Lying across the Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu boasts of its magnificent history that narrates the glorious tales of the rise and fall of various dynasties – the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pallavas. Each city vaunts of its enriching customs and traditions that these dynasties have bequeathed to the place. Strolling across palm trees, banana plantations, and rice fields, I was able to find some rejuvenating yoga and meditation retreats that bestowed a relaxing and soothing experience.
Day 01 Arrive Chennai (By Flight)
Upon your arrival at Chennai airport or railway station.
Our tour representative will assist you with transfer to the hotel pre-booked for your stay. On reaching the hotel, check into our room and retire for the day. Chennai has numerous tourist designations which you can explore by yourself. You can visit Marina Beach and spend some time there with your loved ones. Check out the colonial remnants in its charming architecture and monuments. Spend time exploring one of the humblest metro cities in India.
Overnight stay in Chennai.
Day 02 Chennai–Kanchipuram–Mahabalipuram (By Road) (145 Km/ 3H 50M)
After breakfast leave by private car to Mahabalipuram on the way stop at Kanchipuram. On arrival city tour of Mahabalipuram.
Kanchipuram: Situated in the northern part of Tamil Nadu, Kanchipuram is the city of thousand temples and one of the seven most sacred pilgrim centres for the Hindus. Tourist Attractions: The Ekambaranathar Temple, Vaikunta Perumal Temple, Varadaraja Temple, Kailasanathar Temple and the Kamakshi Amman Temple.
Mahabalipuram: The temple town of Mahabalipuram is famous for its various temples and other attractive features. This 7th century city of the Pallavas is considered pioneer in the Dravidian architectural style. The city was earlier called Mallapuram and was a famous trading port of Pallavas. During your Mahabalipuram tour, you will come across many interesting tourism spots. Some of the best ones are as follows.
Overnight in Mahabalipuram.
Day 03 Mahabalipuram
After breakfast, full day city tour of Mahabalipuram.
Overnight in Mahabalipuram.
Arjuna’s Penance – Arjuna’s Penance is the pride of not only Mahabalipuram and Tamilnadu but also of India. Arjuna’s Penance is the world’s largest bas-relief that measures 27 meters and 9 meters along its length and breadth respectively. This huge whaleback shaped rock contains figures of Gods, Demigods, Men, Beasts and Birds. The whole structure looks like the penance of Arjuna, the Pandava prince and one of the protagonists of Indian epic Mahabharata; hence the name.
Five Rathas – Five Rathas are the one of the most magnificent tourist attractions at Mahabalipuram Beaches. Five Rathas are actually five monolithic temples, each created in a different style. They are modeled around chariots that are called ‘Rathas’ in Hindi. They are also known as the ‘Pancha Pandava Rathas’, which means that each one of them represent 5 Pandavas, the protagonists of Indian epic Mahabharata..
Dakshinachitra – A must visit site on the Mahabalipuram beach is Dakshinachitra, a heritage village that is the brainchild of the Ministry of Culture. The village falls to your left when you start moving from Chennai to Mahabalipuram.
Shore Temples – Shore Temple is one of the oldest temples in South India and the oldest one based on the Dravidian style architecture. It belongs to the early 8th century AD and is considered a pioneer in the Dravidian temple art. The monuments are floodlit at night in order to make it visible in the night. In fact, the temple looks great in moonlit night.
Day 04 Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry – Tanjore (By Road) (275 Km/ 6H 31M)
Today, in the morning after breakfast, take a road trip to Tanjore.
On the way visit, Pondicherry, Chidambaram and Kumbakonam.
Also known as Thanjavaur, it is a city with roots in historical Chola Empire. On reaching Tanjore, venture out of your hotel and visit the famous Brihadewswara Temple, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 05 Tanjore – Trichy (By Road) (64 Kms. / 1H 20M appx.)
Post breakfast starts for Trichy. The city located on the banks of River Kaveri has numerable attractions. The first stopover of the day is the famous Ranganath Temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Seeks blessings at the temple and spend some time in serenity.
Also, pay a visit to the temples at Jambukeshwar and Srirangam.
Return for night stay in the hotel in Trichy.
Day 06 Trichy – Madurai (By Road) (136 Kms. / 2H 30M appx.)
Post breakfast, drive to Madurai which is the City famous for Meenakshi Temple. Upon your arrival at the Madurai, you will have an assisted transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, you will embark on the half-day sightseeing trip in which you will cover Tirumala Palace and the Gandhi Museum. You will also get an opportunity to visit the Meenakshi Temple and explore the intricate designs and beauty of the temple. Later in the evening, return to the hotel and enjoy the dinner at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Madurai.
Day 07 Madurai
Start your day with a leisurely breakfast. The day is unplanned and left at your convenience. Excursion to Rameswaram holy sea is advised. The town has connection to the legend of Ramayana.
Pay a visit to the famous temple, situated on the seaside.
Return for overnight stay.
Day 08 Madurai – Kanyakumari (By Road) (245 Kms. / 4H 10M appx.)
In the morning after breakfast, leave for Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of India.
Pay a visit to the Amman Temple, Vattakottai Fort and the Vivekananda Rock.
Overnight in Kanyakumari.
Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of peninsular India and the meeting point of three oceans-the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Besides its importance as a Hindu pilgrim center, it is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise and sunset over the waters. The multicolored sand is a unique feature of the beach here.
Kanyakumari was once referred to as the Alexandria of the east. This place has been a great center for art, culture, civilization, and pilgrimage for years. It was also a famous center for commerce and trade. During the early part of the eighth century AD Islam entered the southern part of India through the sea route with traders and missionaries. Through St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, Christianity arrived in this area in AD 52. Islam, Christianity and Jainism have greatly contributed to the architectural wealth and literary heritage of this place. Kanyakumari was also under the control of the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas and the Nayaks who were great rulers of south India. The architectural beauty of the temples is the work of these rulers.
During the British Raj, Kanyakumari was bestowed the dry title of Cape Comorin, necessitated perhaps by the Englishmen’s inability to pronounce local names.
Legend has it that Kanya Devi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati, was to wed Lord Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu trinity. But he did not turn up at the auspicious time and the wedding never took place. The rice and cereals meant for the marriage remained uncooked. Even today, one can buy stones there that look exactly like rice and cereals. Local folks believe that they are the leftovers of the legendary marriage that could not be solemnized. As for the princess Kanya Devi, she became a virgin goddess blessing pilgrims and tourists alike.
Day 09 Kanyakumari
Day 10 Kanyakumari
After breakfast, beach relax in Kanyakumari.
Overnight in Kanyakumari.
Day 11 Kanyakumari – Trivandrum (By Road) (96 Kms. / 3H 10M appx.)
Post breakfast in the hotel proceed to Trivandrum.
The city has attractions like Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kovalam Beach, Neyyar Dam, Padmanabhapuram Palace and Sucheendram Temple.
Spend day exploring at your pace.
Return to relax in the hotel at night.
Day 12 Depart Trivandrum (By Flight)
Departure transfer to Trivandrum airport for flight to onward destination.
| City | Night (s) | 5* Hotels |
| Chennai | 01 | The Accord Metropolitan |
| Mahabalipuram | 02 | Chariot Beach Resort |
| Tanjore | 01 | Svatma Hotel |
| Trichy | 01 | Ramyas Hotel |
| Madurai | 02 | Heritage Madurai |
| Kanyakumari | 03 | Sparsa Resort |
| Trivandrum | 01 | Hilton Garden Inn |
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– Meet assist at the airport and hotels.
– 11 nights hotel accommodation as per the program.
– Daily breakfast and dinners.
– Entrance fees to the monuments.
– Explore the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai
– Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Mahabalipuram
– Visit the Brahadeswara Temple at Tanjore
– Explore the famous Ranganath Temple at Trichy city
– Visit to temples at Jambukeshwar and Srirangam in Trichy
– Trip to Meenakshi Temple, Tirumala Palace and the Gandhi Museum in Madurai
– Take a holy dip at the Dhanushkodi sea at Rameswaram
– Visit to the Amman Temple, Vattakottai Fort and the Vivekananda Rock at Kanyakumari
– Excursion to Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kovalam Beach, Neyyar Dam and Padmanabhapuram Palace.
– Local English / French / German / Italian / Spanish / Chinese / Russian speaking guide.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions by private AC vehicle.
– All taxes.
– Tips
– International Air Fare
– Visa Fees
– Travel Insurance
– Personal expenses and drinks.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.