Overview
South India is a place with a rich and memorable past, where great Indian rulers once held sway. It is one of the greenest regions in India, and possibly in the world, with several mountain ranges, diverse flora and fauna, and the largest biodiversity in the country. As a result, South Indian culture has a strong connection to nature. Explore the best cities of the South with this tour package from Greenedge Holidays, including Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Tanjore, Madurai, and Thekkady. Book your Tamilnadu Temple Tour package today.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Chennai On arrival at Chennai airport/railway station in the morning, meet our representative and transfer to the hotel. Later proceed for a city tour of Chennai. Chennai, the capital city, popularly known as the ‘Gateway to the South’ represents a culture that differs from that of northern India. The places of interest in Chennai are Kalakshetra, a school of art and music which encourages exponents of Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music, traditional weaving, and designing. Fort St. George built in 1653 during the British reign in India, now houses the Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. Sri Parthasaratha Temple, built by the Pallavas in the eighth century AD. Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore, also an 8th-century Pallava Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Later back to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel in Chennai.
Day 2: Chennai – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram After breakfast, drive to Kanchipuram, 70 km west of Mahabalipuram, a town of thousand temples. Among the seven sacred cities of Hindus, it was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC. Besides temples, the city is also renowned for its silk weavers, who settled here some 400 years back and have given it an enviable reputation. Later on, we shall move to Mahabalipuram, driving south of Chennai on the shore, which is the old port of Pallava. The Pallavas have generated several marvellous monuments with sculptural buildings, temples, Monolithic Rathas and Temples. Overnight stay at the hotel in Mahabalipuram.
Day 3: Mahabalipuram Sightseeing After relishing morning breakfast, proceed for sightseeing of Mahabalipuram. Krishna Mandapam has a bas relief, notable for its realistic representation. The world’s largest bass relief measuring 27m 9m contains figures of gods, guys, beasts, birds, and a representation of the whole creation. Shore Temple, one of the oldest in the south dating back to the eighth century AD, is a fantastic example of the first phase of structural temples built in the Dravidian style. The five rathe are a set of five monolithic temples, each of which is created in various fashion. Later check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel in Mahabalipuram.
Day 4: Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry (100km-3hrs) After breakfast, transfer to the Pondicherry hotel. After lunch, a city tour of Pondicherry. Even though the French influence is progressively fading, Pondicherry retains some Gallic accents. Pondicherry’s main sightseeing places are the Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church, and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. This ashram was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual authority passed to one of his disciples, a woman known as the Mother. The Mother was also instrumental in founding the city of Dawn Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry main city. Its original charter aimed to create a town of the future where individuals from India and overseas could live and work together in a spiritual environment. Evening back to your hotel.
Day 5: Pondicherry – Chidambaram – Kumbakonam (150 Km) Overnight at hotel. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kumbakonam. En route, you will visit Chidambaram, a city dedicated to Lord Nataraja, the Cosmic Dancer. The temple, spread over an area of 40 acres, is distinguished by its 5 sabhas or halls and gopurams on every side. The tallest gopuram on the north stands at 42.4 m and is adorned with 108 Bharatanatyam dance poses. Overnight stay at Greenedge Holidays hotel in Kumbakonam.
Day 6: Kumbakonam – Tanjore (40km-1hr) After an early breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive to Tanjore. Check in at the Greenedge Holidays hotel of your choice and rest for a while. Later, head out for sightseeing in Tanjore. You can visit the Art Gallery, Brihadeeswara Temple, Saraswati Mahal Library, and The Palace. Return to the hotel for your overnight stay in Tanjore.
Day 7: Tanjore – Trichy (60km-1.5hrs) After breakfast at your Greenedge Holidays hotel in Tanjore, proceed for a full-day excursion to Trichy. Visit the Thiruvanaikaval Temple, Rock Fort Temple, Elakurichi, and Valaloor. After the tour, return to Tanjore and stay overnight at the Greenedge Holidays hotel.
Day 8: Tanjore – Madurai (165km-4hrs) After breakfast, check out from the Greenedge Holidays hotel in Tanjore and drive to Madurai. Check in at the Greenedge Holidays hotel of your choice and have lunch. Later, visit the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Thirupparankundram Temple, Alagar Koil, and Gandhi Museum. After sightseeing, return to the hotel for your overnight stay in Madurai.
Day 9: Madurai – Rameswaram (170km-4hrs) After an early breakfast, check out from your hotel in Madurai and drive to Rameswaram with Greenedge Holidays. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and take some rest. Afterward, embark on a tour to explore popular attractions such as Ramanathaswamy Temple, Agnitheertham, Tamjharoke Temple, Ramjharoka Temple, Dhanushkodi, and Adam’s Bridge. Return to the hotel after sightseeing for an overnight stay in Rameswaram.
Day 10: Rameswaram – Madurai Departure (170km-4hrs) After breakfast, Greenedge Holidays will transfer you to Madurai airport for your flight back home. Cherish the sweet memories of your wonderful holiday with Greenedge Holidays.
Inclusion & Exclusion
Greenedge Holidays offers well-appointed room accommodations at the base category hotel on a twin or triple sharing basis. Guests will enjoy a daily buffet or fixed menu breakfast at the hotel and delicious Kerala cuisine meals during their houseboat stay. A comfortable A/C Indigo or small sedan vehicle will be provided for all transfers and sightseeing to the listed destinations for 2-3 pax. All applicable hotel taxes are included.
Please note that the package cost excludes any meals apart from those mentioned, Christmas Eve Gala Dinner and Gala Dinner, airfare or train fare, mandatory Christmas and New Year Eve Gala Dinners (which will be charged extra), entrance fees to amusement parks and boating charges not included in the inclusions, portage at airports and hotels, tips, insurance, wine, mineral water, telephone charges, and all items of personal nature. Any services not specifically mentioned in the inclusions, and expenses caused by factors beyond our control like rail and flight delays, roadblocks, vehicle malfunctions, political disturbances, etc.
It’s important to note that the above package is only an offer and not a confirmation. We will proceed with the booking only after receiving confirmation from you. In case the hotels mentioned are unavailable, we will provide alternate hotels of a similar category. Check-in time at the hotel is 14.00 hrs, and check-out time is 11.00hrs. Booking confirmation is subject to availability, and the above rates are valid for the mentioned period only. The Eravikulam National Park, Munnar, will remain closed from 01 Feb to the first half of April every year.
For guests interested in Kerala Houseboat services, please note that the check-in time is 12.00 hrs, and check-out time is 09.00 hrs. Houseboats will be stationed at one place from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am the next day due to government restrictions. Each houseboat comes with a navigator, cook, and a helper. In Deluxe category Houseboats, A/C will be operational from 9.00 pm to 6.00 am the next day. In Premium Houseboats, A/C will be operational as per guest request anytime. No two houseboats are of the same size and quality, and the interiors of each houseboat vary. Houseboats are for exclusive use and are not shared by other guests unless specified. Guests are requested to carry mosquito and insect repellents since the boat is anchored along the waterway at night. Always keep the door of the bedroom and washroom closed to avoid mosquitoes and insects. The choice of food is limited, and mostly South Indian cuisine is served. The quality of the houseboat cannot be compared with that of hotels, where the guests were staying previously. Houseboat rooms are small in size and have basic amenities.
Terms & Conditions
Payment Terms for Greenedge Holidays:
For Normal Period:
- 30 days or more before departure: 25% of total cost as advance booking fee.
- 29-16 days before departure: 50% of total cost as advance booking fee.
- Less than 15 days before departure: 100% of total cost as advance booking fee.
For Peak Period and Long Weekends (Please check with us):
- At the time of booking/confirmation: 50% of total cost as advance booking fee.
- After 05-07 days of booking/confirmation: 50% of total cost as advance booking fee.
- Less than 15 days before departure: 100% of total cost as advance booking fee.
Cancellation Policy:
- Package can be cancelled with written mail from the person making the booking.
- The minimum cancellation (processing fees) is Rs. 1500.00 per head per tour.
- For Normal Period:
- 45-20 days prior to tour start date: 25% of full tour cost.
- 19-10 days prior to tour start date: 50% of full tour cost.
- 09-06 days prior to tour start date: 75% of full tour cost.
- 05-00 days/No show: 100% of full tour cost.
- Except for Peak Season and Long Weekends (Please check with us):
- The minimum cancellation (processing fees) is Rs. 2000.00 per head per tour.
- 45-30 days prior to tour start date: 50% of full tour cost.
- 29-10 days prior to tour start date: 75% of full tour cost.
- 09-00 days/No show: 100% of full tour cost.
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