Glimpses of Tamil Nadu Tour
Chennai – Tirupati – Mahabalipuram – Kanchipuram –
Pondicherry – Tanjore – Trichy – Madurai – Chennai
09 Nights / 10 Days

01 Day: Arrival Chennai:
Welcome to India! Meeting and assistance on arrival at the Chennai International Airport, our representative welcomes and escorts you by a private car and transfer to the hotel, whilst the room keys and check-in is organized, our representative would hand over the documents and brief the tour programme to you. Chennai is the gateway of South India will put you in touch with a different phase of India - Classical, Ancient, Gentle. Chennai, the 4th largest city in India, spreads over 50 miles and features a large and beautiful waterfront on the Bay of Bengal. The British East India Company established its first trading post at Chennai, and in 1653 the company built Fort Saint George to protect its position. Overnight at the hotel.

02 Day: Chennai – Tirupati (140 kms: 2½ - 3 hrs):
After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Tirupati. On arrival check into the hotel. Later take a pilgrim at Tirumala Hills on which the ancient and beautiful temple of Lord Venkateswara stands. Spread over seven hills, this township is the most picturesque pilgrimage centre in the South. One must see the fervor with which the devotees stand in long queues for a glimpse of their Lord. Masses of coins, Jewellery & hair are received as offerings.  Visit at the holiest temple for Darshanof Lord Balaji.  After Darshan (prayer) drive to visit at Sri Padmavati Temple - at Tiruchanoor, also known as Alamelumangapuram, is about 5 km from Tirupati. The temple of Sri Padmavati Devi, the consort of Lord Sri Venkateswara is situated here. It is said that a visit to Tirumala is fruitful only after visiting the Sri Padmavati Devi temple. Drive back to Tirupati for overnight stay.

03 Day: Tirupati – Mahabalipuram (190 kms: 4 - 5 hrs):
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Mahabalipuram. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Later explore the city built in the 7th century, 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 .this ancient city is said to be a sculptor's delight, boasting of some of India's most sublime rock-cut art, for which it is now a 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. After visit return to the hotel for overnight stay.

04 Day: Mahabalipuram – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram (65 kms: 1½ hrs one way):
After breakfast, take an excursion to Kanchipuram explore 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. Visit the most famous temples: Kailasnathar, Vaikuntaperumal, Ekambareshwara, Kamakshiamma and Sakiswarar, you may opt to do visit to the silk cloth markets and wears fame, as Kanchipuram is world fame for silk cloth. Then drive back to Mahabalipuram. Overnight at the hotel.

05 Day: Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry (135 kms: 3 hrs):
After breakfast check out the hotel and drive to Pondicherry. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. The capital of the French colonies in India since the 17th century. Later take a sightseeing tour of Pondicherry visiting the Aurobindo Ashram, which has been a seat of learning and Vedic cultures since ancient times proceed to Auroville, the planned city of Dawn of the new world. Then visit the Ecole Françoise d’Extreme Orient, which is nearly 100 years old, with programs in Sanskrit, Tamil and Archaeological studies. The French Catholic influence is evident in a number of churches, notably the Jesuit Cathedral (Notre Dame de la Conception’ 1691-1765), 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. Overnight at the hotel.

06 Day: Pondicherry – Tanjore (170 kms: 4 hrs):
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Tanjore. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Later visit Brihadeshwara temple, which was built by Raja and is termed as the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture. This temple is one of the monuments in India with World Heritage listing. Also visit the Thanjavur Palace, which was constructed in 1550 and has huge corridors, spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers. Followed by a visit to 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.

07 Day: Tanjore – Trichy – Madurai (158 kms: 3 hrs):
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Madurai. Enroute visit Trichy; visit most famous landmark of this bustling town - the Rock Fort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky outcrop, 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. Later drive towards Madurai. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

08 Day: Madurai:
After breakfast, visit to Meenakshi Sundareshwar, one of the largest temple complex in India built between the 16th and 18th centuries. Apart from the estimated 33 million sculptures there, the temple is absolutely absorbing with the endless rounds of ceremonies, prostration of countless devotees and glittering market stalls, later visit Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple, Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple. Also visit the Tirumal Nayak’s Palace, which is in a highly decorative monument. Its enormous roofed arcade supported by 48 – foot high stone pillar, still stands. In the evening visit the Meenakshi temple for the special evening Aarti. Overnight at the hotel.

09 Day: Madurai – Chennai (By Air):
After breakfast, visit the Koodal Alagar Temple and Vandiyur Mariamman Teepakulam where annual boat festival takes place. Later check out from the hotel and drive to the airport to board the afternoon flight for Madurai. Assistance on arrival at the Madurai airport and transfer to the hotel. After refreshment, 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 century and is another colonial structure worth visiting. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kapaleeswara Temple is the oldest temple in Chennai. Another important temple in the city dedicated to Lord Krishna is Parthasarthy Temple. Evening optionally you can visit flower and fruit market or enjoy yourself at the Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world. Overnight at the hotel.

10 Day: Chennai – Hometown (By Air):
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to the International airport to board the scheduled flight for Hometown. Tour concludes here with happy memories.

Tour Packages in USD Per Person

Package	01 Pax	02 Pax	04 Pax	Extra Pax
Premium	2750	1450	1190	450
Superior	2120	1150	920	345
Standard	1460	750	560	280

Accommodation:

Sector	Premium ( 5 Star)	Superior ( 4 Star)	Standard ( 3 Star)
Chennai	Vivanta by Taj	Pride	Royal Plaza
Tirupati	Fortune Kences (Higher category rooms)	Fortune Kences (Higher category rooms)	Fortune Kences
Mahabalipuram	Rasisson BLU Resort	Ideal Beach Resort	Mamalla Beach Resort
Pondicherry	Accord Puducherry/ Le Promenade	Le Promenade	Richmond
Tanjore	Ideal River View Resort (Higher category rooms)	Ideal River View Resort	Gnanam
Madurai	Heritage Madurai	Sangam/ GRT Regency	Star Residency

The above Tour Package is valid from 1st April 2016 to 30th September 2016.

Services Included:

1. Hotel accommodation with breakfast and all luxury taxes.
2. Extra Supplement staying in the double room with extra bed with breakfast and other services.
3. A/C Car with English speaking driver throughout the tour for all transfers, sightseeing, intercity travel etc as per the above tour programme.
4. The transportation services in inclusive of all toll taxes, fuel cost, vehicle insurance, driver allowance (Stay and food), parking charges.
5. English Speaking Guide during city tours, historical places, ancient temples, monuments (Guides are not required/ available at places like religious temples, beaches, mosques, hill stations)

Not Included:

1. Any domestic Train/ Air fare
2. 3.09% Government service tax on the total tour cost.
3. Expenditure pertaining to personal nature: like mineral water,  portage, laundry, tips, phone calls etc.,
4. Monuments charges/Entrance fees/Safari/Any event/ New Year Gala or any Festival Gala Dinner at actual directly payable by the guest.
5. Camera fees, alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages and starters
6. Vehicle use for those places /excursions not included in the tour plan.
7. Medical and travel insurance.
8. Anything not specifically mentioned in the “included” section.

Note:

1. In case of non-availability of the above hotels similar category of hotels will be provided.
2. Child over 6 years with extra bed in parents room with breakfast (directly payable to the hotel on actual basis)
3. Any additional visit to any sightseeing places, food, entry fees or any other services will be on extra cost.
4. 5 Star Deluxe luxury hotels package can be worked out according to the date of travel and destinations. 
5. Tour cost subject to change on ground of unexpected hike due to government taxes, fuel cost and other unseen reasons with prior information to the guest before commencement of the tour.