Pondicherry Thanjore & Trichy (5 Days)

Itinerary

Day 1: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (235kms/ 5hrs approx)

Pass By: Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu
Pick up from your hotel in Chennai and drive to Pondicherry via visiting Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram Temples.

Stop At: Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram India
In Kanchipuram visit Kailasanatha temple - 8th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is noted for its architecture and sculptures. There are 58 small shrines situated around the main shrine as compound wall. Sandstone was used in the construction of this temple.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ekambareswarar Temple, Ekambaranathar Sannidhi Street, Kanchipuram 631502 India
Ekambareswarar temple - another ancient temple of the city dedicated to Siva. The 2500-year-old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yields different varieties of mangoes. Varadharaja temple - dedicated to Lord Vishnu, noted for its wonderful sculptures. This is one of the 108 sacred Shri Vaishnavite temples.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Amma Temple, A, 24, Sanathi St, Periya, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502, India
Kamakshiamman temple - dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi the presiding deity, one of the holy Sakthi worship places in India. It is closely associated with Sri Adi Sankaracharya. Optionally visit Handloom industry - famous for handloom Silk Sarees the main profession of people in Kanchipuram.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Krishna's Butter Ball, E Raja St, Mahabalipuram 603104 India
In Mahabalipuram visit Krishna's Butterball - a gigantic granite boulder resting on a short incline.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Pancha Rathas, Kancheepuram District, Mahabalipuram 603104 India
Monolithic Temples - locally known as Rathas. They were executed by chiseling out the exterior face of the boulder. Work started from top to bottom. The pyramidal vimana with sikhara at the top is an important feature of this style. There a total number of 8 monolithic temples found in Mamallapuram. The five rathas in one place, Ganesha Ratha, Valayankuttai Ratha & Pidari Rathas.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Shore Temple Rd, Mahabalipuram 603104 India
Shore Temple - built with blocks of granitein in 7th century during the rule of King Narsimha-Varman II Rajasimha the temple complex consisting of two Siva temples and a carving of Anantasayana Vishnu. The temple facing east is entered by a small gopura. It is one of the oldest structural stone temples of South India. As one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Varaha Cave Temple, Kancheepuram District, Mahabalipuram India
Cave Temples - cut and decorated with panels in the Mamalla style of the Pallava period in the 7th century. Remnants seen in the caves also indicate that they were plastered and painted when built. Many of the caves of the Pallava period have remained incomplete. The procedure in creating these caves involved creation of a smooth rock face, then cutting columns through the polished rock faces of required size and then carving bas-reliefs on the walls of the cave.
Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Pondicherry, Pondicherry, Union Territory of Pondicherry
After sightseeing drive to Pondicherry check in at hotel.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Pondicherry

Stop At: Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India
Breakfast at hotel, visit Aurovil - an experimental community in southern India. It was founded in 1968 by the spiritual leader Mirra Alfassa as a town where people from all over the world could live in harmony. Its focal point is the Matrimandir, a futuristic, spherical temple covered in gold discs. Auroville Botanical Gardens protects the region’s tropical dry evergreen forest. Auroville Beach is a long sandy stretch with gentle surf. Sri Aurobindo - established in 1926 by Shree Aurobindo and 'The Mother'. Together they explored the possibilities of yoga and meditation as a path to salvation. At the ashram, residents continue to practice their teachings.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Pondicherry Museum, Rue Romain Rolland, Pondicherry 605001 India
Pondicherry Museum - an art and history museum especially noted for its collection of fine lost wax bronzes form the period of the Chola Empire. The Museum's collection includes 81 Chola bronze sculptures, ranking as one of the largest collections of Chola bronzes.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: French Institute, 11 Rue Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry 605001 India
French Colony - Pondicherry has some of the finest examples of old French culture with a hint of Tamil influence in its visual aesthetics. In this tour, you will catch sight of some of the unique and old infrastructures. Observe and get inspired by the architectural beauty of the French part of the town while enjoying a cup of coffee and some deserts along the way. As part of the package, customise your walk with your guide to cover the visit of French consulate, French Institute, Raj Nivas, Bharati Park (Aayi Monument), Government Square, Beaches, Monuments, Churches, French schools.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Pondicherry - Gangaikondacholapuram - Darasuram - Chidambaram - Thanjore (185kms/ 4hrs approx)

Stop At: Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, East Car Street, Chidambaram Vijay Gems, 608001 India
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Thanjore. En route visit Chidambaram Nataraja Temple which is dedicated to the Nataraja or the dancing posture of Lord Shiva. This temple is located in the heart of the town and has undergone numerous renovations under the reign of Chola and Pallava kings. In 1213 AD, Aragalur Udaya Iraratevan Ponparappinan rebuilt some of the parts of this temple. The Nataraja Temple is known for its attractive gopurams, carvings, five mandapams and inscriptions. Built during the 10th century by Chola Kings, this temple is known for huge walls, four tall shikharas in four directions and a big Sivagangai tank. The four tall shikharas are decorated with 108 carved dance postures of Natya Shastra.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Cholapuram, Thanjavur India
Further drive & visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple - built in Tamil style of architecture with a square plan. The structural elements resemble the big Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur. Both include a courtyard entered through multiple gateways and relatively small gopuram (tower). Inside are shrines, most of which are aligned on an east-west axis; a few are perpendicular. The temple complex includes Nandi Mandapa, Alankar Mandapa, Maha Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa and Ardha Mandapa.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Darasuram Temple, Darasuram, Gurunathan Pillai Colony, Dharasuram, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu 612702, India
Continue drive & visit Darasuram Temple - a storehouse of art and architecture. The vimana is 85 feet high. The front mandapam itself is in the form of a huge chariot drawn by horses. The temple has some exquisite stone carvings. The main deity's consort Periya Nayaki Amman temple is situated adjacent to Airavateshwarar temple.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Continue drive to Thanjore check in at hotel.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Thanjore - Trichy (60kms/ 1.5hrs approx)

Stop At: Brihadeshwara Temple Bus Stop, Membalam Rd, Balaganapathy Nagar, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613007, India
Breakfast at hotel. Visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Fort - built by great Chola king in the 10th century. It is an outstanding example of Chola architecture and is listed in UNESCO world heritage site. On the top of the apex of 63 metres high dome is said to be constructed from a single piece of granite, weighing an estimated 81 tones. Thanjavur Palace & Museum - the palace near the temple is a vast building of masonry built by the Nayakas around 1550 and partly by the Maratha. The palace houses an art gallery, a library and a hall of music. The art gallery occupies the Nayak Durbar Hall. It has a superb collection of Chola bronze statues from the 9th to 12th centuries. The Saraswati mahal Library is next door to the gallery. Art Gallery - in the Palace there are a number of granite and bronze statues of the Chola period. Saraswathi Mahal Library - another section of the Palace is the library where over 30,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts in India and European languages are preserved.
Duration: 3 hours

Pass By: Tiruchirappalli, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu
After sightseeing drive to Trichy check in at hotel.

Stop At: Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam 7 km north of Tiruchy, Tiruchirappalli 620006 India
Later visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple - there are 22 gopurams including India’s tallest (72 meters, 13 storey high). Many people have had a hand in its construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas and rulers from Vijayanagar. Ivory sculptures of Lord Vishnu in various poses and the images of Nayak Kings with consorts donated by Nayak kings who ruled Madurai during the 17th century are available here.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Rock Fort Temple, Rock Hills, Tiruchirappalli India
Rock Fort Temple: The 83m high Rock Fort is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. The rock is one of the oldest in the world-approximately 3.800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. At the top of the rock is the Uchipillaiyar Koil, a temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaka from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of Tiruchirappalli. A flight of steps leads to the Mathrubutheswarar of Thayumanaswami temple, dedicated to Lord Siva where the lingam is a projection of the rock itself.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Srirangam, Thiruvanaikoil, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 620005, India
Tiruvanaikkaval - the Jambukeshwara temple, here is dedicated to Shiva, and it houses five concentric walls, and seven gopurams. Once an elephant worshipped Lord Shiva under the holy Jambu tree and hence the name Jambukeshwar.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Trichy - Chennai (330kms/ 6hrs approx)

Pass By: Chennai (Madras), Chennai (Madras), Chennai District, Tamil Nadu
Breakfast at hotel drive to Chennai drop off to your hotel or airport.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.