South India Temple Tour

Arrive Chennai airport and transfer to your hotel in a ITH safe vehicle. Arrive hotel and complete check in formalities. Time to freshen up. Afternoon, proceed to visit Sri Parthasarathyswamy Temple which is a 6th Century Hindu Vaishnaivite temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it happens to be the oldest temple in the city. Post temple visit proceed to Marina Beach which is the second longest beach in the world. This beach is renowned for its sandy shore & it is one of the most loved destination by tourists. Here, you will also be able to view the Ice House, a storage place that was used by Britishers to store ice brought from the great lakes in Northern America. After the visit, return back to your hotel. Overnight stay at Chennai hotel.

Enjoy buffet breakfast at the hotel, post breakfast, proceed for temple tour, this tour starts by visiting Kapaleeswarar temple which is located in Mylapore. The temple has some gorgeous sculptures & it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Post this visit Sri Ramakrishna Math temple. Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai is a monastic organisation for men brought into existence by Ramakrishna, a 19th-century saint of Bengal. The motto of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission is: "For one's own salvation, and for the welfare of the world". Transfer to local restaurant to enjoy traditional south Indian lunch (at own expense). Post Lunch, you can visit Adyar Banyan Tree in Theosophical society said to be second largest tree in India followed by visit to Ashtalakshmi temple located on the shores of Besant Nagar Ellliots Beach.This is the only temple dedicated to Sri Mahalakshmi on the east coast in Tamilnadu. Post this return to your hotel. Overnight stay at Chennai hotel.

Today Morning, post early buffet breakfast, check-out from your hotel drive towards Kanchipuram about 75 kms from Chennai, known as the City of a Thousand Temples. Kanchipuram is one of the seven holy cities in India. Not only famous for temples, but also known for its handloom industry, Kanchipuram has the finest weavers of silk and cotton sarees in the country. You will visit Kailasanathar Temple, which was built in 8th Century A.D and is famous for its excellent carvings. The inner walls of the temple are ornamented with shade style paintings. Next you will visit Vaikunta Perumal Temple that was built by the Nandivarma Pallava in 8th century. The description of the bravery of the Pallavas Battle scenes is carved on the surroundings of the main prakaram. Later you will visit the silk city, this city is famed for its Kanchipuram silk sarees all over the country. The weavers settled in Kanchipuram are more than 400 years old. Experience the technique of weaving by watching the weavers weaving the silk sarees. Later drive to Mahabalipuram which is around 70 Kms from Kanchipuram. Arrive hotel and complete check in formalities. Time to relax. Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram hotel.

After your breakfast, check out and proceed for a sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram, well known for its stone sculpt and one of the major seaports of the ancient Pallava Kingdom. Visit the famous Panch Rathas, which belongs to the five Pandava’s of Mahabhratha. Here you can see that the monuments are craved only out of the single rock. Post this visit shore temples at Mahabalipuram, the seven beautiful temples built near the seashore, which are known as the seven pagodas. This structural temple was created in the Dravidian style and is one of the oldest South Indian Temples. After the visit drive to Pondicherry around 95 kms from Mahabalipuram. Pondicherry, with a rich cosmopolitan culture was the part of the former French colony. One can find diversity in language, as the natives of Pondicherry speak French, English, Tamil, and Malayalam. Arrive Pondicherry and check into your hotel. Overnight stay at Pondicherry hotel.

Enjoy buffet breakfast at the hotel then proceed for a sightseeing tour of Pondicherry. Visit the Aurovilla near Pondicherry, an interesting experience of the spiritual community set up with the aim of human unity. Aurovilla means the “City of Dawn” and was founded by the Sri Aurobindo Society. Post this visit Mantri Mandir, a meditation spot. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant (at your own cost). Post lunch, visit is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, situated on rue de la Marine. It is one of the wealthiest and well-known ashrams in India and was built where Sri Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa lived till the end of their life. Later visit the Pondicherry Museum, which is located on Saint Louis Street. Her you would find some of the abundant collections of rare bronze and stone sculptures from different dynasties. You will also visit the Geology room, Fossil room, countless collection of coins and handicrafts and great French furniture. Return to your hotel. Overnight stay at Pondicherry hotel.

Enjoy buffet breakfast at the hotel, check out and proceed to Pichavaram (around 75 kms from Pondicherry). Pichavaram is located between the Vellar estuary in the north and Coleroon estuary in the south. The Vellar-Coleroon estuarine complex forms the Killai backwater and houses mangroves that are permanently rooted in a few feet of water. Post this proceed to Chidambaram around 15 kms from Pitchavaram to visit the famous ancient Shiva temple and the Nataraj Temple. The temple is spread over 40 acres with a gopuram on each side. The 108 poses of Bharatanatyam are carved on the eastern gopuram. The roof is covered with gold Plates. Post this drive to Chennai from Chidambaram (around 225 kms) and after the visit, return back to your hotel and Overnight stay at Chennai.

Post buffet breakfast and checkout from the Hotel then transfer to Chennai airport to board your flight.