Tamil Nadu Temple
Chennai - Tirupati - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Tanjore - Trichy -
Madurai - Rameshwaram - Kanyakumari - Trivandrum - Chennai
12 Nights / 13 Days


01 Day: Arrival Chennai:
Welcome to the mesmerizing land of India. As per your scheduled flight, our representative will met, assist and escort you to the booked hotel. All documents will be handed over to you with traveling brief and interaction for any query in terms of tour and services. Rest of the time is for leisure and overnight at the hotel.

02 Day: Chennai:
After breakfast take a sightseeing tour of Chennai. Chennai often referred as the 'Gateway to South India' also a place of historic importance. It is a pulsating city, ever changing and ever expanding. The city is probably the most peaceful and green metropolis of India. It was once a group of small villages until the appearance of East India Company to set up a new trade centre in the place. Spread over 50 miles and features a large and beautiful waterfront on the Bay of Bengal. Later take a sightseeing tour of Chennai visiting The St. George Fort, built in 1653, is currently used as the state government's secretariat; Santhome Cathedral was built around 14th - 15th centuries and is another colonial structure worth visiting, the Kapaleeswara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the oldest temple in Chennai. Then visit Parthasarthy Temple which is an 8th century Hindu Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. Evening optionally you can visit Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world. Watching sunset from here is a fascinating experience. Overnight at the hotel.

03 Day: Chennai - Tirupati (140 kms: 2 ½ hrs):
After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to the town of Tirupati; one of the most ancient and sacred pilgrimage spots in India. The name 'Tirupati' means the "Lord of Lakshmi," The hill near the temple is called 'Tirumala' or the "sacred hill" and should have been applied to the village on the Venkat hill, the dwelling of Lord Venkateswara. The temple here is said to be the busiest in the world, eclipsing even Rome, Jerusalem and Mecca in the number of pilgrims visiting it. Spread over seven hills, this township is the most picturesque pilgrimage centre in the south. One must see the fervour with which the devotees stand in long queues for a glimpse of their Lord. Masses of coins, jewellery & hair are received as offerings. Later proceed for Darshan of Lord Balaji. Overnight at the hotel.

04 Day: Tirupati - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (180 kms: 3 hrs):
After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Mahabalipuram. Enroute visit Kanchipuram known as one of India's Seven Sacred cities. Later explore the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a 'City of a Thousand 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. Visit the most famous temples: Kailasnathar, Vaikuntaperumal, Ekambareshwara, Kamakshiamma and Sakiswarar. You may opt to visit the silk cloth markets, as Kanchipuram is world famous for silk cloth and sarees, the traditional Indian costume for the women. After visit proceed to Mahabalipuram. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

05 Day: Mahabalipuram:
After breakfast take a sightseeing tour of the city. Mahabalipuram with its picturesque location on a rocky outcrop between the beach and a lagoon is a happy combination of history, good beaches, hassle-free tourism and fabulous fish and lobster! It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the seven pagoda-style Shore temples, Rathas, Arjuna's Penance, Krishna Mandapa, Shore Temple, Mahishasurmardini Cave, Varaha Mandapa and Mandapams, lashed by the waves of the sea and the seven rathas or temple chariots, a group of monolithic monuments & animal figures carved out of solid rock, the earliest known examples of Dravidian architecture. The rock carvings depicting mythological episodes - of demons, Gods and animals in battle and others - are truly poems in stone. 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 the hotel.

06 Day: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (135 kms: 3 hrs):
After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Pondicherry. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. This attractive, former French colony exudes a Mediterranean aura with its sophisticated streets, elegant houses, ornamental gardens and the Hotel de Ville. Later take a sightseeing tour of Pondicherry visiting the Aurobindo Ashram, which has been a seat of learning and Vedic cultures since ancient times. Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this church is noted for its gothic architecture and stained glass panels which depict the entire life of Jesus Christ, Ecole Françoise d'Extreme Orient, which is nearly 100 years old, with programs in Sanskrit, Tamil and Archaeological studies. The Church of Our Lady of Angels (1855), famous for an oil painting of Our Lady of Assumption given to the Church by King Louis Napoleon III, and the 17th century Chapel of Our Sisters of Cluny. Followed by visit to Pondicherry Museum, Anglo-French Textile Mills, Mansion of Ananda Rangapillai: Built in 1773, this mansion is a fine specimen of Indo-French architecture. Then visit Botanical Garden it preserves a large variety of exotic species of plants from all over India and abroad. Evening is free at the Pondicherry Beach. Overnight at the hotel.

07 Day: Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Tanjore (170 kms: 4 hrs):
After breakfast you may visit to Auroville, conceived as a 'Universal Town'. This is a place were people with different nationalities; beliefs and culture live in harmony. Later drive to Tanjore. En route visit Chidambaram literally meaning the sky permeated by an atmosphere of intelligence and wisdom. Chidambaram is known for its Natraj temple. The Nataraja is dedicated to Shiva in various aspects. The temple is made up of 04 halls. The nritta sabha, the hall of dances, the deva sabha, the hall of festivals, the kanaka sabha, and the raja sabha. The raja sabha is by far the most spectacular with 1000 pillars and here the pandyas celebrated their victory. Later proceed to Tanjore. On arrival, transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

08 Day: Tanjore:
After breakfast visit Brihadeshwara temple, the greatest architectural achievement of the Chola rulers. Built by the Chola King Raja raja (985-1014), is dedicated to lord Shiva. This temple is one of the monuments in India with World Heritage listing. Also visit the Thanjavur Palace, is among many architectural marvels of the Tanjore city. It is a massive structure with huge halls, wide corridors, observation towers and a shady courtyard. Then visit Saraswati Mahal Library: This library has one of the most important oriental manuscripts collections, in India. Established around 1700 AD, the library contains a collection of over 44,000 palm leaf, and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages. Overnight at the hotel.

09 Day: Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai (158 kms: 3 hrs):
After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Madurai. Enroute take a sightseeing tour of Trichy; visit most famous landmark of this bustling town - the Rock Fort Temple, is a combination of two famous 7th century Hindu temples, one dedicated to Lord Ganesh and the other dedicated to Lord Shiva, located a top of a small rock, the Sri Ranganathanswami Temple. This temple is one of the largest and most interesting temple complexes in India, built on an island in the middle of the Cauvery River and covering a staggering 2.5 sq km and Jambukeshwara - Mysore Temples. After visit proceed to Madurai. Madurai, the cultural capital and second largest city of Tamil Nadu is one of the oldest cities of southern India. Madurai has been a centre of learning and pilgrimage, for centuries. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

10 Day: Madurai:
After breakfast, visit to Meenakshi Sundareshwar, one of the largest temple complex in India built between the 16th and 18th centuries. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva (in the form of Sundareshwar or Beautiful Lord) and his consort, Goddess Parvati (in the form of Meenakshi). The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old city of Madurai. The complex houses 14 magnificent Gopurams or towers including two golden Gopurams for the main deities that are elaborately sculptured and painted. Followed by visit to Koodal Alagar Temple and Vandiyur Mariamman Teepakulam where annual boat festival takes place. Also visit the Tirumal Nayak's Palace, is a notable an architectural masterpiece. Its enormous roofed arcade supported by 48 - foot high stone pillar, still stands. Enjoy evening special aarti at the Meenakshi Temple. Overnight at the hotel.

11 Day: Madurai - Rameshwaram (172 kms: 4 hrs):
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Rameshwaram. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. The 'Island of Prayer', located on the Gulf of Mannar is often nicknamed as the Banaras of the South. Later visit Ramanathaswamy Temple largest temple corridor in India, a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture. Built in the 12th century AD, the temple with its awe-inspiring corridors, and the longest in India. Rameshwaram is famous for the Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama who, it is believed, had descended on its shores and built a bridge across the Palk Strait to reach Lanka in his quest to rescue Sita from Ravana. Additionally, the temple is famous for being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Siva. Lord Rama had constructed a Siva linga in order to offer thanks to the Lord after killing Ravana. Evening is free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

12 Day: Rameshwaram - Kanyakumari (250 kms: 6 hrs):
Early morning visit to Adam's Bridge the name given to the chain of reefs, sandbanks and islets that almost connects Sri Lanka with India. According to legend, this is the series of stepping stones used by the monkey army, lead by Hanuman to cross the ocean in a bid to rescue Sita from the clutch of Ravana. Later check out of the hotel and drive to Kanyakumari. Watching sun set from here is the big attraction, especially on the full moon day in April, when it's possible to see both the setting sun and rising moon on the same horizon. Overnight at the hotel.

13 Day: Kanyakumari - Trivandrum (90 kms: 2 hrs) - Chennai (By Air) - Onwards Journey (By Air):
After breakfast take a sightseeing tour of Kanyakumari referred to by the British as Cape Commorin is the point of confluence of three oceans - the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Visit Kumari Amman Temple, Gandhi Mandapam and Vivekananda Memorial. Later drive to Trivandrum, the capital of the state of Kerala is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. Visit the famous Sri Padmanabhaswamy Swami Temple is dedicated to Vishnu and is a landmark in the city. Later check out of the hotel and drive to Trivandrum airport to board your flight for Chennai. On arrival transfer to board flight for onwards journey with happy memories of your holiday to India.