“South India Temple Tour”
Day 01: Chennai Arrival – Vellore (by surface – 04 hrs drive)
Arrive at Chennai airport and meet assistance. Transfer to hotel to get fresh-n-up and have breakfast. Then after drive to Vellore. Arrive and check into hotel. Evening visit to The golden temple of Sripuram. Overnight stay in hotel.
SRI LAXMI NARAYANI GOLDEN TEMPLE – SRIPURAM
Darshan Timings –
4.00am to 8.00 am Abishekam
8.00am to 8.00pm General Darshan
6.00pm to 7.00 pm Aarthi Seva
Dress Code – Devotees are requested to dress appropriately and avoid Short pants, Nighties, Lungies, Midi and Bermudas.
Day 02: Vellore – Tirupati (by surface – 03 hrs drive)
Post breakfast check out (0800 am) and drive to Tirupati. Arrive and check into hotel. Afternoon proceed for temple visits except Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple. Evening at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Sri Varaha Swami Temple – is to the north of the Sri Venkateswara Temple, on the banks of Varaha Pushkarini. According to the Brahma Purana, pilgrims should first offer naivedyamto Sri Adi Varaha Swami, before visiting the Sri Venkateswara Temple.
Sri Bedi Anjaneyaswami Temple – is located opposite the main temple. The idol of Sri Anjaneya is shown with its hands folded in supplication (the Anjali pose). Sri Anjenaya is a devotee of Sri Rama, just as Garuda is of Sri Maha Vishnu.
Sri Anjaneyaswami Temple – is located opposite to the Pushkarini, at Sri Varahaswami temple on the north-eastern banks of the Swami Pushkarini. Sri Anjaneyaswami is believed to be a bestower of boons and a protector from all evil.
Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple – This temple, which was built by a Chola king during the tenth century AD, is situated in the heart of the Tirupati town. The presiding deities are Sita, Rama and Lakshmana.
Day 03: Tirupati – Kanchipuram (by surface – 03 hrs drive)
Early morning breakfast and proceed for visit to darshan at Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple. Afternoon check out and drive to Kanchipuram. Arrive and check into hotel. Check into hotel and rest. Evenign at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities in India. History proclaims that Kanchipuram was ruled by the Pallava Kings. The city is most famous for its silk production and old temples.
The city has many big temples like Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple, Sri Ekambaranthar Temple, Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Sri Ulagalanda Perumal Temple, Sri Kumarakottam Temple, Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Sri Kachapeswarar Temple and much more.
Day 04: at Kanchipuram (with excursion to Mahabalipuram)
Post breakfast proceed to visit the various temples in Kanchipuram.
Afternoon proceed for excursion to Mahabalipuram visiting the Shore Temple – a world’s heritage monument, Five Rathas, Arjuna’s Penance, and Tiger Cave. Evening return back to hotel for overnight stay in hotel.
Mahabalipuram is one of the oldest sea port of Southern India dynasties. It came into prominence during Pallava times when they used it as a main sea-port for transportation and expeditions. It had the advantage of proximity to Kanchipuram, Pallava’s capital city, with which it was connected via two routes, river route and road route.
Day 05 : Kanchipuram – Thiruvannamali (by surface – 03 hrs drive)
Today we you will visit to an ancient town of early Chold period i.e. the period of Aditya I and Parantaka I (A.D. 871-955) when the Chola empire had expanded northwards to include practically the wholes of Tondaimandalam. After Parantaka I till the reign of Rajendra I, Chola rule over this region is not attested by the Tiruvannamalai inscriptions, possibly on account of the Rashtrakuta invasions and occupation of this area by Krishna III. This is perhaps indicated by a single inscription of Kannaradeva (Krishna III) found in this temple. The recovery of this region by the Cholas was a slow process and reached its successful conclusion only towards the close of Rajaraja I’s region i.e. AD 1014, for even Rajaraja is conspicuously absent in the inscriptions of Tiruvannamalai.
Arrive and check into hotel. Afternoon sightseeing visit to Arunachaleshwara Temple – This gigantic temple is located at the foot of the sacred Annamalai or Arunachala Hill Nine lofty towers of the Arunachaleshwara Temple, the numerous stucco figures and the neatly and intricately carved stone sculptures stand as admirable testimony to the Dravidian Architecture and skills of the master craftsmen of the yesteryears, Ramana Ashram, and Padaveedu – This village of temples is 35 kms from Thiruvannamalai. Remains of a 13th century palace of the Sambuvarayars who were chieftains of the Chola Empire can be found near by. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 06: Thiruvannamali – Bangalore (by surface – 07 hrs drive approx)
Early morning breakfast and check out (0700 am). Direct drive to Bangalore with 02 stops.
Arrive and check into hotel. Evening visit to Nandi – Bull Temple. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 07: Bangalore – Mysore (by surface – 04 hrs drive)
Post breakfast check out and drive to Mysore. En-route visit to Srirangapatna Swami Temple. Arrive and check into hotel. Afternoon proceed for visit to Mysore Palace and Lalitha Mahal Palace. Evening visit to Sri Chamundeshwari Temple. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 08: Mysore – Ooty (by surface – 04 hrs drive)
Post breakfast check out and drive to Ooty. Arrive and check into hotel. Day at leisure for self recreational activities. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 09: at Ooty
Post breakfast proceed for sightseeing of Ooty and Conoor. Evenig at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 10: Ooty – Guruvayoor (by surface – 06 hrs drive)
Post breakfast check out (0730 am) and direct drive to Guruvayoor. Arrive and check into hotel. Post lunch visit to Punnathurkota – Elephant Camp. Then after visit to Sree Guruvayoorappan Temple. Further proceed for visit to other temples like Chamundeswari Temple, Nava Mukunda Temple, and Venkitachalapathy Temple. Overnight stay at Guruvayoor.
Day 11: Guruvayoor – Thrissur – Cochin (by surface – 03 hrs drive)
Post breakfast check out (0800 am) and drive to Cochin. En-route visit to Thrissur where you will visit to some important temples dedicated to Shiva, Rama and Krishna.
Arrive at Cochin and check into hotel. Evening view Kathakali dance performance. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 12: Cochin – Ettumanoor – Kottyam – Kollam (by surface – 06 hrs drive approx)
Kerala is a land where people are more inclined towards Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Today you will come across some of the famous and important temples for Lord Shiva at Viakom, Ettumanoor, and Kottyam.
Early morning breakfast and check (0800 hrs). Drive ahead visiting temples at Ettumanoor, Viakom and Kottyam. We finally drive to Kollam where we will check into hotel for over night stay.
Day 13: Kollam – Trivandrum – Kanyakumari (by surface – 04 hrs drive approx)
Post breakfast check out (0800 am) and proceed to Trivandrum visiting Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple and Museums. Before you arrive at Kanyakumari visit to Padmanabha Palace. Arrive and check into hotel. Evening view Sunset at Rock Temple. Overnight at Kanyakumari.
Day 14: Kanyakumari – Rameshwaram (by surface – 06 hrs drive approx)
Post breakfast visit to temples at Kanyakumari. Afternoon check out and drive to Rameshwaram. En-route visit to Swamy Nellaiapper Temple at Tirunelveli. Arrive and check into hotel for overnight stay.
Day 15: at Rameshwaram
Breakfast at hotel. Day spent in visiting and worshiping at temple. Overnight stay in hotel. For details and more information on Rameshwaram Temple click on below link – http://www.rameswaramtemple.tnhrce.in/
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.
Day 16: Rameshwaram – Madurai (by surface – 04 hrs drive)
Post breakfast check out and drive to Madurai. Arrive and check into hotel. Afternoon visit to Meenakshi Temple. Evening at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel.
Madurai has a rich historical background in the sense that Lord Shiva himself performed sixty-four wonders called “Thiruvilaiyadals”. The Cholas ruled Madurai from 920 AD till the beginning of the 13th century. In 1223 AD Pandyas regained their kingdom and once again become prosperous. Pandian Kings patronised Tamil language in a great way. During their period, many master-pieces were created. “Silapathikaram”.
Madurai is surrounded by several mountains. The Madurai city has 3 hills as its city boundary – Yanaimalai, Nagamalai, Pasumalai named after Elephant, Snake and Cow respectively and is famous for Jasmine Flowers.
Day 17: Madurai – Trichy (by surface – 03 hrs drive)
Very early morning attend Thiruvanandal pooja (0500 – 0600 am) at Meenakshi Amman Temple.Post breakfast check out and drive to Trichy. Arrive and check into hotel. Afternoon visit to Rock Fort Temple. Evening at leisure. Overnight stay in hotel. Tiruchirappalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. Trichy is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around the Rock Fort. Apart from the Fort, there are several Churches, Colleges and Missions dating back to the 1760s. The town and its fort, now in Trichy were built by the Nayaks of Madurai.
Day 18: at Trichy (with visit to Tanjore and Kumbakonam)
Early morning breakfast and proceed for temple visits at Kumbakonam and Tanjore. Evening return back to hotel at Trichy. Overnight stay in hotel.
Important temples at Kumabakonam are
a) Lord Sarangapany and Vaishanavite temple – built up by the Nayak Kings during 15th Century A.D. It consists of the twelve storied and 147 feet height.
b) The Ramasamy temple which depicts the paintings of Ramayanam.
c) Kumbeswara temple is an important Saivaite temple.
d) Sri Thirupureeswarar temple was constructed by Govinda Dikshithar, a Minister of Naik King.
e) Swamimalai Temple which is one among the six abodes of Lord Muruga. Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and the Mahrattas. It was at height of its glory during Rajaraja Cholan. The Big Temple and the other famous temples in the district are known all over the world. Thanjavur was the cultural capital of the country in 1790 and gained prominence during the period of Chola Kings, who made it as their capital.
It is known as the Granary of the South India lying in the deltaic region of the famous river Cauvery and criss-crossed by lengthy network of irrigation canals.
Day 19: Trichy departure
Breakfast at hotel. Afternoon check out. On time transfer to Trichy Airport to board flight to onward destination.
Tour Ends
With sweet memories……
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