9 Days Tamil Nadu Pondicherry Tour

Start your Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry trip with a pick-up from your selected location in Chennai airport or railway station. Our driver will come to receive you and then you will continue the tour of Mahabalipuram. If you choose a guide, they will travel with the driver and help you on the journey.

After pick-up you will start your tour and visit-

• Krishna Mandapam- This is a rock-cut temple made from a single rock. It has beautiful pictures that shows the stories of Lord Krishna and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Arjuna’s Penance
• Cave Temples- Around 1,300 years old, these caves are peaceful and have stunning rock art – perfect spot for photography.
• Pancha Rathas

After covering the main sightseeing in Mahabalipuram, you will drive to Pondicherry. On arrival, check into the hotel. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.

Note- Krishna Mandapam is open every day from 7 AM to 6 PM.

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel and go to the Auroville Matrimandir, a calm place for meditation. The Matrimandir and its surrounding gardens have a stunning view, great spot for photography.
• Then, drive to the hotel and check in. Next, visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram one of India’s most famous ashram. Around 1,200 people live here in its calm spiritual community.
• Afterward, visit Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple, an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh.
• Visit the Puducherry Museum, famous for its 81 Chola metal statues, one of the largest collections in India.
• Later proceed to Chidambaram, a temple town famous for the Thillai Nataraja Temple. The temple, spread over 40 acres is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Nataraja.
• Explore Gangaikonda Cholapuram, popular for the Brihadeeswarar Temple. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has one of the largest Shiva Lingas, 13 feet tall, with excellent architecture (perfect place for photos ).
• Finally drive to Kumbakonam. After arriving, check into the hotel for an overnight stay.

Note- Puducherry Museum is closed on Mondays and holidays.

• After breakfast, check out and visit Kumbakonam, a city filled with unique temples. On arrival, start exploring the sights.
• See the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple. Nearby is a large temple tank called Mahamaham Tank, where devotees take holy dips.
• Next travel to Darasuram, a small town near Kumbakonam, to visit Airavatesvara Temple.
• Later drive to Thanjavur (Tanjore). On arrival, visit the Brihadeeswara Temple that was built entirely without using any iron or cement.
• Then, explore Thanjavur Palace where the Maratha rulers lived between 1674 and 1855.
• Next go to Thanjavur Art Gallery filled with beautiful metal and stone art. These works show the rich culture of Tamil history – perfect for art lovers..
• After sightseeing proceed to Tiruchirappalli (Trichy). Arrive, check into hotel and stay overnight.

• Morning after breakfast, check out the hotel and proceed for sightseeing at Tiruchirappalli.
• First, visit Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, which is one of the 108 Divya Desams (holy shrines of Vishnu).
• Then proceed to the Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari Temple where water from a small underground flow falls on the Shiva Lingam - something truly special.
• After that, visit Ucchi Pillayar Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, located on Rockfort, with stunning city views from the top ( don’t forget to take photos ).
• Then visit the Government Museum at Rani Mangammal Mahal, where you can see collections of art, history and local wildlife.
• After that visit the Butterfly Park to see colorful butterflies, and explore Nakshatra Vanam, which has 27 trees linked to stars and zodiac signs in Indian astrology.
• After sightseeing, proceed to Madurai. On arrival, check in to the hotel and enjoy an overnight stay.

Note- Government Museum timings are 10 AM to 5 PM.

• On the fifth day of your trip, have breakfast, check out of the hotel, and start your sightseeing tour of Madurai.
• Visit Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, a beautiful old temple near the Vaigai River (looks stunning in the evening due to lights).
• Then, seeThiruparankundram Murugan Temple.
• Later, drive to Rameshwaram, located on Pamban Island. According to mythology, Rama made a bridge here to reach Lanka and rescue Sita from Ravana.
• On arrival, check into your hotel. Then explore Ramanathaswamy Temple, Agnitheertham, and Ramjharoka Temple. Stay overnight in Rameshwaram.

• Early in the morning, around 5:00 AM, proceed to the Spatika Linga Darshan, also called Mani Darshan, where the natural crystal Shivling (not man-made) is very important in Hinduism and looks very beautiful.
• Later you will head out for Agni Teertham to have a holy bath in the sea.
• Further proceed to the main temple through North gate and Take sacred bath with holy water of the 22 wells, inside the Ramanathaswamy Temple during Theerth Snanam.
• Then proceed for darshan and pooja at the main temple.
• After checking out of the hotel, proceed to visit Five-faced Hanuman Temple.
• Next, explore Ramar Patham and Kothandaramaswamy Temple, Rama Setu/ Adam’s Bridge (stones placed by Lord Rama that don’t sink), and visit Gandamadana Parvatham, where Lord Rama’s footprint is believed to be.
• Also, explore A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s house, the home of India’s famous scientist and former President.
• Go to Dhanushkodi, an old town at Rameshwaram Island. If time allows, explore and enjoy the beaches.
• On arrival, check into the hotel. Overnight stay in Rameshwaram.

• In the morning, visit the temple once again or take a Samudra Snanam (holy dip in the sea). Afterward, check out of the hotel and drive to Kanyakumari, the point where the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean meet.
• Kanyakumari is famous for being the only place where you can see both the sunrise and sunset over the ocean.
• On arrival, check into your hotel and relax for the rest of the day. Stay overnight at the hotel.

• Early in the morning, you can watch the beautiful sunrise in Kanyakumari. The calm atmosphere makes it a perfect time to take pictures.
• Later return to hotel for breakfast.
• After breakfast visit the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial - a quiet place surrounded by the sea. Walk over the Sea by Glass bridge to reach Thiruvalluvar Statue.

If you have time, take a boat ride.

• Next move to the famous Kanyakumari Temple, also known as Kumari Amman Temple. This temple is built in Kerala-style architecture, so just get ready to click photos.
• You can also visit Triveni Sangam where the three oceans meet, and Gandhi Mandapam, built at the place where Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were kept before being put into the sea.
• Don’t miss the impressive Thiruvalluvar Statue built in memory of the great Tamil poet and philosopher.
• Later drive towards Trivandrum. On the way visit Thanumalayan Temple at Suchindram famous for its beautiful architecture and the 22-foot-tall statue of Lord Hanuman.
• Then continue to Padmanabhapuram Palace known for its traditional Kerala-style design. Don’t forget to take some photos.
• If time permits stop at Kovalam Beach for a short visit before heading to Trivandrum.
• On arrival, check into the hotel and later visit Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
• Overnight stay at Trivandrum.

After breakfast, your trip to Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu ends with happy memories as you are transferred to Trivandrum Airport or railway station for your onward journey.