South India Cultural Tour
Duration:
06 nights / 07 days
Destinations Covered: Madras, Mahabalipuram,
Kanchipuram, Tanjore, Tirchy, Madurai, Madras
Day 01: Arrive Madras
Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing
tour.
Madras, the capital city, popularly regarded as the 'Gateway to the South'
represents a culture that is distinctly different from that of northern
India. The places of interest are Kalakshetra, a school of art and music
that encourages exponents of Bharatnatyam, Carnatic music, traditional
weaving and designing.
Day 02: Madras - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
Morning drive to Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram, 70 kms west of Mahabalipuram,
this city of thousand temples lies. One of the seven sacred cities of
Hindus, it was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd
century BC.
Kanchi was a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of
pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Apart from temples, the city is
also famous for its silk weavers, settled here some 400 years ago and have
given it an enviable reputation.
Overnight at the hotel in Covelong.
Day 03: Mahabalipuram - Tanjore
An early departure for Tanjore visiting enroute Pondicherry.
PONDICHERRY - Although the French influence is gradually fading,
Pondicherry retains a few Gallic accents. Pondicherry's main sights are the
Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Arrive Tanjore and on arrival, check-in at the hotel for overnight.
Day 04: Tanjore - Trichy
Morning sightseeing tour of Tanjore. Tanjore - The home of Carnatic music,
musical instruments, dance and traditional hadicrafts, Tanjore (Thanjavur)
is famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple constructed more than a
thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect's marvel.
The Art Gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal Library are also well known places
of interest.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Trichy - Madurai
Morning visit Rock Fort Temple. The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the
Kaveri river, Trichy's most famed land mark is an 84 m high rock, one of the
oldest in the world aprox.3,800 million years.
Later drive to Madurai and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Overnight
stay.
Day 06: Madurai - Madras
Morning sightseeing tour of Madurai Madurai, known as Athens of the East,
it is the second largest city on the banks of the River Vigai. The city
believed to be more than 2500 yeras old.
The city got its name from the drops of nectar (Mathuram) that fell from
Shiva's locs when he came to bless its people for constructing a temple for
him. Madurai where the people wake up at the chant of hymns is proud of
magnificent 'The Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple. Of its 12 gopurams, four of
the tallest stand at the outer walls of the temple.
Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07: Madurai - Madras
Transfer to the airport for flight to Madras.
