Active Large Temples of South India

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5 Days

From

~~$758~~

$733

Active Large Temples of South India

5 Days Starting in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India and ending in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

Visiting: Madurai, Rameswaram, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur

Tour operator:

Agora Voyages

Tour code:

AGORA409

Recommended For:

Couples, Singles

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 10

Physical rating:

Low, EASY

Age range:

0-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Kosher, Jain, Halal

Tour operated in:

English

Private Available:

From:

$758

$733 (USD) BLACK FRIDAY SALE @ Tourhub: $25

Tour Overview

Embark on the "Active Large Temples Of South India" private tour and delve into the rich spiritual heritage of the region. Explore magnificent temples and immerse yourself in the religious fervor of South India. From the sacred city of Madurai to the revered Rameshwaram and the cultural gems of Thanjavur and Trichy, this tour offers an unforgettable journey through the grandeur and spirituality of South Indian temples. Experience the vibrant rituals, intricate architecture, and profound spirituality that define these iconic temples.

Highlights

This is a private tour/activity only for your group.
Most travelers can participate
Flexible sightseeing & stopover
Enhanced cleaning/ traveler safety
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
In depth cultural experience

Places You'll See

Active Large Temples Of South India

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Madurai

Location:

Madurai

Arrive Madurai
On arrival at Madurai airport assistance and transfer to hotel check in.
Later city tour of Madurai. Visit Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple one of the largest temple complexes in India built between the 16th and 18th centuries. Apart from the estimated 33 million sculptures there, the temple is absolutely absorbing with the endless rounds of ceremonies, prostration of countless devotees and glittering market stalls.

Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple a Hindu temple and one of the Six Abodes of Murugan, built in rock-cut architecture by the Pandyas during the 6th century. Also visit the Tirumal Nayak’s Palace a highly decorative monument. Its enormous roofed arcade supported by 48 foot high stone pillar, still stands. Rest time free & easy to relax.
Overnight at Hotel

Day 2 : Rameswaram

Location:

Rameswaram

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Madurai - Rameshwaram (170kms/ 3hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel drive to Rameshwaram, check in at hotel. Rameshwaram is an island separated from the mainland by a small strait of water. Rameshwaram is famous for the Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama who, it is believed, had descended on its shores and built a bridge across the Palk Strait to reach Lanka in his quest to rescue Sita from Ravana. Additionally, the temple is famous for being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Siva. Lord Rama had constructed a Siva linga in order to offer thanks to the Lord after killing Ravana. Hence, the temple is a sacred site for both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. The grandest part of the temple is the 1219 m pillared corridor consisting of 3.6m high granite pillars, richly carved and well proportioned. Built in the 12th century AD, the temple with its awe-inspiring corridors are the longest in India.

Also visit to Adam's Bridge the name given to the chain of reefs, sandbanks and islets that almost connects Sri Lanka with India. According to legend, this is the series of stepping stones used by the monkey army, lead by Hanuman to cross the ocean in a bid to rescue Sita from the clutch of Ravana.
Overnight at Hotel

Day 3 : Tiruchirappalli

Location:

Tiruchirappalli

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Rameshwaram - Chettinad - Thanjore (250kms/ 5hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Thanjore. Enroute visit Chettinad the region is well known for its 19th-century mansions, whose wide courtyards and spacious rooms are embellished with marble and teak. Construction materials, decorative items, and furnishings were mostly imported from East Asian countries and Europe. The marble was brought from Italy, chandeliers and teak from Burma, crockery from Indonesia, crystals from Europe and wall-to-wall mirrors from Belgium. Many of these mansions were built using a type of limestone known as karai.

It is estimated that 11,000 such mansions still remain—about half the number that existed 100 years ago. They were built by men who once traded in everything from salt to gems, with countries like Burma, Malaysia and Singapore. Much of their profits went into building these grand residences, which used to be called natukottai or regional fort. But in the mid-20th century, most Chettiar families moved to cities. Their palatial homes were left in the custody of caretakers, who maintained them for those rare occasions, such as weddings or Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival, when the family came to visit.
Visit few massions open for tourist like Chettinad Mansions, Chettinad Palace and few Chettinad Temples like Vairavan Kovil Temple, Karpaga Vinayakar temple, Kundrakudi Murugan temple, Kottaiyur Sivan temple.

Continue drive to Thanjore check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 4 : Thanjavur

Location:

Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Thanjore - Trichy (60kms/ 1.3hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Fort - built by great Chola king in the 10th century. It is an outstanding example of Chola architecture and is listed in UNESCO world heritage site. Thanjavur Palace & Museum - The palace houses an art gallery, a library and a hall of music. Art Gallery - in the Palace there are a number of granite and bronze statues of the Chola period. Saraswathi Mahal Library - another section of the Palace is the library where over 30,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts in India and European languages are preserved.
After sightseeing drive to Trichy. Visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple - there are 22 gopurams including India’s tallest (72 meters, 13 storey high). Many people have had a hand in its construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas and rulers from Vijayanagar. Rock Fort Temple -The 83m high Rock Fort is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. The rock is one of the oldest in the world-approximately 3.800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. Also visit Tiruvanaikkaval the Jambukeshwara temple, dedicated to Shiva, and it houses five concentric walls, and seven gopurams.

Rest time free and easy to relax.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 5 : Tiruchirappalli

Location:

Tiruchirappalli

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Trichy - Departure (flight)
Breakfast at hotel. As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination either from Trichy or from Madurai (135kms/ 3hrs approx).

What's Included

Monuments entrances of sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary.
Bottled water in car
Deluxe air-conditioned private vehicle with English speaking chauffeur as per tour program.
Private airport transfer with assistance of office executive.
Breakfast
Applicable GST (government taxes).
English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide).
4 Night accommodation in selected category hotels or similar.

4-Star hotels

What's Not Included

Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.
Any air fare
Camera charges at monuments
Main Meals, Lunch or dinner unless mentioned
Or anything not mentioned above.

Check out our Q&As

What is the maximum group size?

10
Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

We have provided price for 1 person traveling alone and 2 person sharing double room. Single room supplement apply if 2 person are opting for 2 single rooms.
What is the tipping policy?

Recommended tipping is 5 to 10% of total tour values. It's always optional and depends on the traveler's wish.
What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

Easy
Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

Yes

Are vaccinations required for this tour?

Yes
Company Instant Book

Instant confirmation subject to 3 day advance booking.
What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?

We have provided the price using 3* / 4* & 5* hotels
Do you require a visa for this holiday?

Yes, Visa is require for any foreigner entering India.
Are vaccinations required for this tour?

Yes. Please check same on your international ticket
What currencies are required for this tour?

USD, EURO, GBP, JPY, CNY, RMB, SGD, CAD, AUD are accepted at most of the tourist shops. These currencies can easily be changed into local currency INR from money changer at the airport, in cities, and at hotels.
Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

You have to apply for Indian Visa yourself. https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
Are airport transfers included in this tour?

Yes, Private airport transfer is included.
Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?

This is a private tour/activity only for your group. Any country citizen, individual or group can book a private tour for any number of members. We treat every booking as a private tour and we do not mix travelers.
Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

No. You have to apply for Indian Visa yourself. TOURIST VISA is mandatory for Foreign Nationals to travel India.
Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?

Most of the hotels offer free Wi-Fi.
Will passengers be provided assistance at airport?

Our office representative will receive the guest with the lead passenger name paging board. And
Are flights included in this tour?

No. Neither international nor domestic flight tickets are included in the package price. We can book the flight at supplement best available cost.
Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

Yes, after the sightseeing you will be having time to explore the city and places of your interest. Our driver and transport will remain on disposal at your service. We expect you will release the driver before 8 pm so that he is having ample time to sleep and report on time to your next day duty.
Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?

Yes, we can assist and arrange pre or post-tour accommodation.
Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

No. We provide a local English-speaking tour guide in each city. Accompanying tour escort can be booked at a supplement cost
Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

Yes, we will provide all details well in advance before the tour
What currencies are required for this tour?

INR, USD, EURO, GBP, SGD, JPY, CNY, RMB, CAD,
Can you provide other than English language guide?

Yes, we can provide other than English language guide. Request for same should be sent to sent to us at the time of booking. Other than English language guide are subject to availability and may attract additional charges.
Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

Domestic flights generally provide 15 kg checked-in baggage and 7 kg hand baggage. We provide vehicle which could accommodate 1 big and 1 handbag easily per person. There is no baggage limit set by us. Traveling with less baggage is always comfortable and recommended.
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

Yes. On request and at supplement cost, we can provide another language (German, French, Russian, Spanish, Italian guide) subject to availability in that cities.
Is the tour coach air conditioned?

Yes
Are all entrance fees included in the price?

Yes, entrances to all monuments and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary are well included in the price
What happens if a group doesn’t make its minimum required number of passengers?

We operate private tours only and guarantee 100% departure. If group members reduced, we will recalculate the price and apply the lowest supplement only if it's increasing our operation cost.
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

We conduct our business fairly, with honesty, integrity and transparency. We deliver what we promise, and only promise what we can deliver.
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

Less than 10 person group only driver will be your companion. We use local government licenced tour guide in each cities for sightseeing tour.
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

We do not operate tour on sharing
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

We are completely flexible in changing the travel dates, until we dont have to bourne any penalty levied by hotels/airline.
How long has the tour company been trading?

5 Yeas
Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

Yes, you will support NGO and schooling for kids in villages.
Can I join the tour once it has departed?

We operate private tour/activity only for your group. Hence if you missed to join and tour departed, we can coordinate and you can join the tour from the nearest point.
What documents will I receive before I travel?

Iitnerary and confirmation vouchers
What policies are in place for Covid-19?

Face masks provided for travelers. Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff. Gear/equipment sanitized between use. Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized. Regular temperature checks for staff. Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons.
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

Yes

Want a private tour?

Personalise your trip

Make changes to the itinerary, accommodation, or transport method
Travel more exclusively

Your tour guide can focus all their attention on your group
Travel for a special occasion

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Dates & Availability

Dec
2023 Jan
2024 Feb
2024 Mar
2024 Apr
2024 May
2024 Jun
2024 Jul
2024 Aug
2024 Sep
2024

Thursday - Monday

Dec 07, 2023 - Dec 11, 2023

~~$758~~ $733 (USD)