Day 2 In Chennai

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Chennai. Sightseeing options include: Visit the famous Marina Beach, The National Art Gallery, BM Birla Planitarium, The Snake Park, St Mary's Church, and the Kapaleeswarar Shiva temple (biggest Temple in Chennai)
Return to the hotel in the evening. Overnight at the hotel in Chennai

Day 3 Chennai – Mamallapuram ( approx 60 kms )

This morning after breakfast proceed to Mamallapuram by surface. On arrive check-in at the hotel / resort booked for you Mamallapuram, located about 60km south of Chennai on the Bay of Bengal, means “the town of Mamalla , the great wrestler.” Mamalla is the title given to the Pallava ruler Narasimha Varman I, who built many of the temples here. The previous name Mahabalipuram means “the town of the great king Bali ,” from whom Lord Vamana (Vishnu) begged three paces of land. This town was an ancient port of the Pallavas kings, who ruled from Kanchipuram from the 4th to the 8th centuries. It is believed that most of the carvings were done under the patronage of the Pallavas kings, Narasimha Varma I (630-668 AD) and Narasimha Varman II (700-728). The temples here are among the earliest examples of monumental architecture in South India . They were made mostly between the 5th and 8th centuries. Most of the cave temples are carved out of a granite hill that is close to the sea.
Later in the afternoon proceed for sightseeing.
Sightseeing options: Visit the Cave Temples , Rathas, Arjuna's penance, Shore Temple , Kanchipuram,Vedanthangal Covelong and the Crocodile Bank ( The main attraction at the Crocodile Bank is the crocodile conservation center, which is the largest croc-breeding site in India .)
Overnight at the hotel / Resort in Mahabalipuram.

Day 4 Mamallapuram – Pondicherry ( approx 100 kms )

This morning depart for Pondicherry by surface. On arrival check into the hotel booked for you.

Founded by the French, Pondicherry is generally known as the seat of the famous Aurobindo Ashram. Its spiritual aura transcends the tourism potential of the city. The township of Pondicherry is planned on a grid system, which is to say that the roads meet each other at right angles. On the seaward side is the long Petit Canal which divides the town so that the French township is on the side facing the sea and the predominantly Indian/Tamil one on the other.

Late afternoon visit Sri Aurobindo's Ashram and Auroville. Overnight at the Hotel / resort in Pondicherry

Today continue with the sightseeing of Pondicherry, or go for shopping. Walk along the sapphire waters of the long beach (Swimming is generally not advised but you can get a joy ride in a catamaran in the backwaters of the Bay of Bengal )
Nehru Street is a paradise for a shopper where one can buy leather and pottery goods. Besides, a lot of gift items like bags, bed sheets, paper lanterns and trendy T-shirts can be bought.
Also visit the Botanical Gardens.
Return to the hotel in the evening. Overnight in Pondicherry

Morning depart for Tanjore by surface. Arrive Tanjore. Check-in at the hotel.
Tanjore or Thanjavur, as it was called earlier, as the capital of the Chola empire from the 10 th century to the 14 th century AD, later became part of the Vijaynagar Kingdom, then passed into the hands of the Marathas and later still went to the British Thanjavur is well know for its traditional handicrafts and classical Indian musical instruments.

Late afternoon, proceed for sightseeing visiting Brihadeshwara Temple , Thanjavur Palace adjacent to the temple, the Saraswati Mahal Library and the art gallery that houses a superb collection of bronze statues from 9 th to the 12 th centuries Overnight at the hotel in Tanjore.

This morning check out of the hotel and depart for Madurai . On arrival check in at the hotel booked for you

Madurai is called Athens of the East because of the way myth meets life here. Originally called Madhurapuram because honey (madhu) is said to have dripped off the locks of Shiva here. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. Madurai was the capital city of the great Pandya kings. This sacred town attracts thousands of pilgrims and visitors from India and abroad . In the evening visit the famous Meenakshi Temple . You can also participate in an evening Aarti.
Overnight at Hotel in Madurai .

The day will be at leisure. You may continue the sightseeing in Madurai to include
The Thirumalai Nayak Palace the Gandhi Museum and the Mariamman Teppakulam. Or do an excursion to Rameshwaram.

Rameshwaram is an island situated in the gulf of manner at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. A very important pilgrim centre of the Indians. Rameshwaram is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge across the sea to rescue his consort Sita, from her abductor, Ravana. This is also the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana. Both the Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit this pilgrimage which is known as the Varanasi the south.
Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a Pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. The presiding deity is the Linga Of Sri Ranganatha, which happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. Rameshwaram is also popularly referred to as the 'Benaras of the south'. In order to attain Moksha it is believed that the visit to Rameshwaram is mandatory.
Return to Madurai in the evening.
Overnight at Hotel in Madurai

This morning check out of the hotel and proceed to the Madurai airport to board your flight for your onward destination

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