Tamil Nadu & Puducherry
Tamil Nadu — Temples & the Coromandel
Chennai, the shore temples at Mahabalipuram, French Pondicherry and the great gopurams inland.
- Duration
- 6 nights / 7 days
- Best time
- November to February, when the coast is dry and cool.
- Ideal for
- Culture and architecture travellers, photographers, slower itineraries
Trip highlights
- Shore Temple and the rock carvings at Mahabalipuram
- The French Quarter at Pondicherry
- Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur
- Chettinad mansions and cooking
Day-wise itinerary
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Day 1
Arrive Chennai
Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore and a walk along Marina Beach.
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Day 2
Chennai to Mahabalipuram
Down the coast road. The Shore Temple, Arjuna's Penance and the Five Rathas — all carved from living rock in the seventh century.
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Day 3
Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry
Short drive south. Afternoon walking the French Quarter — ochre walls, bougainvillea, the promenade at dusk.
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Day 4
Pondicherry
Auroville in the morning, then the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the Botanical Garden. Evening free among the cafes.
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Day 5
Pondicherry to Thanjavur
Inland via Chidambaram. Afternoon at Brihadeeswarar Temple, a thousand years old and still in daily use.
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Day 6
Chettinad
The merchant mansions at Karaikudi, with their Burmese teak and Italian tile, and a Chettinad cooking session if you would like one.
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Day 7
Depart Trichy or Madurai
Transfer to the airport, with Madurai's Meenakshi Temple added if your flight is late.
Inclusions
- English-speaking guide at Mahabalipuram and Thanjavur
- Monument entries as listed
- Accommodation in the stated hotel category on twin-sharing basis
- Daily breakfast; other meals as noted in the itinerary
- All transfers and sightseeing by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Driver allowance, fuel, tolls, parking and interstate permits
- Monument and activity entry fees where listed as included
- All applicable taxes on the services provided by us
- 24/7 on-trip support from your World Destinations planner
Exclusions
- Special darshan queues at working temples
- Cooking class unless requested
- Airfare and train fare unless quoted separately
- Lunches and dinners not mentioned in the inclusions
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone, minibar, tips and porterage
- Camera fees, optional activities and anything not listed as included
- Travel insurance and medical costs
- Any increase in government taxes or fuel surcharge after booking
- Costs arising from delays, roadblocks, weather or events beyond our control
No prices are shown on this page by design. Every quote is built against live airline and hotel rates for your exact dates, party size and hotel category — send us the details and we will come back with a full costing.
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Price the
Tamil Nadu — Temples & the Coromandel trip
Send your dates and party size. We reply with a full costing, the hotels we would use and anything we would change about the route for your dates.
