Southern Splendour Chennai • Pondicherry • Tanjore • Madurai • Periyar • Kumarakom • Alleppey • Cochin A perfect way to discover the magnificent temples of South India, combined with a visit to the wildlife reserve in Periyar and the beautiful backwaters of Kerala. This is an excellent way to explore the lush green landscape with swaying paddy fields and plantations, lakes and canals.Day 01: Arrive Chennai Assistance on arrival at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02: In Chennai Morning sightseeing tour of Chennai visiting Santhome Cathedral Church, St. Thomas Mount & Fort St. George. Afternoon free. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03: To Pondicherry Morning excursion to Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram. Mahabalipuram - a quiet seaside resort with a unique and glorious 7th century Shore Temple and some of the most beautiful rock-cut caves in the world. Visit the Krishna Varaha and Mahishasura Mardhini Mandapas besides the famous stone bas-relief, Arjuna’s Penance.
Kanchipuram was under the Pallavas from the 6th to 8th century AD & later became the citadel of the Cholas, Vijaya-nagar Kings, the Muslim and the British. It has been a centre of Tamil learning, cultural and religious background for centuries. Kanchipuram has magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty bearing eloquent testimony to its glorious Dravidian heritage. Later drive to Pondicherry (160 kms/4 hrs approx) and upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04: To Tanjore Morning sightseeing tour of Pondi-cherry. Pondicherry, a former French colony, oozes a Mediterranean aura with classy streets, stylish houses and ornamental gardens & is famous for pleasant weather and easy paced life. Visit the serene atmosphere of Aurobindo Ashram, which was founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926 and has attained an international reputation for its spiritual tenets including yoga and modern science of living. The Botanical Gardens, conceived in 1826, boasts a variety of rare and exotic plants from India & abroad and take a stroll on the beaches of Pondicherry.
Afternoon depart by road to Tanjore en route visiting Chidambaram & Kumbakonam. Chidambaram is situated between two rivers in a 40 acre temple complex & here lies the temples of Chidambaram, one of the oldest, most venerated and magnificent temples of South India. Shiva Natraja or the Dancing Shiva stands in his cosmic dance pose in the golden rooted sanctum sanctorum. Flanking the temple are 108 sculptured illustrations of Bharat Natya Shastra. In Akash Lingam hidden by a veil, lies the real secret of Chidambaram.
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