Welcome to Chennai International Airport. Our representative will meet you at the airport and escort you by air-conditioned car to your pre-booked hotel in Chennai. During check-in, you will receive the documents and service information for the tour, with time to clarify any queries regarding the itinerary and included services. If you arrive early and time permits, take a short introduction to the city, visiting the local market area and Marina Beach, one of Chennai's defining waterfront landmarks. The remainder of the evening is free to relax after your journey. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, proceed for a full-day sightseeing tour of Chennai. Begin with Fort St. George, established by the English East India Company in the 17th century and now home to important government buildings and the Fort Museum. Continue to San Thome Basilica, a major Christian pilgrimage site traditionally associated with the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle. Visit Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, one of Chennai's best-known Dravidian temples dedicated to Shiva, followed by the historic Parthasarathy Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna. Later, visit Guindy Snake Park, known for its collection of snakes and reptiles. In the evening, return towards Marina Beach for a walk along the waterfront. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, check out and drive to Tirupati, an important pilgrimage centre at the foot of the Tirumala Hills. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and prepare for your temple visit. Later, proceed towards Tirumala for Darshan of Lord Venkateswara at the renowned Sri Venkateswara Temple, one of India's most important pilgrimage destinations. The temple complex is associated with centuries of Vaishnavite worship and attracts pilgrims from across India and abroad. Depending on time and Darshan arrangements, visit Sri Varahaswami Temple and other important shrines in the Tirupati area, including Sri Govindarajaswami Temple, Sri Kodandaramaswami Temple and Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple at Tiruchanur. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
After breakfast, check out and drive to Kanchipuram, one of Tamil Nadu's historic temple cities and a former Pallava capital. Visit Kailasanathar Temple, one of the city's earliest surviving structural temples, known for its sandstone architecture and sculptural details. Continue to Ekambareswarar Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple and, subject to time and access, Vaikunta Perumal Temple, reflecting different aspects of Kanchipuram's Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions. Kanchipuram is also renowned for its traditional silk weaving, and time can be allowed for visiting local silk shops. Continue to Mahabalipuram and check in at the hotel. Later, begin sightseeing at the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring Pallava rock-cut and structural monuments from the 7th and 8th centuries. Visit the Pancha Rathas, Arjuna's Penance, Krishna Mandapam and Shore Temple. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, check out and drive south along the Coromandel Coast to Pondicherry. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel before beginning a sightseeing tour of the former French settlement. Visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, an important spiritual centre founded around the work of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Continue through the historic French Quarter, where tree-lined streets, colonial-era villas and institutional buildings reflect Pondicherry's French architectural legacy. Visit important churches including the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Church of Our Lady of Angels, subject to local access. Later, visit Auroville, the international township founded in 1968, and see the Matrimandir area from the designated visitor viewpoint. In the evening, walk along the Promenade beside the Bay of Bengal, passing landmarks including the Mahatma Gandhi statue, French War Memorial and the old lighthouse area. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, check out and drive towards Thanjavur. En route, stop at Chidambaram to visit the magnificent Thillai Nataraja Temple, one of Tamil Nadu's most important Shaiva temples. The temple is dedicated to Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and is particularly associated with the concept of Chidambara Rahasyam and the element of space or akasha. Its extensive complex includes multiple gopurams, mandapas and sculptural representations connected with the temple's religious traditions. After sightseeing, continue towards Thanjavur, the historic Chola capital, and check in at the hotel. The evening is free for rest and relaxation. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, begin sightseeing in Thanjavur with the magnificent Brihadisvara Temple, commissioned by Chola king Rajaraja I and completed in the early 11th century. The temple forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Great Living Chola Temples, recognized for the exceptional development of Chola architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze traditions. Continue to the Thanjavur Maratha Palace complex and Saraswathi Mahal Library, known for its historic manuscript collection. After sightseeing, drive towards Trichy (Tiruchirappalli). Visit Rockfort Temple, dramatically positioned on a massive rocky outcrop above the city, followed by Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam, one of the largest functioning temple complexes in India. If time permits, visit Jambukeswarar Temple at Thiruvanaikaval before continuing to Madurai. On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, explore the historic city of Madurai. Begin at the magnificent Meenakshi Amman Temple, the centrepiece of the old city and one of Tamil Nadu's most important temple complexes. Its gopurams, sculptural halls and vast mandapas demonstrate the development of the temple city under the Nayak rulers. Continue to Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a 17th-century palace known for its monumental courtyards, arches and stucco decoration. Visit Koodal Azhagar Temple, an important Vaishnavite shrine, and Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, a large temple tank associated with the city's religious festivals. If time permits, visit Thirupparankundram Murugan Temple, one of the six major abodes of Lord Murugan. In the evening, return to the Meenakshi Amman Temple to experience the evening worship and rituals, subject to temple timings and visitor regulations. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Madurai Airport for your scheduled flight to Chennai. On arrival in Chennai, transfer to Chennai International Airport for your onward international or domestic flight to your hometown. Your journey through Tamil Nadu's temple cities, Pallava monuments, Chola heritage, French colonial quarter and major pilgrimage centres concludes here.
The final cost of this customized private tour varies according to accommodation category, travel period, number of travellers and individual preferences. An exact quotation can be provided after the travel details are finalized. The following indicative price range is based on a minimum of two persons travelling together and sharing a double room.
