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City of Temples Tours

Duration: 13 Nights / 14 Days
Places to Visit: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Tiruvannamalai - Pondicherry - Auroville - Swamimalai - Madurai - Rameswaram - Chennai - Puttaparthi - Bangalore - Chennai
Highlight of Tour: India's South has a unique character. Hindu monuments of great antiquity survive, where you can experience probably the world's most ancient living faith.
You will explore some of these ancient soaring temples, dedicated to Shiva or Vishnu, and stand shoulder to shoulder with their devotees and much more.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai - Meet and transfer to hotel upon arrival.
Overnight at hotel.
Chennai is India’s fourth-largest city, but maintains a comfortable blend of foreign influence with traditional Tamil-Hindu culture. This spacious, well-organized city is the site of the East India Company’s first settlement and the gateway to South India.

Day 2: Chennai - Kanchipuram, "Golden City of 1000 Temples"
On the morning, enjoy an optional Chennai city tour, which can include visits to various sights such as the Government Museum, Fort St. George and temples In the afternoon, drive to Kanchipuram, one of Hinduism’s seven most sacred cities. On arrival check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
In the morning , you will visit numerous temples in Kanchipuram, including the Ekambareshwarar Temple, in which a legendary 3,500 year-old mango tree still bears fruit of four different flavors on its four major branches, representing the four Vedas. In Kanchipuram is also known as a major manufacturing center of some of India’s highest quality hand-woven silk fabrics, and time will be allotted for shopping if desired. In the afternoon, drive to Mahabalipuram, enjoy the three-hour scenic drive. This quiet beach resort town is famous for its fresh and realistic 15,000 year-old Dravidian-age temples, the most famous of which is the Shore Temple.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Mahabalipuram - Tiruvannamalai (2-3 hour drive time)
Tiruvannamalai Shiva-Parvati Temple is the largest in India, and is constructed in traditional South Indian style. On arrival check in at hotel. Ovenight at hotel.

Day 5: Tiruvannamalai - Pondicherry - Auroville (3 hours drive time)
Morning visit the temples, Depart in the afternoon for Pondicherry, a former French colony and the home of the ashram and samadhi (tomb) of one the late great saints, seers, poets and philosophers of the 20th Century: Sri Aurobindo, and his soul-mate and devotee originally from France: The Mother. Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: In Pondicherry - Auroville
Day free to explore the Ashrams.

Day 7: Pondicherry - Auroville - Swamimalai (5 hours drive time)
On your drive south through the historic remains of the Chola Empire, we will have opportunities to visit the fascinating temples at Chidambaram and Kumbakonam. At Swamimalai, You will be immersed in a complete day of experiential living in South Indian traditional culture. Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: In Swamimalai
Day to explore town and temples.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Swamimalai - Madurai, "City of Nectar."
Along the route of our four-hour drive south to Madurai, make a stop at Tanjavore’s Brihadishwara Temple, a World Heritage Monument with a 200-foot tall sanctuary tower, the tallest in India. Also visit an expert in the field of homeo teletherapy in Tanjavore.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 10: Madurai - Rameswaram, "Varanasi of the South." (Drive time 4.5 hours)
In the afternoon, drive to Rameswaram. This small, sleepy fishing town situated on an island in the Gulf of Mannar is one of India’s most important pilgrimage centers for devotees of both Shiva and Vishnu. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Madurai + Overnight Train
Day free to exlpore the town and temples. Late afternoon - Evening transfer to station for Overnight train to Chennai.

Day 12: Chennai - Puttaparthi {Satya Sai Baba Ashram}
On the morning of Day 13, arrive in Chennai’s Station and transfer to airport for a short flight to Bangalore, then three-hour scenic countryside ride to Puttaparthi. Arrive at Satya Sai Baba’s Prasanthi Nilayam Ashram by afternoon.

Day 13: Puttaparthi
Arise for the early morning darshan (literally, "view of the divine"), and then tour the peaceful ashram with its museum and giftshop, schools, university, hospital and sports center. Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Puttaparthi - Bangalore - Chennai
Morning Drive from Puttaparthi to Bangalore, then fly back to Chennai. Transfer directly to international terminal.

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