Heritage Tours of TamilNadu – 12 Days

On arrival at Chennai airport/railway station in the morning. Meet our representative and transfer to the hotel. Later proceed for  city tour of Chennai. Chennai, the capital city, popularly known as the ‘Gateway to the South’ represents a culture that differs from that of northern India. The places of interest are Kalakshetra, a school of art and music which encourages exponents of Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music, traditional weaving and designing. Fort St. George built in 1653 during the British reign in India, now houses the Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. Sri Parthasaratha Temple, built by the Pallavas in the eighth century AD. Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore also an 8th century Pallava Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Later back to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Chennai.

After breakfast, drive to Kanchipuram, 70 km west of Mahabalipuram that is a town of thousand temples. Among the seven sacred cities of Hindus, it was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC. Beside from temples, the city is also renowned for its silk weavers, who settled here some 400 years back and have given it an enviable reputation. Later on we shall move at Mahabalipuram, driving south of Chennai on the shore which is the old port of Pallava. The pallavas have generated several marvellous monuments with sculptural buildings, temples, Monolithic Rathas and Temples. Overnight stay at hotel in Mahabalipuram.

After relishing morning breakfast, Proceed for sightseeing of Mahabalipuram. Krishna Mandapam has a bas relief, notable for its realistic representation. The world’s largest bass relief measuring 27m 9m contains figures of gods, guys beasts, birds and a representation of the whole creation. Shore Temple, one of the oldest in south dating back to eighth century AD is a fantastic example of the first phase of structural temples built in the Dravidian style. The five rathe are a set of five monolithic temples, each of which is created in various fashion. Later Check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel at Mahabalipuram.

After breakfast, transfer to Pondicherry hotel. After lunch  city tour of Pondicherry. Even though the French influence is progressively fading, Pondicherry retains some Gallic accents. Pondicherry’s main sightseeing places are the Raj Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. This ashram was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual authority passed to one of his disciples, a woman known as the Mother. The Mother was also instrumental in founding the city of Dawn Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry main city. Its original charter aimed to create a town of the future where individuals from India and overseas could live and work together in a spiritual environment. Evening back to your hotel.

Overnight at hotel. Morning after breakfast, transfer to Kumbakonam, en route visit Chidambaram, the seat of the Cosmic Dancer, dedicated to Lord Nataraja. Spread over a place of 40 acres with gopuram on every side, the temple is distinguished by the 5 sabhas or counts. The towering gopurams, the tallest one on the north would be 42.4 m have been carved on it with 108 dances presents of Bharatanatyam. Overnight stay at hotel at Kumbakonam.

Check out after an early breakfast and drive to Tanjore and check in at the hotel that is chosen for your stay. After resting for some time, head out for sightseeing areas such as Art Gallery, Brihadeeswara Temple, Saraswati Mahal Library and The Palace. Return to the hotel for your overnight stay at Tanjore.

After breakfast in the hotel in Tanjore. Head out for a complete day excursion to Trichy. In Trichy, you can visit the attractions such as Thiruvanaikaval Temple, Rock Fort Temple, Elakurichi and Valaloor. Following the visit, return to Tanjore. Overnight stay at at Hotel in Tanjore.

After breakfast, checkout from the hotel from Tanjore hotel and drive down to Madurai. On arrival, check at the hotel that is chosen. At the late mid-day, you can tour around Madurai’s attractions such as Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Thirupparankundram Temple, Alagar Koil and Gandhi Museum. Following the tour is finished, come back at the hotel for your overnight stay at Madurai.

After an early breakfast, check out from your hotel in madurai and drive to Rameswaram, upon arrival, check at the hotel and rest. Afterwards, you can go for a tour in areas such as Ramanathaswamy temple, Agnitheertham, Tamjharoke Temple, Ramjharoka Temple, Dhanushkodi, and Adam’s Bridge. Return to the hotel after sightseeing for an overnight stay at Rameswaram.

Just after relising breakfast proceed to Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari is situated in the southern point Of the Indian subcontinent and has significant as the place where the spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda spent in meditation upon a rock off of the coast. On arrival at Kanyakumari, Checkin to the hotel. Later proceed for sightseeing of Kanyakumari covering Devi Kanyakumari Temple, Suchithram Temple, Vivekananda Memorial, Gandhidham and Trivenisagam are a Few of the sightseeing attractions in Kanyakumari. Enjoy the sunset and proceed back to hotel in Kanyakumari.

View early morning sunrise, After morning delicious breakfast, Proceed to Trivandrum. Enroute visit  Padmanbhapuram Palace. Reach Trivandrum hotel. Later set out on a sightseeing tour to Trivandrum. In todays itinerary you will visit places like Padmanabhaswami Temple, famous for its towering gopuras, temple arts and paintings. The main pavilion of the temple stands imposing with 400 wonderfully granite carved columns. Your sightseeing tour will also include Napier Museum, Zoological Park. After sunset view at Shunmugam beach return back to your Hotel for your overnight stay.

After morning breakfast, move to Trivandrum International airport for the flight back home with sweet memories of your wonderful Holiday spent with your loved ones.