Tamil Tales

Tamil Nadu, located in the southern part of India, is a state renowned for its rich cultural heritage, ancient temples, and vibrant traditions. Chennai serves as its capital city. Tamil Nadu is known for its magnificent Dravidian-style temples, with iconic landmarks such as the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, and Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Chennai attracting pilgrims and tourists from around the world. The state's coastline along the Bay of Bengal is dotted with picturesque beaches, including Marina Beach in Chennai, offering opportunities for relaxation and water sports. Tamil Nadu's cultural landscape is colorful and diverse, with classical music, dance, and literature forming an integral part of its identity. The state celebrates various festivals with great fervor, including Pongal, the harvest festival, and Tamil New Year, which are marked by traditional rituals, feasting, and cultural performances. Tamil Nadu's cuisine is renowned for its flavorful vegetarian dishes, featuring staples like dosa, idli, sambar, and rasam, as well as delectable sweets like mysore pak and jalebi. Additionally, the state is known for its vibrant arts and crafts, including handloom textiles, bronze sculptures, and intricate wood carvings. Tamil Nadu has also made significant strides in education, healthcare, and industrial development, with Chennai emerging as a major hub for information technology, manufacturing, and healthcare services. Overall, Tamil Nadu offers a blend of ancient heritage, cultural richness, and modern progress, making it a captivating destination for travelers and culture enthusiasts alike.
Travel Plan
7 Days
Day 1: Arrival in Chennai
- Pick up from Chennai airport or railway station
- Check into a hotel in Chennai
- Visit Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, and Fort St. George
- Enjoy traditional Tamil Nadu cuisine at a local restaurant
Day 2: Chennai Sightseeing
- Visit San Thome Basilica and Vivekananda House
- Explore the Government Museum and National Art Gallery
- Spend the evening shopping at T. Nagar or Pondy Bazaar
- Dinner at a popular South Indian restaurant in Chennai
Day 3: Mahabalipuram Day Trip
- Drive to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
- Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, and Arjuna's Penance
- Relax at Mahabalipuram Beach
- Enjoy seafood at a beachside restaurant
- Return to Chennai in the evening
Day 4: Pondicherry (Puducherry) Excursion
- Drive to Pondicherry
- Visit Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville
- Explore the French Quarter with its colonial buildings and cafes
- Relax at Promenade Beach or Paradise Beach
- Enjoy French and Tamil cuisine at a local restaurant in Pondicherry
- Return to Chennai in the evening
Day 5: Madurai Exploration
- Fly or take a train to Madurai
- Visit Meenakshi Amman Temple, one of the largest and oldest temples in India
- Explore Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace and Gandhi Memorial Museum
- Enjoy traditional Madurai cuisine for dinner
Day 6: Rameswaram Day Trip
- Drive to Rameswaram
- Visit Ramanathaswamy Temple, a major pilgrimage site for Hindus
- Explore Dhanushkodi Beach and the ghost town of Dhanushkodi
- Visit Agni Teertham and Gandhamadhana Parvatham
- Enjoy seafood delicacies for lunch
- Return to Madurai in the evening
Day 7: Departure from Tamil Nadu
- Check out from the hotel
- Transfer to Chennai airport or railway station for departure
14 Days
Day 1: Arrival in Chennai
- Pick up from Chennai airport or railway station
- Check into a hotel in Chennai
- Visit Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, and Fort St. George
- Enjoy traditional Tamil Nadu cuisine at a local restaurant
Day 2: Chennai Sightseeing
- Visit San Thome Basilica and Vivekananda House
- Explore the Government Museum and National Art Gallery
- Spend the evening shopping at T. Nagar or Pondy Bazaar
- Dinner at a popular South Indian restaurant in Chennai
Day 3: Mahabalipuram Day Trip
- Drive to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
- Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, and Arjuna's Penance
- Relax at Mahabalipuram Beach
- Enjoy seafood at a beachside restaurant
- Return to Chennai in the evening
Day 4: Pondicherry (Puducherry) Excursion
- Drive to Pondicherry
- Visit Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville
- Explore the French Quarter with its colonial buildings and cafes
- Relax at Promenade Beach or Paradise Beach
- Enjoy French and Tamil cuisine at a local restaurant in Pondicherry
- Return to Chennai in the evening
Day 5: Kanchipuram and Vellore
- Drive to Kanchipuram
- Visit Kanchi Kamakshi Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, and Varadharaja Perumal Temple
- Explore Kanchipuram's silk weaving industry
- Drive to Vellore
- Visit Vellore Fort and the Golden Temple (Sripuram)
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Vellore
Day 6: Tiruvannamalai Day Trip
- Drive to Tiruvannamalai
- Visit Arunachaleswarar Temple and Ramana Maharshi Ashram
- Explore the caves and hiking trails around the Arunachala Hill
- Enjoy Tamil Nadu cuisine at a local eatery
- Return to Chennai in the evening
Day 7: Madurai Exploration
- Fly or take a train to Madurai
- Check into a hotel in Madurai
- Visit Meenakshi Amman Temple, Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace, and Gandhi Memorial Museum
- Enjoy traditional Madurai cuisine for dinner
Day 8: Rameswaram Day Trip
- Drive to Rameswaram
- Visit Ramanathaswamy Temple, Dhanushkodi Beach, and Agni Teertham
- Explore the ghost town of Dhanushkodi
- Enjoy seafood delicacies for lunch
- Return to Madurai in the evening
Day 9: Thanjavur (Tanjore)
- Drive to Thanjavur
- Visit Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur Palace, and Saraswati Mahal Library
- Explore the art and architecture of Thanjavur
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Thanjavur
Day 10: Trichy (Tiruchirappalli)
- Drive to Trichy
- Visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Rock Fort Temple, and Jambukeswarar Temple
- Explore the bustling markets of Trichy
- Dinner at a local eatery in Trichy
Day 11: Coimbatore
- Drive to Coimbatore
- Visit Marudhamalai Murugan Temple and Dhyanalinga Temple
- Explore the serene surroundings of Coimbatore
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Coimbatore
Day 12: Ooty (Udhagamandalam) Excursion
- Drive to Ooty
- Enjoy a scenic ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway
- Visit Botanical Gardens, Ooty Lake, and Doddabetta Peak
- Taste local delicacies at a hilltop restaurant
- Return to Coimbatore in the evening
Day 13: Coonoor Day Trip
- Drive to Coonoor
- Explore Sim's Park, Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint, and Lamb's Rock
- Enjoy a ride on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway
- Lunch at a local restaurant in Coonoor
- Return to Coimbatore in the evening
Day 14: Departure from Tamil Nadu
- Check out from the hotel
- Transfer to Chennai airport or railway station for departure
21 Days
Day 1-3: Chennai Exploration
- Day 1: Arrival in Chennai
- Pick up from Chennai airport or railway station
- Check into a hotel in Chennai
- Visit Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, and Fort St. George
- Dinner at a local restaurant
- Day 2: Chennai Sightseeing
- Explore San Thome Basilica and Vivekananda House
- Visit the Government Museum and National Art Gallery
- Shopping at T. Nagar or Pondy Bazaar
- Dinner at a South Indian restaurant
- Day 3: Day Trip to Mahabalipuram
- Drive to Mahabalipuram
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Shore Temple and Pancha Rathas
- Explore Arjuna's Penance and the Krishna's Butterball
- Lunch at a beachside restaurant
- Return to Chennai
Day 4-6: Pondicherry and Auroville
- Day 4: Drive to Pondicherry
- Visit Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville
- Explore the French Quarter and its colonial buildings
- Relax at Promenade Beach
- Dinner at a French or Tamil restaurant
- Day 5: Day Trip to Gingee Fort and Chidambaram
- Visit Gingee Fort, a historic hilltop fortress
- Explore Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram
- Lunch at a local eatery
- Return to Pondicherry
- Day 6: Leisure Day in Pondicherry
- Relax at Auroville or Serenity Beach
- Explore local cafes and boutiques
- Optional activities like pottery or yoga
- Dinner at a beachside restaurant
Day 7-9: Thanjavur and Trichy
- Day 7: Drive to Thanjavur
- Visit Brihadeeswarar Temple and Thanjavur Palace
- Explore the art galleries and handicraft shops
- Dinner at a traditional Tamil restaurant
- Day 8: Day Trip to Kumbakonam and Darasuram
- Visit Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram
- Explore Kumbakonam's temples and markets
- Lunch at a local eatery
- Return to Thanjavur
- Day 9: Drive to Trichy
- Visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and Rock Fort Temple
- Explore the bustling markets of Trichy
- Dinner at a local restaurant
Day 10-12: Madurai and Rameswaram
- Day 10: Drive to Madurai
- Visit Meenakshi Amman Temple and Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace
- Explore Gandhi Memorial Museum
- Dinner at a traditional Madurai restaurant
- Day 11: Day Trip to Alagar Kovil and Thiruparankundram
- Visit Alagar Kovil and Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple
- Explore the scenic surroundings
- Lunch at a local eatery
- Return to Madurai
- Day 12: Drive to Rameswaram
- Visit Ramanathaswamy Temple and Dhanushkodi Beach
- Explore the ghost town of Dhanushkodi
- Dinner at a beachside restaurant
Day 13-15: Kanyakumari and Kovalam
- Day 13: Drive to Kanyakumari
- Visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue
- Watch the sunset at Kanyakumari Beach
- Dinner at a local restaurant
- Day 14: Day Trip to Suchindram and Padmanabhapuram Palace
- Visit Suchindram Temple and Padmanabhapuram Palace
- Lunch at a local eatery
- Return to Kanyakumari
- Day 15: Drive to Kovalam
- Relax at Kovalam Beach
- Optional activities like water sports or Ayurvedic massages
- Dinner at a beachside restaurant
Day 16-18: Cochin and Alleppey
- Day 16: Drive to Cochin
- Visit Mattancherry Palace and Jewish Synagogue
- Explore Fort Kochi and its Chinese fishing nets
- Dinner at a seafood restaurant
- Day 17: Day Trip to Athirappilly and Cherai Beach
- Visit Athirappilly Waterfalls
- Relax at Cherai Beach
- Lunch at a beachside shack
- Return to Cochin
- Day 18: Drive to Alleppey
- Enjoy a backwater cruise in a houseboat
- Explore Alleppey's canals and villages
- Dinner onboard the houseboat
Day 19-21: Munnar
- Day 19: Drive to Munnar
- Visit Tea Gardens and Echo Point
- Explore Mattupetty Dam and Kundala Lake
- Dinner at a hilltop restaurant
- Day 20: Day Trip to Eravikulam National Park and Top Station
- Trek in Eravikulam National Park
- Enjoy panoramic views from Top Station
- Lunch at a local eatery
- Return to Munnar
- Day 21: Departure from Tamil Nadu
- Check out from the hotel
- Transfer to Chennai airport or railway station for departure