Tamilnadu & Andamans

Tamil Nadu (literally The Land of Tamils or Tamil Country) is one of the 29 states of India. Its capital is Chennai (formerly known as Madras), the largest city. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Puducherry and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It is bounded by the Eastern Ghats on the north, by the Nilgiri, the Anamalai Hills, and Kerala on the west, by the Bay of Bengal in the east, by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait on the southeast, and by the Indian Ocean on the south. It also shares maritime border with the country of Sri Lanka. The Andaman Islands are a group of beautiful islands belonging to India in the Bay of Bengal. The islands are dominated by tropical jungle and are surrounded by pristine waters home to a wide variety of marine life.

12 Days from USD 1250 onwards

ITINERARY DETAILS

Day 1: Chennai

Chennai (or Madras as it was known earlier) is the capital of Tamil Nadu. It is also the third largest metropolis in India. Chennai has the different face of India - classical, ancient, gentle. Definitely touched by colonialism but not ravaged by wars and intensely aware of its roots and traditions. Chennai itself has largely remained a business city - the automobile industry, International giants included, has seen advancement in particular in the last few years.

Day 2: Excursion to Kanchipuram/Mahabalipuram (1½ hrs. drive)

After breakfast, proceed to visit the finest examples of ancient South Indian architecture - Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram temples. The major tourist attractions of Kanchipuram covering Kailasanthar temple, Ekambareshwarar temple, Vardarajanperumal temple and the Sakkiswarar temple. While the Mahabalipuram, famous for its rock-cut shore temples.

Day 3: Chennai/Pondicherry (3 ½ hrs. drive)

Proceed to Pondicherry , which carries a strong whiff of the French presence in India. This erstwhile French colony on the east coast of South India merged with the rest of the country in 1954. Legend says that Pondicherry is the place where St. Agasthaya settled down.

Day 4: Pondicherry

After breakfast drive to visit Aurbindo Ashram, the city of dawn, which is 10kms north of Pondicherry. This ashram promotes Aurbindo's ideas in bringing about a synthesis of Yoga and modern science, so as to unite the spirit and matter. After lunch at hotel, visit Auroville - a unique experiment in international living and in creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities live together in harmony.

Day 5: Pondicherry/Tanjore (3 hrs. drive)

After breakfast drive to Chidambaram also called as Thillai, which has the famous Natraja temple with the root of the sanctum - sanctorum covered with golden plates is located in the centre of the town covering an area of 40 acres. In the temple, postures from the Bharatnatayam form of dance are depicted in sculpture. Natraja is Lord Shiva as a cosmic dancer. After lunch, drive to Thanjavur enroute visiting the Brass factory at Kumbakonam. Tanjore once the capital of Chola Kings, has the Bragadeswara temple. The temple tower rises to a height of 15mts from a square base of 29 mts and then tapers off, making a total of 66mts.

Day 6: Tanjore/Chettinad (2 hrs. drive)

Morning drive to Chettinad. Chettinad is the ancestral home of the Nattukottai Chettiyars, a prosperous banking community successful in the oversea business markets in South and Southeast Asia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are a total of 76 villages and Karaikudi is the largest one. Chettinad is famous for its houses for its unique, spicy, and very tasty cuisine.

Day 7: Chettinad/Madurai (2 hrs. drive)

Morning drive to Madurai. Afternoon visit to the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side). Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple.

Day 8: Madurai/Port Blair via Chennai

Arrival at Port Blair in the morning by flight and transfer to hotel. Spend some time at Water Sports Complex for some water activities. Then proceed to Corbyn's Cove beach the only beach in city of Port Blair. In the evening proceed to attend the enthralling Sound and Light Show at Cellular Jail - where the heroic saga of the Indian freedom struggle is brought alive.

Day 9: Port Blair – City Tour

Tour of the famous Cellular Jail*( a witness to the freedom struggle), Chatham Saw Mill (one of the oldest & largest in Asia), Forest Museum, Anthropological Museum, Fisheries (Marine) Museum, Naval Marine Museum (Samudrika) After lunch visit Ross Island which is about 2 km east of Port Blair and can be reached by a short boat ride from Water Sports Complex (Ferry leaves at 1400 hrs and returns at 1600 hrs). The island is controlled by the Indian navy, which requires every visitor to sign in on entering.

Day 10: Port Blair – Havelock Island

Early morning departure (0600 hrs) ferry from Port Blair – Havelock. The ferry takes 2.5 hrs to reach Havelock. On arrival proceed to selected hotel and in the evening proceed to Beach No 7* (Radhanagar Beach) rated as the 'Best Beach in Asia' by Time Magazine.

Day 11: Havelock – Kalapathar Beach – Port Blair

After breakfast proceed to visit Kalapathar beach a scenic beach involving a wonderful ride by the coast, spend a hour and then return from Havelock Island in the afternoon and transfer to hotel in Port Blair. Evening at Leisure.

Day 12: Departure

Depart Port Blair with Fond memories of these mesmerizing Islands.

Inclusions:

Room with breakfast + air-conditioned car with driver + English speaking/language guide/naturalist for all sightseeing & safari.