Tamil Nadu Temples Tour
This 08 Days tour offers visit to various historical and modern places and market areas.
Tamil Nadu Temples Tour
Tour Itinerary
Duration: (07 Nights / 08 Days)
Destinations Covered: Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Chidambaram-Kumbakonam - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Pillayarpatti-Madurai - Tiruvannamalai - Kanchipuram - Chennai
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1
Arrive Chennai
After scheduled arrival in Chennai airport or representative will escort you to the designated hotel. After freshen up explore the city and visit Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Fort St. George, St. Thomas Mount, Kapaleeswar Temple and Marina Beach.
Get back to the hotel and stay there overnight. -
2
Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (140Kms, 4.5Hrs drive)
Have breakfast early in the hotel and later drive towards Pondicherry. Enjoy sightseeing of Mahabalipuram and Shore Temple, Five Raths, and Arjuna’s Penance en route. Resume driving towards Pondicherry.
Check into a hotel upon arrival in the afternoon. After freshen up set out for the city’s tour and visit the famous Aurobindo Ashram located 10 km north of Pondicherry.
The ashram promotes Aurobindo’s ideas in bringing about a synthesis of Yoga and Modern Science as well as amalgamation of spirituality and physical world. Also, visit Auroville – a unique experiment in creating an international habitat where men and women of different nationalities live harmoniously under one roof.
Spend rest of the day in leisure activities.
Overnight stay at the hotel. -
3
Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Kumbakonam (150Kms, 4Hrs drive)
Take breakfast in the hotel and drive towards Chidambaram – a major pilgrimage site for Shaivites as well as Vaishnavites. This place is known for one of the holiest and most ancient temples of Hinduism – the Chidambaram Temple. The Chidambaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and his Cosmic dancer form – Nataraja. Later, drive towards Swamimalai which is known for Swamimalai Murugan Temple –a Hindu temple located in the township of Swamimalai. Check into a hotel upon arrival in Kumbakonam in the afternoon. After freshen up explore various temples and mathas.
There are around 188 Hindu temples within the municipal limits of Kumbakonam. Several other temples around this town lend it a name – Temple Town or City of Temples. The most important temples located in Kumbakonam are the Sarangapani temple, the Kumbeswara temple and the Ramaswamy temple.
Overnight stay at the hotel. -
4
Kumbakonam-Tanjore (55Kms, 1.5Hrs drive)-Trichy (60Kms, 2Hrs drive)
Post breakfast in the hotel drive towards Tanjore. Check into a hotel upon arrival. Later, explore this city, which was the capital of the ancient state ruled by the Cholas. Tanjore is popular for its temples and paintings. Visit the famous Brihadeeswarar temple housing a huge Shivalingam and a stone sculpture of the Nandi bull. Later, drive towards Trichy. Check into a hotel upon arrival. After freshen up, head on for the sightseeing of this small town. Visit Rock Fort, Sri Ranganathaswamy and Jambukeshwara Temples.
Overnight stay at the hotel. -
5
Trichy - Pillayarpatti (85Kms, 2Hrs drive)-Madurai (75Kms, 2Hrs drive)
Post breakfast in the hotel depart for Madurai. Visit en route Pillayarpatti, which is named after Pillayar- the Tamil name of Lord Ganesha. This ancient temple houses rock cut images of Lord Shiva and Lingodbhavar as well as several other shrines. Check into a hotel upon arrival in the afternoon. After freshen up explore this 2,600 years old famous temple town of South India. Visit the famous Meenakshi Temple and Mariamman Teppakulam (Great Tank). Later, visit Pazhamuthircholai, which is the last temple in the series of six holy places. This is located at a distance of about 20 km from Madurai. The temple of Muruga, who is flanked by Valli and Teyvayanai, is located amidst quiet and beautiful landscape. At the top of the hill is Noopura Ganga, a perennial waterfall with a temple dedicated to Raakkayi Amman. Azhagar Kovil, the temple of Sri Narayana, is also situated near Pazhamuthircholai.
Tirupparamkundran is located at a distance of eight kilometres from Madurai. This holy place is associated with the divine marriage of Lord Muruga with Tevayanai. Tiru Jana Sambhandar and Sundaramurti Swamigal, two of the Saiva Samaya quartet visited Tiruparamkundram. Revisit the Meenakshi Temple in evening for a prayer ceremony.
Stay overnight at the hotel. -
6
Madurai - Thiruvannamalai (325Kms, 6Hrs drive)
Post breakfast in the hotel drive towards Thiruvannamalai. It is home to the Annamalaiyar Temple located at the foot of Annamalai hill. It is one of the great Shiva Temples located in Tamil Nadu. Check into a hotel upon arrival. After freshen up, visit Annamalaiyar Temple – dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built between 9th and 10th centuries by the Chola kings of the Tamil empire. Indulge into shopping or other leisure activities during rest of the day.
Overnight stay at the hotel. -
7
Thiruvannamalai - Kanchipuram (130Kms, 3Hrs drive)-Chennai (75Kms)
Post breakfast in the hotel drive towards Chennai. Visit Kanchipuram en route. Enjoy the sightseeing of Kailasanthar Temple, Ekambareshwarar Temple, the Vardarajanperumal Temple and the Sakiswarar Temple as well as Crocodile Farm. Check into a hotel upon arrival. Spend rest of the day in shopping or leisure activities in Chennai.
Overnight stay at the hotel. -
8
Chennai Departure
Have breakfast in the hotel and spend rest of the day time in leisure activities till scheduled departure for airport to board a flight for respective destination.
This concludes a trip to various holiest temples and shrines in Tamil Nadu.
