Home » South
India Pilgrimage Tour
South India Pilgrimage Tour
South India has always been known for its temple trails. Even today the main spiritual stream comprising both Shaivite and Vaishnavite branches of Hinduism, although it has an impression left here of Buddhist and Jain philosophies and had been influential several centuries earlier. The coastal region of Andhra Pradesh was a stronghold of Buddhism as exemplified by the great stupas at Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda. Shravanabelagola in Karnataka is a popular pilgrimage center for Jains. Kodagu, in Karnataka is home to one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in India and provides sanctuary to Tibetan Buddhist monks that fled Tibet fearing persecution from communist China
Duration : 11 Nights - 12 Days
Destination : CHENNAI - MAHABALIPURAM - KANCHIPURAM - TIRUVANNAMALAI
- PONDICHERRY - CHIDAMBARAM -TANJORE - TRICHY - MADURAI - TRIVANDRUM- CHENNAI.
Day 1 : Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai - the gateway to southern India, established in 1639 by the East
India Company, is one of the oldest cities of the country. Upon arrival met
and and transfer to hotel. Afternoon half day sightseeing tour, visiting Gandhi
Memorial, Kala Kshetra, Mylapore temple and Marine beach. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 : Chennai
After breakfast, proceed to Tirupathi 154 kms and 4 hrs drive from Chennai .
Tirupathi is a temple town known for the famous ancient temple of Lord Venkateswara
(Lord of seven hills or Balaji, as he is affectionately known ) on the top of
the 860mts high Tirumala hills.The temple of Lord Venkateswara is not only believed
to be amongst the oldest temples in the country, but also the richest of them
all .Legend has it that Lord Venkateswara borrowed money from the divine treasurer
Kubera for his wedding expenses. He is still paying back this debt which is
why the pilgrims donate generously to the temple
funds. In the evening return to Chennai . Overnight at Hotel.
Day 3 : Chennai - Mahabalipuram (by surface) via Kanchipuram 70 ksm 1.50hrs
Drive
After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram is the ancient capital of the Pallavas
famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple
dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century paintings on the walls.Temples
of Ekambaswara , Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest.
Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. later drive to Mahabalipuram and check
in at hotel. Afternoon visit the city - built in 7th century, earlier called
Mahabalipuram, this ancient Pallava port, is today the sight of several antique
sculptural marvels. In this ancient seaside town , shrines and huge sculptures
cut-out of rocks more than 1200 years back during the reign of Pallava Kings
in the region can be seen. The rock carvings depicting mythological episodes
- of demons, Gods and animals
in battle and others - are truly poems in stone. The only shore temple which
remains here is the spectacular two - spired shrine, unique because it houses
both Lord Shiva and the Lord Vishnu in its sanctum-sanctorum. Over night at
hotel.
Day
4 : Mahabalipuram - Tiruvannamali - Pondicherry (by Surface) 243kms 7 hrs Drive
After breakfast drive to Tiruvannamallai- a pilgrim centre with an ancient temple
of Lord Shiva. Then proceed to Pondicherry , 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. Checkin at Hotel .
overnight at Hotel .
Day 5 : Pondicherry
After breakfast 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 matter.
Afternoon visit Auroville - a unique experiment in international living and
in creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities live
together in harmony.
Overnight at hotel.
Day
6 : Pondicherry - Chidambaram- Tanjore (by syrface) 170 kms 4 hrs Drive
Afterbreakfast drive to Chidambaram 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 drive to Thanjavur enroute visiting
the Brass factory at Kumbakonam. Tanjore once the capital of Chola Kings, has
the Brahadeswara temple(or the big temple of God).The temple tower rises to
a height of 15mts from a square base of 29 mts and then tapers off, making a
total of 66mts.Checkin AT Hotel . overnight at Hotel.
Day 7 : Tanjore - Trichy (by surface) 54kms 02hrs Drive
After breakfast leave for Trichy, short name of Trichurapalli, situated on the
banks of Kaveri River is a blend of history and tradition as well as pilgrim
centre, it is famous for Ranganath temple at Srirangam. Checkin at hotel. After
noon city tour visiting Rock fort and its temple at a height of over 23mts.
Also visit Srirangam
and Jambukeshwar Temple.overnight at Hotel.
Day 8 : Trichy - Madurai (by surface) 135kms - 4hrs Drive
After breakfast proceed to Madurai and checkin at hotel. The ancient city of
Madurai, some 2600 years old is laid out in the banks of river Vaigai as a lotus
flower with the Meenakshi temple in the centre. After noon city tour visiting
- Meenakshi temple, King Tirumala's Palace, Great tank and Gandhi museum. Dinner
and overnight at hotel
Day 9 : Madurai
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 visited
before going into 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.
Return to Madurai . overnight at hotel.
Day 10 : Madurai - Trivandrum (by Syrface) 329kms- 0900 hrs Drive
After breakfast drive to Trivandrum and check in at hotel. Afternoon Free.
Day 11 : Trivandrum
After breakfast proceed for Kanyakumari - is the land's end of India where the
water of the Arabian Sea , the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. An important
pilgrim centre of India , it is famous for the Amman Temples - a symbol of unity
and sanctity - deidicated to the virgin Goddess , Kanya Kumari. To its South
- East lies the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial , a blend of all the architectural
styles of India. Evening enjoy the beautiful sun set and later return to Trivandrum.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 12 : Trivandrum
After breakfast transfer to airport to connect flight for your home.
South India Pilgrimage Tour, Reservation Form
Copyright©
Tour Operator India.
All Rights Reserved