Temples of South India (8 Days) 

     Upon your arrival in Chennai you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

     Your afternoon tour of Chennai takes you to Victoria Art Gallery, Bronze Gallery and Chennai Museum. The Fort St. George, San Thome Cathedral and Kapaleeswarar Temple complete your visit. (B)

     Tour Kanchipuram, one of the seven sacred cities of India. Visit three of the best temples—Kailasanatha and Ekambareshwara (dedicated to Lord Shiva) and Vaikuntaperumal (dedicated to Lord Vishnu). In the afternoon, tour Mammalapuram, where you will visit the seventh century rock hewn monuments. The shore temple, the only surviving one of seven, is a unique example of a temple built of rock quarried elsewhere and carried to shore. Check into your hotel. (B)

     In the morning drive to Pondicherry. In the afternoon visit the Botanical Gardens, Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus, The Promenade, Government Park, Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Roman Rolland Library, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, French Institute and other museums and art galleries. (B)

     Drive to Tanjore, en route visit Nataraj Temple at Chidambaram, and also visit the temples at Kumbakonam. Arrive in Tanjore and check-in at the hotel. (B)

     Tour Tanjore, visiting Brihadeeswara Temple, the palace, Sangeetha Mahal, Saraswati Mahal, Library, Raja Museum, Temple Museum and Schwarz Church. Later drive to Trichy where you will visit the Rock Fort, Sri Jambukeshwara Temple, Tiruvannaikaval, Srirangam and other museums and art galleries. (B)

     Depart for Madurai. In the afternoon visit Meenakshi Temple, Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Mariamman Tank and Koodal Alagar Temple. In the evening, visit Meenakshi Temple again for the evening prayer ceremony. (B)

     You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)