Days - 6 Nights/ 7 Days
Theme - Holy Pilgrimage
Apart from Backwaters and cuisine South India is also famous worldwide for its Temples. This package has been tailor made to explore this part Of India . In this tour we will take you on a memorable ride to various temples of Tamil Nadu. It is a must to capture the ancient beauties.
Be ready to go on a voyage down the memory lane.
You will cover the city by coach only. Its a flexible tour – so that you can design both the tour and the stay at hotel according to your budget.
Destination 1 –Chennai (Day 1) –* Its a one day stay with a show of Indian Cultural Dance. Welcome to the hub Of south India – here you will visit -
Kapaleeshawarar Temple
Jewelery Market
Indian Cultural Dance Program
Your tour guide will welcome you at the Chennai Airport and take you to one of the 5star hotels of Chennai like Mayur Sherton or the Hotel Ashoka. You will be pleased to keep your baggages here as the hotel has all the amenities required for a comfortable stay. Soon after the breakfast get on the bus coach to head for Maylapore. Your tour begins with a visit to Kapaleeshawarar temple – the oldest in the city. Madras has been influenced by Portuguese and Pal lavas (Indian community). Look up at the design of the Gopuram (large entrance gates) and you will see a combination of both cultures. Photography is allowed from outside only – do take a snap of the ancient huge gate with legacy of its own. It will be afternoon till you finish your visit to the temple and so we will have lunch at one of the best hotels of Madras.
Not only temples; this beaming city is also famous for its gold and gold jewelery and kanchipuram sarees (five to nine foot long unstiched silk or cotton cloth wrapped around waist). Alight yourself at the bubbling market and shop for the local artifacts and jewelery. Your tour guide will be there to help you out. Talk with the local people as you move around the market.
In the evening we will take you for a cultural dance program. Kathakali, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipuri are the various dance forms of South India . These dances are the very part of Indian Culture and we are sure you will enjoy the dance and light music. We get back on the coach for overnight stay and dinner.
Destination 2 – (Day 2) - Madurai - * Its a one day tour with a visit to Meenakshi Temple
With the fist ray of sunshine your breakfast will be served. Its time to get on the cab for the first flight in morning to Madurai. On reaching Madurai hotel you will be welcomed with a welcome drink and light snacks. From here your tour guide is taking you to visit the World Famous Meenakshi Temple. Any Indian visiting the city will not leave a chance to visit the temple as it is one of the most auspicious temples of South India. Look out for the12 temple towers and the 1000 pillar hall; something which makes the Temple unique. After lunch at one of the hotels of the city we will take you to Cholamandal Artists Village. If you want to see the true colors of South Indian culture – its the best place. For lunch and a little rest the coach will take us to hotel. In the evening around four o'clock Vallakkottai Muragan Temple – it has the tallest Murugan idol in Tamil Nadu. Do take a photograph of the huge idol. The evening is at your leisure. The dinner will be served at the hotel.
Destination 3 – Mahabalipuram – (Day 3)
Shore Temple
Arjuna's Penance.
Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots)
*Its a one day tour to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is supposed to be a place of monuments – mostly rock cut and monolithic. It famed itself as the school for young sculptures.
Our guide will accompany you in the entire tour.
Its just like taking a walk with the misty breeze – thats exactly how you will feel on the drive to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) – sixty kilometers away from Chennai. First will be the shore temple -– a structured temple with Bay of Bengal on the entrance. Take a walk around the temple to have a better look at the structure and its sculpture. In Mahabalipuram itself , is the Arjuna's Penance. Your guide will tell you more about this relief sculpture.
Tamil Nadu is full of surprises which never end and so is your next destination – The Panch Rathas (Five Charots). Carved out of one single stone these monolithic chariots are named after Pandvas of Mahabarata epic.Your tour guide will give some more light to the place and its sanctity.
Every destination you will visit is unique in itself. Don't take a moment to take photographs of these temples and monuments; they will be a reminder of your visit.
Its has been walk walk and walk from the morning, now its time to relax a bit. So we turn to our coach to take us to a restaurant for lunch.
Before we set back towards the hotel we will stop at the Underwater city. Built in the 7th century the city has been partially revealed by Tsunami. Its a different experience as the city has so been made to protect it from being damaged by the sea water. Sit there and feel the experience of calmness and sounds of the hands which made this structure. With the last stop in the city we return to our hotel for dinner and rest.
Destination 4 – (Day 4) –Kanchipuram. *Its a one day with a visit to the world famous silk market.
Ekambareswarer Temple
Kamakashi Temple
Vaikunta Perumal
Here its a must to keep your handy cam with you as all the three temples are splendid in their own form. The Ekambareswarer temple has hall with 1000 pillars and a massive Gopuram (57 meters high). Kamakashi and Vaikunta temple are famed for their carvings. No doubt its a photographers delight; so if you are the one with a taste of photography – this one is for you.
If you are in Tamil Nadu and you did not take a sip of filter coffee – its too bad. Tamilians love their coffee filtered and its the right place to have the taste of real filter coffee. And to add to your taste buds – we have the Chettinad Cuisine (non-vegetarian) served especially for you at lunch.
Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk sarees. With bright colors and embroidery the silk attracts – you must buy one for yourself. Go through the market and in no less time you will be charmed by the buzzing market and the charm of silk. For overnight stay and dinner we drive back to the hotel.
Destination 5 – (Day 5) – Tiruchirapalli - * Its a one day stay at the city of stones.
Rock Fort temple
Ranganathswamy Temple
For our next destination Tiruchirapalli we start early; soon after an early breakfast. Commonly known as Trichy this land is rich with rocks and it is here where you will visit the Rock Fort Temple. So again there is something for you to capture. The temple is the best example of the advanced architecture of the olden time. Manifested on 83 meters tall rock, this temple has 837 stairs to climb. Its a challenge to climb all these stairs without stopping. Shall we?
The magnificence lies in its structure – its temple atop a fort ( which in turn is on the 83-meter-high-rock ). After driving for a short while we will stop for lunch at the local restaurant.
You wont have to go far for the next destination. Just 3kms from Rock Fort its one of the finest temple of South India. It spreads over 250 hectares – lies on an island mid-river – is surrounded. by 7 concrete walls and 21 gopurams. Its a fascinating place; sitting here in silence for some time makes it more attractive.
It will be evening by the time you reach the hotel. After a light snack and rest you will be at ease to have the dinner set in the dining hall of the hotel.
Destination 6 - (Day 6) – Thanjavur - * One day stay with a visit to Brihadeshwarar Temple
Brihadeshwarar Temple
Gangaikondacholapuram – World Heritage Site
We begin early for Thanjavur or Tanjore as it is commonly called (the breakfast will be served a bit early). Built in 10th century the sanctums are comparable to those in Ajanta caves. With a 66.5-metre-high gopuram capped by cupola this temple is truly magnificant. Take a walk around and you will have a better understanding of its magnificence. After lunch we will head for Gangaikondacholpuram – Its a temple of Lord Shiva (Destructor in Hindu Mythology). See the architecture and the carvings, look at the face of lord Shiva and his magnetic charm on his face – you will lose yourself for sometime ad mist this beauty.
And to back to pavilion we will head for hotel at Thanjavur. In between we will stop at the local market – go for a shopping spree – as Thanjavur is famous for its Tanjore paintings and traditional handicrafts like – pith work( stitched craft), bronze icons and silk carpets.
Destination 7 – ( Day 7 ) Chidambaram - *its a one day stay at the city of literature
Natraja Temple
Kali Temple
Soon after breakfast we head for the City – Chidambaram. On reaching the city and coffee break your last stop
on the tour is the Natraja Temple. Covering an area of 40 acres, you will like the temple for its artistic architecture. Blessed is the temple with worship ping of God as the five elements – earth, fire, water, air and space. The lingam (the deity) is has no form here and is worshiped in the form of five elements. Its something very unique – something unforgettable. The lunch will be served at one of the best hotels of the city.
Situated at the other end of the city is the Kali Temple. Kali – the Godess of Hindus represents the strength and power. This deity is prayed will all valor and grandeur. The manner in which the Goddess is prayed is attractive in itself. Capture it in camera if you wish so.
This marks the end of your tour. As you move back to the hotel with memoirs of your journey we wish you all luck for your journey home.
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