South India Temple Expedition

South India Temple Expedition

88 Views
7 Days From

$1288

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Embark on an enriching "South India Temple Expedition," a spiritual sojourn unveiling the divine tapestry of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Thanjavur, Trichy, and Madurai. Commencing in Chennai, the journey navigates through ancient temples and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the revered Kapaleeswarar Temple, the majestic Brihadeeswarar Temple, and the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple. Traverse the cultural mosaic of Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram, soaking in the architectural splendor of the Shore Temple and the Five Rathas. From the spiritual enclave of Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry to the cultural hub of Thanjavur, each destination beckons with history, heritage, and serenity. Concluding with a flight back to Chennai, this expedition promises immersive encounter with the spiritual treasures of South India. ...more ...less

Highlights

  • Arrive in Chennai, explore Fort St. George and Kapaleeswarar Temple, and relax in the evening.

  • Visit Kanchipuram’s temples and continue to Mahabalipuram to see the Shore Temple and Five Rathas.

  • Travel to Pondicherry, visit Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, and the French Quarter.

  • Head to Thanjavur, visiting Nataraja Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and Darasuram Temple.

  • Explore Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, Trichy’s Rock Fort, and Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple before reaching Madurai.

Places You'll See

South India Temple Tour

South India Temple Tour

South India Temple Tour

South India Temple Tour

South India Temple Tour

South India Temple Tour

South India Temple Tour

South India Temple Tour

South India Temple Tour

South India Temple Tour

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive Chennai

Location: Chennai (Madras), Chennai

Upon arrival at Chennai airport, a warm welcome awaits as our representative transfers you to your hotel. After check-in and a brief respite, embark on a captivating half day city tour. Explore the historic Fort St. George, the inaugural British fortress in India, followed by a visit to the sacred Kapaleeswarar Temple, a remarkable shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The evening is yours to unwind or explore the vibrant surroundings. ...more ...less

Day 2 : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (120Kms/3Hrs Approx.)

Location: Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram

Meals Included: Breakfast

Following breakfast, set out for Kanchipuram, renowned as the "City of Temples." Delve into the spiritual aura of the Kailasanathar Temple and the Ekambareswarar Temple, both venerating Lord Shiva. Continue the journey to Mahabalipuram, where the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Shore Temple and the Five Rathas, an ensemble of monolithic rock-cut temples, beckon exploration.

Day 3 : Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100Kms/2Hrs Approx.)

Location: Pondicherry, Villupuram

Meals Included: Breakfast

After a leisurely breakfast, proceed to Pondicherry, the erstwhile French enclave. Immerse yourself in the serene ambiance of the Aurobindo Ashram, founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926, and venture into the experimental township of Auroville, established in 1968. Stroll through the French Quarter, absorbing its European charm, before settling in for the night.

Day 4 : Pondicherry - Thanjavur (185Kms/4Hrs Approx.)

Location: Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, Arulmigu Peruvudaiyar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram., Darasuram Temple, Thanjavur

Meals Included: Breakfast

Embark on a picturesque drive to Thanjavur, the cultural nucleus of Tamil Nadu. En route, pay homage to the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, once the capital of the Chola dynasty. Dive into the mesmerizing Darasuram Temple, showcasing the brilliance of Dravidian architecture.

Day 5 : Thanjavur - Trichy (60Kms/1.5Hrs Approx.)

Location: Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli

Meals Included: Breakfast

Begin the day with a visit to the iconic Brihadeeswarar Temple, or the Big Temple, a masterpiece of South Indian architecture. Journey to Trichy and explore the towering Rock Fort Temple, perched on a 272-foot high rock, and the expansive Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a testament to India's grand temple complexes.

Day 6 : Trichy - Madurai (140Kms/3Hrs Approx.)

Location: Madurai

Meals Included: Breakfast

After a hearty breakfast, proceed to Madurai, one of South India's ancient cities. Discover the divine Meenakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, and explore the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, a grand architectural relic from the 17th century. Optionally, delve into the cultural heritage at the Gandhi Memorial Museum, housing a compelling collection of exhibits.

Day 7 : Madurai - Chennai (Flight)

Location: Madurai, Chennai

Meals Included: Breakfast

Relish a leisurely breakfast and check out from your hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, our team will transfer you to Madurai airport for your return journey to Chennai, concluding this unforgettable South India Temple Trail.

What's Included

  • Assistance on arrival at airport.

    6 Nights' accommodation in 4-Star hotels.

  • Daily breakfast at hotels.

  • Private AC car/van for airport transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as per the program.

  • English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.

  • Monument entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.

  • Bottled drinking water in car.

  • Government taxes.

What's Not Included

  • Madurai - Chennai flight fare approx. INR 4,500 per person in economy class.

  • Camera charges at monuments if any.

  • Meals other than mentioned in the inclusions.

  • Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.

  • Gratuities and optional activities.

  • Anything not mentioned in inclusions.

Accommodation

Hotels used or similar for 6 nights accommodation
4 Star Hotels
Chennai x 1 night: Accord Metropolitan/ The Park Chennai
Mahabalipuram x 1 night: Chariot Beach Resort/ Confluence The Banquet & Resort
Pondicherry x 1 night: Le Pondy/ Accord Puducherry
Thanjore x 1 night: GReaT Trails Riverview Resort
Trichy x 1 night: Courtyard by Marriott
Madurai x 1 night: Fortune Pandiyan Hotel/ Regency Madurai by GRT Hotels
...more ...less

Check out our Q&As

  • What currencies are required for this tour?

    INR, USD, EURO, GBP, SGD, JPY, CNY, RMB, CAD,

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    You have to apply for Indian Visa yourself. https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    Yes. Please check same on your international ticket

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    We conduct our business fairly, with honesty, integrity and transparency. We deliver what we promise, and only promise what we can deliver.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    Less than 10 person group only driver will be your companion. We use local government licenced tour guide in each cities for sightseeing tour.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    We do not operate tour on sharing

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    We are completely flexible in changing the travel dates, until we dont have to bourne any penalty levied by hotels/airline.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    5 Yeas

  • Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

    Yes, you will support NGO and schooling for kids in villages.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    We operate private tour/activity only for your group. Hence if you missed to join and tour departed, we can coordinate and you can join the tour from the nearest point.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Iitnerary and confirmation vouchers

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Face masks provided for travelers. Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff. Gear/equipment sanitized between use. Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized. Regular temperature checks for staff. Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

rikkita patel (Google Reviewer)  

Had the most Fantastic time,...

07-Feb-2024

Had the most Fantastic time, everything was organised amazingly down to a tee. Booked an 11 day tour (Hubbali, Hampi, Badami, Aihole, SolaPur aurangabad) I contacted Sashi at Agora and he basically took care of everything. I presented him with my dates and a rough plan of what I wanted to do, Sashi then put together an itinerary. The cost was really reasonable for 2 people. And during the booking stage I had to make several changes due to some changes in dates, Sashi accommodated and amended everything accordingly with no issues. Payment was done via a bank transfer which was simple. On the first day, our driver Raju bhai came to pick us up and was with us throughout the trip. He was absolutely exceptional. A calm, reliable and completely trust worthy driver who went above an beyond many times. There was always water in the car and he was incredibly knowledgeable, making some of the long drives really interesting. All the guides we had were really knowledgeable, explained everything really well. More so they were local guides who spoke good English and had a lot of insight into a lot of the archaeological sites we visited. All the hotels we stayed in were beautiful, clean and safe. Overall I would recommend Agora to anyone. The service was exceptional and as a result we had the most amazing trip. Often India is described as an unsafe place to travel m, particularly for two women, but we felt incredibly safe. Will definitely use Agora again in the future. ...more ...less

DOMENICA MENOLASCINA (Google Reviewer)  

The stay and tour in...

07-Mar-2024

The stay and tour in Mumbai have been exceptional. Although the hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, had been booked by us Agora Voyages offered the services requested, domestic flight from Delhi to Mumbai, car with driver and the local English speaking guides who took us to see the beautiful landmarks this city has to offer. What we highly appreciated was the details in planning out the sightseeing even though we had suggested what we would have liked to see. Agora Voyages is professional in offering the best of what the clients ask for. ...more ...less

Shobha D  

Our Hampi Holiday

10-Feb-2023

Our five-day, six-night holiday arranged by Agora Voyages Private Ltd., began on 26th January when we, four friends, landed at Hubballi. The agency had arranged a minibus to pick us up from the airport to our first halt at Badami. Our driver, Raghu, turned out to be not only skilful at driving but also very informative and bent on giving us a great time. On the way, we came across sunflower fields. Seeing us revelling at the wondrous sight of hundreds of sunflowers swaying in the cool breeze, Raghu stopped the bus so we could click pictures. Badami Court, where we spent two comfortable nights, turned out to be a decent hotel with tasty food and a courteous staff. The next morning, we left for Aihole, the capital of the Chalukyan kings and the cradle of Hindu rock architecture. Thanks to Agora, we were provided with helpful and enthusiastic guides, who doubled up as excellent photographers and gave us interesting and informative titbits. Kotresh, our guide in Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami, told us how Aihole got its name. The legend goes that after avenging the death of his father, Parasuram came down to the Malaprabha River to wash his blood-stained hands and battle axe. The river turned a bloody red. A woman seeing this, screamed, ‘Ayyo Hole!’ (meaning ‘Oh, no, blood!’ in Kannada). Since then the place came to be known as Ayyhole (Aihole). Kotresh also told us how the various temples got their names. For example, the Durga temple did not get its name from the goddess but because of its proximity to durg, meaning ‘fort’--- temples were part of fortification those days. Another 5th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was called the Lad Khan temple as Shree Lad Khan, a general of Adil Shahi had camped there during his military campaigns in the region. Until the Archeological department took possession of the area, local people lived in the temples. Kotresh showed us the holes, women used to pound masalas and grind rice, etc. We even saw children’s board games etched on to the stony floor. After feasting our eyes on the marvellous rock-cut shrines at Aihole, we drove to Pattadakal, meaning ‘coronation stone’. The exquisite temples here were built for commemoration and coronation. Later, Kotresh took us to a restaurant to relish the delicious local cuisine. Our stomachs full, we headed for Badami, to the spectacular rock cut cave temples located in a ravine, at the foot of two sandstone hills surrounding Lake Agastya. The place abounds in langurs and though Kotresh warned us to take care of our belongings, one little monkey succeeded in snatching a water bottle. The following day at Gadag, we were joined by Mr. Nagaraj, who was our guide for the remainder of our trip. Witty and articulate, he surprised us with his knowledge of Russian and French. He took us around the medieval Hindu and Jain temples and told us how the Veeranarayana temple, Trikuteshwara temple and the Jumma Masjid have a common Trust for administration and organization purposes. Jain temples and step wells were the highlights of Lakkundi. The annual Hampi Festival was on when we reached Hampi, so to avoid the large crowds, Nagaraj suggested that we leave around six in the morning for sightseeing. A wise decision, as we got to see the glorious sunrise from Matanga Hill, the place where Rama met Hanuman and Sugriva, the monkey king of Kishkinda. A UNESCO World heritage site like Pattadakal and Badami, Hampi is virtually an open air museum, with over 500 monuments of the Vijayanagara era. The Virupaksha temple with its musical pillars, now out of bounds for visitors, competed with temples like the Vittala temple in magnificence. The following morning we took a ride in a coracle. Our boat-man took us through rock caves and treated us to the sight of a swift which had brought food for its mate as she sat patiently guarding their nest on a rock. In the afternoon we visited the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary. Spread over an area of over 82 kilometres, it is the first sloth bear sanctuary in Asia. Seated inside a cage we watched two adult bears come down a rocky cliff, stopping to lick the large boulders on which the forest officials had smeared honey. En route, as we passed by the Tungabhadra canal, Jiggar, the naturalist from our resort pointed out at otters scampering playfully on the rocky bank and at an Indian eagle owl, which on seeing us, spread out its feathers and flew away, but not before letting us see how huge it was. Before we realized it, our holiday had come to an end, and we were at Hubballi airport, to catch the flight back to Mumbai. Thanks to Agora, we had one of the most memorable glimpses of a bygone era. ...more ...less

USA
Sanjib Saha (Google Reviewer)  

Wonderful customer service, great itineraries...

03-Mar-2024

Wonderful customer service, great itineraries and customization, competitive prices - couldn't ask for better. Shashi Gupta and his team has provided excellent service throughout the booking process, as well as checking in during the trip. Highly recommended. ...more ...less

Nesta Luxton  

Eastern Himalaya Tour (Darjeeling, Pelling, Gangtok & Kalimpong)

25-Dec-2021

This tour was absolutely outstanding: amazing views of Himalayan snow capped mountains, fascinating insights into culture and monasteries of Sikkim and great food. But especially good was our wonderful local guide Bipendra whose cheerfulness , many talents and knowledge made our tour fun. To make your trip even more special, I recommend staying in the luxurious 4 star Elgin hotels for a taste of Raj heritage. Also be aware that Sikkim requires extra passport photos and photocopy of passport. ...more ...less

Auburn, Australia
Ana Diaz Macias (Google Reviewer)  

We were not able to...

10-Feb-2022

We were not able to make it due to COVID travel restrictions but Shashi did everything in his power to work around our schedule. Modified dates, hotels, flights to make our dream holiday possible. This is a 5 star tour agency, the flexibility, price, transparency, communication and professionalism was one of the best I’ve experienced. We look forward to visiting soon and will be using agora voyages. ...more ...less

Ann Bartram (Google Reviewer)  

Amazing day with the wonderful...

10-Jan-2025

Amazing day with the wonderful Shreesh enriching our experience in so many ways.

Rasik Master (Google Reviewer)  

Service was excellent & awesome....

04-Dec-2022

Service was excellent & awesome. Very reliable, efficient & professional. Exceptional service from Meenakshi & Shashi. Ensured our trip was trouble-free. Most highly recommended. Will use again

Ellison Bentley (Google Reviewer)  

Shashi helped us so much...

31-Dec-2023

Shashi helped us so much to plan a tours for a wide variety of family members-excellent service! We did 3 trips with him and they were all great. Mandu was the best-an amazing castle- a great guide who pointed out all advances they had like filtered water and saunas. We also went to Ujjain and Maheshwar which were also great. Cannot recommend enough! ...more ...less

Lynette Cameron  

Bhopal to Aurangabad with Satpura National Park

15-May-2023

We were a group of four Australians who did a 9 day tailored tour from Bhopal to Aurangabad. The whole tour was wonderful in every aspect. Shashi did a great job with every detail. Our driver Imran was excellent and a very careful and safe driver. Hotels, guides, food all excellent. Mind you, the four of us, need to go on a diet after all the delicious buffet meals. Satpura National Park was outstanding for wildlife, guide, food. The Ellora and Ajanta caves spectacular, as was Sanchi, Bhimbetka Rock Shelter. We enjoyed every aspect of our tour and would highly recommend Agora Voyages OPC Pvt Ltd. ...more ...less

Australia

Want a private tour?

  • Personalise your trip

    Make changes to the itinerary, accommodation, or transport method

  • Travel more exclusively

    Your tour guide can focus all their attention on your group

  • Travel for a special occasion

    Celebrate an important event by only travelling with your friends or family

1 Select your preferred date

Tuesday - Monday

Mar 04, 2025 - Mar 10, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Wednesday - Tuesday

Mar 05, 2025 - Mar 11, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Thursday - Wednesday

Mar 06, 2025 - Mar 12, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Friday - Thursday

Mar 07, 2025 - Mar 13, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Saturday - Friday

Mar 08, 2025 - Mar 14, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Sunday - Saturday

Mar 09, 2025 - Mar 15, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Monday - Sunday

Mar 10, 2025 - Mar 16, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Tuesday - Monday

Mar 11, 2025 - Mar 17, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Wednesday - Tuesday

Mar 12, 2025 - Mar 18, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Thursday - Wednesday

Mar 13, 2025 - Mar 19, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Friday - Thursday

Mar 14, 2025 - Mar 20, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Saturday - Friday

Mar 15, 2025 - Mar 21, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Sunday - Saturday

Mar 16, 2025 - Mar 22, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Monday - Sunday

Mar 17, 2025 - Mar 23, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Tuesday - Monday

Mar 18, 2025 - Mar 24, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Wednesday - Tuesday

Mar 19, 2025 - Mar 25, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Thursday - Wednesday

Mar 20, 2025 - Mar 26, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Friday - Thursday

Mar 21, 2025 - Mar 27, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Saturday - Friday

Mar 22, 2025 - Mar 28, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Sunday - Saturday

Mar 23, 2025 - Mar 29, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Monday - Sunday

Mar 24, 2025 - Mar 30, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Tuesday - Monday

Mar 25, 2025 - Mar 31, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Wednesday - Tuesday

Mar 26, 2025 - Apr 01, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Thursday - Wednesday

Mar 27, 2025 - Apr 02, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Friday - Thursday

Mar 28, 2025 - Apr 03, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Saturday - Friday

Mar 29, 2025 - Apr 04, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Sunday - Saturday

Mar 30, 2025 - Apr 05, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Monday - Sunday

Mar 31, 2025 - Apr 06, 2025
$1288 (USD)

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Agora Voyages allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 30 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Agora Voyages allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform agora voyages, 30 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Agora Voyages requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 15 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of agora voyages charges.

    Up to 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.

    At 2 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

  • Standard Operating Protocol issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI

    Face masks provided for travelers.Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff.Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized.Regular temperature checks for staff.Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons.Gear/equipment sanitized between use.

South India Temple Expedition

7 Days Starting and ending in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Visiting: Chennai (Madras), Chennai, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Villupuram, Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, Arulmigu Peruvudaiyar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram., Darasuram Temple, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai ...more ...less

Tour operator:

Agora Voyages

Tour code:

AGORA29

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 10

Physical rating:

Low, EASY

Age range:

0-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Kosher, Jain, Halal

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Active

Private Available:

Request A Private Tour

From: $1288 (USD)

NB: Prices correct on 01-Mar-2025 but subject to change.

Similar Tours