Enchanting Tamil Nadu Tour (11 DAYS)

The first stop on your South India tour is Chennai, the thriving capital of the Southern state of Tamil Nadu and a rich storehouse of Southern culture and tradition. On arrival at Chennai International Airport you will be met by your Authentic India Tours representative and transferred to your hotel.

In the afternoon you will embark upon a discovery tour of Chennai. Highlights of the tour include the ancient Shiva temple of Kapaleeshwarar, Fort St. George and Santhome Basilica, which is said to have been built over the tomb of Thomas the Apostle.

End the day with a visit to Marina beach, a 13km stretch of sand and sea. It’s a popular hangout spot for the locals and is perfect for an evening promenade.

Accommodation: Taj Connemara Hotel, Chennai

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we drive along the coast to visit Mamallapuram, a laid back beachside town where the ancient and the modern rub shoulders.

Here you will find the Ancient Monuments at Mamallapuram UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the chariot shaped temples (rathas) and amazing cave temples, carved deep into the rock which date back to the 7th and 8th centuries.

The intricately carved Shore Temple, which overlooks the Bay of Bengal, is a perfect place to watch the sunset.

Approximate travel time and distance: 2 hours, 70 kms

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Temple Bay, Mamallapuram

Meals included: Breakfast

Today you have a day of leisure to discover Mamallapuram at your own pace. It’s an opportunity to rediscover the Ancient Monuments of Mamallapuram or alternatively you can visit the seashell museum or try the Mamallapuram lighthouse for great views.

This laid back beachside town is the perfect place to just relax and enjoy the coastal location  Othavadai Street is a popular traveller’s hangout spot, a place to grab a plate of Tibetan momos and a beer. Mamallapuram is also a renowned surfing destination and offers beautiful beaches.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Temple Bay, Mamallapuram

Meals included: Breakfast

Enjoy the morning drive to the former French colony of Puducherry. This is a town brimming with unique experiences, from the famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram to miles of beautiful sandy beaches.

You can visit the striking Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple to meet their resident elephant, Lakshmi. Here you will earn a blessing in exchange for a donation of a few rupees or a banana, which she will accept with her trunk. Later we will visit a handmade paper-making unit and Puducherry museum, to learn about the city’s fascinating colonial history.

Explore the historic French Quarter with its wide cobbled streets and some of the best restaurants in South India, offering a scintillating fusion of French and Indian cuisines.

Approximate travel time and distance: 2 hours, 100 kms

Accommodation: Palais De Mahe, Puducherry

Meals included: Breakfast

The next stage of your holiday in India takes you inland to the bustling temple town of Kumbakonam. En route there is an opportunity to visit Chidambaram, home to one of Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian architectural highlights – the famous Nataraja Temple complex.

Our travels then continue on to Darasuram, where you will find the famous Indian landmark, the ornate Airavatesvara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There will be plenty of time to explore Kumbakonam and its abundant, colourful temples.

Approximate travel time and distance: 4 hours, 160 kms

Accommodation: Mantra Koodam, Kumbakonam

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we depart for Chettinad, the homeland of the Chettiyars, stopping on the way in the historic town of Thanjavur which is famed for its UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Great Living Chola Temples

You will have time to visit the beautiful Brihadeeshwara Temple, which has a 62-metre high sandstone tower ornately decorated with religious carvings as well as the bronze museum.

Approximate travel time and distance: in total 3-5 hours, 150 km

Accommodation: Visalam, Chettinad

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, it’s time to explore Chettinad at leisure. This community of merchants grew prosperous trading in Southeast Asia in the 19th and 20th centuries, and spared no expense building their homes in Chettinad, so it’s little wonder that there’s so much grandeur to take in today.

For example, stroll the shady streets admiring the vast palatial mansions and take in the splendor of the art and architecture, the most famous being Chettinad Raja’s Palace. Visit the Arraynar shrine of Kothadi where alignment of terracotta figures which have been offered to the village Deity. Go antique shopping at the main market on Muneeswaran Koil street in Karaikudi, where shopkeepers are friendly and willing to chat with you about the rich history of their wares, most of them from local Chettiar homes

Accommodation: Visalam, Chettinad

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, you’ll set out for Rajakkad, near the city of Dindigul. As you go further into the Western Ghats, you won’t believe your eyes watching the dense greenery fly past you.

Once you reach Rajakkad and the beautiful boutique hotel Rajakkad Estate, you have free time to relax and explore your sultry and verdant surroundings or to try out a spot of yoga on the polished black oxide platform that looks out over the valley below.

Approximate travel time and distance: 4-5 hours, 400 km

Accommodation: Rajakkad Estate, Rajakkad

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Take your time absorbing the beauty of the Rajakkad Estate and its rich history (the traditional wooden palace structure has been dismantled and reassembled in different locations twice!) then explore the surrounding coffee, cardamom, ginger and pepper plantations.

After a walk among the rich wildlife, you can saunter down to the village with one of the hotel guides or make the most of the completely tranquil estate. Make sure you don’t miss the delicious, locally-sourced dinner though!

Accommodation: Rajakkad Estate, Rajakkad

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

After breakfast, it’s time to set off for the famous temple town of Madurai. This is a beautiful town set against the backdrop of the 14 colourful gopurams (gateway towers) of Meenakshi Amman Temple. You will have the chance to marvel at the multi-tiered, technicolour wonder covered in bright carvings of mythical figures. The Dravidian-style temple is a major pilgrimage site, and our guide will help you unravel its mysteries.

In the evening you will visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace and the Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple. Upon entering the temple, notice the colourful textile and crafts stalls around the Pudhu Mandapam with diligent tailors at their sewing machines.

Approximate travel time and distance: 2.5 hours, 70 km

Accommodation: Heritage Madurai

Meals included: Breakfast

Today you will be picked up by your driver and transferred to Madurai International Airport to catch your flight home.

If you are lucky enough to have more time, why not try an extension to your tour for a beach break in Kerala.

Approximate travel time and distance: 45 mins, 15 km

Meals included: Breakfast