4 Nights / 5 Day Flying Visit: Heritage Tour
Fly direct to Chennai (Madras). Visit the World Heritage sites at Mamallapuram, Tanjore and Kanchipuram. A relaxing beach stay at Pondicherry allows more visits to Chidambaram and Gingee Hill Forts.
Day 1: Fly directly to Chennai, the old capital of Madras, and now the capital of Tamil Nadu State. Visit the many historical sites here, including George Town with its fort and many churches and houses, the beach in the centre of the town, and Mylapore in South Chennai where St Thomas arrived in AD 52 to bring Christianity to India.
Day 2 and 3: Relax on the beach at Pondicherry, the old French town with its pleasant streets, good restaurants, and famous promenade along the beach. A visit to Gingee Hill Forts, Chidambaram Temple, or the environmental town of Auroville will be possible.
Day 3: Tanjore (Thanjavur) is another World Heritage Site, and one of the exceptional monuments in South India. The Cholas ruled the whole region during the years 750-1170, and made Tanjore their capital. Brihadisvara Temple was built during this time. The main features include the tallest Vimana (Temple tower), topped by a monolithic 80 ton dome. The huge, elaborately carved chariots which are dragged around the temple by thousands of pilgrims during the festival season are parked outside the temple entrance and are worth visiting in their own right.
Day 4: The World Heritage site of Mamallapuram, has the earliest examples of Indian Architecture. The Pallava rulers started the temples and rock carvings here in the 7th Century. There are 14 cave temples, 9 monolithic (made from one stone) shrines. 3 stone temples, and 4 rock carvings. all of the temples are small and within easy reach of each other. The famous shore temple is especially spectacular in the evening when the sun sets over the sea.
Day 5: Onward or return journey.
Day 2 and 3: Relax on the beach at Pondicherry, the old French town with its pleasant streets, good restaurants, and famous promenade along the beach. A visit to Gingee Hill Forts, Chidambaram Temple, or the environmental town of Auroville will be possible.
Day 3: Tanjore (Thanjavur) is another World Heritage Site, and one of the exceptional monuments in South India. The Cholas ruled the whole region during the years 750-1170, and made Tanjore their capital. Brihadisvara Temple was built during this time. The main features include the tallest Vimana (Temple tower), topped by a monolithic 80 ton dome. The huge, elaborately carved chariots which are dragged around the temple by thousands of pilgrims during the festival season are parked outside the temple entrance and are worth visiting in their own right.
Day 4: The World Heritage site of Mamallapuram, has the earliest examples of Indian Architecture. The Pallava rulers started the temples and rock carvings here in the 7th Century. There are 14 cave temples, 9 monolithic (made from one stone) shrines. 3 stone temples, and 4 rock carvings. all of the temples are small and within easy reach of each other. The famous shore temple is especially spectacular in the evening when the sun sets over the sea.
Day 5: Onward or return journey.
Alternative Trip
To save time travelling an alternative trip can be taken which concentrates on the area round Pondicherry