(Chennai – Mahabalipuram – Trichy – Madurai – Trivandrum, 6N/7D)
Day 1- Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai in the morning and meet the Smaraniya Holidays representative at the arrival hall of Chennai airport. Upon arrival straight transfer to Mahabalipuram. Arrive Mahabalipuram and check – in at hotel.
Day 2- In Mahabalipuram
Morning visit Mahabalipuram city. Lying on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, the historical town of Mahabalipuram is known to have been established as a flourishing sea port by the Pallava kings during the period from 7th to 10th century. The city was crowned as the second capital of the Pallava dynasty. Most of the templeswere built during this time. These are temples carved out of single rock structures. The places to be visited in Mahabalipuram are Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna Mandapam, Varaha Mandapam, Five Rathas and Shore Temples. Later visit Kancheepuram, one of the seven sacred cities of India and also home to the famous silk and cotton weaving industry.
Day 4- To Trichy
Early morning drive to Trichy. Arrive Trichy and check – in at hotel. Later visit The Rock Fort Temple, an enchanting temple unique in its own way makes a must visit site of Trichi. Rockfort temple stands tall on a magnificent hill which is believed to be 3500 million years old. This temple dates back to 7th century. This hillock forms the landmark of bustling Trichy town.
There are two temples here one for Siva and the other for Vinayagar known here as Ucchi Pillayair , Ucchi means zenith . The deity here sits and watches the whole Trichy town from the summit. The uchipillayar temple is very small , one has to climb about 400 steps to reach the summit. One can have a panoramic view of the whole town from the top of the hill.
Also visit the Tiruvanaikkaval Temple which is famous for its Siva lingam.
Day 5- To Madurai
Morning drive to Madurai. Arrive Madurai and check – in at hotel. Later visit Meenakshi Temple, where the 1,000-pillared hall has stone figures carved on the pillars, some of which sound like metal when hit with an object. This enormous temple complex is dedicated to lord Shiva, known here as Sundareshvara and his consort Parvati or Meenakshi. The original temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya, but the entire credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the Nayaks. The Nayaks ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the Meenakshi - Sundareswarar Temple.
The temple complex is within a high-walled enclosure, at the core of which are the two sanctums for meenakshi and Sundareshwara, surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and grand pillared halls. Especially impressive are the 12 gopuras. Their soaring towers rise from solid granite bases, and are covered with stucco figures of dieties, mythical animals and monsters painted in vivid colours.
Also visit Tirumalai Nayaka Temple and the Temple Art Museum.
Day 6- To Trivandrum
Morning drive to Trivandrum. Arrive Trivandrum and check – in at hotel.
Afternoon take a sightseeing tour of Trivandrum visiting The ancient temple of Sri Padmanabhaswamy - one of the major attractions in the city of Thiruvananthapuram. Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a very important temple as it is one amongst the hundred and eight Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu. Divya Desams means the holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu that has its mention in the works of the Tamil saints. Recently Rs 87500 crores worth of treasure was found inside this temple. Also visit the Napier Museum. The museum shows a harmonious blending of Kerala, Mughal, Chinese and Italian architectural styles. Your tour itinerary also includes visit to Sri Chitra Art Gallery. This art gallery is famous for its collection of Tanjore, Mughal, and Rajput schools of art.
Return to hotel late evening. After dinner overnight at hotel.
Day 7:
After breakfast leave for the airport to catch flight for Mumbai. On arrival, meet our representative at the airport, thereafter proceed for onward journey.
