Historical Splendor

MRP: INR.49,920

Historical Splendor

14 Nights + 15 Days
Chennai . Vellore . Mamallapuram . Kanchipuram . Thirivannamalai . Chidambaram . Kumbakonam . Swamimalai . Tanjavur . Srirangam . Chettinad . Madurai . Rameswaram . Thiruchendur . Kanayakumari . Trivandrum

Day 01 : Chennai
Receive the guest at Chennai and proceed to check in to a hotel. Later in the day, visit the Sri Parthasarathy Temple (an 8th century temple erected by the Pallava rulers) for Darshan. The next visit is Kapaleeswarar Temple, another 8th century temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Kalikambal Temple dedicated to Shri Kaligambal and Lord Kamadeswarar. Further visit Fort St. George, the first English fortress in India, built in 1644 and San Thome Church at Mylapore, built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, over the tomb of Saint Thomas. Stay overnight at the hotel in Chennai.

Day 02 : Chennai - Vellore
After breakfast proceed to Vellore (140 kms - 2.5 hrs). On reaching Vellore, check into the hotel and visit Sripuram Golden Temple, with chief deity, Sri Lakshmi Narayani or Maha Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and Vellore Fort, 16th-century fort built by Vijayanagara kings. This fort is known for its grand ramparts, wide moat and robust masonry. Stay overnight at the hotel in Vellore.

Day 03 : Vellore - Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
After breakfast proceed to Mamallapuram (150 kms - 3 hrs), the ancient port city dating back to 7th and 8th century has some of the greatest attractions of the bygone era lie on the Coromandel Coast. The Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram is a collection of 7th- and 8th-century CE religious monuments and it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On reaching Mamallapuram, check into the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 04 : Mamallapuram - Kanchipuram - Mamallapuram
Post a scrumptious breakfast in the morning, embark on a sightseeing tour of Mamallapuram. The port city of the Pallava Dynasty is the site of the 7th century architectural marvels like Arjuna's Penance, Five Rathas and Shore Temple. The seashore still shines with charm of the bygone era though time has ravaged the spectacular monuments. Thereafter, proceed to the famous Shankaracharya Seer in Kancheepuram (70 kms - 2 hrs). Visit Kanchi Kailasanathar temple is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram, built from 685-705 AD by a Rajasimha ruler of the Pallava Dynasty. Also visit Kamakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to Kamakshi, the ultimate form of Goddess Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari(Parvati). In the meantime, shop for some exquisite Kanchivaram silk sarees. Stay overnight at the hotel in Mamallapuram.

Day 05 : Mamallapuram - Thirivannamalai
Today, in the morning after breakfast, take a road trip to Thirivannamalai (115 kms - 2 hrs). Later visit Annamalaiyer Temple, Thiruvannamalai. Also visit Gingee Fort or Senji Fort in Tamil or called the "Troy of the East" by the British. The fort is so fortified, that Chhatrapati Shivaji, the Maratha king, ranked it as the "most impregnable fortress in India" and is one of the surviving forts in Tamil Nadu. Stay overnight at the hotel in Thirivannamalai.

Day 06 : Thirivannamalai - Chidambaram
Post a scrumptious breakfast visit leave for Chidambaram (140 kms - 3 hrs). Evening visit the temple complex, spread over an area of 40 acres in the heart of the city. The main complex is dedicated to Shiva Nataraja and the complex contains shrines to deities such as Shivakami Amman, Ganesh, Murugan and Vishnu in the form Govindaraja Perumal. The temple's earliest structures were designed and erected by ancient craftsmen called Perunthakkan. Stay overnight at the hotel in Chidambaram.

Day 07 : Chidambaram - Kumbakonam - Swamimalai - Tanjavur (Tanjore)
Today, in the morning after breakfast, take a road trip to Kumbakonam (75 kms - 2 hrs). Kumbakonam is known for its temples and mathas. There are around 188 Hindu temples within the municipal limits of Kumbakonam. Apart from these, there several thousand temples around the town thereby giving the town the sobriquets "Temple Town" and "City of temples". Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is considered to be the oldest Shaiva shrine in the town, believed to be constructed by the Cholas in the 7th century. The Nageswaraswamy Temple has a separate shrine for the Sun god Surya who is believed to have worshipped Shiva at this place. Adi Kumbeswarar temple, Nageswaraswamy temple and Kasi Viswanathar temple are Shiva temples in the town revered in the Tevaram, a Tamil Shaiva canonical work of the 7th–8th century. Kumbakonam has one of the few temples dedicated to the god Brahma. Further visit Swamimalai Murugan Temple and proceed to Tamjavur (40 kms - 1 hr). Stay overnight at the hotel in Tanjavur.

Day 08 : Tanjavur (Tanjore)
Tanjavur also known as Tanjore, it is a city with roots in historical Chola Empire. After breakfast, venture out of your hotel and visit the famous Brihadewswara Temple, a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also called as Dhakshina Meru. Built by Tamil king Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD. Also visit Airavatesvara Temple, a Hindu temple of Dravidian architecture located in the town of Darasuram, built by Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century CE and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stay overnight at the hotel in Tanjavur.

Day 09 : Tanjavur - Srirangam - Chettinad
Post breakfast start for Srirangam (60 kms - 1 hr), the city of the famous Ranganath Temple. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple or Thiruvarangam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of the Hindu deity Maha Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian Architecture, this temple is glorified by Alvars in their Divya Prabhanda and has the unique distinction of being not only the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, but also the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world. Also pay visit to the temples at Jambukeshwar and Srirangam. Further proceed to Chettinad (90 kms - 1.5 hr). Stay overnight at the hotel in Chettinad.

Day 10 : Chettinad - Madurai
Post breakfast visit Athangudi Tile Factory (hand made tiles), Chettinad Museum and Palace and drive to Madurai (90 kms - 2 hrs). The City famous for Meenakshi Temple. In the afternoon, enjoy half-day trip to Tirumala Palace and the Gandhi Museum. Thirumalai Nayak Palace is a 17th-century palace erected in 1636 AD by King Tirumala Nayaka, a king of Madurai's Nayaka dynasty who ruled Madurai from 1623–59. This Palace is a classic fusion of Dravidian and Rajput styles. Stay overnight at the hotel in Madurai.

Day 11 : Madurai
Start your day with a leisurely breakfast. In the day explore Meenakshi Temple known for intricate designs and beauty. Meenakshi Temple, is a historic Hindu temple is dedicated to Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva. The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th century CE texts. Also visit Koodal Azhagar Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Koodal Azhagar and his consort Lakshmi as Mathuravalli. Stay overnight at the hotel in Madurai.

Day 12 : Madurai - Rameswaram
In the morning after breakfast, leave for Rameswaram (170 kms - 3 hrs), to visit its main temple for Darshan. The Rameshwaram temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, was constructed during the 17th century. If the legends are to be believed, this temple was built by Lord Rama himself and what we see today is a renovated version. This temple is considered a holy pilgrimage site for Shaivites, Vaishnavites and Smarthas. Stay overnight at the hotel in Rameswaram.

Day 13 : Rameswaram - Thiruchendur - Kanayakumari
Post breakfast, drive to Thiruchendur (225 kms - 4.5 hrs). Visit Thiruchendur Murugan Temple, an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to lord Murugan situated on the shores of Bay of Bengal. The puranic name or historical name for this temple is Jayanthipuram. Further proceed to Kanyakumari(90 kms - 2 hrs), the southernmost point of India. Pay a visit to the Amman Temple and Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Evening suset watch at beach. Stay overnight at the hotel in Kanyakumari.

Day 14 : Kanyakumari - Trivandrum
Early morning sunrise watch at beach. Come back to hotel take breakfast and proceed to Suchindram (15 kms - 20 mts) to visit the Thanumalayan Temple, also called Sthanumalayan Temple further proceed to Nagercoil (10 kms - 20 mts) to visit Nagaraja Temple. Later visit Padmanabhapuram Palace (20 kms - 30 mts), a Travancore era palace complex inside with an old granite fortress around four kilometers long. Later proceed to Marthandam (15 kms - 30 mts) to visit Chitharal Hill Temple. Later proceed to Trivandrum (45 kms - 1.5 hrs), the capital city of Kerala. The city has attractions like Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kovalam Beach, Zoo, Museum. Spend day exploring at your pace. Stay overnight at the hotel in Trivandrum.

Day 15 : Trivandrum
After breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to Trivandrum Airport/Railway Station for drop. Tour ends with loving memories.