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Tamilnadu – Land of Temples 9 nights/ 10 days

Trip Route
Chennai – Pondicherry – Trichy (Tanjore) – Madurai (Rameshwaram) – Chennai

Highlights

  • See the amazing examples of Dravidian architectures in the famous Brihadeshwar temple, Shore temple, Meenakshi Amman temple and Shri Ranganathaswamy temple.
  • Watch silk waving demonstration in Kanchipuram, the centre of silk sarees.
  • Get an insight into the way of life at the Aurobindo Ashram
  • Enjoy Ayurvedic massages in Madurai
  • Walk the market streets going past vegetable, flowers vendors.

Trip Plan

Day 01 Chennai arrival (ex Delhi / ex-Mumbai)
Arrive Chennai. Meet and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Later sight seeing of the old part of Chennai visiting Fort St.George, Fort Museum, Santhome Cathedral Church, Kapaleeshwar Temple & St.Thomas Mount. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02 Chennai –Mahabalipuram
Morning excursion to Kanchipuram. Visit Sri Ekambareshwar Temple, Sri Kailashnatha Temple & Silk Weaving demonstrations. Then drive to Mahabalipuram. Check in at the hotel. Day free to enjoy the beach. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 Mahabalipuram
Visit Arjuna Dhabhas, Krishna Mandapam, Krishna Butter Ball Shore Temple & Sculptural demonstrations. Overnight at the hotel.


Day 04 Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry
Morning drive to Pondicherry. Check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 05 Pondicherry
Sightseeing of Pondicherry visiting Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, Matrimandir, Old French Colony. Overnight at hotel.

Day 06 Pondicherry - Trichy
Morning drive to Trichy via Chidambaram and Tanjore visiting Temple of Lord Brahadeeshwara, Museum, Art Gallery and Tamil Library. Arrive Trichy and check in at the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 07 Trichy – Madurai
Morning visit Rockfort & Sri Rangam Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple & Cauvery river. Later drive to Madurai. Check in at the hotel. Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel.

Day 08 Madurai
Visit Mariamman Temple Tank, Thirumalainayak Mahal, Museum & Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple. Overnight at hotel.


Day 09 Madurai - Chennai
Morning proceed for a day excursion to Rameshwaram. Visit Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple & Dhanushkoti. Back to Madurai to board overnight train to Chennai. Overnight on train.

Day 10 Chennai (departure)
Early morning arrive Chennai and transfer to the airport to board flight for onward destination.


Best season October – March


Architectural & Religion Studies
Tamilnadu – Land of Temples Cities

Stepping of a flight from Delhi / Mumbai in Chennai, you enter a world far removed from the muted hues of the great Indian River plains. The great Tamil temples are the largest landmarks of the vast network of sacred sites-shrines, bathing places, holy trees, rocks and rivers-interconnected by a web of ancient pilgrims routes.

Chennai The main attractions of the city are Fort St. George, Government Museum, Kapaleeshwar Temple and the Marina Beach.

Mahabalipuram The best place to start a temple tour is Mahabalipuram, a seaside village which boasts a long stretch of white sand beach. The famous Arjuna’s Penance and Krishna Mandapa adorn massive rocks near the center of the village, while the beautiful Shore Temple presides over the beachfront. This town is also the place where many new sculptures have been found during the Tsunami.

Kanchipuram The pilgrimage town of Kanchipuram is filled with reminders of an illustrious past under successive dynastic rulers. The place is famous for its temples and silk saris. Two most famous temples are Ekambareshwara temple and Kailashnath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Pondicherry Further down the coast is one of India’s rare French colonial possessions, Pondicherry, famous for the Aurobindo Ashram, one of the best known and wealthiest ashrams in India founded in 1926 by the Bengali Philosopher-guru Aurobindo Ghose. The Matri Mandir or “Dwelling place of the Mother” is a gigantic hi tech meditation center.

Thanjavur The Chola capital for four centuries boasts almost a hundred temples and was the birthplace of Bharatnatyam dance and the famous Tanjore paintings. Tiruchirapalli More commonly referred to as Trichy, dominated by the dramatic Rock Fort, it is a sprawling commercial center with a modern feel. The town holds attraction for its spectacular Ranganathaswamy temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Madurai One of the oldest cities in south Asia, Madurai on the banks of the River Vaigai, has been an important center of worship and commerce. Enclosed by a roughly rectangular six metre high wall, in the manner of a fortified palace, Sri Meenakshi Temple is one of the largest temple complexes in India.

Rameshwaram, on the long strip of land reaching towards Srilanka and Kanyakumari at India’s southern tip is an important pilgrimage centers with the added attraction of welcome cool breezes and vistas over the sea.


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