4 Days Chennai To Kanchipuram – Pondicherry – Mahabalipuram Tour By Car

About Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram or Kanchi attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world who are interested in Hinduism or just want to enjoy the marvel of South Indian architecture and grandeur. It is particularly known for being a culture and philosophical hub. With such an association being made with the city, it is only natural that this destination has become such an influential centre in these avant-garde times. The city is home to the famous Kanchi Kamakshi Temple, which is the highly revered abode of Kamakshi (Goddess Parvathi) – consort of Lord Shiva. The Kailasanathar Temple is also popular and is known for its magnificent architecture. The highest, largest and most impressive temple in the town, spanning 40 acres and dating back to the Pallava period is the Ekambeshwarar Temple. The Kanchi Mutt holds kutcheris or South Indian classical music concerts in the evenings.

DAY 1 PICKUP FROM CHENNAI: Hotel / Airport / Railway Station / Bus Station and proceed to Kanchipuram Local Sightseeing places including:

KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE

Kanchi is also called as Satyavrita Kshetra . The Goddess worshipped Lord Siva by creating a mud idol in Kanchi. At that moment, Lord Siva incarnated as Kamba River with high tides to test the worship of the goddess, the goddess grasped the idol closely with her two hands from eroding in the tides. This prevented the idol from getting eroded in the floods. The goddess also performed Pooja by sitting in a needle tip surrounded by “Panchakagni” (surrounded by 5 fires) to free herself from the interest of livelihood. The Lord Shiva became happy, gestured before her and married the goddess. Though there are many Shiva temples in the city, the only temple to have the sanctorum of the goddess is ‘SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE’. There are also eight other Shakti goddesses surrounding the temple.

SRI EKAMBARNATHAR TEMPLE

Ekambareswarar Temple is one of the famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Kanchipuram in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.It is one of the five major Shiva temples or Pancha Bootha Sthalams (each representing a natural element) representing the element – Earth. The other four temples in this category are Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara (water), Chidambaram Natarajar (ether), Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswara (fire) and Kalahasti Nathar (wind).All of the four revered Saivite Saints have sung the glories of this temple.This vast temple is one of the most ancient in India having been in existence since at least 600 AD. Second century AD Tamil poetry speaks of Kama kottam, and the Kumara kottam (currently the Kamakashi Amman temple and the Subramanya temple). The existing structure then, was pulled down and rebuilt by the Pallava Kings. The Cholas, who came later, also made several contributions to the temple.

KAILASANATHAR TEMPLE

The kanchi Kailasanathar temple is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram. Located in Tamil Nadu, India, it is a Hindu temple in the Dravidian architectural style. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is known for its historical importance. The temple was built from 685-705AD by a Rajasimha ruler of the Pallava Dynasty. The low-slung sandstone compound contains a large number of carvings, including many half-animal deities which were popular during the early Dravidian architectural period.The Kailasanathar Temple (meaning:“Lord of the Cosmic Mountain”), is built in the tradition of Smartha worship of Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya (Sun), Ganapati and Kartikeya, in Hinduism, a practice which replaced the Buddhism.

VARADARAJASWAMI TEMPLE

Varadharaja Perumal Temple or Hastagiri or Attiyuran is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in the holy city of Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu believed to have been visited by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.It is located in a suburb of Kanchipuram known as the Vishnu Kanchi that is a home for many famous Vishnu temples. One of the greatest Hindu scholars of Vaishnava VisishtAdvaita philosophy, Ramanuja is believed to have resided in this temple.The temple along with Ekambareswarar Temple and Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram is popularly known as Mumurtivasam (abode of trio),while Srirangam is referred to as ‘ The Koil’ (meaning: “temple”) and Tirupati as the ‘Malai’ (Meaning: “hill”). Among the Divya Desams, Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal temple is known as the ‘Perumal Koil’. This is one of the most sacred places for Vaishnavites.

VAIKUNTA PERUMAL TEMPLE

It was built by the Pallava king Nandivarman and was completed in the 7th century A.D. There are three different levels of the main shrine. There are a number of sculptures of Lord Vishnu which are quite massive in size depicting the Lord in sitting, standing and reclining postures.One of the main attractions of this temple is the exceptional 1000-pillared hall. The unique characteristic about it is that each pillar has a statue carved on it. Lion pillars support the enclosed passages inside the temple. The architecture of the temple has played a vital role in the architectural evolution of the grand thousand pillared mandaps built in the later south Indian. There are several inscriptions in the temple related to the wars between Pallavas and Chalukyas.

Drop at Kanchipuram Hotel / Over Night Stay In Kanchipuram End of a Day 1 Kanchipuram Local Sightseeing Tour…

Itinerary for Day 2 Pondicherry Local Sigtseeing Tour

About Pondicherry

Pondicherry, also known as Puducherry and commonly referred as just Pondy, is one of the seven Union Territories of India. is often famously referred to as the French Riviera of the East, and it is indeed one of the most charming and mesmerising places to visit in South India. Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry is a little town tucked away on the south-east coastline of India, and it is a destination that promises travellers sanctity and serenity, in the real sense of the terms.

DAY 2 PICKUP FROM KANCHIPURAM: Hotel / After Brakefast Chekout and proceed Pondicherry Local Sightseeing places including:

MANAKULA VINAYAGAR TEMPLE

Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple is the only Ganesha temple in India, which is completely covered in gold. Tree-legged idol of the lord stands here beautifully, facing eastwards towards the Bay of Bengal, along with his consorts, Buddhi and Siddhi. It is one of the ancient temples of Pudducherry. The temple is not only visited by Hindu followers but Christians too. The temple complex also consists of a Gold Chariot, which was made after collecting donations from the devotees.The temple becomes the venue of annual festival, The Mega festival of Lord Manakula Vinayagar, celebrated here for 24 days during the months of August and September.

SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM

The Aurobindo Ashram is one of the most visited tourism sites in Pondicherry. This ashram comprises several buildings and there are around 1,200 members along with 400 students living in this center.The serene Aurobindo Ashram comes alive during the festivals. Thousands of tourists, followers and visitors come here. Despite the large crowd the members maintain discipline within the complex, restoring its peaceful environment. The ideals of the ashrams are based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and Mira Alfassa. The ashram contains a library, printing press, playground, art gallery, a dispensary/nursing home, dairy, farms and guest houses.

PONDICHERRY MUSEUM

This museum has an excellent gallery with sculptures and has the remains of archaeological findings from the Arikamedu Roman settlement. This gallery is known to have artifacts belonging to Cholas and Pallavas rule of Pondicherry and Karaikal. Burial urns, French furniture, terracotta figures, crockery, guns, swords, paintings, mirrors and several other things dating back to different periods are preserved here.The painting section includes Tanjore and glass paintings, colonial prints and contemporary oils, pastels and water colors. It has bronze statues of several gods and goddesses along with handicrafts, art work and temple lamps. The ground floor of the museum has a palanquin and pousse-pousse exhibited.

BHARATHI PARK / GOVERNMENT PARK

The scenic Bharati Government Park calls for some wonderful moments of relaxation with your family or friends. The road leading up to the garden is marked by a scenic and picturesque journey. In addition to its natural beauty, the park houses Aayi Mandapam which is a significant monument of this town. With spacious and well-kept gardens, it is perfect for planning a day’s picnic with your family or friends and bring back some cherish-able memories with you. As it is surrounded by many important buildings like the Legislative Assembly, Ashram Dining Room, Governor’s Palace and the Cercle de Pondichéry private club, you will love the sight of these architectural splendours while you relax in nature’s lap

MAHATMA GANDHI STATUE

The Statue of Mahatma Gandhi is located on the beach front of Pondicherry. Built by the famous sculptor Roy Choudhary from Madras School of Art and Crafts, it is one of the major landmarks in Pondicherry. It is surrounded by eight exquisitely carved monolithic granite pillars which were brought from Gingee Fort.The statue stands 4 m (13 feet) high is the 3rd biggest Mahatma Gandhi statue. It was inaugurated on January 26, 1965. The square in front of the statue referred to as Gandhi Thidal, plays host to various cultural and musical activities through the year.There is a tunnel below the Gandhi statue which is believed to be leading to Gingee Fort. There were some efforts to explore the tunnel. But, after a few people died of suffocation, the tunnel was closed.

PONDICHERRY BEACH / PROMENADE BEACH

This beach is called by multiple names like rock beach due to rocks along the beach, Gandhi beach because of statue of Mahatma Gandhi and also as Promenade beach. Popularly this beach is also called Pondicherry beach because of its close proximity to the city.It’s a long stretch of rocky beach with benches and wide pavement for morning and evening walks. It is adjacent to Goubert Avenue, the historical section of the city which has several beautiful colonial buildings. This long stretch has statues of Jeanne d’Arc Dupleix, Mahatma Gandhi and War Memorial. There is also a 27 meter tall old Lighthouse near this place. The Hotel de Ville and Town Hall also adorn this place.

BASILICA OF SACRED HEART OF JESUS

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. The structure is 50 meters long, 48 meters wide and 18 meters high and is held by 24 columns. One can see the biblical words on entrance written in Latin along with the images of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mother Mary carved in the entrance door.It contains rare stained glass panels depicting events from the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Church. A striking statue of Madonna is placed at the right side of the high altar. The statue is draped with a blue sari. Statues of the four evangelists were erected, beneath which there are four lamp posts describing their lives and inviting Jesus and the twelve apostles. The church premise also has a grotto dedicated to Our lady of Lourdes, a parish hall and an adoration chapel.

BOTANICAL GARDEN

The Botanical Gardens is spread over an area of 22 acres in the center of the city. The garden is a famous retreat for locals and tourists. It is spread with pruned trees, flower beds and fountains. Perrotet was responsible for transforming the place into a botanical garden. His memorial can be seen inside the garden premises. He introduced many exotic plants from all over the world. In 1960, after the Transfer of Power from the French, the garden became the hub of horticultural development in Pondicherry.There are 28 plots in the Botanical Garden and each one has separate theme. Other attractions of the Botanical Garden include Children’s toy train, musical fountain, aquarium and a Japanese rock.

CHUNNAMBAR BOAT HOUSE

The beach at Chunnambar also known as Plage Paradiso or ‘Paradise Beach’ is located near the mouth of the backwater. The sand is pristine and the water is clean. It’s an ideal place for sun bathing and beach sports. A short, pleasant cruise into the sea from here could reward you with the memorable sight of playful dolphins in natural habitat, horsing around.Chunnambar Beach and Backwater Resort, a PTDC enterprise, has boating, backwater boat tours, trekking and picnics on Paradise Beach for visitors and their friends and families. The resort offers various kinds of rental boats (speed, motor, sail, rowed, paddled and pedalled) in addition to beach volleyball and other beach sports.

PARADISE BEACH

The beach is extremely attractive as the sands are very clean and the water is crystal clear. The Paradise Beach is situated close to Cuddalore main road and it houses the famous Chunnambar resort.Visitors have to cross the Chunnambar backwaters by boat to reach Paradise Beach. These boats leave from Chunnambar boathouse around 6 km from Pondicherry. The beach has shelters and palm trees for shade and protection from the sun and rain. There is one small bar which serves soft drinks and snacks. The tides at the beach are strong at times and it is not advisable to go deeper into the sea. This beach is famed for its lovely sunbathing options and resting under the cool breeze of palm trees.

Itinerary for Day 4 Mahabalipuram Local Sigtseeing Tour

About Mahabalipuram

Mamallapuram, popularly referred as Mahabalipuram was a seventh century port town of the South Indian located 60 km south from Chennai city in Tamil Nadu. Mahabalipuram is magnificent place mainly built during 7th and 9th centuries. The name Mamallapuram is meant to have been given after the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who was a great worrier and courageous wrestler ruling during the period between 630 to 668 CE. Some of the monuments in Mahabalipuram have also been recognized by the UNESCO and are must see for the tourists on their tour to Mahabalipuram.After the Gupta Dynasty, Pallava ruled from 3rd century to 9th century. Pallavas open up various new styles in arts and architecture. Mahabalipuram is the excellent place to admire proficiency. About Mahabalipuram it exposes excellence and creativity of Pallava. Monolithic Monuments, Temples made from rock, bas-relief sculpture are well illustration of the Dravidian architect.

DAY 4 PICKUP FROM PONDICHERRY: Hotel / After Brakefast and proceed Mahabalipuram Local Sightseeing places including:

SHORE TEMPLE

Mahabalipuram Shore Temple is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. The site is famous for the rock-cut caves and the sculptured rock that line a granite hill. The temple was built by Pallavas during the reign of Narasimhavarman.The Shore Temple is a five-storeyed structural Hindu temple rather than rock-cut as are the other monuments at the site. It is the earliest important structural temple in Southern India. Its pyramidal structure is 60 ft high and sits on a 50 ft square platform. There is a small temple in front which was the original porch. It is made out of finely cut local granite.

SCLPTURE MUSEUM

the Sculpture Museum is famous for its elaborate collection of sculptures and images of god and goddesses of Hindu mythology. There are more than 3,000 sculptures can be found in this museum. All the sculptures bear the historic significance and the tales of the by-gone days. In the display of the museum there are sculptures made of wood, metal, brass and cement. There are creations of ancient artists to the contemporary ones.Not only Hindu mythology but the Buddhists sculptures and images too, exist in the temple town. The monolithic statues, the Rathas (chariots), sculptured relief and their miniature can be seen in the museum.

MAHABALIPURAM BEACH

the golden sandy Mamallapuram Beach is a picturesque place bounded by the shimmering sea and rolling hills. Identified as the most pristine beaches of Tamil Nadu, the beach attracts thousands of tourists throughout the year.On request, the local fisher folk can arrange sea cruises in the country crafts. Angling can also be done with the help of the fishermen. The deep-sea angling is also famous here. There is a wide choice of resorts along the beach. Fisherman’s Cove, a private beach resort offers water sports apart from its magnificent beach area. Some resorts are also having beachfront restaurants.

ARJUN’S PENANCE

Arjuna’s Penance or Bhagiratha’s Penace is the name of a massive open air bas-relief monolith dating from the 7th century CE. Measuring 96 feet long by 43 feet high, the bas-relief is also known as The Descent of Ganga. It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of ‘Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram’.In one interpretation, a figure in the bas-relief who is standing on one leg is said to be Arjuna performing an austerity Tapas to receive a boon from Shiva as an aid in fighting the Mahabharata war.The bas relief is situated on a rock with a cleft. Figures within the cleft are said to represent the River Ganges and Shiva. This provides the basis for an alternative interpretation, rather than Arjuna, the figure performing austerities is said to be Bhagiratha.

MANDAPAMS CAVES

Mythological scenes are depicted on these architectures. These caves have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of ‘Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram’.1) Krishna Mandapam – This is the biggest among the Mandapams and is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The sculptures inside this Mandapam beautifully picturize the myth of Lord Krishna during his brave and energetic adulthood.2) Mahishasuramardhini Mandapam – The battle between goddess Durga and the buffalo headed demon, Mahishasura is beautifully inscribed.3) Varaha Mandapam – the side walls have large sculptured panels depicting Vishnu as Varaha, the boar, holding up Bhudevi, the earth goddess.

PANCHA RATHAS

Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) – five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of ‘Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram’.An interesting aspect of the rathas is that, despite their sizes they are not assembled – each of these is carved from one single large piece of stone.The Pancha Rathas shrines were carved during the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I. Each temple is a monolith, carved whole from a rock outcropping of pink granite.

GANESH RATHA

Ganesh Ratha Temple is located towards the north of the Arjuna’s Penance. It is a temple carved out from a rock to resemble a chariot and is built in Dravidian style of temple architecture. It was once dedicated to Lord Shiva. But when the original lingam was removed, the temple came to be known as the temple of Lord Ganesh.It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of ‘Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram’.

KRISHNA’S BUTTER BALL

The giant boulder appears to be frozen in its roll down the hill it sits on, and no one is quite sure why. The huge boulder is likely a glacial erratic that got stranded in a serendipitous position on the hill, but local legend has another version of the story. According to Hindu mythology, when the great god Krishna was just a baby, he was fond of stealing butter. Following this tradition, the big orange stone has been likened to a giant dollop of purloined butter that the god dropped.The actual name of the stone is “Vaan Irai Kal,” which translates to “Sky God’s Stone,” and according to one source, the more playful name was given to the rock by a local tour guide. However it got its sort of silly name, it stuck.

Drop at Chennai / Hotel / Airport / Railway Station / Bus Station. End of a 4 Days Kanchipuram Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram Local Sightseeing Tour…

Guests are requested to follow the itinerary provided in the 4 Days Chennai To Kanchipuram Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram Local Sightseeing tour package. This 4 days Tamilnadu tour package can not be customized, however if guests prefer to visit different set of places in Tamilnadu and around, they can create their own itinerary and request for a custom quote from cab providers.