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Day 01 – Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai by international flight.
Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02 – Chennai
Morning sightseeing tour.
Chennai, the capital city, popularly regarded as the ‘Gateway to the South’ represents a culture that is distinctly different from that of northern India. The places of interest are Kalakshetra, a school of art and music that encourages exponents of Bharatnatyam, Carnatic music, traditional weaving and designing; Fort St. George built in 1653 during British reign in India, - now houses the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu; St. Mary’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church in India with its premises; Sri Parthasarathy Temple built by Pallavas in the 8th century AD; Kapaliswara Temple, Mylapore also an eighth century Pallava Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva; San Thomas Cathedral Basilica rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral and in 1896 it was made a basilica; and Theosophical Society - the world headquarters of the Theosophical Society formed to encourage the study of comparative religion philosophy and science.
Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 – Chennai-Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram
Morning drive to Kanchipuram.
Kanchipuram, 70 kms west of Mahabalipuram, this city of thousand temples lies. One of the seven sacred cities of Hindus, it was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC. Kanchi was a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Apart from temples, the city is also famous for its silk weavers, settled here some 400 years ago and have given it an enviable reputation.
Drive to Mahablipuram and visit.
Mahabalipuram, driving south of Madras on the coast lies Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), the ancient port of Pallavas. The pallavas have created many marvelous monuments with sculptural panels, caves, Monolithic Rathas and Temples. Krishna Mandapam, has a big bas relief, notable for its realistic representation. The world’s largest bas relief measuring 27m x 9m, whale back shaped rock contains figures of gods, demi-gods, men .beasts, birds and representation of the entire creation. Shore Temple, one of the oldest in south dating back to 8th century AD is a good example of the first phase of structural temples constructed in Dravidian style. The Five Rathas, a group of five monolithic temples, each created in different style.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04 – Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry, 135 km
Morning leave for Pondicherry.
On arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour
PONDICHERRY – Although the French influence is gradually fading, Pondicherry retains a few Gallic accents. Pondicherry’s main sights are the Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram retreat was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual authority passed to one of his disciples, a French woman known as the Mother. The Mother was also instrumental in founding the city of Dawn Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry. Its original charter aimed at creating a city of the future where people from India and abroad could live and work together in a spiritual environment.
Day 05 – Pondicherry-Tanjore, 175 km
Drive to Tanjore and on arrival, check-in at the hotel
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Tanjore.
Tanjore - The home of Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance and traditional hadicrafts, Tanjore (Thanjavur) is famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect’s marvel. The Art Gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal Library are also well known places of interest.
Day 06 – Tanjore-Trichy-Madurai, 201 km
Drive to Trichy to visit Srirangam and Rock Fort.
5 kms from Trichy, located in an island is Srirangam. Surrounded by the Kaveri water is a 600 acre island town enclosed within the seven walls on the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple. There are no less than 22 gopurams, one of which is the tallest in India. The 72 m high 13 tiered gopuram dominates the landscape for miles around.
The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the Kaveri river, Trichy’s most famed land mark is an 84 m high rock, one of the oldest in the world aprox.3,800 million years. The attraction is not for fort itself but the temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where are the inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C.
Later drive to Madurai and check-in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07 – Madurai
Morning sightseeing tour of Madurai
Madurai, known as Athens of the East, it is the second largest city on the banks of the River Vigai. The city believed to be more than 2500 years old. The city got its name from the drops of nectar (Mathuram) that fell from Shiva’s locs when he came to bless its people for constructing a temple for him. Madurai where the people wake up at the chant of hymns is proud of magnificent ‘The Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple. Of its 12 gopurams, four of the tallest stand at the outer walls of the temple. The 48.8 m high southern gopuram is the most spectacular and have over 1500 sculptures. In the Ashta Shakti Mandapam inside the Meenakshi temple, the sculpted pillars tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva.
Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 – Madurai-Periyar, 180 km
Morning drive to Periyar and on arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Periyar, spread over an area of 777 sq km, this sanctuary has about 35 tigers and leopards. However, sighting a tiger in Periyar is a fortune for one out of thousand. The park encompasses a 26 sq km artificial lake and is the home of sambars, wild boars, elephants and antelopes which can be occasionally seen on the banks of the river during a boat cruise. Periyar, otherwise, blessed by Nature has enormous tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations and is lush green.
Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Periyar to view wildlife.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 – Periyar-Cochin drive, 180 km
Drive to Cochin and on arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Rest of the day free
Day 10 : Cochin
Morning sightseeing tour of Cochin.
Cochin, Kerala’s commercial centre, it has a fine natural harbour. Cochin(Kochi) gateway for Kerala is famous for Mattanchery Palace, St. Francis Church, Wellington Island, Bolghatty Island, Chinese Fishing nets and Jewish Synagogue. Cruising on the back-waters provides glimpses of the rural life, fine view of the harbour and three islands.
Afternoon at leisure.
Evening witness Kathakali Dance Show in an auditorium.
Day 11 : Cochin-Alleppey drive, 56 km
Morning drive to Alleppey.
Check in on Houseboat at 12:00 hours at Alleppey.
Cruise through Punnamada Lake - visit the Chavara Bhavan, old wooden house - enjoy the panoramic views of paddy fields, narrow canals and coconut lagoons -visit 400 year old Champakulam church - view the 110 feet long snake boat.
Night stay on Houseboat in the middle of the Lake .
Day 12 : Morning after Breakfast cruise Headback to Alleppey
After breakfast, cruise very narrow canals, visit the ancient Buddhist image of Karumadikuttan, only Buddhist temple in Kerala. Check out at Thottappally.
On arrival at Thotappally, met by car and driver and proceed to Kovalam, 135 km
On arrival, check-in at the hotel/beach resort.
Day 13 : Kovalam
Day at leisure.
Day 14 : Kovalam
Morning sightseeing tour of Trivandrum
The capital of Kerala, built over seven forested hills.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, a seven storeyed stone structure is the most impressive landmark. This temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu contains several inscriptions and excellent murals, innumerable intricate stone carvings adorn the temple. Napier Museum of Arts and Crafts completed in 1880, it was an early experiment in what became known as the Indo Saracenic style. It house a priceless collection which includes 15th century wood carvings of Kerala, Gold necklaces and belts, ivory work, a carved temple chariot and wooden models of the famous temples of Kerala and 14th century Vijayanagar bronzes. Sri Chitra Art Gallery has collection of splendid paintings from the Rajput, Moghul and Tanjore school, as well as China, Tibet and Japan. The most impressive of all is beautiful treatment of Hindu mythological theme in the oil paintings of Raja Ravei Verma exhibited area.
Afternoon at leisure.
Day 15 : Kovalam-Trivandrum-Chennai-Dep
Transfer to airport for flight to Chennai and onward connection.
Tour Itinerary Tamil Nadu
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Tamil Nadu
