Temple tour of south india 10 nights / 11 days
Chennai –Mahabalipuram – kanchipuram -pondichery –trichy -Tanjore-Madurai-periyar-Allepy (house boat) cochin
Day 01 Arrive Chennai
Welcome to India !!!! Meeting on arrival at International airport you will be received by our representative and transfer to hotel , check-in at hotel Later proceed for the sightseeing of Chennai, “the gateway of South India”. P.M. Visit National Art Gallery and Museum (closed on Fridays) which has a collection of ancient paintings of almost all schools as well as section devoted to modern art, Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Church, Drive along Marina Beach (the second longest in the world), San Thome Cathedral, Mylapore Shiva Temple. Overnight stay at hotel .
Day 02 Chennai-Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram
Morning after breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram enroute visit Kanchipuram, the city of 1000 temples. The second holiest city in India next to Varanasi. Visit Vaikuntaperumal temple, Ekambareeswarar and Varadarajar temple. Later drive to Mahabalipuram, check-in at hotel overnight stay at hotel
Day 03 Mahabalipuram
Morning aftrer breakfast Visit the surviving shore temple. It boasts of some of India’s most sublime rock cut art comprising of Arjuna’s Penance – the largest open-air bass-relief, Five Rathas, structured temples, man-made caves and chariots.rest of the day free at leisure on beach , overnight stay at hotel
Day 04 Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry
Morning after breakfast drive toPondicherry , check-in at hotel afternoon Visit Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville Pondicherry, once a French settlement and now home to the Aurobindo Ashram , visit Pondicherry Museum which has the collection of artifacts. The sculpture gallery is a treasure house of Pallava and Chola art. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 05 Pondicherry – Tanjore
Morning after breakfast drive to Tanjore check-in at hotel later Visit the magnificent Brahadeeswara temple, where the shade of the tower (gopuram or vimanam) will not fall on the ground. The second largest monolithic sculpture, Nandi (Bull) can be found in the portal of the shrine. The Royal palace complex houses in important library and museums, including a superb collection of Chola bronzes. Overnight stay at hotel
Day 06 Tanjore-Trichy
Morning after breakfast drive to Trichy check-in at hotel later sightseeing of Trichy was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the medieval period. Lord Robert Clive’s house is still there to see and so is the Danish Church. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. Visit the ancient temple of Ganapati on top of hill and a further climb to a Shiva temple Visit Srirangam temple and RockFort temple. Overnight stay at hotel
Day 07 Trichy-Madurai
Morning after breakfast Drive to Madurai, check-in at hotel afternoon visit Meenakshi temple, famous for its Court of Thousand Pillars, built in 1560 A.D and visit to the temple to witness the famous night ceremony when the Temple bronze of Lord Siva is carried to the bed chamber of Goddess Parvathy to the accompaniment of religious prayers and music. Also visit Thirumalai Nayak’s Palace and Gandhi Museum. Overnight stay at hotel
Day 08 Madurai-Rameshwaram
Morning after breakfast drive to Rameshwaram , check-in at hotel later visit Ramanathaswami temple here is one of the largest in the country with magnificent corridors and massive sculptured lining it. Overnight stay at hotel
Day 09 Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari
Morning after breakfast drive to Kanyakumari, check-in at hotel India’s lands end is where the three seas – Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, and hence the confluence is called Thriveni Sangamam. The beach itself is a beautiful sight, with multi-coloured sands and spectacular sunrises and sunsets as the sky and horizon break into a riot of colour. Visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Gandhi Mandapam and Temple. Overnight stay at hotel
Day 10 Kanyaumari-kochi
Morning after breakfast drive to kochi check-in at hotel , evening enjoy the kathakkali dance performance , overnight stay at hotel
Day 11 Kochi-
Morning after breakfast Visit Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Bolgatty Palace, Hill Palace and Museum. Later transfer to airport to for onward journey.