Temples & Palaces
Temples & Palaces
Duration: 6 Nights / 7 Days
Places Covered: Madras - Mahabalipuram - Tanjore - Tirchy - Madurai - Madras
Day
01 - Arrive Madras
Arrive Madras by international flight. Assistance on arrival and transfer
to the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour.
Madras, the capital city, popularly regarded as the 'Gateway to the South'
represents a culture that is distinctly different from that of northern India.
The places of interest are Kalakshetra, a school of art and music that encourages
exponents of Bharatnatyam, Carnatic music, traditional weaving and designing;
Fort St. George built in 1653 during British reign in India, - now houes the
Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu; St. Mary's Church, the
oldest Anglican Church in India with its premies; Sri Parthasarathy Temple
built by Pallavas in the 8th century AD; Kapaliswara Temple.
Day 02 - Madras - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram, 140 km
Morning drive to Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram, 70 kms west of Mahabalipuram, this
city of thousand temples lies. One of the seven sacred cities of Hindus, it
was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC. Kanchi
was a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage
for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Apart from temples, the city is also famous
for its silk weavers, settled here some 400 years ago and have given it an
enviable reputation.
Day 03 - Mahabalipuram - Tanjore, 280 km
An early departure for Tanjore visiting enroute Pondicherry.
PONDICHERRY - Although the French influence is gradually fading, Pondicherry
retains a few Gallic accents. Pondicherry's main sights are the Rai Nivas,
the Sacred Heart Church and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram retreat was
founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual authority
passed to one of his dispiles, a French woman known as the Mother. Check-in
at the hotel for overnight.
Day 04 - Tanjore - Trichy, 56 km
Morning sightseeing tour of Tanjore. Tanjore - The home of Carnatic music,
musical instruments, dance and traditional hadicrafts, Tanjore (Thanjavur)
is famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple constructed more than
a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect's marvel.
The Art Gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal Library are also well known places
of interest.
Drive to Trichy and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05 - Trichy - Madurai, 142 km
Morning visit Rock Fort Temple. The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the
Kaveri river, Trichy's most famed land mark is an 84 m high rock, 
one
of the oldest in the world aprox.3,800 million years.The attraction is not
for fort itself but the temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead
to the top where are the inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C.
Later drive to Madurai and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 06 - Madurai - Madras flight 1350/1445 hrs
Morning sightseeing tour of Madurai Madurai, known as Athens of the East,
it is the second largest city on the banks of the River Vigai. The city believed
to be more than 2500 yeras old. The city got its name from the drops of nectar
(Mathuram) that fell from Shiva's locs when he came to bless its people for
constructing a temple for him. Madurai where the people wake up at the chant
of hymns is proud of magnificent 'The Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple. Afternoon
at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07 - Madurai - Madras
Transfer to the airport for flight to Madras.