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In depth Tamil Nadu

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In depth Tamil Nadu
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Experience Travel Group

In depth Tamil Nadu

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In this two-week privately guided holiday you’ll experience the southern state of Tamil Nadu only with its deep-rooted religious beliefs, incredible temple sites, remote plantations and the coastal regions of Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram.

You’ll move every couple of nights and travel by train, plane and your private car; we designed this trip for more active travellers who likes to keep the holiday varied, but balanced. Three days towards the end will give you some downtime on the beach. 

Highlights include:

  • Hunting for antiques with your guide in Chettinad, where you feel like you’ve stepped back in time
  • Reading a book on the terrace of your home-away-from-home hotel in Rajakkad
  • Watching the evening puja ceremony with pilgrims at Sri Meenakshi temple
  • Walking around the white town area of Pondicherry with your local guide 

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.  

DAY 1 DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK for your flights to Chennai.

DAYS 2 & 3 Pondicherry 

On arrival at Chennai airport your English speaking driver will pick you up; he will be spending the next 14 days with you. He will transport you to the beautiful former French territory of Pondicherry and the rest of this first day will be at leisure.

A full day will be spent touring the ‘white town,’ the French area of Pondicherry, by foot. Highlights will include the Place de la Republique, the museum and the Tamil Quarter.

DAY 4 & 5 Kumbakonam 

This morning you will take the short transfer to Pondicherry train station where you will board the Kanyakumari express for the 4-hour train journey to Kumbakonam, one of the oldest towns in Tamil Nadu. Here you’ll be staying in a central location, convenient for exploring the 7th century capital of the Chola dynasty and situated by the two rivers of Cauvery and Arasalar.

Early the next day, you’ll take a morning sightseeing tour of Tanjore with a local private guide.  Tanjore is a fascinating city with its spectacular central temple, Brihadeeswara.

DAY 6 & 7 Chettinad

Today, journey through rural countryside and villages towards Chettinad, a small town with an impressive artistic heritage. Your small central hotel has a homestay feel and is a great base from which to explore.

The next day you’ll have a full-day guided tour of this prosperous community, during which you can experience the culture and cuisine of a relatively unchanged region. It’s hard not to be impressed by the beautiful mansion houses with lovely courtyards. Chettinad is a fantastic town in which to go antique shopping too!  

DAY 8 & 9 Rajakkad 

This morning you’ll drive through the hidden hills of Tamil Nadu to a lovely estate in a lush forest and coffee plantation. Here you can take some time out to relax, go for walks, eat lovely home-cooked food from the locally grown ingredients and while away a few hours reading a book.

Day 10 & 11 Madurai 

A relatively short drive today will bring you to the third-largest city in Tamil Nadu: Madurai. It's a city famous for upholding Tamil traditions and is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure.

The next day you’ll have a private guided tour of the city, taking in the key sites such as the Meenakshi Amman Temple and the 17th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace. In the evening you have a chance to experience the famous puja at the Sri Meenakshi temple, joining hundreds of pilgrims as an image of the god Shiva is carried from his shrine by temple priests and taken in a chariot procession to the shrine of his wife.

DAY 12–15 Mahabalipuram 

In the late morning, you will take a short flight back to Chennai and transfer south for about 2 hours to Mahabalipuram. Now is your time to relax on the coast for the next three days, but the region still has a lot to offer thanks to the local UNESCO world heritage sites of beautiful stone carvings.

You may like to extend the trip or, if you are short of time, miss out the beach. All of our holidays are tailor-made, which means it’s easy to change them to suit your requirements. 

As every holiday is unique to you, prices vary. To give you an indication, two-week holidays range from roughly £3,000 to £8,000 per adult, with an average price of £3,500. We also offer substantial child and seasonal discounts.

To start your journey, talk to one of our friendly consultants today.

Since every traveler is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 to create your personalised vacation itinerary.

Inclusions

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

  • International Flights (we can omit if you prefer)
  • Accommodation as described
  • Privately guided tours and transfers
  • Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
  • Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
  • 24-hour in-country backup while away
  • Your dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

Fishermans Cove

Fishermans Cove, Mahabalipuram

A large and modern cottage hotel on the Bay of Bengal in Chennai, with international standard facilities and great sea views.

Mantra Koodam

Mantra Koodam, Kumbakonam

Lovely light and spacious cottages and villas make up the eco-friendly resort situated between two rivers.

Palais De Mahe

Palais De Mahe, Pondicherry

A traditional French colonial-style building steps away from the promenade and seafront.

Rajakkad

Rajakkad, Dindigul

Nestled in lush forest and coffee plantations, this intimate hotel has a fascinating history and is a beautiful place to relax.

Taj Gateway Pasumalai

Taj Gateway Pasumalai, Madurai

Offering panoramic views of Madurai from Pasumalai Hill, this hotel has over 100 years of history and boasts a pool and spa.

The Bangala

The Bangala, Chettinad

Enjoy traditional Chettinad hospitality in this charming & comfy hotel-cum-homestay with old-world charm and fascinating family history.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...

Evening Puja at Meenakshi Temple

Evening Puja at Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

Witness the evening puja at Meenakshi temple with hundreds of pilgrims

Explore Thanjavur

Explore Thanjavur, Kumbakonam

Take a relaxed walking tour of the famous and lesser visited sites of Thanjavur, one of the oldest cities in India.

Morning Walking Tour

Morning Walking Tour , Pondicherry

A lovely walk through the french colonial area of Puducherry called White Town.

Puducherry Experience

Puducherry Experience, Pondicherry

With its pretty painted colonial houses in Mediterranean colours, Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) is lovely little place.

Walking tour around Chettinad

Walking tour around Chettinad, Chettinad

Experience a full day guided tour of Chettinad with it's culture and cuisine.

Map showing Hotels & Experiences associated with 'In depth Tamil Nadu'

Ready to enquire about this holiday?

Each journey with ETG is different. Let us know your needs, hopes and fears, and our friendly travel team will help you discover your ideal holiday.

Get in Touch

Call us 020 7924 7133

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