13 days South India temple tour

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13 days South India temple tour

Chennai · Tirupati · Madurai · Rameswaram · Kanyakumari · Trivandrum · 13 days

13 days South India tour packages Private tour Licensed guide

The great temples of the south in order — Tirupati, Kanchipuram, Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Srirangam, Madurai, Rameswaram — down to the tip of India.

At a glance

Duration
13 days, 12 nights
Destinations
Chennai · Tirupati · Kanchipuram · Mahabalipuram · Pondicherry · Kumbakonam · Trichy · Madurai · Rameswaram · Kanyakumari · Kovalam
Transport
Private AC car
Accommodation
12 nights hotel
Tour type
Private
Starts
Chennai
Ends
Trivandrum airport

What makes this one worth it

  • Darshan at Tirumala (Tirupati Balaji), with help arranging tickets
  • Brihadeeswara and Airavatesvara, two of the Great Living Chola Temples
  • The night ceremony at Meenakshi Amman Temple
  • Ramanathaswamy Temple and the ruins of Dhanushkodi
  • Sunset at Kanyakumari and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial
  • Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum

Your day by day

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Chennai

    Airport pickup and check-in. An evening walk in the T Nagar market.

  2. Day 2

    Chennai temples, then to Tirupati

    Fort St. George, Kapaleeshwarar and Parthasarathy temples, then about three and a half hours to Tirupati.

  3. Day 3

    Tirumala and back to Chennai

    Darshan at the Venkateswara temple on Tirumala hill, Kapila Theertham and the Padmavati temple, then back to Chennai for sunset on Marina Beach.

  4. Day 4

    Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram

    The Ekambaranathar, Kamakshi Amman and Varadharaja Perumal temples at Kanchipuram, then the shore temples and rock carvings of Mahabalipuram.

  5. Day 5

    Down the coast to Pondicherry

    Two hours along the East Coast Road. Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, the French Quarter and the promenade.

  6. Day 6

    Chidambaram and Kumbakonam

    The Nataraja temple at Chidambaram, then Kumbakonam and the Oppiliappan temple.

  7. Day 7

    Darasuram, Thanjavur and on to Trichy

    Adi Kumbeswarar, the Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram, the Brihadeeswara temple and the Maratha palace at Thanjavur, then Trichy for the night.

  8. Day 8

    Srirangam, Rock Fort and Madurai

    Sri Ranganathaswamy at Srirangam, the Rock Fort temple and Jambukeswarar, then four hours to Madurai.

  9. Day 9

    Madurai

    Meenakshi Amman Temple, the Thirumalai Nayak palace and the Gandhi Memorial Museum. An auto-rickshaw back to the temple at night for the closing ceremony.

  10. Day 10

    Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi

    Over the Pamban bridge to Rameswaram for the Ramanathaswamy temple and Agni Theertham, then out to Dhanushkodi at the end of the land.

  11. Day 11

    Tiruchendur and Kanyakumari

    A long day's drive with a stop at the Murugan temple in Tiruchendur, arriving at Kanyakumari for sunset.

  12. Day 12

    Kanyakumari to Kovalam

    Kumari Amman temple, the meeting of three seas, the ferry to Vivekananda Rock and the Thiruvalluvar statue, then two hours to Kovalam for sunset on the beach.

  13. Day 13

    Trivandrum and departure

    Padmanabhaswamy temple (Hindus only inside), the Napier Museum and the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, then the airport.

What the price covers

  • Private AC car and driver throughout
  • 12 nights hotel with breakfast
  • English-speaking guide at each temple town
  • Help with darshan tickets at Tirupati and other major temples
  • Vivekananda Rock ferry
  • Night auto-rickshaw in Madurai
  • Tolls, parking and taxes

What it does not cover

  • Flights to Chennai and from Trivandrum
  • Lunch and dinner
  • Special darshan and temple fees
  • Camera fees
  • Tips

Questions people ask

Is this South India temple tour private?
Yes, it is completely private. You travel in your own AC car with a dedicated driver, with licensed English-speaking guides at each stop, and you are never tied to a fixed group schedule.
Is VIP darshan included at Tirupati?
Yes, we include assistance with VIP darshan at major temples, including Tirupati Balaji. It helps you avoid the longest general queues during your visit.
Can this South Indian temple itinerary be customised?
Yes. We can adjust the route to your pace, interests and hotel preferences, for example spending longer in Madurai or shortening the stop in Kanyakumari.
What is the best time for this tour?
October to March offers the most comfortable weather across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Coastal towns like Kanyakumari and Rameswaram are pleasant most of the year, but inland places such as Madurai, Trichy and Tirupati get very hot and humid in summer.
Is the night ceremony at Madurai included?
Yes. We take you by tuk-tuk to watch the evening ceremony at the Meenakshi Amman Temple, one of the most memorable moments of the trip.
Do I need a visa to join from the USA, UK or Canada?
Most travellers from these countries need an Indian e-Visa, which you can apply for online well before you travel. Rules can change, so please check the latest requirements before booking flights.
Are entry rules strict at these temples?
Yes, some temples are strict. A few, such as Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum, allow only Hindu visitors into certain areas, and many enforce a dress code covering shoulders and knees, with a traditional dhoti required for men at some shrines; your guide explains each temple's rules before you arrive.
How much walking is involved?
Expect a fair amount of walking across large temple complexes with open courtyards and many gateway towers. Wear comfortable footwear that slips on and off easily, as shoes must be removed at almost every temple.
Is this route suitable for a combined Tamil Nadu and Kerala temple tour?
Yes. The first eleven days cover Tamil Nadu's great shrines, and the last two days cross into Kerala, finishing in Kovalam and Trivandrum.
Can this tour be extended?
Yes. It links easily with longer South India journeys, such as Karnataka's heritage sites or a few extra days on Kerala's backwaters.

On the route

13 days South India temple tour13 days South India temple tour13 days South India temple tour

Questions first

Ask before you book

Dates, hotel upgrades, a slower pace, a child seat in the car — send it over and we will come back with a revised plan and price.

  • Written itinerary before any payment
  • Fixed price, nothing added later
  • Free cancellation up to 7 days before travel