South India Temple Tour

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Detail Itinerary of South India Temple Tour

Day 01 : Arrival Chennai
You will be welcomed at the Chennai International Airport and then get transferred to the hotel. Over night at Hotel.

Day 02 : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
In the morning, we will go to Mahabalipuram. Enroute we will do the sight seeing of Kanchipuram. It is considered to be one of the seven sacred cities of India. It was one of the greatest centers of learning in the pre-Christian era & important to all the religion. There are many beautiful temples which we shall see. Another magnificent temple is Kamakshi Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Kamakshi who is the presiding deity of the city. We will continue our journey to Mahabalipuram. Relax at the hotel.

Day 03 : Mahabalipuram
Today we will explore Mahabalipuram which offers the superb combination of unique monuments & fine beaches. There are four types of monuments: rock-cut monolithic temples; excavated cave temples; open air rock sculptures; structural temples, collectively known as the Shore Temple. Later enjoy the gorgeous beaches.
 
Day 04 : Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry
Breakfast in the hotel and start the drive to Pondicherry - a city with a unique Anglo-French background. Arrive Pondicherry and checkinto the hotel, after lunch, visit the world famous Aurobindo Ashram - abode of the twentieth century saint and philosopher Sri Aurobindo which forms the nucleus of many activities and trade in Pondichery. Later, visit Auroville town - an oasis of peace and enlightenment designed by the French architect, Roger Anger. You would find the town living up to its designer's mission of making people realize the merits of human unity
 
Day 05 : Pondicherry -Thanjavur
Full day excursion of Tanjore and Darasuram Thanjavur - Thanjavur, or simply Tanjore, was the capital of the great Chola empire who were also responsible for the most of its 93 temples. The Brihadisvara temple is the main Chola temple, dedicated to Siva, built in early 11 century and one of the most magnificent in the country with 14 storey, 62 mts high vimana. It is topped by a dome carved from 80 ton block of granite which needed a 6.5 km ramp to raise it. There are superb inscriptions and sculptures of Siva, Vishnu and Durga built mainly with large granite blocks, carvings of the dancers and frescoes of kings, queens and musicians

Day 06 : Thanjavur - Madurai via Trichy
Trichy - Tiruchappalli, known as Trichy in short, is India’s largest artificial diamond manufacturing centre. The Rock Fort, built in 17th century stands on 84 mt high rock in the centre of the town. There are about 440 steps and on the way are the Vinayaka temple and at the end is the Tayumanasvami temple dedicated to Siva. There are also other 7th century cave temples which have beautifully carved pillars and panels.

Day 07 : Madurai
Sit back and relax in your coach seat. Madurai is over 2500 years old and is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu. Ancient seat of learning, the city is planned in the shape of a lotus. Visit the famous Madurai Meenakshi Temple. There are four entrances to this amazing temple complex set in six hectares. Marvel at the truly majestic towers, twelve  of them, pointing skywards at 45 to 50 metres.
Beat some of the stone pillars in the complex with any hard object and feel incredible on hearing sweet metal sounds. You now know why they are called musical pillars. By the way, the total number of pillars in the temple is a staggering one thousand. Arrive back to the hotel in the evening, have dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 08 : Madurai – Rameshwaram
After breakfast drive to Rameshwaram. Arrival and check inn to Hotel.  Rameswaram  is a small island in the Gulf of Mannar, is a major pilgrim centre. Rameswaram is a holy place because Sri Rama, on his return from Sri Lanka, offered his thanks to Lord Shiva and performed pooja to wash away his sin in killing the Demon King, Ravana. 
Rameshwaram is also known for its 22 theerthas or wells in and around the main temple. This place is equally sacred to both Vaishnavites and Shaivites. According to Hindu Mythology, if one visits Rameshwaram and prays to Lord Shiva one will be relieved of one’s sins. It is 197 metres long. The Ramanathaswamy temple is renowned for its magnificent corridors and massive sculptured pillars. The third corridor of Ramanathaswamy temple is the longest one in the world.

Day 09 : Rameshwaram
After breakfast full day explore temple’s & beaches. Over night at Hotel.

Day 10 : Rameshwaram – Kanyakumari
After breakfast drive to Kanyakumari. Arrival and check inn to Hotel. the land’s end of India or the point where the three seas meet, enchanting Kanyakumarior Cape Comorin is one of the most popular tourist spots in the state. Part of the fascination is of course due to the fact that it is the very tip of the Indian peninsula and the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Nature is so spectacular at Kanyakumarithat several other Indian beaches pale by comparison. Cape Comorin is at its best during Chitra Pournami (the full moon day in April) when the sun and moon are face to face on the same horizon but other full moon days are also special and you can see the sun set and the moon rise almost simultaneously. It seems as if it is by prior arrangement. Over night at Hotel.

Day 11 : Kanyakumari
After breakfast full day explore Temples and beaches. Over night at hotel.

Day 12 : Kanyakumari – Trivandrum – Departure
After breakfast drive to Trivandrum to board flight to your next destinations.