Temple Tour of South India

Day 1:Arrive Chennai International airport & depart to Mammallapuram
Arrive Chennai International Airport  & head  to Mammallapuram The best-known landmark of Mahabalipuram, is the Shore Temple which has stood by the sea for 12 centuries and was  listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Mammallapuram  area which boasts 14 cave temples, 9 monolithic rathas, 3 stone temples and 4 relief sculptured rock panels. Most of the wonderful sights you’ll explore here, such as the Shore Temple (a World Heritage Site) and Arjuna’s Penance, are built in the Dravidian style of the 7th and 8th centuries and are dedicated to Vishnu or Shiva. After lunch, you’ll set off to Pondicherry, an ancient Roman trading post situated on the Coromandel Coast which has seen the likes of the Portuguese and French leave their mark,Overnight stay at the beach resort in Mammallapuram.(Inclusions only Dinner )

Day 2:Mammallapuram sightseeing & Depart to Pondicherry
Breakfast at the hotel before heading off to Puducherry (previously known as Pondicherry) a spiritual seaside location. Its ancient French flavour remains visible in the well-kept gardens, the magnificent churches, the historical monuments, the palaces and the clean and wide streets that still retain their French names.South India is Pondicherry, which can be reached by a 2 -hour private road transfer. Despite being under French rule until the mid-20th century, Pondicherry still retains the charm of the Riviera, with some parts of the city still speaking French. A guided heritage tour will take you to the French and Tamil quarters of the city, as well as to Auroville, an experimental community founded in the late 1960s that aims to promote human unity. The Auroville community developed out of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which is also worth a visit for its distinctive architecture. In Pondicherry, you will spend two nights in a boutique hotel near the Promenade.(Inclusions Breakfast at Mammallapuram & Dinner at Pondicherry)

Day 3:Pondicherry Sightseeing
Later, visit the Aurobindo Ashram, the best-known landmark of Puducherry. Here followers come from all over the world to practice yoga and practical activities like construction, farming, shoe-making and laundering. Auroville, an extension of the Aurobindo Ashram, is a voluntary commune where around 800 people from 28 nations live. It looks like a city of the future as its architecture is the result of diverse experiments in building materials, techniques and styles.(Inclusions Breakfast & Dinner at Pondicherry)

Day 4:Pondicherry to Darasuram to Kumbakonam
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a drive to Thanjavur. En route, stop at Chidambaram, an important pilgrimage centre for the followers of Shiva known for its famous Nataraja Temple, an excellent example of the Dravidian architecture of Tamil Nadu.We then continue our drive to Gangaikonda Cholapuram, a Hindu Temple dedicated to Shiva with an imposing gopuram that can be seen from afar, followed by a stop at Swamimalai. enrote visit  the UNESCO World Heritage monument, Darasuram temple. The famous temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in the small town of Darasuram, which is about 4 km from Kumbakonam. Built in 12th Century AD, this Hindu temple is an architectural marvel from Chola period. The temple boasts of its intricate and beautiful sculptures.  Its architectural beauty, rare sculptures and innovative designing makes it unique attracting tourists and pilgrims from all over.(Inclusions Breakfast at Pondicherry & Dinner at Kumbakonam)

Day 5:  Kumbakobam
Kumbakonam is famously called the ‘temple town’ or ‘The City of Temples’ given the number of temples that have been built in and around the town. Kumbakonam dates back to the Sangam period and was ruled by the Early cholas, Pallavas, Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Pandyas, the Vijayanagar Empire, Madurai Nayaks, Thanjavur Nayaks and the Thanjavur Marathas. It rose to be a prominent city between the 7th and 9th centuries AD, when it served as a capital of the Medieval Cholas. The town reached the zenith of its prosperity during the British Raj when it was a prominent centre of European education and Hindu culture; and it acquired the cultural name, the "Cambridge of South India".Evening Enjoy Bullcok cart ride at Kumbakonam.( Breakfast & Dinner at Kumbakonam)

Day 6:Kumbakonam  to Thanjore 1 hour drive & Thanjore to  Chettinad 2 hours drive
Once the capital of the mighty and powerful Chola Dynasty, Thanjavur is an important centre of South Indian art, religion and architecture. Thanjavur is home to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Monuments. This cultural capital of Tamil Nadu is also commonly known as the temple city. Thanjavur’s structural design stands unparalleled in terms of scale, grandeur and detailing. Thanjore is also known for its cotton sarees, handloom silk sarees and the most popular of the items is the Tanjore paintings which are in great demand across the globe. Besides, the simplicity and natural beauty of this town will leave its visitor enthralled.
After Lunch commence your 3-hour long drive to Chettinad ,The district gets its name from the Chettiars, a powerful and prosperous business community whose influence is clearly discernible in the region's culture, crafts and cuisine. The old wealth of the Chettiars can still be seen in the large number of elaborate 19th century mansions they built in a mix of Indian and European styles. Apart from being famous for its spicy and aromatic cuisine, Chettinad is also known for its crafts, such as the famous Athangudi handmade tiles and the Chettinad handloom saris.

On arrival at Visalam Hotel,  stay at Visalam is the perfect way to experience the rich heritage of South India. The hotel built in the Victorian style is equipped with all the modern amenities to make your stay a comfortable one. Have a relaxed evening. Overnight stay at the hotel.Spend a lovely evening as you admire the majestic architecture of the Chettinad Palace dating back to the year 1912.Overnight stay at the hotel.(Inclusions Breakfast at Kumbakonam & Dinner at Chettinad)

Day 7:Explore Chettinad
Wake up early to a refreshing morning. At 6.30 am, hop on a bicycle at Visalam and head out for an immersive exploration. The captivating cycling adventure takes you through the vibrant streets, quaint villages and narrow bylanes of Chettinad as you pedal through its rich cultural heritage on bicycles. While you are on this joyous expedition, grab the opportunity to interact with locals, explore the architectural splendour of the region and create unforgettable memories with every turn of the wheel.
Head back to the resort and savour a healthy breakfast meal. At 8 am, prepare to be mind-blown with the beauty of Kolam. Marvel the intricate artistry of Kolam making as the staff at Visalam Chettinad delicately craft these vibrant patterns and stunning designs. Spend the rest of the day at leisure and you may explore the in-house activities at the resort or explore the nearby surroundings on your own. Overnight stay at the resort. (Inclusions Breakfast & Dinner at Vislam Chettinad )

Day 8:Chettinad to Rameshwaram
We then proceed onward for Tanjore, visit the Brihadeeswara Temple. The corridors around the shrine have many sculptures and frescoes from the period of the kingdom of Chola that were only recently discovered. The palace and the remains of the fort surrounding temple number 6 are still visible. Members of the former royal family of Thanjavur still occupy apartments on the inside, but the palace is now mainly used as an art gallery. After the tour, depart to Rameshwaram,head to Rameshwaram. The total travelling distance between Chettinad and Rameshwaram is 100 Miles. which takes around 2 hours to reach by road. After reaching, check-in to the hotel and post some relaxation, head out to explore the temple town.Rameshwaram is a small yet scenic island about 4 km. off the main land. As per legends, it is here that Lord Rama performed his thanksgiving in the Lanka war after defeating Ravana. It is one among the four Char Dhams of India and invites devotees from all over who come here to pay a visit at least once in their lifetime to the Jyotirlinga installed in the Ramanathaswamy Temple.Overnigiht stay at Residency Rameshwaram. (Inclusions Breakfast at Chettinad & Dinner at Rameshwaram)

Day 9: Rameshwaram to Dhanushkodi and depart to Madurai
After breakfast, depart to Dhanushkodi which is 20 kms. from Rameshwaram. It is one place where the wonders of nature and man become one. It is an abandoned town situated at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island. The town was majorly destroyed during the 1964 cyclone. Since then, it is cut off from the rest of the world and is still untouched by time. The town seems to be frozen in history, reflecting its grandeur and beauty. The place is shrouded in mystery and was once known as the Ghosh Town where you can see the ruined churches and temples. One interesting thing to note about this place is that it is just 10 nautical miles by motor boat to Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka. Afternoon depart to Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India and was ruled by Pandya kings over most of its history. The city is famous for is rich heritage and promoting Tamil language through "Sangams". The city has been in existence since about 4th century B.C and is mentioned in ancient texts of Greeks, Romans and Arabs, Located on the banks of the river Vaigai, Madurai has been a major settlement for two millennia and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. This city was the capital of the Pandyan kingdom,check in at the hotel, overnight stay at the hotel.(Inclusions Breakfast at Rameshwaram & Dinner at Madurai)

Day 10:Madurai Sightseeing
After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the holy city of Madurai, found in the heart of Tamil Nadu. The whole life of this teeming city converges on the magnificent temple of Menakshi-Sundareshwara, rebuilt in the 17th century by King Tirumalai-Nayak.
It is a real masterpiece, where you can admire an astonishing proliferation of columns and corridors embellished with countless statues in an atmosphere full of life and faith. Afterwards, visit the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, founded in 1636 and built in the style of Indo-Muslim art with Italian influence. Yet another Nayakar legacy is the Mariammam Teppakulam, a tank which was fed from the waters of the river Vaigai, north of the city. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure or explore this spell-binding location at your own pace.Overnight stay at Madurai (Inclusion Breakfast& Dinner )

Day 11:Madurai Departure
You will be returning to Madurai Airport at the end of your South India Heritage and Temple Tour. We will transfer you to the Madurai airport for your return flight. Enjoy numerous wonderful memories of your trip to the Temples and Heritage Tour of South India.(Inclusions only Breakfst)