Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai lies in the
southwestern part of India and occupies a peninsular
site originally composed of seven islets lying
off the Konkan coast of western India. Oozing
with the cocksure self-confidence of a maverick
moneymaker and carefree attitude, Mumbai is
also country's financial and commercial hub
and has a principal port on the Arabian Sea.
Day - 1 : Chennai
Arrive Chennai - the gateway to southern India,
established in 1639 by the Buddhist 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
(Excursion - Tirupathi,154kms/3.5hours)
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.
Afternoon visit the city - built in 7th century,
earlier called Mahabalipooram, this ancient
Pallava port, is today the sight of several
antique sculptural marvels. In this ancient
seaside town , shrines and huge sculptures cut-out
of rocks more than 1200 years back during the
reign of Pallava Kings in the region can be
seen. The rock carvings depicting mythological
episodes - of demons, Gods and animals in battle
and others - are truly poems in stone. The only
shore temple which remains here is the spectacular
two - spired shrine, unique because it houses
both Lord Shiva and the Lord Vishnu in its sanctum-sanctorum.
Dinner and overnite 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 (54kms/02hrs)
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 (133kms/3.5hrs)
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
(Excursion-Rameshwaram,154kms/04hrs)
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 ( 329 kms/08.50 hrs )
After breakfast drive to Trivandrum and check
in at hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Day - 11 : Trivandrum
(Excursion Kanyakumari – 87 kms/02.00
hrs )
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 of our services.