CHENNAI-KANCHIPURAM-MAMALLAPOORAM-TIRUVANNAMALAI-PONDICHERRY-CHIDAMBARAM-
TANJORE-TRICHY-MADURAI-TRIVANDRUM
Day 01 : Chennai
Arrive
Chennai - the gateway to southern India, established
in 1639 by the East India Company, is one of the
oldest cities of the country. Assistance and transfer
to hotel. After lunch at hotel, half day sightseeing
tour, visiting Gandhi Memorial, Kala Kshetra,
Mylapore temple and Marine beach.
Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 02 : Chennai (Excursion
- Tirupathi, 154kms/3.5hours)
After
breakfast, proceed to Tirupathi. Lunch at local
restaurant Tirupathi is a temple town known for
the famous ancient temple of Lord Venkateswara
(Lord of seven hills or Balaji, as he is affectionately
known ) on the top of the 860mts high Tirumala hills.
The temple of Lord Venkateswara is not only believed
to be amongst the oldest temples in the country,
but also the richest of them all. Legend has
it that Lord Venkateswara borrowed money from the
divine treasurer Kubera for his wedding expenses.
He is still paying back this debt which is why the
pilgrims donate generously to the temple funds.
In the evening return to Chennai for dinner and
overnite stay.
Day 03 : Chennai / Kanchipuram / Mamallapooram
After
breakfast drive to Kanchipuram ( 76 kms/01.50 hrs
) – is the ancient capital of the Pallavas
famous as a city of 1000 Temples and
still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated
to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and
has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and
Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is
also famous for its silks. Lunch at local restaurant
and later drive to Mamallapooram and check in at
hotel. Afternoon visit the city - built in 7th century,
earlier called Mahabalipooram, this ancient Pallava
port, is today the sight of several antique sculptural
marvels. In this ancient seaside town, shrines and
huge sculptures cut-out of rocks more than 1200
years back during the reign of Pallava Kings in
the region can be seen. The rock carvings depicting
mythological episodes - of demons, Gods and animals
in battle and others - are truly poems in stone.
The only shore temple which remains here is the
spectacular two - spired shrine, unique because
it houses both Lord Shiva and the Lord Vishnu in
its sanctum-sanctorum.
Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 04 : Mamallapooram / Tiruvannamalai / Pondicherry
After
breakfast drive to Tiruvannamallai -
a pilgrim centre with an ancient temple
of Lord Shiva. After lunch at local restaurant,
proceed to 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.
Checkin, dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 05 : Pondicherry
After
breakfast drive to visit Aurbindo Ashram,
the city of dawn, which is 10 kms north of
Pondicherry. This ashram promotes Aurbindo's ideas
in bringing about a synthesis of Yoga and modern
science, so as to unite the spirit and matter. After
lunch at hotel, visit Auroville - a unique experiment
in international living and in creating a new environment
where men and women of all nationalities live together
in harmony.
Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 06 : Pondicherry / Chidambaram / Tanjore
After
breakfast drive to Chidambaram also called
as Thillai, which has the famous Nataraja
temple with the root of the sanctum-sanctorum
covered with golden plates is located in the centre
of the town covering an area of 40 acres. In this
temple, postures from the Bharatnatayam form of
dance are depicted in sculpture. Natraja is Lord
Shiva as a cosmic dancer. After lunch at local restaurant,
drive to Thanjavur enroute visiting the Brass factory at
Kumbakonam. Tanjore once the capital of Chola Kings,
has the Brahadeswara temple (or
the big temple of God). The temple tower rises
to a height of 15mts from a square base of 29 mts
and then tapers off, making a total of 66mts.
Checkin, dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 07 : Tanjore / Trichy
After
breakfast leave for Trichy, short name of Trichurapalli,
situated on the banks of Kaveri River is a blend
of history and tradition as well as pilgrim centre,
it is famous for Ranganath temple
at Srirangam. Checkin at hotel. After lunch city
tour visiting Rock fort and its temple at a height
of over 23mts. Also visit Srirangam and Jambukeshwar Temple.
Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 08 : Trichy / Madurai
After
breakfast proceed to Madurai and check in at
hotel. The ancient city of Madurai, some 2600 years
old is laid out in the banks of river Vaigai as
a lotus flower with the Meenakshi temple
in the centre. After lunch city tour visiting -
Meenakshi temple, King Tirumala's Palace, Great
tank and Gandhi museum.
Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 09 : Madurai (Excursion-Rameshwaram)
After
breakfast proceed to Rameshwaram- the most sacred
temple town of India is an island hallowed by the
epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama is said to have visited
before going into battle of Srilanka. Legend has
it that Lord Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash
to bring a Lingam for worship when he set foot after
defeating Ravana. As Hanuman did not return when
the auspicious hour was approaching, Sita made a
sand Lingam so that worship could be performed in
time, which is where the present day Ramanatha Swamy
Temple stands close to sea on the eastern side of
the island. One of the twelve Jyotirlingam shrines
is also well known for its magnificent corridors
and the massive sculptured pillars lining them.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Return to Madurai for dinner and overnite stay at
hotel.
Day 10 : Madurai / Trivandrum
After
breakfast drive to Trivandrum and check in at hotel.
Afternoon at leisure.
Day 11 : Trivandrum (Excursion
Kanyakumari )
After
breakfast proceed for Kanyakumari – is the
land’s end of India where the water of the
Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean
meet. An important pilgrim centre of India, it is
famous for the Amman Temples –
a symbol of unity and sanctity – deidicated
to the virgin Goddess, Kanya Kumari. To its South
– East lies the famous Vivekananda
Rock Memorial, a blend of all the architectural
styles of India. Lunch at local restaurant. Evening
enjoy the beautiful sun set and later return to
Trivandrum.
Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 12 :
Tivandrum / Back Home
After
breakfast transfer to airport to connect flight
for onward journey. End of our services.