Religious South India
Duration : 11 Nights / 12 Days
Places to See : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mamallapooram
- Tiruvannamalai - Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai -
Trivandrum
Day
1: Chennai
Arrive Chennai - the gateway to southern India, established in 1639 by the East
India Company, is one of the oldest cities of the country. Assistance and transfer
to hotel.
After lunch at hotel, half day sightseeing tour, visiting Gandhi Memorial, Kala
Kshetra, Mylapore temple and Marine beach. Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 2: Chennai
After breakfast, proceed to Tirupathi. Lunch at local restaurant Tirupathi is
a temple town known for the famous ancient temple of Lord Venkateswara (Lord
of seven hills or Balaji, as he is affectionately known ) on the top of the
860mts high Tirumala hills. The temple of Lord Venkateswara is not only believed
to be amongst the oldest temples in the country, but also the richest of them
all .Legend has it that Lord Venkateswara borrowed money from the divine treasurer
Kubera for his wedding expenses. He is still paying back this debt which is
why the pilgrims donate generously to the temple funds. In the evening return
to Chennai for dinner and overnite stay.
Day 3: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mamallapooram
After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram ( 76 kms/01.50 hrs ) - is the ancient capital
of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines.
The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and
has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara , Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi
and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.
Lunch at local restaurant and later drive to Mamallapooram and check in at hotel.
Day 4: Mamallapooram - Tiruvannamalai - Pondicherry
After breakfast drive to Tiruvannamallai(112kms/03hrs)- a pilgrim centre with
an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. After lunch at local restaurant, proceed to
Pondicherry (131kms/ 3.5hrs), which carries a strong whiff of the French presence
in India. This erstwhile French colony on the east coast of South India merged
with the rest of the country in 1954. Legend says that Pondicherry is the place
where St.Agasthaya settled down. Checkin ,dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day
5: Pondicherry
After breakfast drive to visit Aurbindo Ashram, the city of dawn, which is 10kms
north of Pondicherry. This ashram promotes Aurbindo's ideas in bringing about
a synthesis of Yoga and modern science, so as to unite the spirit and matter.
After lunch at hotel, visit Auroville - a unique experiment in international
living and in creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities
live together in harmony. Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 6: Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Tanjore
After breakfast drive to Chidambaram(65kms/1.5hrs) also called as Thillai, which
has the famous Nataraja temple with the root of the sanctum-sanctorum covered
with golden plates is located in the centre of the town covering an area of
40 acres. In this temple, postures from the Bharatnatayam form of dance are
depicted in sculpture. Natraja is Lord Shiva as a cosmic dancer. After lunch
at local restaurant, drive to Thanjavur (104kms/03hrs) enroute visiting the
Brass factory at Kumbakonam. Tanjore once the capital of Chola Kings, has the
Brahadeswara temple(or the big temple of God).The temple tower rises to a height
of 15mts from a square base of 29 mts and then tapers off, making a total of
66mts.Checkin, dinner and overnite at hotel .
Day 7: Tanjore - Trichy
After breakfast leave for Trichy, short name of Trichurapalli, situated on the
banks of Kaveri River is a blend of history and tradition as well as pilgrim
centre, it is famous for Ranganath temple at Srirangam. Checkin at hotel. After
lunch city tour visiting Rock fort and its temple at a height of over 23mts.
Also visit Srirangam and Jambukeshwar Temple. Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 8: Trichy
- Madurai
After breakfast proceed to Madurai and checkin at hotel. The ancient city of
Madurai, some 2600 years old is laid out in the banks of river Vaigai as a lotus
flower with the Meenakshi temple in the centre. After lunch city tour visiting
- Meenakshi temple, King Tirumala's Palace, Great tank and Gandhi museum. Dinner
and overnite at hotel.
Day
9: Madurai
After breakfast proceed to Rameshwaram- the most sacred temple town of India
is an island hallowed by the epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama is said to have
visited before going into battle of Srilanka. Legend has it that Lord Rama sent
Hanuman to Mount Kailash to bring a Lingam for worship when he set foot after
defeating Ravana. As Hanuman did not return when the auspicious hour was approaching,
Sita made a sand Lingam so that worship could be performed in time, which is
where the present day Ramanatha Swamy Temple stands close to sea on the eastern
side of the island. One of the twelve Jyotirlingam shrines is also well known
for its magnificent corridors and the massive sculptured pillars lining them.
Lunch at local restaurant. Return to Madurai for dinner and overnite stay at
hotel.
Day 10: Madurai - Trivandrum
After breakfast drive to Trivandrum and check in at hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 11:
Trivandrum
After breakfast proceed for Kanyakumari - is the land's end of India where the
water of the Arabian Sea , the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. An important
pilgrim centre of India , it is famous for the Amman Temples - a symbol of unity
and sanctity - deidicated to the virgin Goddess , Kanya Kumari. To its South
- East lies the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial , a blend of all the architectural
styles of India. Lunch at local restaurant. Evening enjoy the beautiful sun
set and later return to Trivandrum. Dinner and overnite at hotel.
Day 12: Tivandrum - Back Home
After breakfast transfer to airport to connect flight for onward journey. End
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