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 Tamil Nadu; 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..
Extension - Kerala
Day 08: Madurai - Kodaikanal, 125 km

Morning
drive to Kodaikanal
Afternoon sightseeing tour
Day 09: Kodaikanal - Periyar
Drive to Periyar and check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Periyar
Day
10: Periyar - Kumarakom, 135 km
Morning drive to Kumarakom
Afternoon at leisure
Day 11: Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin
Morning back water cruise to Alleppey(2-1/2 hours)
On arrival, drive to Cochin, 56 km)
Day
12: Cochin
Morning city sightseeing tour
Evening witness Kathakali Dance Show
Day 13: Cochin - Chennai - Dep.
Transfer to airport for flight to Chennai/Bombay for onward connection.