South India Temple Tour

The great temples of Tamil Nadu, from Mahabalipuram and Srirangam to Madurai, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari.

Duration

8 Nights / 9 Days

Starts in

Chennai

Ends in

Trivandrum

Ideal for

Spiritual travellers, Families, Culture & history

1. Day 1 Arrive in Chennai

   Arrive in Chennai and transfer to your hotel.

   In the evening, visit the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, with its colourful gopuram and busy temple streets, followed by a walk along Marina Beach.

   Overnight: Chennai

2. Day 2 Chennai to Mahabalipuram via Kanchipuram

   After breakfast, drive to Kanchipuram, one of Hinduism’s seven sacred cities. Visit the ancient Kailasanathar and Ekambareswarar temples, and see the town’s famous silk weavers at work.

   Continue to Mahabalipuram on the Bay of Bengal and check in to your hotel.

   Overnight: Mahabalipuram

3. Day 3 Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry

   After breakfast, explore the UNESCO-listed monuments of Mahabalipuram: the Shore Temple, the Pancha Rathas and the great rock relief of Arjuna’s Penance.

   Later, drive to Pondicherry. Spend the evening walking through the French Quarter and along the seaside promenade.

   Overnight: Pondicherry

4. Day 4 Pondicherry to Trichy via Thanjavur

   After breakfast, drive towards Thanjavur, the historic capital of the Chola kings.

   Visit the magnificent Brihadeeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built over a thousand years ago and crowned by one of the tallest temple towers in India.

   Continue to Trichy and check in to your hotel.

   Overnight: Trichy

5. Day 5 Trichy to Madurai | Srirangam

   After breakfast, visit the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, one of the largest functioning temple complexes in the world, and the Rockfort Temple overlooking the city.

   Drive to Madurai. In the evening, visit the Meenakshi Amman Temple and, if timings allow, witness the night ceremony when the deity is carried to the sanctum.

   Overnight: Madurai

6. Day 6 Madurai to Rameswaram

   After breakfast, visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace before driving to Rameswaram.

   Cross the sea on the road bridge to Pamban Island, with views of the historic Pamban railway bridge. Check in to your hotel and spend the evening at leisure.

   Overnight: Rameswaram

7. Day 7 Rameswaram | Ramanathaswamy Temple & Dhanushkodi

   Begin the day at the Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, known for its long pillared corridors and sacred wells.

   Later, visit Agni Theertham, the Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Memorial and drive to Dhanushkodi at the tip of the island, where the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean.

   Overnight: Rameswaram

8. Day 8 Rameswaram to Kanyakumari

   After breakfast, drive to Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India.

   In the evening, watch the sunset over the meeting point of three seas.

   Overnight: Kanyakumari

9. Day 9 Kanyakumari to Trivandrum | Departure

   Rise early for sunrise at Kanyakumari, then take the ferry to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, subject to operations.

   Drive to Trivandrum, visiting the Suchindram Temple en route. In Trivandrum, visit the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple before transferring to the airport for your onward journey.

   Tour ends

Good to know

• This itinerary can be adjusted: add or remove nights, change the hotel category or include extra sightseeing.
• Temples follow a dress code: shoulders and knees should be covered. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple requires men to wear a dhoti and women a saree or long skirt.
• Hotels are confirmed at the time of booking, based on availability and your chosen category.