South India Historical Tour

After breakfast, spend the entire day exploring Chennai's metropolis. The capital city of Chennai, which is often referred to as the "Gateway to the South," is home to a culture that is very different from that of northern India. The sites of interest include Kalakshetra, a school of art and music that supports practitioners of Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music, traditional weaving, and design; Fort St. George, which was constructed during the British colonial era in India and now houses the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu; Sri Parthasarathy Temple, the oldest Anglican church in India, along with its grounds; Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore, another Pallava temple devoted to Lord Shiva in the eighth century; San Thomas Cathedral Basilica, which was rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral before being converted into a basilica in 1896; and Theosophical Society, which was established to promote the study of comparative religion, philosophy, and science. Transfer to the hotel in the evening. Overnight stay in hotel.

After breakfast, proceed to Kanchipuram, which is 70 kilometers west of Mahabalipuram and is home to thousands of temples. It is regarded as one of the seven sacred towns in Hinduism and was the capital of the early Cholas as early as the second century BC. Kanchi was not only a major hub for Tamil education but also a well-liked location for Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus. The city is famous for its temples as well as its silk weavers, who arrived some 400 years ago and turned the area into a desirable location to reside. Later on, we will drive south of Chennai to Mahabalipuram, the old Pallava port on the seashore. The Pallavas built numerous amazing monuments, including temples, monolithic rathas, caves, and sculpture panels. A large bas relief that is renowned for its realistic portrayal may be found in Krishna Mandapam. At 27 meters by 9 meters, the largest bas relief in the world is made of whale-back-shaped rock and features representations of gods, demi-gods, humans, animals, birds, and the entire creation. An excellent illustration of the initial stage of structural temples built in the Dravidian style is Shore Temple, one of the earliest in the South and dated to the eighth century AD. The Five Rathas are a collection of five distinct styles of monolithic temples. Check in at the hotel later. Spend the night at the hotel.

Take a journey to Pondicherry after breakfast. Pondicherry city tour in the afternoon. A few Gallic accents are still present in Pondicherry, despite the French influence steadily waning. The Sacred Heart Church, the Rai Nivas, and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram are the three primary attractions in Pondicherry. After Sri Aurobindo's death in 1926, one of his disciples—a French woman known as the Mother—became the spiritual leader of the ashram retreat. Ten kilometers from Pondicherry, the city of Dawn Auroville was founded in large part thanks to the Mother. Its initial charter was to build a future city where Indians and foreigners might coexist and work together in a religious setting. Transfer to the hotel in the evening. Spend the night at the hotel.

Drive to Kumbakonam in the morning after breakfast, stopping along the way to see Chidambaram, the home of the Cosmic Dancer, which is devoted to Lord Nataraja. The temple, which is 40 acres in size and includes a gopuram on each side, is identified by its five sabhas, or counts. The 108 Bharatanatyam dance stances are engraved on the tall gopurams, the tallest of which is 42.4 meters in the north.
Drive on to Kumbakonam, one of Tamilnadu's oldest cities and a well-known destination for the Mahamaham festival. It served as the capital of the Chola kings in the seventh century. Kumbakonam, the well-known temple town in South India, is well situated between the Arasalar and Cauvery rivers. Check in at the hotel when you arrive. Visit the Kumbakonam temple in the afternoon. Spend the night at the hotel.

Drive to Trichy after breakfast and stop in Tanjore along the way. Tanjore (Thanjavur) is known for the Brahadeeswarar Temple and is the birthplace of Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance, and traditional handicrafts. An architectural wonder, the temple was built over a millennium ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan. Other well-known sites of interest are the Saraswathi Mahal Library and the Art Gallery. Continue driving to Trichy. Check into the hotel as you arrive. Visit Srirangam, an island five kilometers from Trichy, after getting freshened up. Enclosed within the seven walls of the massive Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, the island settlement spans 600 acres and is surrounded by the Kaveri water. At least 22 gopurams can be found there, including India's highest gopuram. For kilometers around, the 13-tiered, 72-meter-tall Gopuram dominates the scene. The most well-known sight in Trichy is the Rock Fort, an 84-meter-tall rock that is among the oldest in the world and dates back around 3,800 million years. It is located on the banks of the Kaveri River. The temple at the top is the main draw, not the fort itself. Inscriptions from the third century B.C. can be found at the summit of 344 steps hewn out of the rock.
Spend the night at the hotel.

Drive to Trichy after breakfast, and then to Rameshwaram, one of India's holiest pilgrimage sites, in the early morning. A pilgrimage would not be complete without visiting the sacred island of Rameshwaram. According to legend, Lord Rama thanked Lord Shiva in Rameshwaram for helping him fight King Ravana. Rameshwaram is hence a significant pilgrimage site for followers of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Some of the most intriguing temples in all of India can be seen in Rameshwaram, which is located in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram. The Indira Gandhi Bridge connects this island in the Gulf of Mannar to the mainland at Mandapam. When it was finished in 1988, it was regarded as a feat of engineering that had never been done before.

After a rejuvenating full-day temple tour that includes Ramanathaswamy, check in at the hotel upon arrival. This majestic temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas spread over India. Because it boasts India's largest hallway, Ramanathaswamy Temple is also mentioned in history books. Numerous rulers helped with the construction of the Ramanathaswamy Temple, which began in the 12th century. Each of the numerous dynasties that came and went during the temple's building contributed to it. Its construction appears to have an infinite number of unique traits. There is this enormous corridor that is roughly 1220 meters long. You will be completely enthralled by the alignment of the exquisitely carved pillars that run the length of the hall. Because of its grandeur and presence, the 54-meter-tall Gopuram has come to represent divinity in the hearts of many pilgrims.

Visit Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple as part of a full-day temple tour in Rameswaram after breakfast. There are 22 holy springs in the temple, which are thought to offer therapeutic benefits. Visit the Ghanthamathana Parvatham, which offers lovely views of the island, after darshan.
Later, travel to Dhanushkodi, one of the Tirthas on the Indian state of Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram island. This is situated near the easternmost extremity of Rameswaram Island, next to the abandoned settlement of Dhanushkodi. The name Adam's Bridge comes from the fact that Rama broke it with the end of his bow (Dhanush) (Kodi). His army crossed this bridge to reach Lanka in order to fight Ravana and win. Later, head back to the hotel to spend the night there.

Drive to Madurai in the morning after breakfast. Check into the hotel as you arrive. The evening is free for personal pursuits. Spend the night at the resort.

After breakfast, spend the entire day exploring Madurai's downtown. The second-biggest city on the banks of the Vaigai River is Madurai, also referred to as Athens of the East. It is estimated that the city is over 2,500 years old. When Shiva arrived to bless the city's people for building a temple for him, drips of nectar (Mathuram) rained from his lochs, giving the city its name. The majestic Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple is the pride of Madurai, a city where people awaken to the sound of hymns. Four of the temple's twelve tallest gopurams are located on the exterior walls. With more than 1500 sculptures, the southern gopuram, which is 48.8 meters high, is the most impressive. The story of the lovely princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva is depicted on the carved pillars of the Ashta Shakthi Mandapam within the Meenakshi temple. Transfer to the hotel in the evening. Spend the night at the hotel.

Drive to Kanyakumari after breakfast; it will take five hours. Check into the hotel as you arrive.
Go sightseeing in the afternoon. The southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu, the land's end of India, or the meeting place of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal is Kanyakumari. Later, proceed to the Kumari Amman Temple, which is devoted to Kanyakumari (Parvati), the virgin goddess who protects the nation. The location of the temple is thought to be where the goddess waited for her lover, Lord Siva. Gandhi Memorial was built on the location where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were displayed to the public in an urn before part of them were submerged in the three seas. The Vivekananda Memorial was constructed on the Vivekananda Rock, where the renowned philosopher and teacher Swami Vivekananda meditated and became one of the most eloquent spiritual leaders.

After breakfast in the morning, travel to Kovalam, stopping along the way to Padmanabhapuram (15 km from Kovalam). Padmanabhapuram, the capital of Travancore until 1333, is renowned for its fort, which contains a palace and a temple among other structures. The Ramaswamy temple features beautifully carved panels that depict scenes from the Ramayana, while the palace contains some significant art artifacts.
Transfer to Kovalam later. Spend the night at the hotel.

After breakfast, you have the entire day to yourself to do whatever you want. Spend the night at the hotel.

Drive to Alleppey in the morning after breakfast, and then board the House boat. sailing on a houseboat for the entire day. Spend the night on a houseboat.

Disembark from the houseboat and go to Cochin after breakfast. Check into the hotel as you arrive.
following a revitalizing city tour of Cochin. The commercial hub of Karnataka, Cochin, boasts a beautiful natural harbor. The famed Mattancherry Palace, St. Francis Church, Wellington Island, Bolghatty Island, Chinese fishing nets, and Jewish synagogue are all located in Cochin (Kochi), the entrance to Karnataka. Backwater cruising offers a beautiful view of the harbor and three islands, as well as a peek of country life. Watch the Kathakali Dance Show in an auditorium in the evening. Spend the night at the hotel.

After breakfast in the morning, head to the airport to catch the Hyderabad flight. After meeting with our representative at the airport in Hyderabad, proceed to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day as you please. Spend the night at the hotel.
Hyderabad, the fifth-largest city in India and the capital of Andhra Pradesh, was once home to the Nizams, one of the wealthiest monarchs in the world. It is a peaceful fusion of the North and the South and a significant hub of Islamic culture.
After Quli Qutb Shah, the fourth Qutb Shahi ruler, established a new capital and named it after his Begum, Hyder Mahal, Hyderabad rose to fame. The Qutb Shahi rulers reigned from the citadel of Golconda, which is 11 kilometers to the west, prior to the establishment of Hyderabad. These days, the main tourist destinations are the vast fort ruins and Qutb Shahi's tomb location.

A full-day escorted city sightseeing trip of Hyderbad, including visits to the Charminar and Golconda Fort, will begin after breakfast. The Hussain Sagar Lake divides the twin towns of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Spend the night at the hotel.
In the past, Golconda was well-known for its thriving diamond trade, which is now only a myth. Today, the main reason people come to this palace is to view the ruins.
Situated on the banks of the Musa River, the Salar Jung Museum is a treasure trove of artwork. This museum is named for Mir Yusuf Ali Khan, often known as Salar Jung III, the prime minister of the Nizam and a brilliant art lover. It is regarded as one of the best one-man collections in the world. 35,000 exhibits, including illuminated manuscripts, glittering armories, wood sculptures, magnificent cut glass collections, and more, are housed there, gathered from all around the world.
The Charminar This building, which is the most famous landmark in the old walled city, is surrounded by busy bazaars where a wide range of goods, including pearls, jewelry, bangles, chandeliers, and silks, are on exhibit. In 1591 A.D., Quli Shah constructed it as a kind of talisman to protect the city from the feared illness.
The largest mosque, Mecca Masjid, is located near Charminar. Qutb Shah started it in 1614 A.D., but Aurangzeb, the Moghul Emperor, didn't finish it until 1687 A.D.
Naubat Prabhat: Also known as Birla Mandir, this temple is a well-liked tourist destination. It is devoted to Lord Balaji and is constructed of pure white marble on a hilltop. There is a great view of the twin cities and the lake that connects them.

Drive to Warangal in the morning after breakfast. Check in at the hotel when you arrive.following a revitalizing city tour of Warangal. Spend the night at the hotel.
Warangal The Kakatiya dynasty's capital was once Warangal. The Hindu kings who supported art and architecture were known as the Kakatiyas. "Metropolis of the Kakatiya Dynasty" is how Warangal is known, and the temples constructed during their rule are excellent representations of Chalukyan architecture. The most well-known of these are the Bhadrakali temple and the 1000-pillared temple on the slopes of Hanumakonda hill.
The Kakatiya-built fort is another significant landmark in Warangal. It features four exquisitely beautiful ornamental gateways. Mud bricks make up the outer walls, while stone walls with numerous carved stones fortify the interior. It is thought that these carved stones were removed from the demolished Chalukyan temples.
The Temple of the Thousand Pillars: King Rudra Deva constructed the well-known Thousand-Pillar Temple in 1163 AD and dedicated it to the gods Shiva, Vishnu, and Surya.
Located on a hillock between Warangal and Hanamkonda, the Bhadrakali shrine is a well-known Kakatiya shrine. The focal point is the 2.7-meter-tall stone representation of the deity. The Chalukyan architectural style is also used in the construction of this temple.
According to Marco Polo, the Ramappa Temple is the "brightest star in the galaxy of mediaeval temples in the Deccan" because of its amazing beauty. This magnificent structure's walls, pillars, and ceilings are all decorated with rich, detailed carvings. The temple is a Shivalaya and was built around 1234 AD.

Visit Kondapalli Village on the way to Vijayawada after breakfast. Proceed to drive to Vijaywada. Check into the hotel as you arrive. Spend the night at the hotel.
The name Kondapalli is well-known among Hindu Rajas from the 14th century. There is a little town at the foothills where craftspeople are working on Puniki wood and painting it with enamel colors. With watercolor paintings, the human figures portray various village occupations, animals and birds, Ambari elephants, and mythical themes such as images of gods and goddesses.
The name Vijayawada literally translates to "City of Victory." It is located between the Krishna River and its tributary, Budameru, in a perfect location. Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh's third-largest city, is a major railway intersection on the Calcutta-C Chennai line. Additionally, it is the starting point for visitors to Amaravathi, a Buddhist center.

Drive to Nagarjunasagar after taking a morning sightseeing tour in Vijayawada. Check in at the hotel when you arrive. Spend the night at the hotel.

Visit the Nagarjunakonda in the morning. From the second century BC until the third century AD, it was one of the biggest and most significant Buddhist centers in South India. See Nagarjunasagar Dam as well. The Nagarjunasagar Dam, one of India's first hydroelectric projects, is a contemporary representation of man's victory over nature. The dam's construction created the third-largest artificial lake in the world. The Nagarjuna Dam, one of the biggest masonry structures in the world, is 124 meters high and around one kilometer long. The third largest artificial lake in the world is the one it straddles. The old city's patron, Nagarjuna, is depicted on a pylon not far from the dam. Additionally, we will go 11 km to the Ethipothala Water Falls, which are a tributary of the Krishna River's Chandravanka. Near Nagarunasagar, a mountain torrent called Chanravanka tumbles down the slopes from a height of 22 meters. The Ethipothala waterfalls are a breathtaking display of nature's might and splendor. There is a crocodile breeding center in the stunning lagoon created by the falls.
Take a journey to Srisailam later in the afternoon. Check into the hotel as you arrive. Spend the night at the hotel. One of the twelve Joytirlingas is located at the Brahmarambha Mallikarjunaswamy Temple, which is the reason Srisailam is well-known.

Srisailam temple visit in the morning after breakfast.
One of the oldest kshetras in India is said to be Srisailam, the shrine of Lord Mallikarjuna, which is picturesquely perched atop the Nallamalai Hills. It is located in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool District on the right bank of the Krishna River. Other names for this renowned mountain include Siridhan, Srigiri, Sriparvatha, and Srinagam. For generations, it has been a well-liked Saivite pilgrimage site. The fact that we identify the position of our existence in relation to Srisailam while carrying out our everyday household rituals emphasizes the significance of this Divya Kshetram.
Drive to Hyderabad later in the afternoon. Check into the hotel as you arrive. Spend the night at the hotel.

Proceed to the airport to catch the flight to Chennai after breakfast. Check into the hotel as you arrive. Spend the night at the hotel.

Proceed to the airport to catch the flight to your next location.