South India Temple Tour

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN CHENNAI

On arrival in the Chennai airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon proceed on a city tour of Chennai visiting Fort St. George, Church, the Kapileshwara and the Mylapore temple and visit the 2nd longest beach in the world, Marina Beach. Later return to the hotel. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals:

DAY 02: CHENNAI - KANCHIPURAM - MAHABALIPURAM (77 KMS / 2 HOURS)

After breakfast, drive to Mahabalipuram. Enroute visit the temple town of Kanchipuram. On arrival in Mahabalipuram, check in to the hotel. In the afternoon, proceed on a local sightseeing tour and visit the Panch Ratha Temples, Arjuna's Penance and Shore Temple. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 03: MAHABALIPURAM - PONDICHERRY (95 KMS / 2 HOURS)

After breakfast, drive to Pondicherry. Located on the shores of Bay of Bengal, Pondicherry smells very strong of French culture. On arrival, check in to the hotel. Later visit the beach road, Auroville - the international city, and the Matri Mandir. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 04: PONDICHERRY - CHIDAMBRAM - TANJORE (198 KMS / 6 HOURS)

After breakfast, drive to Tanjore. Enroute, visit the temple town of Chidambram. On arrival in Tanjore, check in to the hotel. In the evening visit the famous Brihedeshara Temple. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 05: TANJORE - TRICHY (60 KMS / 2 HRS)

After a leisurly breakfast, drive to Tiruchirapally AKA Trichy, famous for it's rock fortress and temples. On arrival in Trichy, check in to the hotel. Later visit the Rock Fortress. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 06: TRICHY - RAMESHWARAM - MADURAI (398 KMS / 10 HOURS)

After early breakfast drive for Madurai, via Rameshwaram. Rameshwaram is located off the eastern cost of Indian Peninsula and is a small temple town famous for Ramnathaswamy Temple, Kondradamswamy Temple and the island of Dhanushkodi. In the afternoon, continue to drive to Madurai. On arrival in Madurai, check in to the hotel. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 07: MADURAI - KANYAKUMARAI (236 KMS / 6 HOURS)

After breakfast drive to Kanyakumarai. Located at the Southern Most tip of the Indian Peninsula, the shores of Kanyakumari are washed by three major water bodies viz. the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. On arrival in Kanyakumari, check in to the hotel and spend the evening at leisure. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 08: KANYAKUMARI

After breakfast at hotel, proceed on a local sight seeing tour - visit the Kumariamma Temple, Vivekanand Rock, the confluence of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal and the Gandhi Museum. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 09: KANYAKUMARI - MADURAI (236 KMS / 6 HOURS)

After breakfast, drive to Madurai. On arrival, check in to the hotel. In the evening, visit the Meenakshi Temple, a riotously baroque example of Dravidian architecture. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 10: MADURAI - DEPARTURE

After breakfast, take a transfer to the airport to board connecting flight for onward destination.

Meals: Breakfast

RADHA REGENT

City: Chennai

The eight-year-old Radha Park is part of the renowned group, Sarovar Hotels. Not only does it live up to its 3 star category status, it surpasses that in comfort and facilities. With a drive-up at the entrance door, you can move directly from the comfort of your vehicle to the plush luxury of the hotel. Once inside the hotel, the atrium lobby with a three floor high translucent roofing greets you with natural light that seeps in through the ceiling, leaving you amazed.

Room Amenities
The centrally air conditioned hotel offers luxurious comfort in its 91 rooms that are divided into 33 Superior rooms, 25 Business rooms and 33 Deluxe rooms. These include two Suites within each category. All rooms are well furnished and appointed with a colour television, an international direct dial telephone, complimentary tea/coffee maker, mini bar, study table and safe deposit locker. While the hotel premises are Wi-Fi enabled, the Business rooms are provided with an additional PC for convenience. The guests staying in Business rooms, Deluxe rooms and Suites are welcomed into the room with a fruit basket and cookies on arrival while Suites are provided two complimentary bottles of mineral water which are replenished every day. The Suites have a separate living room with a television, study table, sofa, full size refrigerator, dining table and a PC with complimentary internet facility. The bedroom is equipped with a flat screen plasma television and a mini bar. While most bathroom amenities like soap, shampoo, shower cap, moisturiser, comb, dental kit and linen are common across all categories of rooms, shaving kit and hair dryer are provided on request in Superior rooms and Business rooms respectively. Suites are provided with a hair dryer, a shaving mirrors, slippers and shoe shine mitt besides all other bathroom amenities.

Dining
Radha Park offers an assortment of dining options that range from Cafe in the Park, a 24 hour coffee shop serving Indian, Asian and Continental cuisine to The Oriental Blossom, a speciality Chinese restaurant that serves high quality Szechwan cuisine and is open for lunch from 12 noon to 3 pm and for dinner between 7 pm and 10 pm. One of the hi-points of the Oriental Blossom is the live Tepannyaki grill in the middle of the restaurant; in fact it is referred to as the 'Restaurant Theatre' since guests can watch their favourite dishes being prepared by the chef. Cafe in the Park serves a delightful buffet spread for breakfast (7 am-10:30 am), lunch (12 noon- 3 pm) and dinner (7:30 pm-11 pm). Besides this, room service is available round the clock and offers an assortment of cuisines.

To make spirits soar, the hotel offers its guests an ultra chic environment from 11 am to 11 pm throughout the week, Aura - The Lounge Bar. It offers the finest spirits from around the world, a selection of fine finger foods & bar bites, world lounge music and even specialty coffee. Besides this, there is Geoffrey's - The Pub, a British themed pub with pool tables, nightly DJ performances and occasional live shows. It is open from 4 pm to 11 pm on weekdays and from 11 am to 11 pm on weekends.

Hotel Facilities
Conference/banquet facilities include numerous well-equipped halls of various sizes. Plaza, a hall located on the mezzanine floor can accommodate 300 guests in theatre style. Regent I and Regent II, at the basement level can individually host gatherings for 150 guests each, while combined together they form one big hall that can accommodate up to 350 guests. The Orchid I and Orchid II at basement level are ideal for smaller conferences with a seating capacity of 40 guests each. Guests can also avail the facility of a Private Dining Room that can seat 14 guests in sit down silver service. Equipped with contemporary aids including a variety of microphones, OHP, slide projectors, LCD Panels and computers, it is suitable for every unique conference requirement.

The hotel also has a fully equipped business centre with Wi-Fi connectivity, facsimile, video conferencing facility, ISDN line, scanner, photocopier, photographer and secretarial service. While services provided at the business centre are chargeable, guests can use the well-equipped gymnasium on a complimentary basis from 7 am to 8 pm. For its long staying guests, the hotel also organises a complimentary cocktail party every Thursday. Other facilities available at the hotel include a car rental service, florist, doctor on call, souvenir shop, spacious parking and an in-house laundry service.

Don't Miss
The varied decor themes in different parts of the hotel. While the lobby is a delight with its translucent ceiling and hanging creepers, each one of the food joints has its individual theme. While The Oriental Blossom has a sophisticated oriental aura, Geoffrey's is a casual British themed pub inspired by jazz (which is quite obvious from the little figures of a band of musicians displayed on a ledge at the entrance).

Location
Located in Arumbakam, Radha Park enjoys proximity to all centers of commercial and tourist interest. While the Central Railway Station as well as the Egmore Railway Station is just 8 kms away from the hotel, the shopping hubs, T Nagar and Spencer Plaza are just a 20-minute drive away.

MAMALLAA HERITAGE

City: Mahabalipuram

To meet the various needs of Domestic and Westerners, Hotel Mamallaa Heritage has 43 spaciously designed rooms, with 24 hour room service, running hot and cold water, satellite channels, direct dial facility, channel music and a dedicated and friendly team of service personnel working round the clock to make your every stay an endearing one. The hotel provides stunning vistas of the horizon, the beach, the lighthouse and the innumerable other monuments surrounding Mamallapuram. The sea is just a short 500 meters away providing all the sun, surf and sand to occupy your mind and body.
The room amenities include Air conditioning, cable Television, direct dialing, channel music, attached bathroom, minibar, work desk, safe deposit box, double bed, king bed, newspaper, etc.

The other services and facilities include front desk, travel desk, business center, banquet, restaurant, safe deposit box, room service, valet parking, conference facilities, swimming pool along with children pool, etc.

The dining facilities at the hotel include Waves which is the seafood specialty restaurant which is open only for dinner. It is an ideal place for a romantic evening. Golden Palate is the pride of Mamallapuram with its very desirable vegetarian food.

Confluence is the conference hall with a seating capacity of 70 people.

HOTEL SANGAM

City: Tanjore

A three star property, Hotel Sangam offers a range of contemporary facilities along with traditional South Indian hospitality.

Rooms
The hotel offers comfortable accommodation in well furnished rooms that are equipped with modern amenities like cable television and telephone and have attached washrooms that receive a continuous supply of hot and cold water. Each room offers a spectacular view of the Brahadeeshwara Temple.

Dining
Hotel Sangam features an exotic restaurant, Thillana, which is decorated in tones of red and gold and has walls that are lined with Thanjavur paintings. It serves Indian, Chinese and Continental delicacies. The hotel also boasts of a well stocked bar, Layam. Room service is available round the clock.

Services & Facilities
Conference/banquet facilities are offered in 2 well equipped halls - Varnam and Shruti. Each can accommodate up to 150 guests and is equipped with the latest aurdio visual equipment.

Recreational facilities include a swimming pool and a state of the art health club. The hotel also organises cultural programs like veena recitals and folk dance performances. Other facilities available at Hotel Sangam include a travel desk, secretarial service, currency exchange, safety deposit lockers, doctor on call, laundry & dry cleaning service and parking facility. For the convenience of guests, the hotel accepts payment through all major credit cards.

Location
Hotel Sangam is located on Trichy Road in Thanjavur. The nearest airport is at Trichy, 65 kilometres away and the next at Madurai which is 200 kilometres by road. The nearest railway station and bus stand are about a kilometre away from the hotel.

HOTEL SANGAM

City: Tiruchirapally

Hotel Sangam is a modern hotel offering comfortable accommodation and state of art facilities to its guests.

Rooms
The hotel offers 60 spacious rooms steeped in South Indian traditional atmosphere. The rooms are equipped with modern facilities like satellite television, telephone, study table, mirror on wall, separate seating area, cupboard and luggage rack. Every room has it own private washroom with hot and cold water supply and amenities like soap and towels.

Dining
The Chembiam is the golden portal of the hotel and also the multi-cuisine restaurant offering the delights of Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines. Cascade, the coffee shop offers quick bites and refreshing filter coffee. Guests can also enjoy Continental or South Indian snacks accompanied by the soothing sound of a trickling waterfall and soft music. The Soma bar is quite a contrast to the rest of the hotel, with its Egyptian theme, comfortable furnishings and array of liquors.

Facilities
The hotel has a swimming pool for the guests to enjoy. Next to the pool lies the gymnasium, equipped with modern equipments for a refreshing workout. In addition to this, the hotel offers two large conference halls namely Nivandam - a centrally air-conditioned hall with a capacity to accommodate 400 persons and Nanjai with a capacity to accommodate 100 persons. The halls are ideal for seminars, meetings and conferences. The hall is equipped with all audio visual and conference facilities. The well-equipped auditorium of the hotel can accommodate 1000 guests and is ideal for marriage functions. The Vasantham (40 persons), Kalanjiam (20 persons) and the Board Room (25 persons) can accommodate smaller groups of people.

Other facilities in the hotel include money exchange, secretarial services, laundry and dry cleaning, car rental, spacious parking lots, shopping arcade, safety deposit lockers, travel agency, 24 hours room service, doctor on call, internet and e-mail facilities. The hotel also organises special recreational activities like veena recitals, classical and folk dances.

Location
Hotel Sangam is located on Collector's Office Road in Trichy. The Trichy airport is about 5 kilometres away from the hotel, while the railway station located about 1 kilometre away. Trichy is well-connected through bus services to and from all major South Indian cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Madurai, Thanjavur and others.

HOTEL GERMANUS

City: Madurai

A three star property, Hotel Germanus offers a range of facilities and services required by business travellers as well as leisure travellers.

Rooms
The hotel offers comfortable accommodation in 85 well furnished air conditioned rooms that are categorised as Standard, Deluxe and Suite. Each room is equipped with all modern amenities including cable television, direct dial telephone, cushioned chairs, cupboard and luggage rack. For the convenience of business travellers, most rooms are equipped with a study table. Each room has an attached washroom that receives a continuous supply of hot and cold water.

Dining
Hotel Germanus has a multi cuisine restaurant that serves Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines besides regional delicacies. The hotel also boasts of a bar, which serves a range of domestic and international liquor brands. For the convenience of guests, the hotel also offers 24 hour room service.

Services & Facilities
Hotel Germanus has a well equipped health club and an ayurvedic massage centre. The hotel also offers business facilities like fax, photo copy, facsimile and Wi-Fi connectivity. Other facilities available at the hotel include a travel desk, car rental service, currency exchange, safety deposit lockers, doctor on call, laundry service and parking space.

Location
Located on the By-Pass Road, Hotel Germanus lies in the heart of Madurai. It is just 2 kms away from the railway station and 12 kms away from the Madurai Airport. It enjoys proximity to the famous Meenakshi Temple and the commercial hub of the city.

CALVE HERITAGE

City: Pondicherry

A 150 year old bungalow that has been beautifully restored and renovated without loss of its original essence, Calve Heritage Hotel boasts of French inspired architecture and Tamil heritage living.

Rooms
The hotel offers comfortable accommodation in 10 rooms and suites that provide modern conveniences in a traditional ambience. The rooms are appointed with amenities that include a LCD television, mini bar, direct dial telephone and safety deposit locker.

Dining
Salle a manger, the in-house restaurant serves authentic Franco-Tamil Creole cuisine, which is referred to as Puducherry food.

Services & Facilities
While the lobby is Wi-Fi enabled, the rooms are also equipped to provide internet access.

At Calve Heritage Hotel, a guests' comfort is of highest importance and the hotel prides itself on the warm hospitality that it provides to its guests.

Location
Located just off MG Road, Calve Heritage Road is easily accessible. It enjoys proximity to all places of tourist interest within Pondicherry.

The historic Government Museum in Chennai