LAND OF TEMPLES - TAMIL NADU
DAY 01 CHENNAI Arrive Chennai from your home
country by midnight. Garland welcome, assistance and transfer to hotel. O/n
Hotel.
DAY 02 CHENNAI TO KANCHEEPURAM TO
MAHABALIPURAM Morning after breakfast we drive to Kancheepuram
(about 72kms/02hrs), the city of thousand temples, is one of the seven most
sacred pilgrim centre for the Hindus. Visit the Ekambareswarar &
Kailasanath Temple. Proceed to Mahabalipuram (about 60kms/02hrs), check into
the hotel. Afternoon visit the Arjuna's Penance is a bas relief sculpted on
the face of two enormous adjacent rocks, 29 metres long and seven metres
high, the Mandapas - are fairly shallow pillared halls or porticos excavated
out of the rocky hillside, The Rathas - these mid seventh century monolithic
temples were influenced by Buddhist architecture as they resemble the
monastery. Also enjoy the walk through this small seaside village where
carving in stone is still a living art; stone masons can be heard chipping
away from dawn to dusk along the roadsides. Back to hotel and relax. O/n
Hotel.
DAY 03 MAHABALIPURAM TO PONDICHERY
Morning after breakfast visit the Shore Temple by the sea is surrounded by
gardens designed according to descriptions of the original layout from
ancient texts. The temple was built at the end of the seventh century by
King Rajasimha, is unusual for its shrines to both Siva and Vishnu. Drive to
Pondichery (about 140kms/03hrs), with its distinct French colonial
atmosphere. Check into the hotel. With well-laid out streets and avenues,
the city is amongst the easiest to move around in. The city presents an
unusual combination of European culture and the Indian traditions. Visit
Aurobindo Ashram which draws devotees from all over the world. O/n Hotel.
DAY 04 PONDICHERY TO SWAMIMALAI Morning
after breakfast drive to Swamimalai (about 165kms/ 04hrs). Enroute visit
Chidambaram, the Nataraj temple dedicated to the dancing God and the temples
in Gangaikondacholapuram. Proceed and check into the 100 year old heritage
home with period interiors is located in a beautiful coconut grove on the
banks of River Cauvery. The house radiates harmony and depicts South Indian
life style. Rest of the day free to relax in this resort. O/n Resort.
DAY
05 SWAMIMALAI TO THANJAVUR Morning after a leisurely breakfast we
make a short drive to Thanjavur (about 36kms/half an hour). Check into the
hotel. Afternoon visit the Art Gallery and Saraswathy Mahal Library. The Art
Gallery contains granite and bronze statues from the 9th to 12th centuries
and the Saraswathy Mahal library contains 30,000 volumes in Sanskrit, Tamil,
Telegu, Marathi and some European languages on a variety of subjects such as
Science, Medicine, Engineering, Astronomy, Painting & Dancing. Lateron
we visit magnificent Brihadisvara Temple, known as the 'Big Temple'. The
main temple has a 62 metres high vimana (the tallest in India), topped by a
dome carved from an 80 ton block of granite. We can see an enormous Nandi,
carved out of a single block of granite six metres long. O/n Hotel.
DAY
06 THANJAVUR TO PUDUKKOTTAI TO TRICHY Morning after breakfast drive
to Pudukkottai (about 60kms/02hrs), is one of the most ancient regions in
the country. Proof of its antiquity are the pre and proto-historic dolmens,
stone circles and megalithic burial sites which have been discovered around
the area. The archeological excavations carried out also reveal that
Pudukkottai had a rich cultural heritage which found mention in the Sangam
literature. In the 17th century, it became a princely state and a number of
palaces, (the collectorate of the district is now functioning in one of
these palaces), tanks and canals were constructed by its rulers. After
visiting this small town, proceed to Tirukornam (about 05kms) to visit a
rock-cut cave temple built by Mahendravarman Pallava and an interesting
museum which has some rare exhibits in its geology, zoology, anthroplogy,
epigraphy, history and art sections. Afternoon drive to visit Karaikkudi
(about 45kms), this small town is known for its magnificent mansions
constructed by the Chettiars - a caste known as much for their prosperity as
their hospitality. Though the owners of these palatial wonders have long
scattered having left for distant shores, the beautifully carved woodwork as
well as the stone and mortar work of these houses can still be appreciated.
Take the lunch from the heritage hotel Bangla. Aftersightseeing, return to
Trichy and check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 07 TRICHY TO MADURAI Morning after
breakfast sightseeing of Trichy. Visit Rock Fort Temple, which can be seen
from miles around, stands on top of a massive outcrop of rock. The view from
the temple is superb. Proceed to Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of
river Kaveri on one side and its tributary Kollidam on the other, is a 600
acre island - town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri
Ranganathaswami Temple. There are 21 gopurams, among which the Rajagopuram
is one of the largest in South India.
Late afternoon drive to Madurai
(about 130kms/03hrs), check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax.
O/n Hotel.
DAY 08 MADURAI TO CHENNAI
Morning after breakfast visit the Meenakshi temple - an outstanding example
of the 14th century Vijaynagar architecture The temple dedicated to
Minakshi, the 'fish-eyed goddess'. The temple's nine towering stucco images
of gods, goddesses and animals are superb. Afterthat visit Thirumalai Naikar
Palace, built in 1636 in the Indo-Mughal style. Afternoo free to relax or
stroll around the avenues of this Temple town. Evening transfer to airport
to board flight to Chennai and further connecting flight to your onward
destination.
India