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Day
-1
- Chennai
Your exploration in Tamil Nadu will start from Chennai (formerly known as
Madras) owes its origins to the British Empire, which established a
fort-Fort St.George-and trading post here in the 17th century. Chennai is
today the 4th largest city in the country.
Arrival
at Chennai meet and assistance at the airport by our representative and
transfer to your hotel. Later in the evening enjoy the drive through
Marina Beach-considered one of the longest beaches in the world, the
Marina is about 12 Kms long and is the favorite place for evening
promenades. Overnight at the hotel in Chennai.
Day
- 2 - Chennai
To day after breakfast
proceed to visit:
Fort St.George: The fort, built in the 17th century by the British East
India Company is one of the finest example of British military
construction in India.
High
Court & Light House: Built in 1892,it is said to be the largest
judicial builting in the world after the courts of London.
St.Andrews
Church: The Kirk as its popularly referred to, with a 55m steeple was
completed in 1821 in the classical style.
St.Thomas
Mount: Situated between the airport and the city, this tiny cave is where
St.Thomas lived and preached when he came to India in 58 AD.
Day
- 3 - Chennai
- Mahabalipuram
After breakfast check out and drive to Mahabalipuram.On the way to
Mahabalipuram, we visit Cholamandal Artist's Village. Many years ago about
30 painters and sculptures got together and acquired this land so that
they could work in comparative peace.
Mahabalipuram
itself, or Mammallapuram as it was originally called, is ancient sea port
named after Mammala or Narasimha Varman 1,the Pallava ruler who set up his
capital here and established a center of sculpture and art in the seventh
century AD.
One
very good reason for driving down to Mahabs is the drive itself. There are
more than 40 carved monuments here but the must-see are Shore Temple, the
great open -air bas relief called Arjunna's Penance and the Five Ratha.
Crocodile Bank -A unique wildlife park created by famous conservationist
Romulus Whitaker, it saves several crocodile and Alligator species
from extinction.
Day
- 4 - Mahabalipuram
This day is free for leisure at Mahabalipuram and surrounding or you can
spent the whole day at Kovalam Beach.
Day
- 5 - Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry
After breakfast check out and drive to Pondicherry.A former French colony
settle in the 18th century. Pondicherry is indeed is a beautiful Indian
town with traces of French culture still intact and an ashram by the sea.
Walking
is the best way to see Pondicherry.A walk around the white Town-begin at
the southern end of Goubert Salai, also known as Beach Road-will take you
past most of Pondicherry's sights: the palace de la Republique, the Light
house, the French War Memorial, the statue of Joan of Arc, the church of
Our Lady of the Angels, the Pondicherry Museum and the Government Garden.
Day
- 6 - Pondicherry
Day free for explore Pondicherry.We will visit:
(1)
The Aurobindo Ashram: This ashram is now one of the most popular and
affluent in India today.
(2)
The Pondicherry Museum: This building with its huge rooms, wide windows
and high ceilings is itself worth a visit.
(3)
Shopping: Pondicherry is excellent for pottery, handmade paper products,
candles, incense sticks and other new age accoutrements.
Day
- 7 - Pondicherry
–Trichy
Travel
by road to Trichy, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening free to relax,
overnight in Trichy.
Day
- 8 - Trichy
After breakfast take a sight seeing tour of Trichy. Trichy the
most famous landmark of this bustling town - the Rock Fort Temple, a
spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky outcrop, which rises
abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. It is reached by a
flight of steep steps cut into the rock and from its summit you get a
fantastic view of the town plus its other main landmark, the Sri
Ranganathanswami Temple. This temple is one of the largest and most
interesting temple complexes in India, built on an island in the middle of
the Cauvery River and covering a staggering 2.5 sq km
and Jambukeshwara Temples. Evening drive back to hotel or take a walk
through old city particularly big bazaar street and China bazaar.
Overnight in Trichy.
Day
- 9 - Trichy –
Thanjavur
Later travel by road to Tanjore, (Thanjavur)
which was the ancient capital of Chola kings. Visit the Brihadeshwara
temple, which was built by Raja and is termed as the crowning glory
of Chola temple architecture. This temple is one of the monuments in India
with World Heritage listing. Also visit the Thanjavur
Palace, which was constructed in 1550 and has huge corridors,
spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers. Overnight at Thanjavur.
Day
- 10 -
Thanjavur
–Swamimali – Thanjavur
Travel by road to Swamimalai, 8km west of Kumbakonam, is reversed as one
of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan, Shiva’s son, whom Hindu
mythology records become his father’s religious teacher on a hill here.
But of more interest to non-Hindu are the hereditary bronze-casters
workshops dotted around the bazaar and outlying hamlets. Drive back to
Thanjavur and overnight stay at hotel in Thanjavur.
Day
– 11 - Thanjavur-Madurai
On early morning check out and drive to Madurai-one of south India's most
ancient city. The Meenakshi Temple in the heart of the old town is the
supreme attraction here. A rightfully flamboyant example of Dravidian
architecture it has gopurams covered from top to bottom with vibrant
images of deities, animals and mythical figures.
Day
- 12 - Madurai
After breakfast take a sight seeing of Madurai visiting the Meenakshi
Temple, Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Gandhi Museum, Government Museum, Koodal
Alagar Temple and Vandiyur Mariamman Teepakulam.Overnight at the hotel in
Madurai.
Day
- 13 - Madurai-Kodaikannal
After breakfast check out and drive to Kodaikanal-situated on the southern
crest of the Palani Hills at an altitude of 2100 M is this charming
retreat of Kodikanal.Set up as a sanatorium in 1845 by the American Madura
Mission, Kodai holds a unique distination. It happens to be the only hill
station in India to be established by Americans.
Day
- 14
- Kodaikannal
The town is a maze of churches, hotels, restaurants, touts and homemade
signs advertising homemade chocolates. No sightseeing tour of Kodai can
commence without the customary amble down Croaker’s Walk a strip of
paves road on the steep southern mountainside. Later take sight seeing of
Kodai visiting the Bryant’s Park, Green Valley View Point, Pillar
Rock, and Silver Cascade.
Day
- 15 - Kodaikannal-Madurai
Check out from the hotel and drive to Madurai to catch your flight to
Chennai.On arrival transfer to the international airport in
time to board connecting flight for onward destination. Tour concludes.
How to plan your tours:
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and travel itineraries for Kerala and South India… We also offer most
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at our site to chalk out your tour plan or write us… your choice of destination
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