South India Temple 09N / 10D

This is a classic Tamil Nadu + Andhra circuit hitting some of the most powerful temples in South India:
Chennai - Start with Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore and the historic Santhome Basilica. Good base to ease into the trip. Tirupati - The big one. Sri Venkateswara Temple on Tirumala Hills, one of India’s richest and most visited shrines. Book darshan slots in advance if you can. Vellore - The stunning Golden Temple at Sripuram, all 1.5 tons of gold. Also check out Vellore Fort if you’ve got time. Thiruvannamalai - Home to Arunachaleswarar Temple, dedicated to Shiva as fire. The base for the Girivalam walk around the holy Arunachala Hill on full moon nights. Kumbakonam - The "Temple Town". Over 100 temples in a small area. Don’t miss Adi Kumbeshwarar, Sarangapani, and the Mahamaham Tank. Thanjavur / Tanjore - The UNESCO-listed Brihadeeswarar Temple, a Chola masterpiece built in the 11th century. Massive vimana and the giant Nandi. Rameshwaram - Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The long pillared corridors and the 22 sacred theerthams are a highlight. Madurai - Meenakshi Amman Temple with its colorful gopurams. Evening palliarai ceremony is worth catching. Trichy - Rockfort Temple perched on a 273-ft rock, and the massive Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam.  Kanchipuram - "City of Thousand Temples". Kailasanathar, Ekambareswarar, and the silk sarees if you want a quick shop stop. Back to Chennai - Wrap up, shop, fly/train out.

• Day 01 : Arrive Chennai (Hotel Check in Time 1200 Noon)

  Scheduled arrive Chennai Airport; meet our representative who will assist you to transfer to Hotel. After half day city tour of Chennai including Kapaleeswar Temple and Marina Beach. Rest of time free for shopping in T Nagar Area.
  Overnight stay at hotel.

• Day 02 : Chennai – Tirupati (180 Kms, 4Hrs drive)

  After breakfast at hotel drive to Tirupati which is famous for Temple of Lord Venkateshwara. On arrival check into Hotel. After fresh up go for Darshan of Balaji. Late night back to Hotel.
  Overnight stay at hotel.

• Day 03 : Tirupati – Same Day Excursion of Sri Kalahasti

  Early morning you will enjoy excursion of Sri Kalahasti located 36kms away from Tirupati is one of the most famous Shiva Temple in South India.

• Day 04 : Tirupati – Vellore – Thiruvannamalai (200 Kms, 4.5Hrs drive)

  Take your breakfast in the hotel drive to Vellore is one of the oldest cities in South India lies on the banks of the Palar River. Visit Vallore fort, Sripuram Golden Temple and Ratnagiri Temple. Continue your drive for Thiruvannamalai is home to the Annamalaiyar Temple located at the foot of the Annamalai hill and amongst one of the great Shiva Temples of Tamil Nadu. Arrive and check into hotel. After fresh up visit Annamalaiyar Temple - dedicated to Lord Shiva was built between the 9th and the 10th centuries by the Chola kings of the Tamil empire.
  Overnight stay at hotel.

• Day 05 : Thiruvannamalai – Kumbakonam – Tanjore

  After your prayers drive to Tanjore via Kumbakonam. On reaching Kumbakonam explore the 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. The most important temples present in Kumbakonam are the Sarangapani temple, the Kumbeswara temple and the Ramaswamy temple. Later drive to Tanjore and check into hotel. Post fresh up visit the famous Brihadeeswarar temple housing a huge Shiva lingam and a stone sculpture of the Nandi bull.
  Overnight stay at Hotel.

• Day 06 : Tanjore – Rameswaram (250Kms, 5 Hrs drive)

  Post breakfast at hotel proceed for Rameshwaram via Tanjore is an important pilgrim tourist destination just equivalent to Benaras (Kasi). The presiding deity here is in the form of Linga with name of Sriramanatha swamy temple. It is one of the twelve jyotirlingas. The Grandest part of the temple is the 1219m pillared corridor consisting of 3.6m high granite pillars, rich carved and well proportioned. Visit Ra-Ramanathswamy temple manathswamy temple, Sita Kund & Rama’s bridge etc.
  Overnight stay at Hotel.

• Day 07 : Rameswaram – Madurai (150Kms, 4Hrs drive)

  After breakfast drive to Madurai. On arrival check into Hotel. After fresh up explore the temple town which is a 2,600 years old famous temple town of south India. Arrive and check into the hotel. Afternoon, visit the famous Meenakshi Temple, Mariamman Teppakulam (Great Tank) and the Palace of Tirumalai Nayak. In the evening, revisit the Meenakshi Temple for prayer ceremony.
  Overnight stay will be at Madurai.

• Day 08 : Madurai - Trichy (160Kms, 4 Hrs drive)

  Post Breakfast in the hotel depart for Trichy. In the afternoon arrive and check into hotel. Post freshen up enjoy sightseeing tour of Trichy visiting Rock Fort, Sri Ranganathaswamy and Jambukeshwara Temples. Rest of time free at leisure.
  Overnight stay in Hotel.

• Day 09 : Trichy – Kanchipuram (300Kms,6 Hrs drive)

  Post breakfast at hotel check out and depart for Kanchipuram. On reaching check into hotel. Post fresh up enjoy Sightseeing tour of Kanchipuram visiting the Kailasanthar Temple, The Vardarajanperumal Temple and the Sakiswarar Temple.
  Overnight stay at hotel.

• Day 10 : Kanchipuram – Chennai (70Kms, 1.5 Hrs drive) (B/F Only)

  Check out the hotel and spend time in T Nagar for shopping until scheduled transfer to Chennai Airport to board the flight for your home town.
  Tour ends with happy memories.