1 Mahabalipuram – 1 Kanchipuram – 1 Pondicherry – 1 Tanjavur –
Chettinad – 1 Athmanathaswamy – 1 Madurai – 1 Thekkady – 1 Alleppey –
1 Cochin
09N / 10D
DAY 01: Arrive at Chennai Airport / Railway station. Meet and greet by our representative
Mahabalipuram: The sea-side town of Mahabalipuram, with a boulder - strewn landscape, lies along the
Coromandel Coast at a distance of 60 km from Chennai (Madras). The history of this town dates back to over 2000
years; having always served as a stronghold citadel of the Hindu-Dravidian culture throughout the ages. In the
ancient times Mahabalipuram was a prominent sea-port in the Coromandel Coast, serving as a major hub of trade
and commerce with South-East Asia
Tirukazhukundram Hills: Thirukazhukundram Hills, located at a distance of 15 km from Mahabalipuram, is
famous for the grand Rudrakoteeswarar Temple. This temple, located at the foot of the hills, is set in a picturepostcard background. Another nearby attraction is the Bhaktavatsalar Temple. Both these temples are wellrenowned for their amazing architectural grandeurand historic significance.
Nithyakalyanaperumal Temple: This Hindu pilgrimage centre lies at a distance of 16 km from Mahabalipuram.
The major deity of this temple is Goddess Lakshmi. Important festivals celebrated here are Garuda Sevai on the
Tamil Month of Aani, Pooram in Aadi, and spring festival during Vaigasi.
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DAY 02: KANCHIPURAM
Lord shiva is worshipped here in the form of Prithiv Lingam. Another famous shrine here ‘Lord Ekambareswar’
belonging to the saivite sect. The temples are a perfect example of the Dravidian architectural style.. The grand
architecture of these ancient temples clearly indicates towards the South Indian style of temple architecture
(Dravidian style). The temples of Kanchipuram were built by different dynasties, each enriching and refining the
architecture further. The Pallava kings were great lovers of art, architecture and learning
Kailasanath Temple: The Kailasanatha temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the oldest temple of Kanchi. It reflects
the freshness and simplicity of the early Dravidian style of temple architecture and was built by the Pallava king
Rajasimha. It can also be described as the worthy successor of the rock temples at Mahabalipuram, which were also
built by the Pallava rulers.
Sri Ekmbarathar: Sri Ekambarabathar Temple is also dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the largest temples in the
city of Kancheepuram, and sprawls in an area of 12 hectares. The origin of this temple goes back to the time of the
Pallavas and the Chola rulers extended it later. The great ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire, Krishnadevaraya, built
its 59 meter high Gopuram or gateway and massive outer walls in the early 16th century.
Kamakshi Amman Temple: The impressive Kamakshi Amman Temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvatahi in the
form of Kamakshi or the goddess of Love. The sanctum sanctorum of this temple can be reached by passing through
a large mandapam (hall) with ornate pillars.
Devarajaswami Tempe: The huge Devarajaswami temple, built by the rulers of the Vijayanagar kingdom is
dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the principle Hindu Gods. The temple has an exquisitely sculpted pillared hall. It
also has a similar marriage hall, commemorating the celestial wedding of Lord Vishnu with Goddess Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth and prosperity. .
Vaikuntha perumal temple: The Vaikuntha Perumal temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and was built shortly after
the construction of the Kailasanatha temple. The covered passages inside the outer walls of this temple are
supported by lion pillars, which are representative of the first phase in the architectural evolution of the grand
thousand pillared mandapams built later within many of the south Indian temples.
VaradarajaTemple: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is worshipped as Devarajaswamy here. This temple has a
pillaredhall, built by the Vijayanagar kings presenting the skillfulness of their artists.
DAY 03: Pondicherry
The capital city of this union territory is Pondicherry. It covers a total land area of 492 Square Kilometers. The
population of this town is 9,73,829. The main languages spoken here are Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English and
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French. There are four
districts which
comprise this territory namely Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahe. The best season to visit Pondicherry is
between July and February. This town is connected by airways, by railways, and
by roadways. Pondicherry is a peaceful city. Pondicherry is referred by names such as ‘Quintessence of French
Culture’, ‘India’s Little France’ and ‘The French Riviera of the East’.
PondicheryMuseum: Walking into the Pondicherry Museum is like going back in time to the days of French rule in
the town. There are entire suites – a dining hall, bedroom, salon and office room completely furnished with
antiques, gilt furniture, porcelain, and knick knacks of the French styles in vogue at the time.
Botonical Garden: Some exquisite marble pieces like 'Cupid and Psyche', 'Venus and spring' are worth seeing. In the
bedroom is the lovely four-poster bed that belonged to the Governor Dupleix. C.S. Perrotet established Botanical
Gardens, a beautiful tourist attraction in Pondicherry in 1826. The garden encloses a good collection of exotic and
rare plants and also houses an aquarium
Mansion of Ananda Rangapillai: Built in 1773, this mansion is a fine specimen of Indo-French architecture.
Ananda Rangapillai was the courtier of Joseph Francois Dupleix, the Governor. The diary which Rangapillai
maintained between 1736-60 is a book of great value as a source of information on the history of Pondicherry and
the French in India
DAY 04: Thanjavur
Thanjavur District is the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. The Big Temple and the other famous temples in the district are
known all over the world. Thanjavur was the cultural capital of the country in 1790. Thanjavur gained prominence
during the period of Chola Kings, who made it as their capital. Thereafter, it was ruled by Nayaks and Maratta
Kings, who nurtured art and culture. The cultural, the architectural and the scholarly pursuits of these rulers are
reflected in the great monuments like Grand Anaicut, Big Temple and Serfoji Mahal Library etc. in the district.
Brihadeshwara Temple & Fort: Built by great Chola king in the 10th century it is an outstanding example of Chola
architecture and is listed in world heritage. On the top of the apex of 63 metres high, a dome is said to be
constructed from a single piece of granite, weighing an estimated 81 tones. The dome was hauled into place along a
6 km earthwork ramp in a manner similar to the one used by the Egyptian Pyramids. The temple has been the sense
of continuous worship for over thousand years. Only Hindus are allowed inside.
Thanjavur Palace & Museum: the palace near the temple is a vast building of masonry built by the Nayakas
around 1550 and partly by the Maratha. Two of the palace towers, the Armoury and the observation tower are
visible from all parts of the city. The palace houses an art gallery, a library and a hall of music.
Royal Museum: Like various other tourist attractions in Thanjavur, The Royal Museum too is located in the
Thanjavur Palace complex only. The museum is one of its kinds in peninsular India as it houses mixed collections of
manuscripts, weapons, utensils, musical instruments and clothing that were used by the Royal Family of Thanjavur.
Schwartz Church: Schwartz Church is a living example of religious tolerance of Cholas. Rajah Serfoji built the
Church that stands in the Thanjavur Palace garden in the year 1779 AD in token of his affection for the C. V.
Schwartz who belonged to the Danish Mission. The architecture is a welcome break from the Chola temple
architecture that dominates the city of Tanjore.
Siva Ganga Tank: Siva Ganga Tank stands in a garden near the Thanjavur Palace. The tank that is still in use was
known for its sweet water that was the chief source of drinking for the habitants of Tanjore Palace.
DAY 05: Chettinad
The city of Chettinad is situated in the southern part of TamilNadu in the district ofSivaganga. The name of
Chettinad comes from the famous Nattukottai Chettiar community who inhabit this region. They are well known for
the background in banking and business. Though many members of this community had earlier migrated to
different Southeast Asian countries presently many members of this community are also settled in many western
countries as well.
Chettinad Museum: The Chettinad Museum was once a magnificent residence which has now been converted into
the museum. Its valuable exhibits include exclusive pieces of jewelry, old artifacts, traditional household and
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kitchen equipment,
textiles, and other items identified with the peculiar lifestyle of the community
elaborately hand-woven
Meenakshisundareswar Temple: This is the one of the main attractions of the town. Also called Sivan Temple, the
shrine was constructed 1872. This temple boasts 108 statues of Ganapathy Vinayak
ATHMANATHASWAMY: Athmanathaswamy temple, built during 10th century, is a famous temple in Chettinad
region. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and historically related to the life of Shiva devotee saint
Manickavasagar. The temple displays graceful life-size sculptures. The granite roof of the temple is very attractive.
ARAIKUDY: Karaikudi is located in Sivagangai district between Thiruchirapalli - Rameswaram High road. It got its
name because of the famous plant called "karai" which is widely spread over this area. The famous temple Pillaiyar
Patti is 12 kms away from Karaikudi. The city is known for Sri Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple, also known as
Shiva temple which has 108 statues of Ganapathi. Sekkalai is located at the northeast of Karaikudi, and was known
as Jain Kunda Puram. In the North-east of Karaikudi is Muthu Pattinam which is known for Muthu Mariamman
Temple. At the centre is Kallukatti where the famous temple Koppudaiamman is located. The river Thennar flows
through south Karaikudi. "Tamil Thai Kovil," "Kamban Manimandapam," the "Vallal Allagappar Statue," "Kaviaraser
Kannadhasan Manimandapam and Statue" brings honour to Karaikudi.
DAY 06: MADURAI
The name Madurai is associated with ‘Maduram’ meaning nectar. The legend is that when Lord Siva came here to
marry Devi Meenakshi, few drops of nectar fell from His locks and therefore named as Madurapuri, the land of
nectar which was shortened later as Madurai. Madurai is located on the banks of river Vaigai. This ancient city is
about 2600 years old. This city is referred to as the Athens of the East. This is the place where the tradition of the
Tamilians got its emergence and grew popular. The Tamil literature flourished due to the kings, nobles and poets
who dwelled in this part of the ancient Tamilnadu. The three Tamil Academies (Sangams) evolved and flourished
here. According to mythologies and history, this is the oldest city of Tamil Nadu. Ramayana and Arthasasthra the
great epics had something to do with Madurai. From the Sangam Age, it was the capital of the Pandyas and except
for a brief spell under the Cholas till the Muslim invasion by Mlik Kafur (1290 -1320 A.D
MEENAKSHI TEMPLE - One of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage, the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar
temple is located at the heart of the city. Built by Kulasekara Pandya in the pre-Christian era, the temple was in
ruins before it was rebuilt by Tirumalai Nayak. Spread over six hectares, the temple is an outstanding example of
Vijayanagar temple architecture. The temple has four entrances to it and its gopurams (large gateways) and
mandapams (multi-pillared halls)are covered from top to bottom in a profusion of multi-colored images of gods,
goddesses. The southern gopuram, which is about 48.4-metre-high is the most spectacular of all gopurams, and has
over 1,500 sculptures
TIRUMALAI NAYAK MAHAL - About 1 km from the Meenakshi Temple is the palace of Tirumalai Nayak.
Constructed in 1523, this Indo-Saracenic building was originally four times as large as it is today. Its dome, which
lies beyond a huge courtyard and rises to a height of 20 metres without any support, is a magnificent example of the
engineering skills of its builders.
KOODAL AZHAGAR TEMPLE - Two kms to the west of Madurai is located the Koodal Azhagar Temple, an ancient
Vaishnavite temple. The temple has a statue that depicts Lord Vishnu in three poses.
VANDIYUR MARIAMMAN TEPPAKULAM - Five kms east of the Meenakshi temple is a tank called Vandiyur
Mariamman Teppakulam. At the centre of the tank is an idol of Lord Vinayaka or Vigneshwara installed on a
platform. The tank was built by Tirumalai Nayak in 1646 and is connected to the Vaigai River by underground
channels.
DAY 07: Thekkady
About Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
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Set high in the ranges of
the Western Ghats, in
God’s Own Country, Kerala, is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Periyar wildlife sanctuary has a
picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders
around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Though its a
Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the Indian elephants in the act of ablution and playfulness by the Periyar
lake.
Major Wildlife Attractions in Periyar National Park:
Apart from Elephants, the other animals to be seen in the Periyar sanctuary are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking
Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog and very rarely, a Tiger. There are, now, an estimated 40 tigers here.
Four species of primates are found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur and
Bonnet Macaque. Periyar also happens to be the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be seen.
The birdlife comprises of Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, the great Malabar Hornbill and racket-tailed Drongoes.
The reptilian population boasts Of Monitor Lizards that can be spotted basking in the sun, on the rocks along the
lakeshore. Visitors who trek into the Periyar national park often see a Python and sometimes even a King Cobra.
In the lap of the mountains, the Periyar wildlife sanctuaries environ is like a canvas of many shades. The fresh air of
the moist deciduous forest gives one a chance to experience the peace and serenity and long to return for more.
DAY08 :ALLEPPEY
Alleppey or Alappuzha's beauty is not merely in its backwaters, but in the man-made islands that you will find
amidst the waters. These islands are hedged by mud walls, a haven for migratory birds, with paddy fields inundated
with water throughout the year. These fields stand below sea level. R Block is especially famous for the fresh toddy
served to guests. Alleppy is also known as the Venice of the East. Enjoy an evening walk in the villages –
DAY 09: COCHIN
Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the
breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over
the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the
Gateway to Kerala.Kochi is the arguably the ideal starting point for exploring the unfathomable diversity and beauty
of Kerala, rated in the top three tourist destinations by the World Travel & Tourism Council and featured in National
Geographic Traveler's '50 greatest places of a lifetime'
Fort Kochi & Mattancheri:
The Chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of
the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Oddly, these nets are found only in Kochi, outside China!
Over night stay at Cochin.
Day 10 : After breakfast checkout from hotel and proceed for onward journey
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