Temple Tour Of South India

Duration:- 12 Nights/13 Days

Destination Covered: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Chidambaram - Gangekondcholapuram - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin

Day 01:- Arrive Chennai

Meet on arrival at Airport and transfer to hotel. Relax and Overnight stay will be at hotel in Chennai.

Day02:-Chennai

In this morning breakfast & leave for sightseeing of Chennai, the first British major settlement in India. Visit Kapleshwara temple, St. Thomas Church, Art Gallery, St. George Fort, Marina beach (2nd longest beach of the world after California), Snake Park, The Government Museum and Art Gallery. Overnight stay will be at hotel.

Day 03: Chennai - Tirupati (142 KMS / 3 HRS)

After breakfast drive to Tirupati by road. Tirupati - A temple and pilgrim town. On arrival, transfer to hotel. In the afternoon proceed for Darshan of LORD BALAJI. Overnight stay will be at hotel.

Day04: Tirupati - Chennai(142 KMS / 3 HRS)

After breakfast drive back to Chennai. Arrive Chennai transfer to hotel. Relax in the evening. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05:- Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (135 KMS. / 05 HRS)

Morning leave for Mahabalipuram en-route Kanchipuram, once the Golden city of India to visit Shiv Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi temples. Continue your drive to Mahabalipuram, arrive and transfer to Hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day06: Mahabalipuram

Morning after breakfast visit 6-8th century Pallave rock cut caves, Panch Ratha temple, 7th century shore temple where both Vishnu & Shiva are enshrined under one roof and soap stone workers in the market who designs and made sculptures by chisel & hammer. This is very special to see. Afternoon free to enjoy at sea beach. Overnight stay will be at Hotel.

Day07: Mahabalipuram - Chidambram - Gangekondcholapuram - Tanjore (309 KMS. / 07 HOURS)

Morning after breakfast leave for Tanjore, your first stop will be at Chidambaram golden Natraja temple. Afterwards drive to Gangekondcholapuram exciting Shiva temple built from 1012-1044 AD. The speciality of the temple and 1000 years engineering is the rays of sun falls on Nandi (bull) and it reflects and give light to the Shiva Lingam since sun rise to sun set. Your next stop will be at Kumbakonam water tank, it is believed that after every 12years 9 scared holy rivers including holy Ganges are meeting here. During those days thousands of pilgrims dip into the tank to wash their sins. Next stop at 13th century Shiva temple at Darasuram. Finally reach to Tanjore, arrive and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay will be at hotel.

Day08: Tanjore - Trichy (56 KM / 1-2 HRS)

Morning sightseeing of Tanjore visiting Brideshwarar Shiva Temple was built from the year 985 - 1010 AD. As usual South Indian temples have big Gopurmas (towers) but this temple is parameter shaped, 65 meters high from the ground. This is one of the superb temple architects of the Chola dynasty. Afterwards visit Raja Rajan art gallery to see bronze statures of 9-16th century. Return back to Hotel and after some rest drive to Trichy, arrive and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon visit Srirangam Vishnu temple has 21 gopurmas (towers); one of the gopurma is 73 meters highest in India. Afterwards visit Rock Fort 83 meters above the ground having 344 steps to reach on the top to see Vinayaka temple. Overnight stay will be at hotel.

Day09: Trichy- Madurai (132 KMS. / 03 HRS)

Morning after breakfast proceeds to Madurai, arrive and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon visit 16th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Afterwards visit biggest Meenakshi temple, the temple has two main shrines one is dedicated to goddess Parvati (Meenakshi) and another to Sunereshwara (Shiva). The doms of both the shrines are covered with heavy gold plates. You can also see 1000 pillars hall built in 16th century by Nayakas by pure granite stones. Overnight stay will be at hotel in Madurai.

Day10: Madurai - Periyar (143 KMS / 04 HRS)

After breakfast drive to Periyar, arrive and transfer to HOUSEBOAT CRUISE - ALLEPPEY - COCHIN (62 KM / 1-2 HRS)hotel. Afternoon visit to the spices Garden to watch different varieties of spice plantations such as cardamom, cinnamon, peeper, clove, vanilla, ginger, tea and coffee plantations etc. Periyar is on 1000 meters above sea level and is rich in spice growing. 95% pepper in India is produced from here. Vaskodegama was the first European landed at Malabar Coast in 1498 A.D. in search of spices. Those days pepper was exported against the equal weight of gold, so in the beginning of 15th century pepper was called black gold. Afterwards visit Periyar Tiger Reserve by boat to watch different varieties of animals such as tiger, panther, leopard, and bison spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, groups of wild elephants and many birds. Overnight stay will be at hotel.

Day11: Periyar- Houseboat Cruise - Kumarakom

After breakfast drive to Kumarakon to board houseboat Cruise to enjoy the cruise in backwaters. This cruise is very exciting and sensational to watch the real traditional Kerlan life that lives on the banks of backwaters. Overnight with full meals at Houseboat cruise.

Day12: Houseboat Cruise- Alleppey - Cochin (62 KM / 1-2 HRS)

Houseboat drop at Alleppey to board the vehicle and drive to Cochin. Arrive and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon visit Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets and St. Francis Church, one of the oldest Church built by the Europeans in 1503 A.D. late afternoon visit to watch traditional Kerala Kathakali dances. Overnight stay will be at Hotel.

Day13: Dept Cochin

After morning breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for onward destination.