Southern Temple Tour

OVERVIEW

The temples of South India have a lot to offer in terms of architectural beauty and mythological significance. These temples were commissioned by the erstwhile rulers of South India in veneration of their favorite deities. Most of these temples have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 12 days long ‘South India Temple Tour’ will cover prominent temple cities of Tamil Nadu such as Chennai, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Velankanni, Tanjore, Madurai, Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari and Trivandrum.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Guided tour of Chennai covering Marundeeswara Temple, Parthasarthy Temple, Kapaleeswarar Temple
• Visit the Kanchipuram temples- Varatharaja Temple, Kailasanatha Temple, Ekambareswara Temple and Vaikunda Perumal Temple
• Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of ‘Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram’
• Visit the Brihadeeswara Temple in Tanjore
• Visit the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai
• Visit the Rameshwaram temple, one of Lord Shiva’s jyotirlinga 

ITINERARY DETAILS

Day 01 :  Chennai (Arrival)

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Upon arrival at the Chennai airport, meet our tour representative who’ll escort you to the hotel pre-booked for your stay. After some rest, venture out for the sightseeing tour of Chennai temples covering Marundeeswara Temple, Parthasarthy Temple and Kapaleeswarar Temple. Other attractions that you will visit include Santhome Church, National Art Gallery and Fort Museum.Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 : Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram

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In the morning, leave by road for Kanchipuram. Upon arrival in Kanchipuram, embark on a sightseeing tour of Kanchipuram temples which include Varatharaja Temple, Kailasanatha Temple, Ekambareswara Temple and Vaikunda Perumal Temple. In the evening, head straight towards Mahabalipuram. Stay overnight at the hotel in Mahabalipuram.

Day 03 : Mahabalipuram 

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The 3^rd day is booked with the sightseeing tour of the shore temple complex in Mahabalipuram. Spend your entire afternoon by exploring the temple complex. In the evening, visit the beach and purchase some handicraft items to gratify your shopping instincts. Later, return to the hotel for night stay.

Day 04 : Pondicherry

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Today, drive towards Pondicherry. The places you will visit here include Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville and various other temples such as Sri Vedapureeswarar temple, Gokilambal Thirukameswarar temple, Varadarajaperumal temple, Varadraja temple, Kamatchiammalle temple and Manakula Vinayagar temple. Stay overnight at the hotel in Pondicherry.

Day 05 : Chidambaram

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The day 5 is booked for the sightseeing tour of Chidamabaram temples. The famous temples you will visit here include Brahma Temple, Sarangapani Temple, Swamimalai Temple, Nageswarar Temple and Kumbeswarar Temple. Stay overnight at the hotel in Chidamabaram.

Day 06 : Velankanni

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Start your day with a road trip to Velankanni. The place is famous for the Arokkiya Madha Church where a large number of Christians visit to pray. Stay overnight at the hotel in Velankanni.

Day 07 : Tanjore - Trichy

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On the 7^th day, head straight towards Tanjore. Upon arrival, explore the local tourist attractions which include Brihadeeswara temple, Nandi temple and the Royal Palace complex. Later, drive to Trichy and embark on a sightseeing tour of the city covering Rock-Fort Temple, Srirangam Temple, Ganapati Temple and Lord Robert Clive's house. Stay overnight in the hotel.

Day 08 : Madurai

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Today, start your journey towards Madurai. Upon arrival, go out to explore the marvelous temples and other attractions of this city. The famous places you will visit here include Meenakshi Amman temple, Gandhi Museum and Thirumalai Nayak’s Palace. Stay overnight at the hotel in Madurai.

Day 09 : Rameshwaram

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On the 9^th day, drive towards Rameshwaram. The most famous attraction of this place is Rameshwaram temple, a prominent jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. Other temples you will visit here include Ramjharoka Temple, Kothandaramaswamy Temple and Ramanatha Swamy Temple. Stay overnight at the hotel in Rameshwar.

Day 10 : Kanyakumari

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Today, leave by road for Kanyakumari, it is the city where you can witness the confluence of three mighty water bodies- Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. The famous places you will visit here include Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Suchindram Temple, Kanyakumari Temple and the Gandhi Mandapam. In the evening, enjoy a leisurely stroll on the virgin beaches of Kanyakumari. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 : Trivandrum

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In the morning, take a road journey to Trivandrum. The places you will visit here includes Aruvipuram Siva Temple, Janardhan Swamy Temple, Sree Parasurama Temple, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Ganapati Temple and Sree Kanteswaram Temple. Other places that you will visit include Chitra Art Gallery and Napier Museum. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 12 : Departure

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On the 12^th day, in the morning, you will be transferred to the airport to board the flight for onward journey.