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“India’s Great Divide is the Vindhya Mountains which runs from east to west, separating the fertile river valley of the Ganges called the Ganga, from the Deccan Plateau which occupies much of the peninsula of India.
Beyond these mountains, in the wedge shaped plateau, are great old cities supported by rich farm lands and a culture that has its roots in the almost historical Kumari Continent from where, they claim, civilization spread across the world. The south is gracious, graceful, Old India.
The delightful south; almost untouched by invasions throughout its history, the Indian heritage is more intact here than in other regions of the country. It is called the “Land of 10000 Temples”, & has a very distinct & different style of Hinduism, rich in Culture & Arts.” |
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Day 01 : Mumbai/Delhi – Chennai (Flight-2/4 hrs) |
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Arrive in Chennai (Madras)-the gateway to southern India, Assistance and transfer to hotel. In afternoon half-day sightseeing tour, visiting Gandhi memorial, Kala Kshetra, Mylapore temple, and Marina beach. Overnight stay will be at hotel. |
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Day 02 : Chennai – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram (139 kms, 3 hrs) |
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Chennai to Mamallapuram via Kanchipuram (ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 temples that still has 124 shrines. Kanchipuram is also famous for silk. ) after a while drive to Mamallapuram (64 kms, this is a small, quiet seaside resort with a unique 7th-century Shore Temple, a lovely beach and some of the most beautiful rock-cut temples in the world. This town was a workshop for temple building. Visit the seven pagoda-style Shore temples, lashed by the waves of the sea and the seven rathas or temple chariots, a group of monolithic monuments & animal figures carved out of solid rock, the earliest known examples of Dravidian architecture). In evening enjoy the sea beach. Overnight stay will be at the hotel.
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Day 03 : Mahabalipuram-Tiruvannamalai-Pondicherry (243 kms, 6hrs) |
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Day begins with the visit to the temples, after breakfast drive to Tiruvannamallai(112kms/2.5hrs)- a pilgrim centre with an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. After lunch, proceed to Pondicherry (131kms/ 3.5hrs), which carries a strong whiff of the French presence in India. This erstwhile French colony on the east coast of South India merged with the rest of the country in 1954.Legend says that Pondicherry is the place where St.Agasthaya settled down. Check in, dinner and overnight stay will be at hotel.
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Day 04 : Pondicherry |
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After breakfast, we will drive to visit Aurbindo Ashram, the city of dawn, which is 10kms north of Pondicherry. This ashram promotes Aurbindo's ideas in bringing about a synthesis of Yoga and modern science, so as to unite the spirit and the matter. After lunch at hotel, visit Auroville - a unique experiment in international living arena, creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities live together in harmony. Dinner and overnight stay will be at hotel. |
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Day 05 : Pondicherry-Chidambaram-Tanjore (170 kms, 4hrs) |
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Drive to Chidambaram (65kms/1.5hrs) also called as Thillai, which has the famous Nataraja temple with the root of the sanctum-sanctorum covered with golden plates is located in the centre of the town covering an area of 40 acres. In this temple, postures from the Bharatnatayam form of dance are depicted in sculpture. Natraja is Lord Shiva as a cosmic dancer. After lunch at local restaurant, drive to Thanjavur (104kms/03hrs) in the morning also known as Thanjavur (The rice bowl of TAMIL NADU). Proceed for sightseeing of Tanjore. Visit the famous Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara - A WORLD HERITAGE MONUMENT. Its bronze and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of the tour to South India. The majesty of the palaces and art gallery attached to the temple is really awe-inspiring. It is also famous for the silk. |
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Day 06 : Tanjore-Trichy (32 kms, 1 hrs) |
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Leave for Trichy, short name of Trichurapalli, situated on the banks of Kaveri River, blend of history and tradition as well as pilgrim centre, it is famous for Ranganath temple at Srirangam. 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. The attraction is not for fort itself but the temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where the inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C) Later drive to Madurai and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay & Dinner will be at hotel. |
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Day 07 :Trichy-Madurai (142kms, 3.5 hrs) |
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After breakfast proceed to Madurai and check in at hotel. The ancient city of Madurai, some 2600 years old is laid out at the banks of river Vaigai in form of a lotus flower with the Meenakshi temple in the centre. After lunch, city tour visiting - Meenakshi temple, King Tirumala's Palace, Great tank, and Gandhi museum. Dinner and overnight stay will be at hotel. |
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Day 08: Madurai-Rameshwaram-Madurai (310 kms, 7 hrs) |
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After breakfast proceed to Rameshwaram- the most sacred temple town of India is an island hallowed by the epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama is said to have performed puja of lord Shiva before going to battle of Srilanka. Legend has it that Lord Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash to bring a Lingam for worship when he set foot after defeating Ravana. As Hanuman did not return when the auspicious hour was approaching, Sita made a sand Lingam so that worship could be performed in time, which is where the present day Ramanatha Swamy Temple stands close to sea on the eastern side of the island. One of the twelve Jyotirlingam shrines is also well known for its magnificent corridors and the massive sculptured pillars lining them. Lunch will be at local restaurant. Return to Madurai for dinner and overnight stay at hotel. |
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Day 9: Madurai- Kanyakumari (235 kms, 6 hrs) |
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In early morning, we will drive to Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari - where confluence of three oceans happens, the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. Kanyakumari is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise, sunset and moonrise over the waters. Kanyakumari is also a popular pilgrimage destination and of great significance to Hindus. Overnight stay will be at hotel. |
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Day 10:Kanyakumari-Trviendrum (87 kms, 2 hrs) |
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Early morning proceed to the Triveni Sangam for the sunrise. Tour itinerary on the tenth day will include a dip in the holy water and visits to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Gandhi Mandapam and the Kanyakumari Temple, and the Suchindram Temple. Spend the evening walking along the virgin beaches and soaking up the serene atmosphere. Overnight stay will be at hotel. In evening, enjoy the beautiful sunset and later leave for Trivandrum in Kerala. Dinner and overnight stay will be at hotel.
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Day 11:Trviendrum |
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Enjoy last day of the trip in temple tour by visiting the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Aruvipuram Siva Temple, Janardhan Swamy Temple, Sree Parasurama Temple, Sree Kanteswaram Temple, and Ganapati Temple. Post lunch, you can also visit Napier Museum and Chitra Art Gallery. In evening fly to Mumbai.
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TnT
says why |
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"The best route to view the Hinduism religion in its different form of Culture & Architecture. Its filled with various form of worship, considering the south Indian are more religious in nature, one can easily see the spiritualism oozing from every destination in this itinerary." |
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Other Extensions:
- Enchanting Kerala -(add 9 days)
- Best Kerala & Karnataka - (add 10 days).
- Mountains of South - (add8 days).
- Trek in Kerala - (add 5 days)
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This itinerary is especially designed for those, who wants to view India, spiritually, aesthetically & religiously. River Ganga is & has been the most important means of development & evolution of the religion called “HINDUISM”, with billions of followers have its great importance in the world. Hence we follow from its birth to the most historical & important places along the river. |
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