Day 1 : Chennai
Arrive in Chennai met by our representative and transfer to hotel. Capital of the southeastern state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is one of the four major metropolitan cities in India. The city also has its share of forts and palaces reminding the tourists the glory of bygone eras.
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Arrive Delhi, met by our representative and transferred to hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 : Chennai to Mahabalipuram
Enjoy a tour of Chennai city this morning. Chennai was developed as a British trading post, and as such, most of its attractions have a distinct colonial influence. Stretched over an area of 13 km, Marina Beach is the second longest beach in the world. St. George Fort, built in 1653, is currently used as the state government/’s secretariat. San Thomas Cathedral was built around 14th/15th century and is another colonial structure worth visiting. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Kapaleshwar Temple is the oldest temple in Chennai. |
Afternoon drive to Mahabalipuram stopping by en route at Kanchipuram, the fabled city of a thousand temples. There are 650 stone inscriptions here belonging to different dynasties. The temples reflect the maturity and efflorescence of Pallava art and the ornate and often imposing embellishments were produced later by the Chola, Vijayanagar and Chalukyan kings. There is solemn grandeur, a grandiosity of vision and ornamental excess in the temples here. Arrive Mahabalipuram and check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 3: Mahabalipuram
Morning sight seeing tour of Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram with its picturesque location on a rocky outcrop between the beach and a lagoon is a happy combination of history and leisure. It is renowned for its series of charming Rathas and the spectacular carved relief depicting Arjuna’s Penance. The magnificent Shore Temple built by king Rajasimha in the seventh century houses the shrines of both Shiva and Vishnu while the Varaha Cave is a rock-cut mandapam with two incarnations of Vishnu—Varaha and Vamana—besides scenes of kings and queens. The Krishna Manadapam has a bas-relief of Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill on his fingertips. Afternoon at leisure or free for optional activities. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 4 Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry
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Morning depart Mahabalipuram (140 Km) by surface for Pondicherry. Arrive Pondicherry and check in at hotel. Nestled on the eastern coast this Pondicherry has been a French colony settled in the early part of the 18th century. Afternoon visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother lived for the most parts of their lives. The Pondicherry Museum which is home to some of the most exquisite collections on architecture and sculpture. Walk along the beach road in Goubert Avenue promenade which is dotted with historical monuments of course of little importance but very charming. Auroville or the ‘City of Down’ was conceived as a utopian paradise by the Mother, the spiritual successor of Sri Aurobindo. The idea was to build a futuristic city where people of goodwill would live together in peace and harmony. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 05 – Pondicherry to Tanjore
We drive to Tanjore (280 Km) stopping by en-route to visit Chidambram famous for its Nataraja Temple or dancing Shiva in Cosmic Dancer manifestation. The Chidambaram temple complex reflects a collection of architectural and sculptural styles assimilated over several centuries. Of special significance here are the towering gopurams and the sculptural illustrations of the various poses observed in the Bharata Natyam Classical Dance form of India. Chjdambaram is also known for its hoary tradition of grand festivals.Later stop at Darasuram for Airateswara Temple built by Raja Raja Chola-II, which is an excellent example of 12th century Chola architecture and is well preserved to this day. The frontal columns of the |
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temple have unique miniature sculptures. Arrive Tanjore and check in at hotel with rest of the day at leisure or free for optional activities. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 06 – Tanjore
Morning proceed One of most scenic locales Tanjore is also referred as the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. Undoubtedly art lovers delight Tanjore boasts of some of the fascinating temples and palaces. Visit Sri Brihadeshwara Temple – 10th century temple an outstanding example of Chola architecture and unique diversion from copybook Dravidian temple architectural norms. The 64.8m tall, 14 tiered pyramid shaped vimana rises from a square base and is topped by a huge monolithic cupolas carved out from an 81.3 tonne block of granite that was installed with the aid of a 6km long inclined plane. The tower is a testimony to the engineering skill of the Chola architects who planned its construction in such a way that the shadow of
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the cupola never falls on the ground, the massive Nandi at the entrance. Palace - the Palace near the temple is a vast building of masonry built partly by the Nayaks around 1550 AD and partly by the Marathas It dates back to the 1550s. Art Gallery - The Raja Raja Chola Art Gallery has some fine pieces of stone and bronze sculptures from the 9th and 12th centuries. Saraswathi Mahal Library - In another section of the palace is a library where over 30,000 palm leaves and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages are preserved Over 30,000 Indian and European manuscripts written on palm leaf and paper are preserved in the Saraswathi Mahal Library. The Sangeetha Mahal is an acoustically perfect musical hall that testifies to the skill of its boundaries. |
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Day 07 –Tanjore to Trichy
Morning depart Tanjore by surface for Trichy (50 Km) stopping by en route to visit Srirangam - most important pilgrim centre in the area is located in an island just 7 Km from Trichy. Srirangam is surrounded by the waters of river Cauvery on one side and its tributary Kollidam on the other, is a 600-acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sriranganathaswamy Temple. Most of it dates from the 14th to 17th centuries, and many people have had a hand in its construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysala and rulers from Vijayanagar. Arrive Trichy and check in at hotel. |
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Afternoon sightseeing tour of Trichy. Trichy is an ancient city famous for its beauty of architectural monuments. It is considered as the India's top city for temples and monuments. Visit the Rock Fort 83m high the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. The rock is one of the oldest in the world-approximately 3.800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. 417 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where there are inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century.B.C. Uchipilaiyar Koil, a temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaka on the top of the rock from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of Tiruchirapalli. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 08 –Trichy to Madurai
Morning depart Trichy by surface for Madurai (128 Km). Arrive Madurai and check in at hotel. Afternoon proceed on a sightseeing tour of Madurai visiting Thirumalai Nayak Palace a 16th century palace and one of the finest example of indo-saracenic architecture. 16th century Meenakshi temple an enormous temple complex is dedicated to Shiva, known here as Sundareshvara and his consort Parvati or Meenakshi. Encircled by a high wall a number of smaller shrines surround the grand pillared halls. Especially impressive are the 12 Gopurams. They’re soaring towers rise from solid granite bases, and are covered with stucco figures of deities, mythical animals and monsters painted in vivid colors.
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Evening visit Meenakshi Temple again to witness the ceremony when Lord Shiva is carried to the chamber of Meenakshi to retire for the night.
Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 09 – Madurai to Chennai and Depart
In time transfer to airport to board the flight for Chennai. Arrive Chennai and transfer to international airport to board the flight for onward destination. |
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