SOUTH INDIA TEMPLE TOUR
Places Covered
CHENNAI – MAHABALIPURAM – KANCHIPURAM – VELLORE – TIRUVANNAMALAI – PONDICHHERY – CHIDAMBARAM – GANGAI – DARASURAM – KUMBAKONAM – TANJORE – TRICHY – MADURAI – RAMESHWARAM – MADURAI – KANYAKUMARI – TRIVANDRUM / DEPARTURE
Duration : 13 NIGHTS / 14 DAYS
Note :
Suggested tour itinerary is a flexible tour proposal and can be change as per the guest requirement. We provide tailor made itinerary as per the need of the guest if you want to add or remove any of the destination please advise us for modification so that you can enjoy best of your holidays in India.
Day 01: ARRIVE CHENNAI
Arrive at Chennai airport / railways station, meet and greet by ITM representative and transfer to hotel. Where our representative will assist you to check in at hotel and later explain the tour scheduled in detail and handover all the tour related documents to you. Rest of the day free for leisure activities.
Chennai, Chennai is on the Bay of Bengal in eastern India, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. The city is home to Fort St. George, built in 1644 and now a museum showcasing the city’s roots as a British military garrison and East India Company trading outpost, when it was called Madras. Religious sites include Kapaleeshwarar Temple, adorned with carved and painted gods, and St. Mary’s, a 17th-century Anglican church. Overnight Church.
Day 02: CHENNAI
After healthy breakfast, proceed for Chennai sightseeing with Kapaleeshwar Temple and Parthasarthy Temple. Later visit Fort st. George church, Kala Kshetra and National Art Gallery and Museum. Evening enjoy beach walk at Marina beach, Chennai. Overnight Chennai.
Day 03: CHENNAI – TIRUPATI – CHENNAI
After breakfast full day excursion to Tirupati famous for ancient temple of Lord Venkateshwara, evening return to Chennai. Overnight in Chennai
Day 04: CHENNAI – KANCHIPURAM – MAHABALIPURAM
Morning after breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram, Enroute visit Kanchipuram the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. Kanchipuram was a major Placese of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Apart from temples, the city is also famous for its silk weavers.
After lunch drive to Mahabalipuram check into hotel after noon visit shore temple, Arjuna’s penance and Five Ratha’s. Overnight in Mahabalipuram.
Day 05: MAHABALIPURAN – VELLORE – TIRUVANNAMALAI
After breakfast drive to Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvannamalai is a world renowned pilgrim centre located at the foot hills of Annamalai hills. En route visit to Vellore, visit Golden Temple, G olden temple complex inside the Sripuram spiritual park is situated at the foot of a small range of green hills at Thirumalaikodi village, 8 km from Vellore and another is Vellore fort. Continue drive to Tiruvannamali. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight Tiruvannamalai.
Day 06: TIRUVANNAMALAI – GINGEE – PONDICHERRY<
After breakfast visit Arunachaleswar temple, Tiruvannamalai is one of the most ancient heritage sites of India and is a centre of the Saiva religion of Lord Shiva. Later drive to Pondicherry. Enroute visit to Gingee fort. Continue drive to Pondicherry. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day free for leisure activities. Overnight at Pondicherry.
Day 07: PONDICHERRY
Morning after breakfast full day visit to Pondicherry, 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. Visit Aurobindo Ashram near Pondicherry. After lunch, visit Auroville – a unique heaven for all; irrespective of caste,creed,colour and nationality. Overnight at hotel.
Day 08: PONDICHERRY – CHIDAMBARAM – GANGAIKONDA – KUMBHAKONAM
Morning after breakfast drive to Kumbhakonam, Enroute visit Chidambaram famous for the Nataraja temple with the root of the sanctum-sanctorum covered with golden plates. In this temple postures from the Bharatnatayam form of dance are depicted in sculpture. Later drive to visit Gangaikondacholapuram Temple at Thanjavur (Tanjore) is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Later continue drive to Kumbhakonam. Kumbakonam is one of the oldest towns in Tamilnadu and is famous for its Mahamaham festival. In the 7th Century it was the Capital of Chola Kings. Kumbakonam, the famous temple town of South India. Overnight Kumbhakonam.
Day 09: KUMBHAKONAM – THANJAVUR – TIRUCHIRAPPALI (TRICHY)
After breakfast visit Kumbhakonam city, Kumbhakonam is the town which is full of ancient temples. All the temples in the city will take you to ancient times and would give the holy feeling. It is also considered as the Temple city because of all ancient and beautiful temples.
Later drive to Trichy, enroute visit famous Chola Temple of Brideshwara listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, at Tanjore and later continue drive Trichy situated on the banks of Kaveri River is a blend of history and tradition as well as pilgrim center famous for Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam. Overnight Trichy.
Day 10: TIRUCHIRAPPALI – MADURAI
After breakfast visit Srirangam and Rock Fort Temple. Later continue drive to Madurai some 2600 years old is laid out in the banks of river Vaigai as a lotus flower with the Meenakshi temple in the center. After lunch explore the famous Meenakshi Temple, a superb example of the Dravidian School of Architecture and is known for its profusely carved and gigantic gateways and visit Tirumalai Nayak Palace. Overnight in Madurai.
Day 11: MADURAI – EXCURSION TO RAMESHWARAM
After breakfast excursion visit to Rameshwaram on arrival visit – one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Legend says that Ramanathaswamy Temple stands where LordRama performed worship of a Sand Lingam made by Sita. Lunch at Rameshwaram. Return to Madurai in the evening and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: MADURAI – KANYAKUMARI
After breakfast drive to Kanyakumari, Kanyakumari the name has been derived after the virgin of goddess – Kanyakumari Amman. Mythological stories depict that Goddess Parvati under the disguise of Devi Kanya did a penance in one of the rocks in this area to reach the hand of Lord Shiva. The enthusiastic scenes of the sunset & sunrise are very enjoyable here, (especially on full moon days). Overnight Kanyakumari.
Day 13: KANYAKUMARI – TRIVANDRUM
After breakfast visit Swami Vivekanand Rock Memorial. Visit the meditation hall and the smarak. Visit Kanyakumari mandir (One of the Fifty Two Shakti Peethas), Tri smudra milan & Gandhi mandapam. visit Suchindram temple. (One of the Fifty Two Shakti Peethas). Later continue drive to Trivandrum. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight Trivandrum
Day 14: TRIVANDRUM / DEPARTURE
After breakfast visit Sree Padmanabhaswami temple, museum etc., and later drive to airport to board on flight for onwards destination with the happy memories of your tour and our services.