Southern Odyssey

SOUTHERN ODYSSEY

Embark on a captivating tour through South India’s ancient wonders and serene landscapes. From Chennai’s bustling shores to Madurai’s majestic temples, immerse in rich history, French colonial charm, and warm regional hospitality.

DAYS

NIGHTS

Locations

CHENNAI
MAHABALIPURAM
PONDICHERRY
THANJAVUR
TIRUCHIRAPALLI
MADURAI
RAMESWARAM
KANCHIPURAM

Highlights

Ancient Temples and Architecture: Explore iconic sites and temples, showcasing India’s rich Dravidian heritage.
Cultural and Spiritual Immersion: Visit sacred cities and witness rituals, serene community, and French colonial legacy.
Scenic and Historic Journey: Traverse lush landscapes, from the backwaters to beaches, with stops at historic forts, museums, and vibrant local markets.

ITINERARY

Meeting & greeting at the airport and transfer to hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Chennai - Mahabalipuram (60 km / 2 hrs)

After a traditional breakfast, check-out & drive to Mahabalipuram. Visit Shore Temple. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD.
Proceed to visit Five Raths Caves, to see Krishna’s butter ball and chariots. Also, visit Arjuna’s Penance. The relief is a canvas of Indian rock cut sculpture.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (95 km / 2 hrs)

After a scrumptious breakfast, drive to Pondicherry, a French colonial settlement in India until 1954, bounded by the southeastern Tamil Nadu state. Its French legacy is preserved in its French Quarter, with tree-lined streets, mustard-colored colonial villas and chic boutiques.
Visit Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville.
Evening is free to relax at beaches running along the city & attain peace of mind with yoga.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Pondicherry - Chidambaram (60 km / 1.5 hrs)
Chidambaram - Thanjavur (100 km / 2 hrs)
Thanjavur - Tiruchirappalli (65 km / 1.5 hrs)

After a zesty breakfast at hotel, check–out & drive to Chidambaram. Visit Natarajan Temple, a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja – Shiva as the lord of dance.
Continue your drive to Thanjavur, the ancient capital of the Chola kings and a veritable haven for artists, musician and craftsmen. Visit Fort palace, Museum & Brahadeeshwara temple, a Shaivite Hindu temple built in a Chola architectural style located on the south bank of the Cauvery river.
Later, proceed with your drive to Tiruchirappalli.
Check - In, dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.

Tiruchirappalli - Madurai (130 km / 2 hrs)

After a healthy breakfast at the hotel, visit the Srirangam temple complex. Located on an island in the Cauvery River, it is among the largest in India, covering an area of over 600 acres. The temple is surrounded by seven concentric walls and has twenty-one gopurams or temple towers, one of which is covered in gold.
Also visit, Sri Jambukeshwara Temple. Located across from Srirangam, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has five concentric walls and seven gopurams, also visit Rock Fort Temple.
Later, proceed with your drive to Madurai. Visit Meenakshi temple, a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River, dedicated to goddess Meenakshi, the consort of lord Shiva.
Check - In, dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.

Madurai - Rameshwaram - Madurai (130 km / 2 hrs)

After a palatable breakfast, proceed for a full day excursion to Rameshwaram. Rameswaram is a town on Pamban Island, in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s known for Ramanathaswamy Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site with ornate corridors, huge sculpted pillars and sacred water tanks.
Devotees bathe in the waters of Agni Theertham, off the beach east of the temple. Gandamadana Parvatham is a hill with island views. A chakra (wheel) here is said to bear an imprint of Lord Rama’s feet
Later in the evening, drive back to Madurai.
Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel full day sightseeing of Madurai, a bustling city packed with pilgrims, businessmen, bullock carts and legions of rickshaw walas. It is southern India's oldest center of pilgrimage and learning.
Visit Shree Meenakashi Temple (a riotously baroque example of dravidian architecture); the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, build in 1636 in Indi-Sarcenic style, and the Gandhi Museum, containing memorabilia of the father of the nation.
Continue to Mariamman Teppakkulam Tank. (Built in 1646, the tank is fed by underground channels from the Varigai River.)
Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.

Madurai - Chennai (By Air)

After a salubrious breakfast transfer to Madurai airport to connect flight for Chennai.
Upon arrival, visit Bronze Gallery and Madras Museum. Continue your drive though Egmore to George Town stopping
at Fort St. George, housing the State Parliament. Located within the ramparts of the fort is St. Mary's Church, the oldest Anglican church in Asia, consecrated in 1680 AD. The fort museum features relics.
Drive along Marina Beach, visiting San Thome Cathedral. Your final stop is Kapaleeswarar Temple. (Devoted to Lord Shiva, where you have an opportunity to mingle with the devotees and observe the various rituals of Hinduism.)
Check-In, dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.

Chennai- Kanchipuram
Chennai (70 km / 2 hrs)
Chennai - Onward Destination

After a flavorful breakfast at hotel, check-out & drive to Kanchipuram, one of the seven sacred cities of India.
Visit three of the best temples - Kailasanatha & Ekambareshwara, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and Vaikuntaperumal dedicated to lord Vishnu.
Kanchipuram is also renowned for its silk, a traditional cottage industry art that has been handed down over the centuries from one generation to the next.
Drive back to Chennai later in the evening & transfer to the airport to connect flight for onward destination.

TOUR ENDS AS YOU LEAVE FOOTPRINTS AND TAKE MEMORIES

Click here to download PDF of detailed itinerary.

Some important things to keep in mind before travelling on this itinerary:

Currency: ₹ INR

Time Zone: GMT + 5.5 HRS

Driving Side: Left

Drinking Water: Opt for Bottled Water

Emergency phone: Ambulance: 102; Fire: 101; Police: 100, 103 (traffic accident)

Voltage: 220 V

Power Sockets commonly available:

Power socket type C Power socket type D Power socket type M

Here are some basic Tamil phrases that a traveler should know before embarking on this itinerary:

Hello / Greetings – Vanakkam (வணக்கம்)
- Use: A polite greeting to say hello or good day when meeting someone.
Thank You – Nandri (நன்றி)
- Use: Express gratitude for help, service, or kindness, e.g., after a meal or assistance.
Please – Dayavu Seithu (தயவு செய்து)
- Use: A polite way to make a request, e.g., asking for directions or help.
How much is this? – Idhu evvalavu? (இது எவ்வளவு?)
- Use: Useful when shopping or inquiring about prices in markets or shops.
Where is…? – Engae irukku? (எங்கே இருக்கு?)
- Use: Ask for directions to a place, e.g., a temple, hotel, or restaurant.
I don’t understand – Enakku puriyala (எனக்கு புரியல)
- Use: Helpful when you don’t follow what someone is saying.
What is your name? – Ungal peyar enna? (உங்கள் பெயர் என்ன?)
- Use: A friendly way to start a conversation and connect with locals.
Help – Udhava (உதவ)
- Use: To ask for assistance in an urgent or confusing situation.
Food – Saapadu (சாப்பாடு)
- Use: Useful when asking for a meal or inquiring about food options.
Water – Thanni (தண்ணி)
- Use: Essential for requesting drinking water, especially in restaurants or shops.

Here are some local cuisines to try in these regions:

Dosa: Thin, crispy rice-lentil pancake, often served with sambar and chutneys; try masala dosa for a spiced potato filling.
Idli: Steamed rice-lentil cakes, light and fluffy, paired with coconut chutney and sambar; a breakfast staple.
Sambar: Tangy lentil stew with vegetables, tamarind, and spices, a must-have side with dosa, idli, or rice.
Rasam: Spicy, peppery soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, and lentils, often sipped or mixed with rice.
Pongal: Comforting rice-lentil dish cooked with ghee, black pepper, and cumin; try it in Madurai or Thanjavur.
Chettinad Chicken: Fiery, aromatic curry from the Chettinad region, rich with spices like star anise and black pepper.
Parotta with Kurma: Flaky layered flatbread served with spicy vegetable or meat-based kurma, popular in roadside eateries.
Filter Coffee: Strong, frothy South Indian coffee brewed with a metal filter, served in a tumbler and bowl.
Pondicherry’s French-Tamil Fusion: Seek creole dishes like seafood vindaloo or prawn curry with French-inspired sauces in Pondicherry.
Banana Leaf Meal: Traditional Tamil thali served on a banana leaf, featuring rice, dal, curries, and sweets like payasam (rice pudding).

Here are some fun facts about this itinerary:

Ancient Rock Art at Mahabalipuram: The Shore Temple and Arjuna’s Penance, visited on Day 2, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites from the 7th-8th century Pallava dynasty. Krishna’s Butter Ball, a massive boulder defying gravity, has intrigued visitors for centuries and is a quirky photo spot.
Pondicherry’s French Flair: On Day 3, you’ll explore Pondicherry’s French Quarter, a rare slice of colonial history where streets still bear names like Rue de la Marine. The Auroville township, with its golden Matrimandir dome, is a global experiment in communal living founded in 1968.
Thanjavur’s Living Chola Legacy: The Brahadeeshwara Temple (Day 4), another UNESCO site, is a 1,000-year-old architectural marvel built by the Chola dynasty. Its 216-foot vimana (tower) was constructed without modern machinery, and the temple still hosts vibrant festivals.
Rameshwaram’s Mythical Connection: On Day 6, Rameshwaram’s Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of India’s 12 Jyotirlingas, linked to the epic Ramayana. The temple’s 22 sacred water tanks, used for ritual bathing, are believed to cleanse sins, and the island is said to be where Lord Rama built a bridge to Lanka.
Kanchipuram’s Silk and Sanctity: On Day 9, Kanchipuram, one of India’s seven sacred cities, is famous for its handwoven silk sarees, a craft perfected over centuries. The Kailasanatha Temple, dating to the 7th century, is one of the oldest surviving temples in South India, showcasing intricate carvings.