Holy India Travels

Places to Visit  : Trichy – Palani- Madurai – Kanyakumari – Thiruchendur – Rameshwaram – Tanjore –Chidambaram – Mahabalipuram – Kanchipuram – Chennai – Tirupati – Vellore - Thiruvannamalai - Trichy

Duration of Tour Package  :    15 Nights | 16 Days

Day 01| Arrival at Trichy |

Afternoon/evening arrive at Trichy airport. Overnight stay at hotel in Trichy.

Day 02| Trichy  |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning start sightseeing tour of Trichy city.

Visit Sri Ranganathar Swamy Temple– This is hindu temple dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Hindu deity, Vishnu located in Srirangam.

Jambukeswarar Temple : This is famous Shiva temple in Tiruchirapalli. The temple was built by Kocengannan, one of the Early Cholas, around 1,800 years ago.

Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort– The Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort is a historic fort and temple complex built on an ancient rock. It is constructed on a 273-foot high rock. There are two Hindu temples inside the Rockfort, the Uchchi Pillaiyar Koil and the Siva Temple. Geologically the 83 m high rock may date to over one billion years ago.

Evening free to visit local market for shopping. Overnight at hotel in Trichy.

Day 03 | Trichy - Palani ( 120 Kms/  3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Palani. On arrival check in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel, visit  Palani Murugan Hill Temple– Lord Murugan is the deity of the Tamil Land. Palani (Tiru Avinankudi) is the third Padai Veedu. The temple at Palani is an ancient one, situated at an elevation of 1500 feet above sea level. Overnight at hotel in Palani.

Day 04 | Palani  - Madurai (170 Kms/ 3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Madurai. “Madurai”– Madurai known as “Athens of the East”.

On arrival check-in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel start sightseeing tour of Madurai city.

Meenakshi Temple - The Temple has almost become synonymous with the place. This is Madurai's most famous landmark. This 17th century temple has two sanctum Sanctorums: one dedicated to Lord Shiva as Sundareswar ("Lord of Beauty") and the other to Meenakshi, his wife. Meenakshi holds a parrot and bouquet. Meenakshi in Sanskrit means "one who has eyes like a fish".

Thirumalai Nayak Palace– This palace is located about one Kms south-east of the Sri Meenakshi Temple. The palace was constructed in a Indo-Saracenic style by Thirumalai Naicker. A sound and light pro gramme, depicting the story of Thirumalai Nayak and of Silappathikaram is organized here daily at 6.45 pm.

Evening enjoy wedding ceremony at Meenakshi Temple. Overnight at hotel in Madurai.

Day 05| Madurai - Kanyakumari (240 Kms / 4-5 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Kanyakumari. On arrival check in at hotel, after wash & change at hotel start sightseeing tour of Kanyakumari city.

Visit Devi Kanya Kumari Temple– Devi Kanya kumari is Shree Bhagavathy in the form of an adolescent girl child. Devi is also known as Shree Baala Bhadra or Shree Baala. She is popularly known as "Bhagavathy" (Durga) or "Devi". The Bhagavathy Temple is located in Cape Kanya Kumari. There by located on the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean.

Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial– The memorial was erected to commemorate the evening of December 25, 1892, when Swami Vivekananda visited Kanyakumari as a pilgrim and swam to the rock in the sea and spent the whole night there in deep meditation. Only after that, he resolved to serve his Motherland and spread the message of Vedanta.

Gandhi Mandapam– It enshrines the spot where the urn containing the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi was kept for public view before immersing its contents in the three seas. Built like an Oriyan temple, the uniqueness in its construction lies in the fact that on October 2nd, Gandhiji's birthday, the sun's rays fall on the place where his ashes were kept. Overnight stay at hotel in Kanyakumari.

Day 06 | Kanyakumari - Thiruchendur - Rameshwaram  (290 Kms / 6-7 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Today drive to Rameshwaram, on the way visit Tiruchendur Murugan temple . Further drive for Rameshwaram, on arrival check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel in Rameshwaram.

Day 07 | Rameshwaram |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Rameshwaram. On arrival check in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel start sightseeing of Rameshwaram.

Visit The Ramanathaswamy Temple– This is one of the most important as well as frequently visited temples in South India. It is believed to have been built in the 17th century. The chief deity in this place of worship is Lord Shiva. It is also greatly revered because it is believed that Lord Rama built this temple himself.

Agni Tirtham is one of the Tirthas of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The beach east of Ramanathaswamy Temple is known by this name. This Tirtham is one of the most visited Tirthams of Rameswaram for a holy bath.

Gandamadana Parvatham (Rama Patham) also known as Rama Foot, is the highest point in Rameshwaram, bears the imprints of Lord Rama on a Chakra and the most beautiful part of this point is that, the whole of Rameshwaram Island is visible from here.

The Five Faced Hanuman Temple– It’s most renowned temple in Rameshwaram. Where Lord Hanuman revealed his five faces. These five faces were that of Lord Hanuman, Lord Adivaraha, Lord Narashima, Lord Hayagriva and Lord Garuda.

The Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge on the Palk Strait which connects the town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island to mainland India. The bridge refers to both the road bridge and the cantilever railway bridge, though primarily it means the latter. Evening free to visit local market for shopping. Overnight at hotel in Rameshwaram.

Day 08 | Rameshwaram - Thanjavur (240 Kms/ 5-6 hrs ) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive for Thanjavur.  “Thanjavur”– Thanjavur is an important centre of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the great living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, are located in and around Thanjavur.

Here you will visit  Brihadeeswarar Temple– The Peruvudaiyar Kovil also known as Periya Kovil, Brihadeeswara Temple, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram at Thanjavur. The temple constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect's marvel. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples".

Thanjavur's royal palace is a mixed bag of ruin and renovation, superb art and random royal paraphernalia. Overnight stay at hotel in Tanjore.

Day 09 | Tanjore - Chidambaram -  Mahabalipuram (280 Kms/ 5-6 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Mahabalipuram. on the way visit the temple of Lord Natraja at Chidambram. Further continue drive for Mahabalipuram.

“Mahabalipuram”– It’s also known as Mamallapuram is a town in Kancheepuram district. It is an ancient historic town and was a bustling seaport during the time of Periplus (1st century CE) and Ptolemy (140 CE). By the 7th century it was a port city of South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas. The group of monuments at Mahabalipuram has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On arrival check-in at hotel.  Overnight stay at hotel in Mahabalipuram.

Day 10 | Mahabalipuram |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning start sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram city.

The Shore Temple– The Shore temple (built in 700–728 AD) is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. It was built on a promontory sticking out into the Bay of Bengal at Mahabalipuram. At the time of its creation, the village was a busy port during the reign of Narasimhavarman II of the Pallava dynasty. As one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of South India.

The Cave Temples– Cave temples of Mahabalipuram are located on the hillock of Mahabalipuram town. Also called mandapas or rock-cut caves, they are sanctuaries or temples covered with bas-reliefs. The earliest period of use of these caves as sanctuaries is traced to the Buddhist and Jain periods. They were excavated on rock faces which were cut and then carved using chisel and iron mallet.

The Arjuna's penance (descent of the ganges) is one of the most famous stone carvings at Mahabalipuram. It is an enormous relief made on two massive boulders. One of the biggest open-air rock canvases in the world, the Arjuna's penance is 31m long and 9m high.

Pancha pandava rathas: The five Rathas is a set of magnificent monolithic rock temples.. heroes of Mahabharata with their wife Draupadi which is termed as pancha pandava rathas. Also visit Krishna’s Butterball.  Overnight stay at hotel in Mahabalipuram.

Day 11 | Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Chennai (60 Kms/ 1  hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Chennai. Chennai is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. It is the biggest industrial and commercial centre in South India, and a major cultural, economic and educational centre. On the way visit to Kanchipuram. “Kanchipuram”– It is a famous temple city in the Tamil Nadu. It served as the capital city of the Pallava Kingdom. It is also known by its former names Kanchiampathi, Conjeevaram, and the nickname "The City of Thousand Temples".

Visit Ekambaranathar Temple– Ekambareswarar temple is a hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple is the largest temple in the town of Kanchipuram and is located in the northern part of the town. The temple gopuram (gateway tower) is 59m tall, which is one of the tallest gopurams in India.

The Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple– This is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram. It is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to the god Shiva, and is known for its historical importance. The temple was built from 685-705AD by a Rajasimha ruler of the Pallava Dynasty.

Further drive to Chennai. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Chennai.

Day 12| Chennai |

Breakfast at hotel. Today Chennai city tour visit  Fort St. George– Fort St George is the name of the first English (later British) fortress in India, founded in 1644. The modern city of Chennai. The construction of the fort provided the impetus for further settlements and trading activity, in what was originally an uninhabited land. Now houses the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu.

St. Mary's Church– The oldest Anglican Church in India with its premises. Sri Parthasarathy Temple– Built by the Pallavas in the 8th century AD.

Kapaleeswarar Temple– Mylapore also an eighth century Pallava Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. San Thomas Cathedral Basilica rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral and in 1896 it was made a basilica.

Rest of the day free to visit Marina Beach &  local markets/bazaar for shopping. Overnight stay at hotel in Chennai.

Day 13 | Chennai - Tirupati (130 Kms/ 3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Tirupati. “Tirupati” is a major pilgrimage and cultural city in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the richest pilgrimage cities of any religious faith in the world. Tirupati is famous for Venkateswara Swamy temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara.

On arrival check-in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel visit Sri Venkateswara Temple– Sri Venkateswara Temple is one of the ancient and holy temples, which is located at the 7th peak of the Venkata Tirumala Hill. The temple houses an idol of Lord Venkateswara, which is about 8 ft in height. The idol stands under the gold gilded dome, which is known as Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana. The eyes of this idol are covered with a tilak of camphor and are ornamented with some of the precious and semi-precious stones. Overnight stay at hotel in Tirupati. 

Day 14 | Tirupati - Vellore - Tiruvanamalai (130 Kms/ 3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive for Thiruvannamalai. On the way visit Golden Temple in Vellore. Further drive to Thiruvannamalai. On arrival visit Tiruvanamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple. Overnight stay at hotel in Tiruvannamalai.

Day 15 | Tiruvanamalai -  Trichy (200 Kms/ 3-4 hrs) |

Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive for Thiruvannamalai. On the way visit Golden Temple in Vellore. Further drive to Thiruvannamalai. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Trichy.

Day 16 | Trichy / Departure |

Breakfast at hotel and drop at Trichy International airport to board on flight for onward destination.

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