Great Living Chola Temples Tour - 6 Days

Package Overview

The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram - (Five Rathas better than  Shore Temple )

Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrival

  Arrival at Chennai airport or station, Proceed to Mahabalipuram (Approx 59kms from Chennai) .
  Arrival Chennai & proceed to Mahabalipuram .Day free for leisure.Evening you can visit the nearest beach.
  Overnight st Mahabalipuram.
• Day 2 : Local sightseeing.

  Post breakfast proceed for Local sightseeing
  Five Rathas : Pancha Rathas (also known as Pandava Rathas) is a monument complex at Mahabalipuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the Kancheepuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Pancha Rathas is an example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture. Dating from the late 7th century, it is attributed to the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I (630–680 AD; also called Mamalla, or "great warrior") of the Pallava Kingdom. An innovation of Narasimhavarman, the structures are without any precedent in Indian architecture. The complex is under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed by UNESCO as Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram.
  Draupadi's Ratha
  Each of the five monuments in the Pancha Rathas complex resembles a chariot (ratha), and each is carved over a single, long stone or monolith, of granite which slopes in north-south direction with a slight incline.Though sometimes mistakenly referred to as temples, the structures were never consecrated because they were never completed following the death of Narasimhavarman I.[1][3][4] The structures are named after the Pancha Pandavas and their common wife Draupadi, of epic Mahabharata fame. In order of their size, they include the Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakula Sahadeva Ratha, and Draupadi Ratha.
  Shore temple: The Shore Temple (built in 700–728 AD) is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. It was built on a promontory sticking out into the Bay of Bengal at Mahabalipuram, a village south of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. At the time of its creation, the village was a busy port during the reign of Narasimhavarman II of the Pallava dynasty.As one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. It is one of the oldest structural (versus rock-cut) stone temples of South India
  Overnight at Mahabalipuram.
• Day 3 : Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry . ( Approx 100kms ) & local sightseeing.

  Post breakfast proceed to Pondicherry.Post arrival proceed to hotel for lunch.Later proceed for local sightseeingBy 3:45pm visit Manakula Vinayagar Temple :This is the most famous Vinayaka temple in India, and is worshipped by all religion. Most of the features here are unique; this is the only temple were Lord Ganesha poses with his consorts and stands in three legs which is the rarest form. Adding fifty cents to its beauty the main tower is swathed in gold.
  Sri Kanniga Parameswari Temple :This temple is a combo of Indian and French architecture, people from all over the world to witness this architectural wonder. The intricate designs on the walls, awesome stainless glass paintings, and the beautifully emblazoned pillars are all the trademark of this temple.,
  Irumbai Shiva Temple :This temple is a combo of Indian and French architecture, people from all over the world to witness this architectural wonder. The intricate designs on the walls, awesome stainless glass paintings, and the beautifully emblazoned pillars are all the trademark of this temple.
  Navagraha Temple :This temple’s fame has travelled beyond boundaries; this temple is stowed with grandeur idols of all 27 star deities and is encircled with 108 various trees. This startling temple is located at Moratandi village 8 kms away from Pondicherry.Overnight at Pondicherry.
• Day 4 : Ponidcherry to Thanjavur.( Approx 170kmskms ) Enroute visit Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram.

  Arrival at Thanjavur by afternoon proceed to hotel for lunch.Later by 3:45pm proceed Brihadisvara temple (foreigner entry fee - 250rs. ) and Royal Palace .
  Overnight at Thanjavur.
• Day 5 : Thanjavur to Kumbakonam ( Approx 37kms )

  Post breakfast proceed for local sightseeing.
  Airateshwar temple :The Airavatesvara temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Shiva is here known as Airavateshvara, because he was worshipped at this temple by Airavata, the white elephant of the king of the gods, Indra. Legend has it that Airavata, while suffering from a change of colour curse from Sage Durvasa, had its colours restored by bathing in the sacred waters of this temple. This legend is commemorated by an image of Airavata with Indra seated in an inner shrine.The temple and the presiding deity derive its name from this incident.
  Also to see in Kumbakonam: Sarangapani temple:Sarangapani Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered in Nalayira Divya Prabandham by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.This temple is along Kaveri and is one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams.The temple is believed to be of significant antiquity with contributions at different times from Medieval Cholas, Vijayanagar Empire and Madurai Nayaks. The temple is enshrined within a huge granite wall and the complex contains all the shrines and the water bodies of the temple. The rajagopuram (the main gateway) has eleven tiers and has a height of 173 ft (53 m). The Potramarai tank, the temple tank, is located opposite to the western entrance of the temple.
  Nageshwara temple:Nageswaran Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India.The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. Shiva in the guise of Nagaraja, the serpent king and is located in the centre of Kumbakonam.
  Kumbeshwara temple : ,Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in the town of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshiped as Adi Kumbeswarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Mangalambigai Amman. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.The temple complex covers an area of 30,181 sq ft (2,803.9 m2) and houses four gateway towers known as gopurams. The tallest is the eastern tower, with 11 stories and a height of 128 feet (39 m) The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Kumbeswarar and Mangalambigai Amman being the most prominent. The temple complex houses many halls; the most notable is the sixteen-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagar period that has all the 27 stars and 12 zodiacs sculpted in a single stone.Also visit Mahamaham tank. Overnight at Thanjavur.
• Day 6 : Departure

  Post breakfast proceed to Chennai for your return journey for your home destination. (Approx 346kms )

Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing

Package Start From

• Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Terms & Conditions

This Tour is Offered by

• Flat No : 15, Avanti Heights, Someshwarwadi, Pashan - 411008
• 08069247161 (Ext : 079)
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