South India Temple Tour

6 Nights/ 7Days

Private car round trip: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Thanjavur - Trichy - Madurai

Day 1 - Arrival Chennai (Madras)

Arrival from your country to Chennai International airport. Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Chennai is the capital of State Tamilnadu and one of the four largest metropolises of India.

Day 2 - Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram

After breakfast, drive to 70 km far temple city Kanchipuram. It is among the "sevens holy cities of" India. After each other, Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallava, the Chola and the Vijayanagar kings. Out of the excessive supply of temples, visit of the three most important, namely the Kailasanatha-temple, the Vaikunthaperumal temple, as well as the Ekambareshwara temple. Because Kanchipuram is also very well known for its hand woven silk materials, a visit is worthwhile on that based. Further drive to Mahabalipuram well known for its 7 th century Five Rathas. These are the world's largest stone relief. Arrival and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free at the beach.

Day 3 - Mahabalipuram

After breakfast start your sight seeing tour. You see the Shore temple, out of 7 th century, surrounded by gardens. 7 th century Five Rathas, which are the world's largest stone relief. Your tour also includes visit to Bhagiratha's Penance, a 27 x 9 meters of rock block and 6 th - 7 th century rock cut caves. In evening you can have a walk in this small town, where you can also see the soap stone workers making designs and sculptures with chisel and hammer. Overnight in Mahabalipuram.

Day 4 - Mahaballipuram - Pondicherry - Tanjore (Thanjavur)

After breakfast, drive to Tanjore. En route visit Pondicherry. Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the city Auroville, which is spread into more than 2000 acres and more famous amongst the westerners. Today also, you can see the influence of French rule in Pondicherry , because the Frenchmen strongly were represented here until 1954. Many speak next to Tamil yet today French. Further drive to Tanjore. Arrival and transfer to Hotel for overnight stay.

Day 5 - Tanjore - Trichy (Trichurapalli)

After breakfast visit 9 th century Brihadeshwara Temple because of which Tanjore is known as the "Jewel of South India". Temple tower is in the shape of pyramid and is around 66m high. It is crowned by a heavy cupola weighing 88 ton. The temple is dedicated to God Shiva. Also, visit Raja Rajan Art Gallery to see bronze statues of 9 th -16 th centuries.

Further drive to Trichy. Arrival and transfer to hotel for refreshment and rest. Afternoon visit the famous Rock Fort Temple that is carved out 83 meters high rock. One has to climb 345 steps in order to see the temple on the top. From here above, you have a wonderful view of the city. Also, visit Srirangam, a large temple city with 21 temple towers, which lies on an island in the Kaveri River. The Ranganathasvami temple, dedicated to God Vishnu, is one of the largest temples in south India and famous for its beautiful sculptures. After that, you see the Jambukeshwara temple, dedicated to God Shiva, one of the oldest and largest in Tamil Nadu with 5 walls and seven Gopurams (soaring towers).

Day 6 - Trichy - Madurai

After breakfast, drive to Madurai. Arrival and transfer to hotel for refreshment and rest. Madurai is a city with crowd of Pilgrims, beggars, businesspersons, cow vehicles and many waiting Rickshaw drivers. It is one of the oldest cities of south India and a center for Pilgrimage. The main attraction is, built in the Dravidian style with many Gopurams (soaring temple towers), Sri Meenakshi Temple in the heart of the city in colorful pictures of God, Goddesses, animals and mystical figures. Religious ceremonies take place here from early morning to late night. Pilgrims from all over the world visit here and sometimes up to 10000 are persons. The Sri Meenakshi Temple was built in the 17 th century and is one of the largest temple complexes of India. Within this complex is a market that is the entire day full of life. Evenings you can pursue a temple ceremony. Also, visit 16 th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 7 - Madurai - Chennai

Morning have an early breakfast and be ready at 6.30 a.m. for transfer to airport to board your flight to Chennai. Arrival and transfer to hotel for rest and refreshment. Afterwards go for the city excursion. Madras is a pulsating metropolis with over 6 million inhabitants. Today many south Indian feature films are made here for the movie theater and therefore it is named "Hollywood of India". On the city excursion, you see the Kapaleshvara temple, which is dedicated to God Shiva and is a good example for the colorful south Indian temple architecture. After that, you visit the fort St. George, the trade post of 1639. Worthwhile also is 16 th century St. Thomas Church. In National museum, you see sculptures out of the Pallava, Pandava and Chola time. Your excursion also include visit to National Art Gallery and Marina Beach.

Return to hotel. After dinner transfer to Chennai international airport for onward journey.