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Duration:9 Nights / 10 Days
Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) - Tiruvannamalai - Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Trivandrum - Chennai
Day 01: Chennai
Arrive at Chennai - the gateway to southern India,
established in 1639 AD by the East India Company, is
one of the oldest cities of the country. Assistance
and transfer to hotel.
After lunch at hotel proceed for half-day sightseeing
tour, visiting Gandhi Memorial, Kala Kshetra, Mylapore
Temple and Marina Beach.
Dinner and overnight will be at hotel.
Day 02: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mamallapuram
By Road: 76 km in 2 hours
After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram - 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 Mamallapuram
and check in at hotel.
Afternoon visit the city - built in 7th century, earlier
called Mahabalipuram, this ancient Pallava port, is
today the sight of several antique sculptural marvels.
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 will be at hotel.
Day 03: Mamallapuram - Tiruvannamalai - Pondicherry
By Road: 131 km in 3 hours
After breakfast drive to Tiruvannamalai - a pilgrim
centre with an ancient temple of Lord Shiva.
After lunch at local restaurant, proceed to Pondicherry,
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.
Enjoy sightseeing in the evening. Overnight will be
at hotel.
Day 04: Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Tanjore
By Road: 65 km in 1 hour
breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to visit the Aurbindo
Ashram.
Later drive to Chidambaram 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
(104kms/03hrs) en-route visiting the Brass Factory
at Kumbakonam. Tanjore once was the capital
of Chola Kings, has the Brihadeswara Temple (or
the big temple of God). The temple tower rises to a
height of 15m from a square base of 29 m and then tapers
off, making a total of 66 m.
Overnight will be at hotel.
Day 05: Tanjore - Trichy
By Road: 54 km in 2 hour
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.
Check in at hotel. After lunch, proceed for a city tour
visiting Rock Fort and its temple at a height of over
23ms. Also visit Srirangam and Jambukeshwar Temple.
Overnight will be at hotel.
Day 06: Trichy - Madurai
By Road: 133 km in 4 hour
After breakfast proceed to Madurai and check
in 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, proceed for the city tour visiting - Meenakshi
Temple, King Tirumala's Palace, Great Tank and Gandhi
Museum.
Overnight will be at hotel.
Day 7: Madurai - Rameshwaram - Madurai
By Road: 154 km in 4 hour
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. Lunch will be at local restaurant.
Return to Madurai. Overnight will be at hotel.
Day 8: Madurai - Trivandrum
By Road: 329 km in 6 hour
After breakfast drive to Trivandrum and check
in at hotel. Afternoon will be at leisure on the Kovalam
Beach.
Overnight will be at hotel.
Day 9: Trivandrum - Kanyakumari - Trivandrum
By Road: 87 km in 2 hour
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
- dedicated 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. Lunch will be at local restaurant. Evening
enjoy the beautiful sunset and later return to Trivandrum.
Enjoy evening at the beach. Overnight will be at hotel.
Day 10: Trivandrum - Chennai
After breakfast relax at the beach.
Proceed to airport to connect flight for Chennai with
sweet memories of India.
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