THE LAND OF DRAVIDIAN LEGACY
Chennai, Puducherry, Thanjavur, Trichy, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram, Kumbakonam, Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram,  Chennai
14 Days / 13 Nights

Arrival & Exit Port : Chennai International Airport

Day 1
Chennai Arrival

On arrival at Chennai International Airport, you will be met and transferred to Hotel. Check in at Hotel. Standard check in time- 1400hrs, early check in subject to availability.   Day at Leisure or free with chosen activities. Overnight stay in Hotel in Chennai.
Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is the capital city of the state of Tamil Nadu, in the southern part of India. Located on the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal, Chennai is as dynamic as it is immersed in tradition. This ‘capital of the south’, is one among the four metropolitan siblings of India, having a rich cultural history, which it perfectly balances with its metropolis lifestyle.

Day 2
Chennai

Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, proceed for city tour of Chennai. Visit Fort St. George Museum & Church, National Art Gallery, Kapaleeswara Temple, Valluvar Kottam Temple, Vadapalani Sri Murugan temple, if time permits, Sri Parthasarathi Temple in Thiruvallikeni.  Later, spend some time at Marina Beach.  Overnight stay in Hotel in Chennai.

Day 3
Puducherry

Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, check out & proceed to Puducherry, en-route stop at Mahabalipuram’s Shore Temple. Built during the 7th century, Shore Temple is one of the oldest South Indian temples constructed in the Dravidian style and depicts the royal taste of the Pallava dynasty. The work of the temple has been listed amongst the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.  Five Rathas (Chariots): The Five Rathas, also known as Panch Rathas, is an exemplary set of rock temples. They are excellent examples of the evolution of Dravidian style architecture. The Rathas are associated with the great epic Mahabharata.

Arjuna’s Penance: The Arjuna’s Penance is an enormous rock-cut relief, one of the largest in the whole world. It is also known by the name ‘Descent of the Ganges’ because the structure depicts either or both of these two significant and symbolic events of Hindu mythology.

Later, continue to your travel to Puducherry. Pondicherry or Pondy, officially known as Puducherry, is a Union Territory. This former French colony is a perfect amalgamation of the traditional Indian sensibilities and French architecture, making it a dreamy escape that offers the best of both worlds.

On arrival, check in at Hotel. Rest of the day at Leisure.  Overnight stay in Hotel in Pondicherry.

Day 4
Puducherry

Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, get ready to explore Puducherry.

Visit Arikamedu, an ancient Roman trade center, the ruins that carried the remnants of the Roman trade in India. Located at the mouth of the river Ariyankuppam and its name has been taken from the Tamil word- ‘Arikanmedu’ which means ‘eroding mount’. This port town was occupied by the people of Rome, Cholas, and French. It has been prevalent as a famous port town ever since the old Roman times.

Visit Auroville: conceived as the ‘Universal Town’:  Auroville is one of those towns which appear to come to life right out of fiction. In the union territory of Pondicherry, this township runs on the principles of peace, harmony, sustainable living and ‘divine consciousness’ which were the philosophy of the Mother of Sri Aurobindo Society, Mira Alfassa. You may also visit  Aurobindo Ashram to experience and achieve spiritual knowledge,  which is named after its creator- Sri Aurobindo Ghosh. Visit Bharathi Park & Botanical Garden.

Later, spend evening at Promenade Beach: Pondicherry beach is a different kind of beach with less sand and more rocks. Overnight stay in Hotel at Puducherry

Day 5
Thanjavur

Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, check out from hotel and proceed to Thanjavur, Tanjore, which is known as city of temples. Thanjavur has a lot of cultural value and is known for its famous Tanjore paintings, antiques and handicrafts, textiles and saris, its Carnatic music and musical instruments and of course the temples. Thanjavur enjoys a rich historical heritage and holds a very important position in the moulding of ancient as well modern south Indian civilization.

On arrival complete the check-in formalities and spend rest of the day leisurely. Overnight stay in Hotel at Thanjavur

Day 6
Transfer to Trichy

Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, city tour of Thanjore.  Visit Brahadeshwara Temple: The biggest attraction of Thanjavur, an architectural marvel, built during the reign of the Great Chola emperor, Raja Chola.  The shrine itself is a 216feet structure. The sanctum is dotted with paintings from the Chola and Nayak periods. The statue of Nandi; the Bull welcomes at the entrance.

Also, visit  Vijayanagar Fort & Royal Palace, a mixed bag of ruin and renovation, superb art and random royal paraphernalia.  Later, travel to Trichy (Tiruchirapalli). On Arrival, check in at Hotel for overnight stay.

Day 7
Trichy

Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, sightseeing tour of Trichy; including the Rock Fort- a fort and temple complex erected on a rock, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple or Tiruvarangam – a temple dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Lord Vishnu and Jambukeshwara Temple- a dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is one of the Pancha Bhootha Lingas and a Jala (water) Linga.  Later, return to Hotel. Rest of the day at Leisure or free to visit Rockfort Uchchipillayar Temple on your own. Overnight stay in Hotel in Trichy.

Day 8
Trichy – Palani – Madurai

Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, proceed to explore the Madurai Heritage Tour. Enroute stop, if time permits, to visit Palani temple (Arupadai Veedu of lord Muruga). Continue your drive to Madurai. On Arrival, check in at Hotel. Later, in the evening visit the well-known temples and other attractions including the Meenakshi Amman Temple-located on the southern bank of river Vaigai, it is dedicated to Goddess Parvati known as Meenakshi and her consort, Lord Shiva, known as Sundareswarar, Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam (Great Tank), and the Palace of Thirumalai Nayak- a classic fusion of Dravidian, Islamic styles, it was erected during the 17th century.  Overnight stay in Hotel in Madurai.

Day 9
Madurai – Kanyakumari
Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, proceed to Kanyakumari. On Arrival, check in at Hotel.

Later, visit Kumari Amman Temple, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, Thiruvalluvar Statue. Enjoy the sunset view in the confluence of Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Evening at Leisure or free with chosen activities. Evening, return to Hotel for overnight stay in Kanyakumari.

Day 10
Kanyakumari – Tiruchendhur – Rameswaram

After breakfast, start your drive to have holy dip in Rameswaram, en-route stop at Arupadai Veedu and visit Tiruchendhur temple (Arupadai Veedu of lord Muruga). Continue your drive to Rameswaram. On Arrival, check in at Hotel in Rameshwaram.

Rameswaram is a town on Pamban Island, in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s known for Ramanathaswamy Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site with ornate corridors, huge sculpted pillars and sacred water tanks.   In the evening visit Sri Ramanathaswami temple and have in the waters of Agni Theertham, off the beach east of the temple. A dip in 22 holy wells are for internal purification from one’s sin.  Gandamadana Parvatham is a hill with island views. A chakra (wheel) here is said to bear an imprint of Lord Rama’s feet. Overnight stay in hotel in Rameswaram

Day 11
Rameswaram  – Kumbakonam

Breakast is taken at Hotel. Later, proceed to kumbakonam. On Arrival, visit Darasuram (UNESCO Heritage site) / Thingaloor “Chandran” Temple (Navagraha Temple), Swamimalai temple (Arupadai Veedu of lord Muruga), Alangudi “Guru” Temple (Navagraha Temple), Thirunageswaram “Raaghu” Temple (Navagraha Temple), Suriyanar Kovil “Sun” Temple (Navagraha Temple), Kanjanoor “Sukran” Temple (Navagraha Temple). Later, check in at Hotel. Rest of the day at Leisure.  Overnight stay in Hotel in Kumbakonam

Day 12
Kumbakonam – Chidambaram – Tiruvannamalai

Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, proceed to Tiruvannamalai, en-route visit to Chidambaram. Chidambaram is very popular as the place that is home to one of the most ancient temples, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Also known as Thillai, this town was formerly a part of the forest area of the region. Chidambaram is a well-known religious site. The architectural beauties, sprinkled all around the landscape of the town.  The most important Nataraja Temple, dedicated to Lord Natraj, the dancing form of Lord Shiva was renovated by the Pallava and the Chola rulers. It is believed that Aragalur Udaya Iraratevan Ponparappinan was the one who had brought major modifications in the temple in 1213 AD. The idol of the Lord placed in the temple is an extremely beautiful one.  Later, if time permits,  visit Thillai Kali Amman Temple and Tarangambadi, the erstwhile Danish settlement of, Tarangamadi is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the region, but is in a dilapidated state now. Constructed way back during the 17th century, probably in 1620 AD, this fort has been home to some of Dutch officials of the top rank.
Continue your drive to Tiruvannamalai. On Arrival, check in at Hotel. Evening at Leisure. Overnight stay in Hotel in Tiruvannamalai.

Day 13:
Tiruvannamalai – Kanchipuram – Chennai

Breakfast is taken at Hotel. Later, proceed to Chennai, en-route stop at Arupadai Veedu and Tiruttani temple (Arupadai Veedu of lord Muruga). Continue your drive to Kanchipuram.

Kanchipuram, the city holds great religious importance and is revered as the ‘golden city of thousands of temples’  and well known for their intricate designs and traditional architecture. Some of the important holy shrines in Kanchipuram are Kailasanathar temple (with Dravidian styles of construction), Ekambaranatha temple (biggest temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva), Vaikunda Perumal temple (Lord Vishnu as the main deity), Kanchi Kamakshi temple (worship of Goddess Parvati) and Devrajaswami temple (with a notable marriage hall, the temple is established in the memory of Lord Vishnu and his companion Devi Laxmi). Later, drive to Chennai. On Arrival, check in at Hotel. Rest of the day at Leisure. Overnight stay in Hotel in Chennai.

Day 14
Departure from Chennai
Breakfast is taken at Hotel.  Later, transfer to Chennai International Airport to connect your flight, as per your flight schedule back home!
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