Temple Tour with Karnataka

Duration : 17 Nights / 18 Days
Destinations Covered : Chennai - Tirupati - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Palani - madurai - Kanyakumari - Kovalam - Alleppey - Cochin - Ooty - Mysore - Bangalore Departure Enquire Now

DAY 01: ARRIVAL CHENNAI

Welcome upon arrival (arriving in the morning) our executive will traditionally welcome you at the airport. Transfer to the hotel and check in. Today suggest you to get rid off from jetlag and overnight stay.

DAY 02: CHENNAI

After breakfast, visit Santhome Basilica - is located on the southern end of Marina Beach. A rare church, raised on the tomb of St. Thomas, an apostle of Christ, it has in its possession a small hand bone of Thomas and the head of a lance, which brought him down. St. Mary's Church- is the first Anglican Church in India. It was built in 1678-79 in Fort St. George. This was the first church built by the East India Company outside the Mediterranean. Fort George - The Fort St. George Museum was organised and opened to the public from 31st January 1948. The museum began with a small collection of objects of the British Raj donated by the then Madras Presidency Government, the St. Mary's Church authorities, the disbanded army units and others. Kapaleeshwar Temple this temple was constructed in the 13th century BC. This is a live example of the architectural skills of the Dravidians and National art Gallery: has a finest collection of old paintings. Later enjoy at Marina Beach. Come back to hotel and overnight stay.

DAY 03: CHENNAI EXCURSION TIRUPATI

After breakfast, take an excursion to Tirupati and visit Tirupati Temple It is the richest temple in the world in terms of donations received and wealth, and the most-visited place of worship in the world. The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily (30 to 40 million people annually on average), while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000, making it the most-visited holy place in the world, Agastyaswami Temple, Chandragiri Town, Kailasakona Waterfalls and Kalyani Dam. In the evening join Aarti and come back to hotel. overnight stay.
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DAY 04: CHENNAI – MAHABALIPURAM (BY SURFACE 163 KM)

After breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram and enroute visit Kancheepuram Temples. Check in to hotel and after few minutes cover sightseeing of Mahabalipuram visit Arjuna's Penance This sculptured marvel, is an enormous relief made on two huge boulders. One of the biggest open-air rock canvases in the world, this bas- relief is 31m long and 9m high. Shore Temple this is the ancient temple nestling on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, it consisting of two Siva temples and a carving of Anantasayana Vishnu. This historic monument built largely between the 7th and the 9th century has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Five Rathas are Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Draupadi Ratha and Nakul Sahadev Ratha. These are monolithic temples, each created in a different style. Also visit the kanchipuram Silk Factory. Overnight stay.

DAY 05: MAHABALIPURAM –PONDICHERRY (BY SURFACE 266 KM)

After breakfast, drive to Pondicherry and check in to hotel later visit Auroville and later you can enjoy boat ride (own cost). Also visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram This place was founded by Sri Aurobindo, who in the early ages was a revolutionist and then turned poet. His was jointly helped by The Mother, who was a Paris born painter. The Ashram is a centre for the practice of integral yoga, meditation, and of inner development. The Pondicherry Botanical Garden, The Church of Our Lady of Angels was built by French Missionaries in 1865. Overnight stay.

DAY 06: PONDICHERRY – TANJORE (BY SURFACE 167 KM)

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Tanore and enroute visit Swamimalai Temple It is situated about Eight kilometers(5 miles) west of Kumbakonam on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery. Swamimalai, is fourth among the Six Sacred Shrines devoted to Lord Muruga. Here is the place where Lord Muruga, the Legend propounded the meaning of “Om”, the Sacred Pranava Mantra to His Father Lord Shiva, and thus assumed the title Swaminatha (“Lord of Lords”).

Later continue drive to Tanjore and check in to hotel. Visit Brihadeshwara Temple it is Built by the Chola King, Raja Raja I in the 10th century AD. The temple has a gigantic Mahalingam and the second largest monolithic Nandi in India. Tanjore Palace, Sangeetha Mahal, Saraswathi Mahal Library and Art Gallery having a collection of sculptures and paintings. Overnight stay.
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DAY 07: TANJORE – MADURAI (BY SURFACE 207 KM)

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Madurai. Enroute visit Trichy located on the banks of the River Kaveri. It is famous for the Ranganath temple at Srirangam. Also visit Rock Fort Temple, Srirangam and Jambukeshwar Temple. One more temple enroute visit Palani Temple the temple is one among the six Padaiveedu’s of Lord Muruga. The 3rd Padaiveedu namely Arulmigu Thiruvaavinankudi temple is part and parts of this temple. Then continue drive to Madurai and check in to hotel. Overnight stay.

DAY 08: MADURAI

After breakfast, visit Meenakshi Temple: The Temple is dedicated to Goddess Sri Meenakshi, the protectress of Madurai. Built in the 16th Century by Tirumalai Nayak, it is spread over 350 hectares. Enclosed by walls, each has a nine-storey gopuram which is adorned by thousands of intricately carved celestial and animal figures. Tiurmalai Nayak Palace : One of the grandest monuments in Madurai and a stunning piece of Indo-Saracenic architecture. It was built in the early 17th century by Tirumalai Nayak with the finest of craftsmen. Also visit Thirupparankundram Temple, Alagar Koil and GandhiMuseum. In the evening join the Puja Ceremony of Meenakshi temple. Come back to hotel and overnight stay.

DAY 09: MADURAI – RAMESHWARAM (BY SURFACE 176 KM)

After breakfast drive to Rameshwaram, is the most sacred temple town in India is actually an island. Legend has it that Lord Rama along with Sita offered prayer to Lord Shiva after defeating Ravana, by praying to a sand Lingam made by Sita on this island. And at this very spot is located the Ramanatha Swamy Temple. Return to hotel and overnight stay.

DAY 10: RAMESHWARAM - KANYAKUMARI (BY SURFACE 294 KM)

After breakfast, drive to Kanyakumari and enroute visit Tiruchendur temple then proceed to kanyakumari and check in to hotel. Visit Kanyakumari – it is the southernmost tip of Indian sub continent also a fantastic tourist spot with the specialty as three major sea joints together there (Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal). It’s a holy place for Hindu Pilgrims too. Visit the spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda rock situated in the sea, Thiruvalluvar Statue. It is the immortal poet of Tamil Nadu and has given to the world Thirukkural. The pedestal of the statue is of 38 feet height and the statue over it is 95 feet tall with a grand total of 133 feet for the entire sculpture. Kanyakumari temple it is is dedicated to the goddess Parvathi as a virgin. This is 3000 old temple and is surrounded by a stone wall and stands on the edge of the ocean. Also visit the Thriveni Sangamam where 3 oceans meets the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. Overnight stay.
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DAY 11: KANYAKUMARI - KOVALAM (BY SURFACE 85 KM)

After breakfast, drive to Kovalam and visit Napier Museum, Sri Chithira Art Gallery,Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Come back to Kovalam and enjoy at beach also visit to the Lighthouse. Overnight stay.

DAY 12: KOVALAM – ALLEPPEY (BY SURFACE 161 KM)

After breakfast proceed to Alleppey. Check in to the houseboat at 12:00. Cruising in a House Boat through the back waters of Kerala is the fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters. Sit back and relax while the boat cruises through the narrow serene backwaters, rivers and canals. Lunch, Evening Tea/Coffee with

DAY 13: ALLEPPEY – COCHIN (BY SURFACE 55 KM)

After breakfast, drive to Cochin and check in to hotel. After relaxation visit best preserved Synagogue, The Dutch Palace and the oldest European Church in India the St. Francis Church where Vasco Da Gama was originally buried. A leisurely walk through the Fort Cochin area which gives you a close look at the operation of the huge cantilevered Chinese fishing nets introduced by Chinese traders which is still used in Kerala backwaters as a traditional way of fishing. In the evening enjoy the Kathak kali dance show. Kathakali is the ancient classical dance from of Kerala. It is based on the stories of the Indian epics acted out in this traditional show, where dancers tell stories to music using animated expressions. It is a stylized art form where dancer wears a painted face and mimes using animated hand gestures and facial expressions.

DAY 14: COCHIN – OOTY (BY SURFACE 299 KM)

After breakfast, embark for the sightseeing of Ooty - the Queen of Hill Stations in South India is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is surrounded by Nilgiri Mountains. Visit Ooty lake (artificial lake) is popular for boating (own cost), Come back to hotel and overnight stay.
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DAY 15: OOTY

After breakfast, Botanical Garden Spread over 55 acres the Botanical Garden was laid out in the year 1847, Rose garden, Dodabetta Peak is said to be one of the highest peak in south India and later take an excursion to Coonoor and visit Pyakra waterfall , Kalhatty water fall, tea plantation of Coonoor. Also enjoy the toy train from Mettupaliyam to Udagamandalam. It continues to inspire weaving through forests, moving through time, along the valleys and into the little dark winding tunnels, round the bends, up the gradients, through the glens, trees and birds. Also visit Sim's park and Droog's Fort. Come back to hotel and overnight stay.

DAY 16: OOTY – MYSORE (BY SURFACE 145 KM)

After breakfast, drive to Mysore, check in to hotel and visit Mysore Palace Mysore is known as the city of Palaces and the entire architecture and decorum of the place is in harmony with the Royal style for which Mysore is known, 150 years old Jaganmohan Palace and art gallery, Chamundi Hills, Nandi Bull Brindavan Gardens a show garden that has botanical park with fountains as well as a musical fountain. Come back to hotel and enjoy the New year eve party. Overnight stay.

DAY 17: MYSORE – BANGALORE (BY SURFACE 146 KM)

After breakfast, drive to Bangalore visit Lalbagh - This expanse of greenery is one of India`s most beautiful botanical gardens. Bull temple - The gigantic image of the celestial bull, Nandi, which stands at 4.57 meters. in height, is a classic example of Dravidian architecture. Tippu Summer palace - which he endearingly called lask-e-jannat (the envy of heaven). Vidhana Soudha - this massive building houses the state legislature and the secretariat, Cubbon park - this beautiful park, which spreads over 300 acres in the city. Come back to hotel and overnight stay.

DAY 18: BANGALORE DEPARTURE

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Bangalore airport to board onward flight to home with everlasting memories of India.
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