Bangalore to Trichy South India Temple Tour

• Arrival assistance at Bangalore airport and transfer to hotel
• Rest and leisure time to relax or explore on your own
• Overnight stay at hotel

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Lal Bagh Botanical Garden with over 1800 species of rare tropical plants and trees
• Explore Cubbon Park, the lush green lung of Bangalore city
• See Bangalore Fort, a historic site reflecting Mysore’s resistance to British rule
• Visit Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, an elegant teakwood structure with Islamic motifs
• Tour Bangalore Palace, a majestic blend of Tudor and Scottish Gothic architecture
• Visit the Bull Temple, one of Bangalore’s oldest temples dedicated to Nandi the Bull
• Drive past Vidhana Soudha and Secretariat, impressive government buildings in granite
• Overnight stay at hotel

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Vellore; check in to hotel
• Visit Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple, famed for its gold-plated domes and intricate architecture
• Explore Vellore Fort, a 16th-century stronghold with impressive ramparts
• Visit Jalakandeswarar Temple inside the fort, known for its ornate stone carvings
• Overnight stay at hotel

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Chennai with stops in Kanchipuram:
• Kailasanathar Temple, an 8th-century sandstone temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
• Ekambareswarar Temple, famous for its ancient mango tree with four types of mangoes
• Varadharaja Perumal Temple, a grand Vishnu temple with elaborate sculptures
• Vaikundaperumal Temple, one of the oldest Vishnu temples
• Kamakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to Goddess Parvati
• Arrive Chennai and check in at hotel
• Chennai city tour including Fort St. George, the first British fortress in India
• Visit St. Mary’s Church within the fort, built in 1640
• Explore Kapaleeshwarar Temple, a colorful Dravidian temple rebuilt in the 16th century
• Visit Vadapalani Murugan Temple, a popular Hindu worship site
• Drive past Government Museum, showcasing art and archaeology in Indo-Saracenic style
• Visit Dakshinachitra Museum, a living museum of South Indian heritage
• See Santhome Cathedral, a historic pilgrimage site built by the Portuguese
• Drive along Marina Beach, one of Asia’s longest urban beaches
• Overnight stay at hotel

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Pondicherry, stopping at Mahabalipuram to visit:
• Five Rathas, monolithic rock temples representing early Dravidian architecture
• Krishna’s Butterball, a massive granite boulder perched on a slope
• Cave Temples, decorated with intricate Mamalla-style carvings from the 7th century
• Shore Temple, a 7th-century UNESCO World Heritage granite temple complex by the sea
• Arjuna’s Penance, one of the largest rock reliefs in the world
• Arrive Pondicherry and check in at hotel
• Visit Auroville, an international township centered on peace and spirituality, including the Matrimandir
• Explore Pondicherry Museum with bronze sculptures and temple art
• Walk or drive through the French Quarter with colonial villas, quaint streets, and vibrant Tamil culture
• Relax on Pondicherry beach in the evening
• Overnight stay at hotel

• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Thanjavur with visits to:
• Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram, dedicated to Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance, featuring exquisite Dravidian architecture
• Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, a grand 11th-century temple with a distinctive square plan and elaborate mandapas
• Darasuram Airavateshwarar Temple, famed for its 85-foot tall vimana and chariot-shaped mandapa with intricate carvings
• Arrive Thanjavur and check in at hotel
• Overnight stay at hotel

• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Brihadeshwara Temple, an architectural marvel from the 10th century and UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Explore Vijayanagar Fort, built by Nayak and Maratha rulers
• Visit Thanjavur Art Gallery with its rich collection of sculptures and coins
• Tour Saraswathi Mahal Library housing over 30,000 ancient manuscripts
• Drive to Trichy and visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, the world’s largest functional Hindu temple complex with towering gopurams
• Visit Rock Fort Temple, a unique fortress perched on a massive rock outcrop
• Explore Jambukeswarar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva with multiple concentric walls and gopurams
• Transfer to Trichy airport for onward flight