Mamallapuram – Kanchipuram – Pondicherry – Chidambaram – Kumbakonam – Swamimalai – Tanjore – Madurai – Tirunelveli – Koonthankulam – Kanyakumari – Trivandrum – 19 Days

Mamallapuram also known as the port city of Mahabalipuram, the jewel in the crown of the erstwhile Pallava Empire was also its capital. This great cultural centre is renowned for the megalithic monuments dating back from 7th century. Kanchipuram, the temple city of Tamilnadu located on the banks of Vegavathy River was the seat of education for Jainism and Buddhism and is famous for its hand woven sarees especially those made of Kancipuram silk. Pondicherry better known as Puducherry is identified by beautiful beaches and buildings of typical French colonial architecture that adds to its unique cultural charm. The temple city of Chidambaram is located on the way to Tanjore, the cultural hub of Tamilnadu. Kumbakonam is yet another famous temple town which dates back from the Sangam period. Swamimalai is small town located on the banks of Kaveri is famous as one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga. Tanjore is home to some of the rarest of historical monuments and temples, many of which are UNESCO world heritage monuments. The most famous among this is the Brihadeeswarar temple built in 11th century by Raja Raja Chola and described by historian Percy brown as “a landmark in the evolution of building art in South India”. Trichy is the birth place of Nobel laureate Dr. C.V. Raman. In addition to cultural and historical centres, Trichy is well known for institutions of national and international repute. Madurai the famous temple city is better known as the cultural capital of Tamilnadu. The Madura Meenakshi Temple is an architectural marvel. It believed that Megasthenes, the ancient Greek historian visited Madurai during 3rd century BCE. Tirunelveli has a number of historical monuments, the most famous and prominent being the Swami Nellaiappar Temple. Koonthankulam the sleepy village on the way to Kanyakumari is a birder’s dream destination where migratory birds from around the world flock in large numbers. Kanyakumari also known as Cape Comorin is the southernmost city of peninsular India since Sangam period and is located at the convergence of Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. The Padmanabhapuram palace is a classic example of Kerala style architecture situated at Padmabahapuram, the earlier capital of Travancore. The world famous Kovalam located in the outskirts of Trivandrum city offers excellent beaches and ambience to unwind and relax. House boat ride through the enchanting backwaters of Alleppey is a visual treat. Marari beach is a perfect place to laze around and spend an evening. Kochi, the port city of Kerala is the industrial hub of the state has a lot of surprises in store.