouse was inaugurated in 1984 since then this place has been a lucky weekend getaway for locals as well as outsiders. If you plan to visit Muttukadu backwater and take a boat trip in the Lake of Muttukadu, then do plan your trip between October and February.

Muttukadu Boating information & price:

• 36 Kms from Chennai on East coast road aka ECR towards Mahabalipuram
• Muttukadu Boat house timing: Open from 9 AM to 7 PM & run by TTDC

Muttukadu boating pricing

• A variety of boating choices:
  • Row boating for Rs 130 for 30 minutes
  • Speed boating for Rs. 450 for 10 minutes
  • Power boating for 8 members for Rs. 350
  • Shared Boating 30 minutes ride cost Rs. 50

S.NO	NAME OF THE BOATS	RIDE DURATION	TARIFF
1	2 Seater Water Scooter	5 minutes	Rs. 780
2	6 Seater Motor Boat	20 minutes	Rs. 630
3	8 Seater Motor Boat	20 minutes	Rs. 830
4	10 Seater Motor Boat	20 minutes	Rs. 1050
5	3 Seater Speed Boat	10 minutes	Rs. 720
6	3 Seater Row Boat	30 minutes	Rs. 230
7	4 Seater Row Boat	30 minutes	Rs. 320

Muttukadu Boating contact

• 1800 4253 1111
• Contact: 9952995827

Muttukadu Boathouse has situated 36 Km from Chennai and 23 Kms from Adyar along the East coast road or the road towards Mahabalipuram. Muttukadu boating is done over Muttukadu backwaters. The backwaters are formed due to a lake connected to the Bay of Bengal to the East of Muttukadu Boathouse. If you are only interested in beaches, then here is a list of beaches in Chennai.

Muttukadu has become famous as a weekend outing place or a picnic place for people from Chennai in recent years. And it becoming one of the best places to see in Chennai. From the safety point of view, everyone on boating is given a life jacket.

Muttukadu Boat House, Chennai, in evening

This place is an ideal choice for family outings for a day. You can spend some peaceful time with your family away from city life, enjoy the nice ride along ECR, have boating fun together. After purchasing the ticket, people wait inside the waiting room which is made up of bamboos and looks great. They announce your turn over the mike and then accordingly people catch the boat.

Wooden dock from where people ride a boat

A closer look at Muttukadu Boating

• Feels great to walk over a wooden dock over the water
• Drivers of powerboat take us first towards the city, the west end of backwaters.
• Return, go eastwards towards the sea
• Crossing under the ECR bridge is a really very exciting part of it.
• If asked, the driver can cross the bridge twice or thrice
• This total power ride fun lasts for about 30-40 mins.

Other places of interests nearby along ECR (East Coast Road) are:

• MGM Beach resorts: 1 Km
• Dakshinachitra heritage center: 2 Km
• Covelong aka Kovalam beach: 4 km
• Crocodile Park: 10 km
• Mahabalipuram: 22 km

Muttukadu boat contribution during Chennai Flood:

Boats at Muttukadu Boathouse, Chennai which once served the fun part of the tourists, turned as lifesavers during the recent Chennai rain flood. Muttuadu Boathouse is situated on the East coast road almost at the outskirts of the city of Chennai.

While rescue operation during the Chennai flood was in full swing inside the city, some of the parts were ignored because of their locations outside Chennai. In those cases, TTDC boats were used for the minor operations along the East Coast road called ECR and the Old Mahabalipuram Road Called OMR. Though these boats had been used during cyclone this was the first time that TTDC boats were used to ferry people in flood-affected areas.

According to TTDC officials, as many as 20 motorboats were used in the rescue operations. Powered by the motor engine, these boats made an innumerable number of rounds throughout the day and the night to rescue people from the flood-prone and flood-hit area.

Besides Muttukadu Boathouse, boats from other boating points along the East coast road were also used in the rescue operations. These boating points include Mudaliarkuppam Boat House, Yercaud boathouse etc. Though Mudaliarkuppam Boat House could not contribute much towards the rescue operation as it was hit badly by the Chennai rain and most of its boats were destroyed under the incessant rain.

The remaining boats are being repaired and it is hoped that the Mudaliarkuppam Boat House will resume its travel and tourism operations soon after being closed for as many as ten days.

Chunnambar backwaters in Pondicherry and boating point met the same fate during this heavy rain along the east coast of India. Most of the boats were washed away, the plan for the luxurious boathouse was also postponed and the officials are waiting for the suits brought by the rain to get washed away from the Chunnambar backwaters so that they can resume the boating operations.

Muttukadu Adventure Activities Guide

Adventure Water Sports In Muttukadu

Muttukadu Lake is an amazing weekend destination for water sweethearts. Muttukadu lake offers various water sports including speed boat riding, kayaking, paddling, windsurfing, and water skiing. As the water isn’t very deep, among everything here you must try windsurfing and water skiing. The best time to visit Muttukadu for water sports is from November to March as the climate remains pleasant. Along with all the water sports activities here, seafood you would like to enjoy here is mouth-watering. 

Adventure Caving In Muttukadu

One of the most famous local adventure caves, known as Tiger Cave, is close to Saluvankuppam town, near Mahabalipuram. Situated among lush greenery and fresh breezes, this alone constitutes a perfect day of leisure along the water of the Bay of Bengal. This very site is a famous picnic spot and is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).