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Tamil NaduUNESCO sites

Our most recommended Tamil Nadu UNESCO sites

Chennai: Mahabalipuram Tour with Lunch

1. Chennai: Mahabalipuram Tour with Lunch

Your experience will begin as you are collected from your accommodation at 7:30AM, at which point you will make your way to Mahabalipuram. Once having arrived, Panch Rathas is your first destination. These are rock-cut monolith structures which are dedicated to the lead cast of the Mahabharata epic. They are dedicated to Draupadi, Arjuna, Nakul-Sahadeva, Bhima and Yudhister. There is also a sculpture of an elephant next to the ratha of Nakul-Sahadeva. Next in the itinerary is Arjuna’s Penance, a 100-foot by 45-foot open-air rock relief where an entire masterpiece from the Mahabharata epic has been carved. The River Ganga is at the center of the panel, and is surrounded by divine beings, hunters, animals, birds, and trees belonging to the Himalayan ranges. The next stop is to Krishna’s Butterball, a 5-meter ball-shaped boulder which is perched precariously on a slope and seems to defy Newton’s laws of gravity. Next up, the magnificent Shore Temple beckons you. This 8th-century structural temple is made of granite, and served as a beacon for seafarers of the time. Legend says that this was a part of a complex of 7 temples dotted along the sea, and the legendary traveler Marco Polo also mentioned Mahabalipuram in his memoirs, referring to it as the "City of 7 Pagodas". Following this final stop, you will travel back to Chennai where you will be dropped off back to your hotel by 3:30PM.

Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram Temples & Caves Tour

2. Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram Temples & Caves Tour

Discover the enchanting parts of Chennai through Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram. A guide will pick you up in the morning. First off, you'll enter Mahabalipuram, an ancient town that is situated between the Bay of Bengal & Great Salt Sea. Here you will come across a mixture of the seaside as well as rock-cut carvings. Stop by the magnificent heritage at Shore Temple along the coast. Followed by a visit to Pancha Rathas, a monument complex that goes back to the Pallava dynasty's time. After all the sightseeing, you'll head to Kanchipuram. It's a sacred golden town known for its majestic temples, architectural style & also silk sarees. You'll see Lord Shiva's Kailasanathar Temple, a temple wrapped in Dravidian architecture from the 8th century. Next, the guide will take you to many famous temples - Kamaskhi Amman Temple, Vaikunda Perumal Temple, & Ekambareswarar Temple. Throughout different periods many dynasties have taken over this golden city & have preserved its legacy. You will also get time to buy the popular Kanchipuram sarees weaved by regional weavers before the tour ends.

Chennai: Mahabalipuram Guided Tour with Lunch

3. Chennai: Mahabalipuram Guided Tour with Lunch

In the morning, your guide will arrive to pick you up for Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO Heritage Site that dates back to the 7th & 8th centuries. It's a site that even the famous explorer Marco Polo didn't miss out on. He dubbed Mahabalipuram the 'City of 7 Pagodas' in his period. Upon arrival, you will first see Pancha Rathas, a centuries-old sacred complex. Its monoliths & walls showcase visuals from the ancient Hindu epic, Mahabharata. The guide will tell the significance & past of this complex as move on. From there, you will head to Arjuna's Panance, a remarkable 100-foot by 45-foot monument at Mamallapuram. This place is also known as the Descent of Ganges since its carvings illustrate the river Ganga rising & flowing through the Himalayas. Next, you will see Krishna's Butterball which is a huge granite boulder perched on a steep rock slope. Make memories & click as many pictures as you want. After this, we'll move towards Shore Temple, a granite built temple which overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. Listen to captivating stories & reasoning behind its structuring as the tour comes to an end. By 3:30 PM, you will be at your hotel.

Chennai: Marina Beach Heritage Walk

4. Chennai: Marina Beach Heritage Walk

Start the tour at 4 PM at Marina Light House where your tour will commence. Meet your guide and follow them as you set off along the beach. First, climb up the lighthouse for a great view of the beach and the city, before heading back down to explore the Maritime Museum. Continue your walk and soak up the festive atmosphere as you listen to your guide tell the story of Chennai through its statues. The statues tell a great story about the evolution of the city from a small fishing village to a thriving metropolis. Next, head to the famous Vivekananda House and learn about Swamy Vivekananda and his landmark speech about Indian Philosophy. Hear more about how he was the first religious leader in India to understand the need to provide food and other bare necessities of life to the hungry millions.  Make your last stop at the ancient Parthsarathy Temple. Take a guided walk inside the temple and its surroundings as you get to know the rituals. Admire incarnations of Vishnu and shrines which were built during the rule of Cholas and Vijayanagara Kings. Be spellbound by the intricately carved pillars of the temple. Finally, end the tour at 7 PM outside the temple.

From Chennai: 2 Days Taj Mahal Agra Tour

5. From Chennai: 2 Days Taj Mahal Agra Tour

Day 01: Delhi-Agra You can book early morning flight from Chennai and fly to Delhi on your arrival at the airport in Delhi, You are received by us and our representative will introduce you to our driver and will assist you until you find your place in your luxury car then you are driven straight to Agra via expressway your drive would take nearly 03 hours. Before reaching your pre booked hotel in Agra, You visit a famous monument Baby Taj mahal which is older to Taj and inspired the architecture of Taj Mahal. Your tour guide for Agra will report at the monument and will wait for your arrival. After finishing the sightseeing of Itmad-Ud-Daula which is known as the (Baby Taj) you are driven straight to the hotel. After check in and freshening up you proceed to have lunch in case you do not feel hungry continue your Taj mahal tour with the visit of the Agra fort. This strong and massive fort built by emperor Akbar house large number of palaces inside it. This fort got the best points for sunset Taj mahal Pictures. After finishing the tour if you desire you can visit the Vibrant Agra bazaar with your tour guide overnight at the hotel with sweet dreams. Day 02: Agra-Delhi Today you have to wake up early to explore the epitome of love the Taj mahal sunrise tour. After the security checking you are free to capture the best views of the Taj with the sun beams of dawn falling on the marble and the shimmer of the stones add charm to the beauty. The Taj Mahal built by the emperor Shahjahan for his beloved is a unique example of engineering and took 22 years time for completion. After the visit of Taj mahal you returns back to your hotel and have breakfast. Post breakfast and pack up you do the check out and be ready for your drive to Delhi. You reach Delhi airport to catch your pre booked flight for Chennai.

Chennai: 2-Day Great Living Chola Temples Cultural Tour

6. Chennai: 2-Day Great Living Chola Temples Cultural Tour

Day 1 Following an early morning pickup from your hotel in Chennai, head in direction of Tanjore. At around 1:00 PM, you will arrive in Tanjore, the first capital of the Ancient Chola Empire. Visit the famous Brihadeeswara Temple located at the Great Living Chola Temples Trail and gaze in awe at one of the most imposing architectural structures in India. On this trail, you'll also visit the Thanjavur Big Temple, a more than a 1000-year-old temple with remains of the finest specimen of architecture, sculpture, bronze casting, and painting. Admire the excellent collection of frescoes that can be found on the walls around the sanctum and see the legendary tales of Lord Shiva depicted on the walls. Learn about the special material that was used to paint the murals and the secret they were able to last for so many centuries. Another highlight in Tanjore is the Grand Palace, built during the Nayak rule and repaired during the rule of the Marathas. Walk through the queen’s courtyard and witness divine scenes painted on the walls of the Durbar Hall. Then, search for the underground passage in this palace. There is also the Royal Museum, a gallery, and the Saraswati Mahal Library stationed within the palace complex. In the evening, stay overnight in Tanjore and continue your adventure the next morning. Day 2 Drive to Darasuram from Tanjore and visit the Airavateswar Temple, the second destination in the Great Living Chola Temples Trail. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple was built by Chola King Raja Raja II in the 12th century AD. Learn the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site which is considered a treasure trove of art, carvings, and architecture. The final stop in the Great Living Chola Temples Trail is the city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Built in 1025 by Rajendra Chola, son of the famous Chola emperor Raja Raja, it was meant to commemorate his victory over the Pala Empire across the Ganges. Gangaikonda Cholapuram served as the capital of the mighty Chola Empire for 250 years and is most famous for its Shiva Temple. Visit other highlights of this lost city of Cholas including The Royal Palace made of burnt brick, a giant Nandi, and a magnificent lion figure next to the well where the King poured the Ganges water brought from his conquests. Following the final stop, return to Chennai from Gangaikonda Cholapuram where you'll be dropped off at your hotel at around 8:30 PM.

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What people are saying about Tamil Nadu

It was an amazing experience, I had the opportunity to visit several temples from the Chola's empire. The staff did a great job explaining Chola's history and culture, they even went beyond that and make me feel comfortable all the time. I really recommend this trip

The tour was well organized and full of interesting sights. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu and India. Can highly recommend this tour!