Pondicherry Thanjore and Trichy (5 Days)

Pondicherry Thanjore and Trichy (5 Days)

South India is noted as a “world-class temple destination” for a huge collection of temples of which many are UNESCO world heritage site. It’s profusely built stones figures carved and aesthetically designed temples are unique in their architectural brilliance and known for rich sources of religious teachings. In this tour you will visit the marvelous temples in Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Gangai Konda Cholapuram, Darasuram, Chidambaram, Thanjore & in Tricy along with Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry.

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 01: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (235kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Mahabalipuram India
Breakfast at hotel drive to Pondicherry via visiting Kanchipuram

& Mahabalipuram Temples. Arrive Pondicherry check in at hotel. overnight at hotel.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Kanchipuram India
Visit temple in Kanchipuram
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Arjuna's Penance, West Raja Street Near Ganesha Ratha, Mahabalipuram 603104 India
Arjuna's Penance is the pride of not only Mahabalipuram and Tamilnadu but also of India. Arjuna's Penance is the world's largest bas-relief that measures 27 meters and 9 meters along its length and breadth respectively. This huge whaleback shaped rock contains figures of Gods, Demigods, Men, Beasts and Birds.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Krishna's Butter Ball, E Raja St, Mahabalipuram 603104 India
Krishna's Butterball is a gigantic granite boulder resting on a short incline in the historical town of Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, India. The boulder is approximately 6 meters high and 5 meters wide and weighs around 250 tons.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Krishna Mandapam, Mahabalipuram India
Krishna Ramanuja Mandapam is the most-finished temple at Mahabalipuram. It has almost all its sculptures chiseled away and sanctums damaged in the act of remodeling by the Vaishnavas during the Vijayanagara period. Beautiful Pallava Grantha scripts are seen at this Mantapa.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Sea Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram India
Shore Temple is one of the oldest temples in South India and the oldest one based on the Dravidian style architecture. It belongs to the early 8th century AD and is considered a pioneer in the Dravidian temple art. The monuments are floodlit at night in order to make it visible in the night. In fact, the temple looks great in moonlit night.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Pancha Rathas, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Five Rathas are the one of the most magnificent tourist attractions at Mahabalipuram. Five Rathas are actually five monolithic temples, each created in a different style. They are modeled around chariots that are called Rathas in Hindi. They are also known as the Pancha Pandava Rathas, which means that each one of them represent 5 Pandavas.
Duration: 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel 3* / 4* or 5* as per price option selected.

Day 2: Day 02: Pondicherry

Stop At: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Rue de la Marine, Pondicherry India
Breakfast at hotel sightseeing of French colony, churches, Temple and Aurobindo Ashram. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.
Duration: 6 hours

Stop At: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Rue de la Marine, Pondicherry India
Visit Aurobindo Ashram, that was established in 1926 by Shree Aurobindo and 'The Mother'. Together they explored the possibilities of yoga and meditation as a path to salvation. At the ashram, residents continue to practice their teachings. Along with the ‘kepis’ capped cops and its streets called ‘rue’, it is the churches that help the town retain its European charm. Visit the 300 year old church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Pondicherry Museum, Rue Romain Rolland, Pondicherry 605001 India
The Pondicherry Museum is an art and history museum located in Pondicherry, India. It is especially noted for its collection of fine lost wax bronzes form the period of the Chola Empire. The Museum's collection includes 81 Chola bronze sculptures, ranking as one of the largest collections of Chola bronzes
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Auroville Main Road, Auroville 605101 India
Auroville is an experimental community in southern India. It was founded in 1968 by the spiritual leader Mirra Alfassa as a town where people from all over the world could live in harmony. Its focal point is the Matrimandir, a futuristic, spherical temple covered in gold discs. Auroville Botanical Gardens protects the region’s tropical dry evergreen forest. Auroville Beach is a long sandy stretch with gentle surf
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel 3* / 4* or 5* as per price option selected.

Day 3: Day 03: Pondicherry - Gangaikondacholapuram - Darasuram - Chidambaram - Thanjore (185kms/ 4hrs approx)

Pass By: Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, East Car Street, Chidambaram Vijay Gems, 608001 India
Breakfast at hotel drive to Thanjore via visiting Gangaikondacholapuram, Darasuram & Chidambaram Temple. On arrival check in & overnight at hotel.

Stop At: Arulmigu Peruvudaiyar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram., Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu 612901, India
Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. Completed in 1035 AD by Rajendra Chola I as a part of his new capital, this Chola dynasty era temple is similar in design, and has a similar name, as the older 11th century, Brihadeeswarar Temple about 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the southwest in Thanjavur. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple is smaller yet more refined than the Thanjavur Temple. Both are among the largest Shiva temples in South India and examples of Dravidian style temples.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Darasuram World Heritage Site, Gurunathan Pillai Colony, Darasuram, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu 612702, India
Airavatesvara Temple is a Hindu temple of Dravidian architecture located in the town of Darasuram. This temple, built by Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century CE is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur, the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram that are referred to as the Great Living Chola Temples. The Airavatesvarar temple is one among a cluster of eighteen medieval era large Hindu temples in the Kumbakonam area. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. It also reverentially displays Vaishnavism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism, along with the legends associated with Nayanmars – the Bhakti movement saints of Shaivism.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, East Car Street, Chidambaram Vijay Gems, 608001 India
Chidambaram Nataraja temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja – Shiva as the lord of dance – in Chidambaram. The temple has mythical roots and a Shiva shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai. Chidambaram, the name of the city and the temple literally means "atmosphere of wisdom" or "clothed in thought", the temple architecture symbolizes the connection between the arts and spirituality, creative activity and the divine. The temple wall carvings display all the 108 karanas from the Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni, and these postures form a foundation of Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel 3* / 4* or 5* as per price option selected.

Day 4: Day 04: Thanjore - Trichy (60kms/ 1.5hrs approx)

Stop At: Srirangam Melur Ayyanar Temple, Melur village near Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli India
Breakfast at hotel visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Thanjore Fort. Drive to Trichy check in at hotel. Later visit Rock Fort Temple & Srirangam Temple. Overnight at hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Thanjavur Royal Palace and Art Gallery, Art Gallery, Thanjavur 613001 India
Thanjavur Royal Palace is one of the famous historical destinations of Thanjavur which is located within the Vijayanagara Fort complex. This palace was the house of the Nayak Kings of Thanjavur and was constructed in 16th century. Serfoji’s Saraswati Mahal Library, Durbar Hall, Nayak Hall, and the arsenal tower are the main attractions of this Palace.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Brihadeeswarar Temple, Membalam Rd, Thanjavur 613001 India
Brihadeshwar temple is one of the famous tourist attractions of Thanjavur which is also known as Rajarajesvaram and is devoted to Lord Shiva. This temple was constructed by Rajaraja Chola I in the early 11th century and was made in Dravidian style of architecture. Shivalinga is amid the prime attraction of this temple which is 2.7 m in height.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Pancharanga Kshetram), Adiranga, Srirangapatna, Karnataka 571438, India
Sri Rangnathaswamy Temple is one of the largest temples which is devoted Lord Vishnu. This temple becomes famous after the Angkor Vat in Cambodia. There are seven rectangular-walled courtyards in this temple.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Rock Fort Temple, Rock Hills, Tiruchirappalli India
The Rock Fort: is the famous landmark to the city which lies on the banks of river Kaveri. It is situated on a massive rock and dedicated to Lord Shiva. This huge temple has 100-pillar hall and Vimana which is covered with gold. This fort is the amalgamation of three temples which is prime attraction of this fort. You can also get many remarkable rock-cut cave temples which were made during the time of Pallava period.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Tiruvanaikovil Arulmigu Jambukeswarar Akhilandeswari Temple, N Car St, Thiruvanaikoil, Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620005, India
Sri Jambukeshwara Temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. You can see 5 concentric walls and seven Gopurams in this temple. This temple is covered by the splendid carvings. Lord Shiva is the deity of the temple which is submerged in water. People from all round the country visit this temple.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel 3* / 4* or 5* as per price option selected.

Day 5: Day 05: Trichy - Chennai (330kms/ 6hrs approx)

Pass By: Srirangam Melur Ayyanar Temple, Melur village near Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli India
Breakfast at hotel drive to Chennai drop off to your hotel or airport.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.