01 Day: Arrival Chennai
Meeting and assistance on arrival at the Chennai airport, our representative welcome and escort 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. Overnight at the hotel.
Chennai (Madras): the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu is the most convenient point of entry. Chennai has an international airport, a seaport and a rail and road network that links it to all major towns and cities of the region. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, whose past endures into the present. Temples with towering spires called gopurams are a common feature of this state, seldom seen anywhere else in the country. Temples in Tamil Nadu were the fulcrum of society and even today art forms that have their origin in religious worship continue to colour daily life. Notable among these are splendid bronzes of deities, painting on glass and Bharatnatyam, and an evocative dance form.
02 Day: Chennai
Chennai is the gateway of South India will put you in touch with a different phase of India - Classical, Ancient, Gentle. Chennai, the 4rth largest city in India. Spread 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. 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 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 Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world. Overnight at the hotel.
03 Day: Chennai – Tirupati (140 kms / 2 ½ hrs)
After breakfast check out the hotel and drive to Tirupati. A temple and pilgrim town located at the foot of the Tirumala Hills on which the ancient and beautiful temple of Lord Venkateshwara stands. 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. On arrival, check in at hotel. In the afternoon proceed for Darshan of Lord Balaji. Overnight at the hotel.
Tirupati:, The presiding deity, Lord Venkateswara, is famous all over the world as the giver of boons, and is paid homages by people from all religions and races. Nestled cosily among seven hills of the Eastern Ghats, Tirupati is the destination divine for the pilgrims in search of God. The sublime seven hills of Lord Venkateswara beckon you to a stimulating experience in the divine destination of Tirupati. Picturesque locations, gorgeous valleys, ancient temples, and enthralling historic places. You will be awe-struck by the sparkle of the exquisitely carved Golden gopurams of this ancient Dravidian temple of Lord Venkateswara, giver of boons, the richest of all deities. The premises of the temple and the sanctum sanctorum will lure you back again and again.
04 Day: Tirupati – Pondicherry (317 kms / 7 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. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. 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. Evening you can visit local market and colonies. Overnight at the hotel.
Pondicherry: This attractive, former French colony exudes a Mediterranean aura with its sophisticated streets, elegant houses, ornamental gardens and the Hotel de Ville. History of Pondicherry: A former French colonial cit, located along the Bay of Bengal didn't come under Indian rule until 1954. You can still hear a fair bit of French being spoken as you stroll along its remaining seaside villas and cobblestone streets. The city is really two towns in one: La Ville Blanche, the colonials' former playground, and La Ville Noire, the crowded inland area where the native Indian population was forced to live.
05 Day: Pondicherry
After breakfast take a sightseeing tour of Pondicherry visiting 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.
Tanjore or Thanjavur (as it was earlier called was the capital of the chola empire from the 10th century to the 14th century A.D. later is become part of the Vijayanagar kingdom, then passed into the hands of the Marathas and later still went to the British. For ages it has been the chief political. Literary and religious centre of the South. The celebrated temple Brihadeshwara built by the Chola King during the 11th century is its major attraction. The Saraswati Mahal library, dating back from the time of the Marathas, containing a rare collection of books and manuscripts on paper and palm leaves.
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.
Trichy: The city is surrounded by the rock fort. On the top of the rock there is a fort and a temple. After crossing 434 rock cut steps, there is a temple called Mathrubhutewarar temple which is dedicated to lord Siva. There is another temple called Ucchi Pilliar temple, which is dedicated to lord Ganesh and located at the top of the rock. The entire city can be seen from this place. Srirangam temple and Sri Jambukeswarar temple are famous in Trichy.
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. Overnight at the hotel.
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. It is believed that, the divine nectar falling from Lord Shiva's locks, gave the city its name - Madhurapuri, now known as Madurai. Known as the temple city, Madurai is situated on the banks of the River Vaigai. Madurai is also an important pilgrimage center. The 985 beautiful pillared Meenakshi Amman Temple is the major attraction of Madurai. The city is also renowned for its textile mills, engineering industries and large university
09 Day: Madurai – Rameshwaram (172 kms / 3 hrs)
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Rameshwaram. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Evening is free for leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Rameshwaram is an island separated from the mainland by a small strait of water. 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. Hence, the temple is a sacred site for both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. The grandest part of the temple is the 1219 m pillared corridor consisting of 3.6m high granite pillars, richly carved and well proportioned. The perspective presented by these pillars run uninterruptedly to a length of nearly 230m.
10 Day: Rameshwaram
After early breakfast 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 visit the city, often referred to as the ‘Island of Prayer’, and also considered to Varanasi of the South this major pilgrimage center is on an island in the Gulf of Mannar. Most of the town’s places to stay and eat are clustered around the Ramanathaswamy Temple. Built in the 12th century AD, the temple with its awe-inspiring corridors, and the longest in India. Overnight at the hotel.
11 Day: Rameshwaram – Kanyakumari (250 kms / 6 hrs)
After breakfast, checkout the hotel and drive to Kanyakumari. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. 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.
Kanyakumari: Referred to by the British as Cape Commorin, Kanyakumari in the state of Tamil Nadu is located at the southern most tip of the peninsular Indian. The small temple dedicated to Kanyakumari or the youthful form of the primeval energy Shakti (Mother Goddess) is located on the seashore, in the town known by the same name. Kanyakumari is the point of confluence of three oceans - the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. This well-known Hindu pilgrimage center is famous for its beautiful sights of sunrise and sunset over the waters.
12 Day: Kanyakumari
After breakfast, take a sightseeing tour of Kanyakumari visiting Kumari Amman Devi Temple, Vivekananda Rock & Ashram. Evening is free to explore this city and the various other famous temples within the city. Overnight at the hotel.
13 Day: Kanyakumari – Trivandrum – Hometown (By Air)
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Trivandrum. On arrival, transfer to the airport to board the flight for hometown. On departure the tour concludes with happy memories.
