Day 01:  Arrive Chennai

Arrive Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is known for its cultural heritage & temple architecture. The region was served as an important administrative, military, & economic centre dating back to the 1st century. The first Westerners were Portuguese, who arrived in the year 1522 and built a port, to Dutch in 1612. In 1639, East India Company established a fort and trading post, then onwards this coastal centre of trade started drawing traffic from all over the world. Overnight at Chennai.

Day 02: Chennai - Mahabalipuram

Morning post breakfast Full day tour of Chennai, visiting Fort St. George, the first bastion of British power in India & built in the year 1640 AD by East India Company. Within the Fort we visit St. Mary`s Church, built in the year 1680, oldest Protestant Church in the East. Fort Museum has 10 galleries by displaying armory, old uniforms, crockery & silverware, coins, palanquins, paintings, letters, old prints, etc. San Thome Cathedral, built in 1504, is said to house the remains of St. Thomas the Apostle, who is believed to have visited Madras during 52 AD.

National Art Gallery, established in the year 1857, is undoubtedly one of the country`s finest museums. It has sections devoted to geology, archaeology, anthropology, botany, zoology, sculpture & numismatics. Government Museum has a fine archaeological section representing all the major South Indian periods including Chola, Vijaynagar, Hoysala & Chaulakya. The bronze gallery has a superb collection of Chola art especially the bronze statue of Ardhanareeswara, the androgynous incarnation of Shiva. Its most prized possessions are the relics from 2nd century AD Buddhist site of Amaravathi & the prehistoric antiques of South India.

Later we drive to Mahabalipuram, town of temples, sand & sea. World renowned for its beautiful Shore temples. It was once the main port & naval base of the great Pallava kingdom and later established as capital of the dynasty. Most of the temples here are dedicated to Lord Shiva, and Vishnu. These structures were built by three successive Pallava Kings, between 630 A.D & 728 A.D, who developed the Dravidian style of temple architecture within the short span of a hundred years. The monuments are mostly rock-cut & monolithic, constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture, wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible. It is known especially for its rathas, temples in the form of chariots, mandapas, cave sanctuaries, and Giant open-air bas-reliefs, the sites have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram.

Day 03: Mahabalipuram

Half Day Tour

After Breakfast a guided tour of Mahabalipuram, visiting Shore Temples, one of the oldest temples in South India. It belongs to the 8th Century AD. Designed to catch the first rays of the rising sun & to illuminate the waters after dark, the temple ended up with an unusual lay-out.

Arjuna's Penance, world`s largest bas-relief. This huge whale-back shaped rock contains figures of gods, demigods, men, beasts, and birds. Rathas, monolithic temples fashioned as chariots, remain an architectural mystery as each is apparently a faithful reproduction of a structure built of wood. Even the grain of the timber beams & rafters has been simulated in stone. Of the eight Rathas, five have been named for the Pandava brothers, the heroes of the epic Mahabharata.

Excursion To Kanchipuram

Afternoon excursion to Kanchipuram, is one of the seven holy cities in the country. It was a city of learning for both Tamil & Sanskrit, was believed to be visited by Hsuan Tsang. In ancient times called as Kachi. Over a thousand temples, today remained with more than a hundred extant. Widely known for temples and silk orientation. Kailasanatha Temple, built in 8th Century AD, built in the Pallava style, as pyramidal tower. Fresco style paintings adorn the inner walls of the temple.

Ekambaranatha, temple dedicated to lord Shiva. The 57 metres high Raj Gopuram is one of the tallest towers in South India. The 3000 year old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yielding different varieties of mangoes. Kamakshi Amman, built in 12th century AD, an important Shakthisthalam, known as Parabrahmaroonpini.

Overnight at Mahabalipuram.

Day 04: Mahabalipuram - Tanjore

Early Morning Post Breakfast proceed to Tanjore, flourished during the rule of the Nayaks & Mahrattas. It has been the treasure house of art for centuries, called the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is known to the world for its exquisite handicrafts like - Art Plate, pithwork, bronze icons, Thanjavur paintings, and classical South Indian musical instruments.

Brihadeshwara temple, built by Rajaraja Chola during 1010 CE. This 10th century CE temple, one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a brilliant example of the Dravidian making of temple architecture. The beautiful Chola Fresco paintings on the inner walls of the temple are no way less than Ajanta paintings. Overnight stay at Tanjore.

Day 05: Tanjore - Madurai

Morning after Breakfast leave for Madurai, rich cultural heritage for more than 2500 years old, has been an important commercial centre as early 550 AD. It is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu & was originally known as Kadambavanam or the forest of Kadamba.

En-route Trichy

En route visit Trichy, which has temples and monuments. It was an important town in the days of the later Cholas, Nayaks, and early days of East India Company. We start with Srirangam Temple, surrounded by the water of the River Kaveri on one side & its tributary Kollidam on the other. It is a 600-acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.

Rockfort, famous landmark is an 83 m high rock which is the only outcrop in the flat land of the city. The amazing fact of the rock - is one of the oldest by approximately 3,800 million years, which makes it as old the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. Overnight at Madurai.

Day 06: Madurai - Cochin - Goa

Drive from Madurai to Kochin to take a flight to Goa, once a part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BC, from 580-750 AD the Chalukyas of Badami had their sway over Goa. It is also known for its world heritage architecture including the Bom Jesus Basilica. Goa also has rich flora & fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which are classified as a biodiversity hotspot rather an absolute paradise on earth. Overnight stay at Goa.

Day 07: Goa

Full Day Tour

Sight seeing of Goa, Visiting old Goa Churches, Basilica of Boom Jesus, built in 16th century dedicated to Infant Jesus is the most famous of all churches in Goa. The mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, kept in a silver casket, are enshrined here. Sri Mangueshi Temple, surrounded by rolling green hills & dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the most important of all temples in Goa and is located at Priol in Ponda Taluka. Dona Paula, a village named after Dona Paula de Menezes, the wife of a noble man Antonio de Souto Maior, who died in young age in 1682. Miramar Beach, an urban beach where the Mandovi River meets the Arabian Sea, a point that offers the best location to watch enchanting sunsets.

Overnight at Goa.

Day 08: Goa

Day at Leisure, enjoy the golden beaches, luxurious casinos & flowing spirits in Goa.
Overnight stay at Goa.

Day 09: Goa Depart

After breakfast departure to connect the flight to final destination.