Visit to Best Temples of South India
Overview
South India Temple Tour Most of the popular temples of South India are located in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. This tour package is designed to cover temples of Tamil Nadu with excursion to the Tirupathi temple of Andhra Pradesh. You will also visit some smaller temples during your journey through the interior parts. Watch cultural shows, mostly classical dances during your tour to the temples of South India. The travel itinerary can be customized exactly as per your requirements.
Brief Itinerary :
Day 1 : Arrival at Chennai
Night stay at Chennai.
Day 2 : Chennai
Sight seeing tour and night stay.
Day 3 : Chennai - Tirupathi - Chennai
Full day excursion tour to Tirupathi temple. Night stay at Chennai.
Day 4 : Chennai - Kancheepuram - Mahabalipuram
Visit temples. Night stay at Mahabalipuram.
Day 5 : Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry.
On the way visit temple of Thiruvannamalai. Night stay at Pondicherry.
Day 6 : Pondicherry
Sight seeing and night stay at Pondicherry.
Day 7 : Pondicherry to Tanjore
On the way visit Chidambaram temple. Night stay at Tanjore.
Day 8 : Tanjore to Trichy
Visit temples and night stay at Trichy.
Day 9 : Trichy to Madurai
Visit temples and night stay at Madurai.
Day 10 : Madurai - Rameshwaram - Madurai
Full day excursion tour to Rameshwaram temple.
Day 11 : Madurai to Kanyakumari
Night stay at Kanyakumari.
Day 12 : Kanyakumari to Trivandrum
Night stay at Trivandrum.
Day 13 : Trivandrum to onward
Airport transfer for onward journey.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival at Chennai
Arrive Chennai the biggest city of South India is also one of the oldest cities of the country. Our executive will meet you at airport. Drive to your hotel. Night stay at Chennai.
Day 2 : Chennai
After Breakfast at hotel, half day sightseeing tour, visiting Gandhi Memorial, KalaSkhetra, Mylapore temple, Marina beach. Overnight stay at Chennai.
Day 3 : Chennai - Tirupathi - Chennai ( 154 km 3 to 4 hours drive) After breakfast, drive to Tirupathi. Tirupathi is a temple town known for the famous ancient temple of Lord Venkateswara (Lord of seven hills or Balaji, as he is affectionately known) on the top of the 860mts high Tirumala hills. The temple of Lord Venkateswara is not only believed to be amongst the oldest temples in the country, but also the richest of them all. Legend has it that Lord Venkateswara borrowed money from the divine treasurer Kubera for his wedding expenses. He is still paying back this debt which is why the pilgrims donate generously to the temple funds. Return and overnight stay at Chennai.
Day 4 : Chennai - Kancheepuram - Mahabalipuram (76km 1 to 2 hours )
After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram – is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. After Lunch drive to Mahabalipuram. Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram.
Day 5 : Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry. ( 240 km 6 hours drive )
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry on the way stop at Tiruvannamallai - a pilgrim centre with an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. After Lunch drive to Pondicherry. This erstwhile French colony on the east coast of South India merged with the rest of the country in 1954. Legend says that Pondicherry is the place where St.Agasthaya settled down. overnight stay at Pondicherry.
Day 6 : Pondicherry
Full day sight seeing tour of Pondicherry visiting Aurbindo Ashram, the city of dawn, which is 10kms north of Pondicherry. After lunch at hotel, visit Auroville - a unique experiment in international living and in creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities live together in harmony. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.
Day 7 : Pondicherry to Tanjore ( 170 km 4 Hours )
After breakfast drive to Tanjore, on the way visit Chidambaram also called as Thillai, which has the famous Nataraja temple with the root of the sanctum-sanctorum covered with golden plates is located in the centre of the town covering an area of 40 acres. In this temple, postures from the Bharatnatayam form of dance are depicted in sculpture. Natraja is Lord Shiva as a cosmic dancer. After lunch drive to Thanjavur (Tanjore) enroute visiting the Brass factory at Kumbakonam. Tanjore once the capital of Chola Kings, has the Brahadeswara temple(or the big temple of God). The temple tower rises to a height of 15mts from a square base of 29 mts and then tapers off, making a total of 66mts. Overnight stay at Tanjore.
Day 8 : Tanjore to Trichy ( 60 km 2 hours )
After breakfast drive for Trichy, short name of Trichurapalli, situated on the banks of Kaveri River is a blend of history and tradition as well as pilgrim centre, it is famous for Ranganath temple at Srirangam. After lunch city tour visiting Rock fort and its temple at a height of over 23mts. Also visit Srirangam and Jambukeshwar Temple. Overnight stay at Trichy.
Day 9 : Trichy to Madurai ( 135 Km 3 Hours )
Morning drive to Madurai. The ancient city of Madurai, some 2600 years old is laid out on the banks of river Vaigai as a lotus flower with the Meenakshi temple in the centre. After lunch city tour visiting – Meenakshi temple, King Tirumala's Palace, Mariamman Tepakkulam and Alagar Kovil. Overnight stay at Madurai.
Day 10 : Madurai - Rameshwaram - Madurai
Full day excursion tour to the Rameshwaram- the most sacred temple town of India is an island hallowed by the epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama is said to have visited before going into battle of Srilanka. Legend has it that Lord Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash to bring a Lingam for worship when he set foot after defeating Ravana. As Hanuman did not return when the auspicious hour was approaching, Sita made a sand Lingam so that worship could be performed in time, which is where the present day Ramanatha Swamy Temple stands close to sea on the eastern side of the island. One of the twelve Jyotirlingam shrines is also well known for its magnificent corridors and the massive sculptured pillars lining them. Lunch at local restaurant. Return to Madurai and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 11 : Madurai to Kanyakumari ( 260 km 7 hours drive)
After breakfast drive to Kanyakumari - is the land’s end of India where the water of the Arabian Sea , the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. An important pilgrim centre of India, it is famous for the Amman Temples - a symbol of unity and sanctity - dedicated to the virgin Goddess, Kanya Kumari. To its South - East lies the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial, dedicated to Indian Saint Vivekananda, who meditated on this very rock before he proceeded to West to propagate Hinduism, where otherwise was perceived as a barbaric religion. Also is a recently erected memorial of Thiruvalluvar, a Tamil saint who had written the Thirukkural, containing 1330 verses for a better living for every human. Evening view the sunset at the southern most tip of India, where the 3 seas meet (Namely Indian Ocean in the south, Arabian sea in the west and Bay of Bengal in the east). Overnight at Kanyakumari.
Day 12 : Kanyakumari to Trivandrum ( Kovalam )
Morning drive to Trivandrum, enroute visit Padmanabapuram Palace, arrive Trivandrum. Arrive and visit Padmanabaswamy temple from outside, visit the palace and the city palace museum. A drive up to Kovalam. Relax at the beautiful beaches of Kovalam. Overnight stay at Hotel in Kovalam.
Day 13 : Trivandrum to onward
Transfer to Trivandrum airport for your onward journey. With this your South India temple tour package ends.
Arrive Chennai the biggest city of South India is also one of the oldest cities of the country. Our executive will meet you at airport. Drive to your hotel. Night stay at Chennai.
Day 2 : Chennai
After Breakfast at hotel, half day sightseeing tour, visiting Gandhi Memorial, KalaSkhetra, Mylapore temple, Marina beach. Overnight stay at Chennai.
Day 3 : Chennai - Tirupathi - Chennai ( 154 km 3 to 4 hours drive) After breakfast, drive to Tirupathi. Tirupathi is a temple town known for the famous ancient temple of Lord Venkateswara (Lord of seven hills or Balaji, as he is affectionately known) on the top of the 860mts high Tirumala hills. The temple of Lord Venkateswara is not only believed to be amongst the oldest temples in the country, but also the richest of them all. Legend has it that Lord Venkateswara borrowed money from the divine treasurer Kubera for his wedding expenses. He is still paying back this debt which is why the pilgrims donate generously to the temple funds. Return and overnight stay at Chennai.
Day 4 : Chennai - Kancheepuram - Mahabalipuram (76km 1 to 2 hours )
After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram – is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. After Lunch drive to Mahabalipuram. Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram.
Day 5 : Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry. ( 240 km 6 hours drive )
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry on the way stop at Tiruvannamallai - a pilgrim centre with an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. After Lunch drive to Pondicherry. This erstwhile French colony on the east coast of South India merged with the rest of the country in 1954. Legend says that Pondicherry is the place where St.Agasthaya settled down. overnight stay at Pondicherry.
Day 6 : Pondicherry
Full day sight seeing tour of Pondicherry visiting Aurbindo Ashram, the city of dawn, which is 10kms north of Pondicherry. After lunch at hotel, visit Auroville - a unique experiment in international living and in creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities live together in harmony. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.
Day 7 : Pondicherry to Tanjore ( 170 km 4 Hours )
After breakfast drive to Tanjore, on the way visit Chidambaram also called as Thillai, which has the famous Nataraja temple with the root of the sanctum-sanctorum covered with golden plates is located in the centre of the town covering an area of 40 acres. In this temple, postures from the Bharatnatayam form of dance are depicted in sculpture. Natraja is Lord Shiva as a cosmic dancer. After lunch drive to Thanjavur (Tanjore) enroute visiting the Brass factory at Kumbakonam. Tanjore once the capital of Chola Kings, has the Brahadeswara temple(or the big temple of God). The temple tower rises to a height of 15mts from a square base of 29 mts and then tapers off, making a total of 66mts. Overnight stay at Tanjore.
Day 8 : Tanjore to Trichy ( 60 km 2 hours )
After breakfast drive for Trichy, short name of Trichurapalli, situated on the banks of Kaveri River is a blend of history and tradition as well as pilgrim centre, it is famous for Ranganath temple at Srirangam. After lunch city tour visiting Rock fort and its temple at a height of over 23mts. Also visit Srirangam and Jambukeshwar Temple. Overnight stay at Trichy.
Day 9 : Trichy to Madurai ( 135 Km 3 Hours )
Morning drive to Madurai. The ancient city of Madurai, some 2600 years old is laid out on the banks of river Vaigai as a lotus flower with the Meenakshi temple in the centre. After lunch city tour visiting – Meenakshi temple, King Tirumala's Palace, Mariamman Tepakkulam and Alagar Kovil. Overnight stay at Madurai.
Day 10 : Madurai - Rameshwaram - Madurai
Full day excursion tour to the Rameshwaram- the most sacred temple town of India is an island hallowed by the epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama is said to have visited before going into battle of Srilanka. Legend has it that Lord Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash to bring a Lingam for worship when he set foot after defeating Ravana. As Hanuman did not return when the auspicious hour was approaching, Sita made a sand Lingam so that worship could be performed in time, which is where the present day Ramanatha Swamy Temple stands close to sea on the eastern side of the island. One of the twelve Jyotirlingam shrines is also well known for its magnificent corridors and the massive sculptured pillars lining them. Lunch at local restaurant. Return to Madurai and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 11 : Madurai to Kanyakumari ( 260 km 7 hours drive)
After breakfast drive to Kanyakumari - is the land’s end of India where the water of the Arabian Sea , the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. An important pilgrim centre of India, it is famous for the Amman Temples - a symbol of unity and sanctity - dedicated to the virgin Goddess, Kanya Kumari. To its South - East lies the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial, dedicated to Indian Saint Vivekananda, who meditated on this very rock before he proceeded to West to propagate Hinduism, where otherwise was perceived as a barbaric religion. Also is a recently erected memorial of Thiruvalluvar, a Tamil saint who had written the Thirukkural, containing 1330 verses for a better living for every human. Evening view the sunset at the southern most tip of India, where the 3 seas meet (Namely Indian Ocean in the south, Arabian sea in the west and Bay of Bengal in the east). Overnight at Kanyakumari.
Day 12 : Kanyakumari to Trivandrum ( Kovalam )
Morning drive to Trivandrum, enroute visit Padmanabapuram Palace, arrive Trivandrum. Arrive and visit Padmanabaswamy temple from outside, visit the palace and the city palace museum. A drive up to Kovalam. Relax at the beautiful beaches of Kovalam. Overnight stay at Hotel in Kovalam.
Day 13 : Trivandrum to onward
Transfer to Trivandrum airport for your onward journey. With this your South India temple tour package ends.
Hotels
Proposed hotels
Please note that in case of non availability of accomodation in the below hotels, similar or higher category hotels will be used for your stay. For complete information about these hotels
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Please note that in case of non availability of accomodation in the below hotels, similar or higher category hotels will be used for your stay. For complete information about these hotels
Click Here
| Luxury Hotel | Deluxe Hotel | Budget Hotel | |
| Category | 5 Star / Resort | 4 Star / Resort | 3 Star / Resort |
Activities
These are optional activities available with these tour packages and may not be included in your package. Please refer Inclusions for list of complementary services offered with the category of your selected package.
Cultural Shows
Watch cultural shows during your tour to South India temples. Please contact our tour planner for organising Dance performances and other cultural shows.
Cultural ShowsWatch cultural shows during your tour to South India temples. Please contact our tour planner for organising Dance performances and other cultural shows.