|  Day
01: Arrive
Chennai
Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Check-in time is 12 Noon.
Day 02: Chennai
Morning sightseeing tour.
Chennai, 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
houses the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamilnadu;
St. Mary's Church, the oldest Anglican Church in India with
its premises; Sri Parthasarathy Temple built by Pallavas in
the 8th century AD; Kapaliswara Temple, Mylapore also an eighth
century Pallava Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva; San Thomas
Cathedral Basilica rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral and in 1896
it was made a basilica; and Theosophical Society - the world
headquarters of the Theosophical Society formed to encourage
the study of comparative religion philosophy and science.
Afternoon at leisure
Day
03: Chennai-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.
Later proceed to Mahablipuram.
Mahabalipuram, driving south of Madras on the coast lies Mamallapuram
(Mahabalipuram), the ancient port of Pallavas. The pallavas
have created many marvellous monuments with sculptural panels,
caves, Monolithic Rathas and Temples. Krishna Mandapam, has
a big bas relief, notable for its realistic representation.
The world's largest bas relief measuring 27m x 9m, whale back
shaped rock contains figures of gods, demi-gods, men .beasts,
birds and representation of the entire creation. Shore Temple,
one of the oldest in south dating back to 8th century AD is
a good example of the first phase of structural temples constructed
in Dravidian style. The Five Rathas, a group of five monolithic
temples, each created in different style. Overnight at the
hotel in Mahabalipuram
Day
04: Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry drive, 135 km
Morning drive to Pondicherry.
Afternoon visit 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 disciples, a French woman known
as the Mother. The Mother was also instrumental in founding
the city of Dawn Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry. Its original
charter aimed at creating a city of the future where people
from India and abroad could live and work together in a spiritual
environment. On arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Arrive Tanjore and on arrival, check-in at the hotel for overnight.
Day
05: Pondicherry-Tanjore drive, 175 km
 Drive
to Tanjore visiting enroute Chidambram.
Chidambram, the seat of the Cosmic Dancer; dedicated to Lord
Nataraja. Spread over an area of 40 acres with a gopuram on
each side, the temple is distinguished by the five sabhas
or counts. The towering gopurams, the tallest one on the north
is 42.4 m are carved on it with 108 dance poses of Bharatanatiyam.
On arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit 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.
Day 06: Tanjore-Trichy-Madurai,
201 km
Drive to Trichy, 56 km for sightseeing.
Srirangam: 5 kms from Trichy, located in
an island is Srirangam. Surrounded by the Kaveri water is
a 600 acre island town enclosed within the seven walls on
the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple. There are no less
than 22 gopurams, one of which is the tallest in India. The
72 m high 13 tiered gopuram dominates the landscape for miles
around.
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
07: Madurai
 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.
Of its 12 gopurams, four of the tallest stand at the outer
walls of the temple. The 48.8 m high southern gopuram is the
most spectacular and have over 1500 sculptures. In the Ashta
Shakti Mandapam inside the Meenakshi temple, the sculpted
pillars tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai
and her marriage to Lord Shiva.
Afternoon at leisure.
Evening witness Prayer Ceremony at the Meenakshi Temple. Overnight
at the hotel.
Day 08: Madurai-Chennai flight 1350/1445
hrs
Transfer to the airport for flight to Chennai..
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