Tour Duration: 11 Nights /
12 Days
Destinations:
CHENNAI – KANCHIPURAM – MAHABALIPURAM - TIRUVANNAMALAI – PONDICHERRY
- CHIDAMBARAM – TANJORE - TRICHY – MADURAI
Day 01. ARRIVE CHENNAI.
Arrive Chennai - the gateway to southern India, established in
1639 by the East India Company, is one of the oldest cities of
the country. Assistance and transfer to hotel. After lunch at
hotel, Half day City Tour, visiting Gandhi Memorial, Kala
Kshetra, Mylapore temple and Marine beach.
Overnight at Chennai.
Day 02. CHENNAI.
(
Excursion - Tirupathi,155 kms / 3.5hours )
After breakfast, proceed to Tirupathi. Lunch at local restaurant
Tirupathi is a temple town known for the famous ancient temple of
Lord Venkateswara (Lord of seven hills or Balaji, as he is
affectionately known ) on the top of the 860mts high Tirumala hills.
The temple of Lord Venkateswara is not only believed to be amongst
the oldest temples in the country, but also the richest of them all
.Legend has it that Lord Venkateswara borrowed money from the divine
treasurer Kubera for his wedding expenses. He is still paying back
this debt which is why the pilgrims donate generously to the temple
funds. In the evening return to Chennai.
Overnight at Chennai.
Day 03. CHENNAI – KANCHIPURAM – MAHABALIPURAM.
After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram ( 70 kms / 01.50 hrs ) - is the
ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and
still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built
in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls.
Temples of Ekambaswara , Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and
Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for
its silks. Lunch at local restaurant and later drive to
Mamallapooram and check in at hotel.
Afternoon visit the city - built in 7th century, earlier called
Mahabalipooram, this ancient Pallava port, is today the sight of
several antique sculptural marvels. In this ancient seaside town ,
shrines and huge sculptures cut-out of rocks more than 1200 years
back during the reign of Pallava Kings in the region can be seen.
The only Shore Temple which remains here is the spectacular
two - spired shrine, unique because it houses both Lord Shiva and
the Lord Vishnu in its sanctum-sanctorum.
Overnight at Mahabalipuram.
Day 04. MAHABALIPURAM – TIRUVANNAMALAI – PONDICHERRY.
After breakfast drive to Tiruvannamallai(165kms/04hrs)- a pilgrim
centre with an ancient Temple of Lord Shiva. After lunch at
local restaurant, proceed to Pondicherry (90kms/ 2.5hrs), which
carries a strong whiff of the French presence in India. This
erstwhile French colony on the east coast of South India merged with
the rest of the country in 1954. Legend says that Pondicherry is the
place where St.Agasthaya settled down.
Overnight at Pondicherry.
Day 05. PONDICHERRY.
After breakfast drive to visit Aurbindo Ashram, the city of
dawn, which is 10kms north of Pondicherry. This ashram promotes
Aurbindo's ideas in bringing about a synthesis of Yoga and modern
science, so as to unite the spirit and matter. After lunch at hotel,
visit Auroville - a unique experiment in international living and in
creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities
live together in harmony.
Overnight at Pondicherry.
Day 06. PONDICHERRY – CHIDAMBARAM – TANJORE.
After breakfast drive to Chidambaram(65kms/1.5hrs) also called as
Thillai, which has the famous Nataraja Temple with the root
of the sanctum-sanctorum covered with golden plates is located in
the centre of the town covering an area of 40 acres. In this temple,
postures from the Bharatnatayam form of dance are depicted in
sculpture. Natraja is Lord Shiva as a cosmic dancer. After lunch at
local restaurant, drive to Thanjavur (130kms/03hrs) enroute visiting
the Brass factory at Kumbakonam. Tanjore once the capital of Chola
Kings, has the Brahadeswara temple(or the big temple of God).The
temple tower rises to a height of 15mts from a square base of 29 mts
and then tapers off, making a total of 66mts.Checkin at hotel.
Overnight at Tanjore.
Day 07. TANJORE – TRICHY
(54kms / 1.5hrs )
After breakfast leave for Trichy, short name of Trichurapalli,
situated on the banks of Kaveri River is a blend of history and
tradition as well as pilgrim centre, it is famous for Ranganath
Temple at Srirangam. Checkin at hotel. After lunch city tour
visiting Rock fort and its temple at a height of over 23mts. Also
visit Srirangam and Jambukeshwar Temple.
Overnight at Trichy.
Day 08. TRICHY – MADURAI
(133kms / 3.5hrs )
After breakfast proceed to Madurai and checkin at hotel. The ancient
city of Madurai, some 2600 years old is laid out in the banks of
river Vaigai as a lotus flower with the Meenakshi Temple in
the centre. After lunch city tour visiting - Meenakshi temple, King
Tirumala's Palace, Great tank and Gandhi museum.
Overnight at Madurai.
Day 09. MADURAI.
( Excursion-Rameshwaram,150kms / 03hrs )
After breakfast proceed to Rameshwaram- the most sacred temple
town of India is an island hallowed by the epic Ramayana, where
Lord Rama is said to have visited before going into battle of
Srilanka. Legend has it that Lord Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash
to bring a Lingam for worship when he set foot after defeating
Ravana. As Hanuman did not return when the auspicious hour was
approaching, Sita made a sand Lingam so that worship could be
performed in time, which is where the present day Ramanatha Swamy
Temple stands close to sea on the eastern side of the island.
One of the twelve Jyotirlingam shrines is also well known for its
magnificent corridors and the massive sculptured pillars lining
them.
Overnight at Madurai.
Day 10. MADURAI – TRIVANDRUM
( 270 kms / 5 hrs )
After breakfast drive to Trivandrum and check in at hotel. Afternoon
at leisure.
Overnight at Trivandrum.
Day 11. TRIVANDRUM
( Excursion Kanyakumari - 80 kms / 2 hrs )
After breakfast proceed for Kanyakumari - is the land's end of India
where the water of the Arabian Sea , the Bay of Bengal and the
Indian Ocean meet. An important pilgrim centre of India , it is
famous for the Amman Temples - a symbol of unity and sanctity
- deidicated to the virgin Goddess , Kanya Kumari. To its South -
East lies the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial , a blend of all the
architectural styles of India. Evening enjoy the beautiful sun set
and later return to Trivandrum.
Overnight at Trivandrum.
Day 12. TRIVANDRUM OUTBOUND.
After breakfast enjoy your last day of the temple tour by visiting
the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Aruvipuram Siva Temple Janardhan
Swamy Temple Sree Parasurama Temple Sree Kanteswaram Temple and
Ganapati Temple. Post lunch, you can also visit Napier Museum
and Chitra Art Gallery. Evening transfer to airport to connect
flight for onward journey. End of our services.