09 Days Best of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Heritage with Kodaikanal

Highlights

Itinerary

•   Day 1

  Arrival in Mahabalipuram

  You reach Chennai and then you drive to Mahabalipuram. Enroute, you may visit the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and a museum and an arts and crafts village, Dakshinachitra.

  Later, reach Mahabalipuram and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Shore Temple and other monumental structures like the Varaha Cave Templ,e Pancha Ratha, Krishna Mandapam, Tiger Cave, Balancing Rock, Arjuna's Penance.

  All of these are situated in a 1-2 km radius. You stay overnight in Mahabalipuram.

•   Day 2

  Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry. Visit to the French Quarters

  Travel around the picturesque East Coast Road and proceed to the erstwhile French colony, Puducherry. From Chennai, it is about 100 kms away. And it takes about 2.5 hrs to reach here.

  After arriving here, in the evening, enjoy a relaxing walk along the French Quarters neighbourhood. The buildings wear the unique French style architecture and it is a very engaging and pleasant experience to discover the heritage buildings that are still in great condition.

  Even walk along to the promenade along the sea. You can end the beautiful day with a romantic meal at a restaurant that serves French, European or even Chettinad cuisines.

•   Day 3

  Sightseeing around Puducherry and Auroville

  In the first half, go sightseeing around Puducherry. First, visit the Aurobindo Ashram, and then you visit a paper factory that is operated by the Ashram, and you visit the age-old temples of Varadaraja Perumal and Manakula Vinayagar Koil.

  Later, you should stopover at the Puducherry Musuem, the Botanical Gardens and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. After lunch, you get to visit Auroville which is about 15 kms north of Puducherry.

  While here, don’t miss out on how a barren land was transformed into a thriving community and it is home to the Matrimandir, an architectural marvel. You can also go around Auroville and check out their way of life and you can indulge in some shopping too while here.

  In the evening, head to a renowned Anglo-French textiles showroom and you can take a look and shop around. Another option is to head to the Chunnambar boat house and go boating in the backwaters and enjoy the sea and the picturesque surroundings. This is situated about 8 kms South of Puducherry).

•   Day 4

  Pondicherry - Thanjavur via Chidambaram. Visit UNESCO World heritage site temple

  On this day, you head to your next destination, Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. It is about 175 kms away and it takes approximately 4 hours to reach.

  Enroute, you pass by Chidambaram which is about 58 kms away and you stopover at the famed Nataraja Temple here and don’t miss the art and architecture of this ancient 17th century temple.

  This is a deeply revered temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in a cosmic dance pose. Later, after reaching Thanjavur, visit the UNESCO World heritage site, Brihadisvara Temple. This temple was built over the 9th- 13th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

•   Day 5

  Visiting temples in and around Thanjavur and Kumbakonam

  On this day, you start by visiting attractions like the Vijayanagar Fort, built in the 16th century. This is about 2 kms from Brihadisvara Temple. The Fort houses the Thanjavur Palace, the Saraswathi Mahal, Sangeetha Mahal, and Library and Art Gallery.

  Instead, you can choose to visit Kumbakonam which is about 41 kms away and visit temples like the Adi Kumbeswara Temple, Darasuram temple and many other prominent temples in and around the vicinity of Kumbakonam.

  These temples are well-known pilgrimage centres and are also architecturally very eye-catching.

•   Day 6

  Thanjavur - Madurai. Visit Meenakshi Temple in the evening

  You now move to your next destination, the temple town of Madurai. 190 kms away, it takes about 3.5 hours. Madurai is well-known for the Meenakshi Amman Temple.

  An imposing temple complex, the temple is as much a major pilgrim centre and is also architecturally attention-grabbing.

  If time permits, you can also visit the Aarupadaiveedu Temples which is a short distance away and the Gandhi Museum. Later, if you want to discover Madurai on foot, and explore the local market and local foods, then you can opt to go on a foodies walk (optional, with extra charge).

•   Day 7

  Madurai to Kodaikanal. Visits around Kodaikanal

  On this day, you head to the beautiful hill station of Kodaikanal (6500 ft asl). It is about 3 hrs away. After reaching, you can enjoy a boat ride in the evening in the Kodai Lake.

•   Day 8

  Sightseeing in and around Kodaikanal

  You can go sightseeing and visiting many places of interest in and around the picturesque Kodaikanal. You get to visit the Green Valley, Pillar Rocks, Coakers Walk, Bear-Shola falls, Bryant Park, Shembaganur Museum of Natural History, Silver Cascade, Kurinji Andavar Temple and more, as per your preferences.

•   Day 9

  Departure

  Your trip draws to an end and you can choose to return back home either from the Madurai Airport which is about 120 kms away or you can travel to Coimbatore Airport which is about 170 kms away.