South India: Religious and Historical Tour

South India: Religious and Historical Tour
9 Nights/10 Days
Itinerary: Chennai - Tirupati - Mahabalipuram - Tanjore - Trichy- Madurai - Chennai
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Chennai
A Yatra representative will meet you at a location convenient to you in Chennai and transfer you in an air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel of stay. Check-in at your pre-booked hotel. You are at leisure for the rest of the day to relax or explore around. Spend the night at your hotel.

Day 2: Chennai - Tirupati
After breakfast, drive up to Tirupati, about 152 kilometres from Chennai. Tirupati is a temple and pilgrim town in the Chittoor district in southern Andhra Pradesh. It is the abode of the legendary Lord of the Seven Hills.

On arrival, check in at a hotel. In the afternoon, proceed to the temple for darshan of Lord Balaji at the ancient Tirupati shrine. After exploring the temple complex and offering prayers to the deity, return to your hotel and spend the night.

Day 3: Tirupati - Chennai
After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, proceed to Chennai. On arrival in Chennai, check-in at a hotel for your overnight stay. You are at leisure for the rest of the evening to explore Tamil Nadu’s capital city at your own pace. Try out the local cuisine or engage in a spot of shopping. Spend the night at your hotel.

Day 4: Chennai - Mahabalipuram
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be taken to Mahabalipuram located on the Coromandel Coast facing the Bay of Bengal. It is about 58 kilometres from Chennai.

This 7th century seaport of the Pallava dynasty is renowned not only for its architecture, but the vast casuarinas trees, silvery beaches and handmade artifacts. The historical richness, legends and grandeur of Mahabalipuram fascinates every visitor. Find out from your guide interesting facts about the Pallavas and the cruel king Mahabali, who was killed by Lord Vishnu in a fierce battle.

On arrival, check-in at a pre-booked hotel. In the afternoon, set out on a sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram - famous for the seven pagodas. You will travel around in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide in tow. Return to your hotel in Mahabalipuram and spend the night.

Day 5: In Mahabalipuram
After breakfast, proceed on a morning sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram. Visit the shore temple and Five rathas. You are at leisure for the rest of the day. Spend the night at your hotel.

Day 6: Mahabalipuram - Tanjore
After breakfast, set out for Tanjore, popularly known as the ‘rice bowl of Tamil Nadu’. It is approximately a 7 hour drive from Mahabalipuram. On arrival, check-in at a hotel for your overnight stay. After relaxing for a while, continue on a sightseeing tour of Tanjore.

Tanjore is renowned for the Brahdeeswarar Temple, built more than thousand years ago by King Rajarajan. The temple is one of the finest examples of Dravidian temple architecture. An erstwhile royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and Mahrattas, this historical city was at its zenith during the reign of Rajaraja Cholan. It was also the cultural capital of the country in 1790.

After seeing the temples of Tanjore, return to your hotel and spend the night.

Day 7: Tanjore - Trichy - Tanjore
After breakfast, proceed to the city of Trichy and enjoy a full day excursion here. Trichy is situated on the banks of Cauvery River and was a citadel of the early Cholas, only to be conquered by the Pallavas later. Built around Rock Fort, you will come across several churches, colleges and missions dating back to the 1760s. Don’t miss out the most popular landmark Rockfort Temple, perched precariously on a rocky outcrop standing sentinel over the city. Explore the local market and pick up handloom cloth, wooden and clay toys and an array of beautiful glass bangles among others.

Visit the ancient temples dedicated to Lord Ganapathi. A total of 434 steps cut out into the rock side and interspersed with shrines, lead to the temple. Explore the temple complex and get an insight into its history from your guide. Return to your hotel in Tanjore and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 8: Tanjore
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the beautiful Chola temple of Brihadeeshwarar in Tanjore and appreciate its architecture. Return to your hotel. You are at leisure for the rest of the day. Spend the night at your hotel.

Day 9: Tanjore - Madurai
After breakfast, travel by road about 183 kilometres to Madurai. En route, visit Karaikudi (Chettinad). On arrival at Madurai, check-in at a pre-booked hotel and spend the night. You have the rest of the day at leisure to explore the ‘temple city’ of Madurai on your own. You could visit the famous 1,000 pillared Meenakshi Amman Temple and Tirumalai Palace.

Day 10: Madurai – Chennai
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Madurai Airport for a flight to Chennai. On arrival in Chennai, you will be dropped at a point convenient to you for your onward journey.

Note:
- Standard check-in/check-out times at all hotels will be 12 noon.
- The duration and specifications of the package can be modified as per requirement.