Mahabalipuram to Cochin
Madras / Mahabalipuram / Ponidcherry / Chidambaram / Ganaikondapuram / Kumbakonam / Tanjore / Trichy / Madurai / Periyar / Cochin
DISTANCES (approx):
- MADRAS / MAHABALIPURAM - 58 KMS
- MAHABALIPURAM / PONIDCHERRY - 132 KMS
- PONIDCHERRY / CHIDAMBARAM - 72 KMS
- CHIDAMBARAM / TANJORE - 113 KMS Via GANAIKONDAPURAMB & KUMBAKONAM
- TANJORE / TRICHY - 60 KMS
- TRICHY / MADURAI - 142 KMS
- MADURAI / PERIYAR - 160 KMS
- PERIYAR / COCHIN - 195 KMS
TANJORE (Thanjavur)
The world famous Brihadeeswara temple is situated here. It is built by Raja Chola The empire builder in the early Dravidian style.
Thanjavur is connected by road with 
- KUMBAKONAM - 38 KMS
- PUDUKKOTAI - 58 KMS
- TRICHY - 60 KMS
- CHIDAMBARAM - 113 KMS,
- MADURAI - 158 KMS
- MADRASS - 345 KMS
- RAMESHWARAM - 222 KMS,
City Sightseeing Tour of Tanjore
Afternoon, city sightseeing tour of Tanjore as it was earlier called, was the capital of the Chola Empire from the 10th century to the 14th century A.D. Later it became part of the Vijaynagar Kingdom, then passed into the hands of the Marathas and later still went to the British . For ages it has been the chief political, literary and religious centre of the south. The celebrate temple of Brihadeshwara built by the Chola King raja trhe great, during the 11th century is its major attraction. The Saraaswati Mahal Library, contains a rare collection of books and manuscripts on paper and palm leaves.
TIRUCHIRAPALLI
Tiruchirappalli or Trichy, situated on the banks of river Cauvery, is famous for the ranganatha temple at srirangam.
Distances:
Trichy is connected by road to
- TANJORE 60
- MADURAI 142
- CHIDAMBARAM 173
- DARASURAM 83
- GANGAIKONDACHOLAPURAM 133
- KUMBAKONAM 98
- PONDICHERRY 243
City tour of Trichy (Tiruchirapalli).
Afternoon city tour of Trichy (Tiruchirapalli). The Rock Fort rises abruptly to a height of 273 ft. A steep staircase cut into the rock leads upto the Fort. At the first level are the remanants of a huge hall blasted into ruins in 1772. The next storey is the Mathrubhuteshwarer Shrine dedicated to Shiva. Finally at the top of the hill, the Ucchi Pillayar Koil- a Ganesh Temple offering a commanding view of the city.
MADURAI
Madurai, the most famous of the temple towns of the south is known for the Meenakshi Temple.
Distances: Madurai is connected by good to 
- TRICHY - 142 KMS.
- RAMESHWARM -139 KMS
- PERIYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY - 136 KMS
- CAPE COMORIN 235,
- KODAIKANAL 120, PERIYAR 160,
- RAMESHWARAM 152,
- TANJORE 158,
- TRICHY 142,
- TRIVANDRUM 264.
Sightseeing tour of Madurai
Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Madurai, visiting the Meenakshi Temple where Dravidian temple architecture maybe seen in its exuberant baroque phase. Its Hall of a Thousand Pillars is fabulous and is filled with worshippers at all hours of the day. Also visit the Tirumal Nayak's Palace which is in a highly decorative monument at Thebes. Its enormous roofted arcade supported by 48-foot-high stoned pillars still stands; and griffins, lions and other monster gargoyles are to be seen everywhere.
Excursion to Rameshwaram
Today you will have fullday excursion to Rameshwaram, the sacred island that separates the Bay of Bengal in the north from the Indian Ocean. Visit Ramanathaswamy Temple, built on the site where Rama worshipped Shiva in order to do penance for having killed the ten-headed demon-king of Lanka. Also visit Rameswaram Temple, one of the most beautiful temples in India in terms of sculpture. It rises above a lake as a vast rectangle above 1000 ft long and 650 ft wide. It dates back to the 17th century although the process of building it, took no less than three and a half centuries. |
