Best Pilgrimage Activities In Tamil Nadu

Particularly known for its centuries old temples, market places, trade fair, and some brilliant architecture, Madurai is beautiful every inch of the way. Over 2.5 hours, experience a slice of history and heritage and get transported to a bygone civilization.

The guided tour in a cycle rickshaw begins 10am or 3pm from the famous Meenakshi Temple. You’ll have a short rendezvous with the temple, its architecture, and life at large as it happens around its narrow alleys. Next explore and unravel the city’s other traits such as banana and vegetable markets, bamboo bazaar, dhobi ghat, as well as seat of textile and brass industries to watch locals make metal pots on furnace and spinning yarns. As you end your ride around 5:30pm, you would’ve seen every nook and cranny of this simply gorgeous city.

Duration: Around 2.5 hours

One of the oldest Indian cities, Madurai, has been an ancient metropolis with a vibrant trade history. Visitors have never been alien to this city, which is known to be the soul of Tamil Nadu. For around 10 hours, you’ll experience the popularity of this captivating place through its very many temples, other sanctums, historical monuments and much, much more.

You’ll begin the guided sightseeing tour at 8am. First stop is Meenakshi Amman Temple, a 2,000 year-old complex that is literally a city within the city. It’s also one of the greatest and largest temples in India. Undoubtedly this would take over two hours of your visit time. Next, drive to Thiruparankundram, one of the six residences of Lord Subramanya that is located in the city centre. After this tour, you’ll visit the secular, Dravidian-Islamic style Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, which is now only a quarter of its original size.

Post lunch in a restaurant, drive to Gandhi Museum, a 17th century palace with artifacts of Gandhian movement and highlights freedom struggle. The last leg of the tour takes you to Alagar Koil, a Vishnu Temple on a picturesque wooded hill. You’ll be transferred to the drop point around 6:30pm.

Duration: Around 10 hours

A favoured capital of the Cholas, the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, a treasure trove of art, craftsmanship and architecture – Thanjavur has portrayed various roles in history across its rulers. One such period belonged to the Nayaks, who were responsible for some eye-catching pieces of architecture that stand tall even today. They also propelled handicrafts and art during their times. On this guided tour of ten hours, you’ll visit a few temples with excellent representations of Lord Brahma, monumental sites, and get briefed on Nayak style of painting and the famous Thanjavur Pith Work handicraft.

Around 9am, you’ll start your trip by visiting Brahadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur’s most iconic representation. A 10th century monument, its an excellent example of Dravidian architecture. Over here you’ll find Lord Brahma as a subsidiary deity along the sanctum periphery. Move on to Kandeeswarar Temple to understand a tale of destruction from the Hindu mythology. Next steps will take you to Papanasamor a town called Destruction of Sins that hosts the Ramasamy or Vishnu Temple. You’ll be taken aback by the story that envelops around the temple’s origin. Last stop on the religious leg of the trip moves to Mahamaham Tank, in the heart of Kumbakonam. Refresh yourself with a dip in this holy pond.

The art angle of the trip comes as interactions with artisans involved in the world famous Tanjore paintings. Also visit workshops creating the traditional art form Shola Pith Work.

Duration: 10 hours 

A Thanjavur visit cannot be limited as a pilgrimage destination. This place offers some brilliant pieces of art and architecture from a bygone era that has stood the perils of time. Towers, sculptures, woodwork, frescos, and every other detail remain near close to original even today. At the end of this daylong trip that takes you across a few temples, you’ll be left behind with a blend of amazement, knowledge, and appreciation.

Your guided tour of around 10 hours begins around 9am. No temple tour in Thanjavur is complete without a visit to the Brahadeeswara Temple. Be astonished at the sight of this 1,000-year-old piece of heritage marvel.  Visit the Punnainallur Mariamman Temple, for its deity is believed to stun you with her power. The grand temple of Panchanadeeswarar will surprise you with its design-engineering marvel of producing echoes in certain areas. Take a break and refresh with lunch around 1pm.

Allow the Thittai Guru Temple to lure you with its unique feature of a drop of water falling on the Siva Linga every 24 minutes from the ceiling. Also visit couple of the oldest temples in the region Maamani Templeand Nisimbasuthani Temple.

Duration: 10 hours

With several Dravidian masterpieces in and around, Thanjavur’s landscape is sacred and also impressive with brightly coloured sculptures and towering gopurams. Over 10 hours of this guided tour, you will witness few of the 70-odd temples in Thanjavur.

You’ll start in morning around 9am. The day’s journey will take you to Brahadeeswara Temple (Big Temple), the most outstanding and one of the oldest Siva Temples in India. Feel its might of a thousand years as you appreciate the Chola frescoes in its sanctum. Be spellbound by DarasuramTemple, yet another stunning piece of art and architecture. Follow it up by getting to know the mythological supremacy behind the gigantic Kumbeswara Temple.  Around 1pm, indulge in lunch.

Also on the itinerary is the Nageswara Temple, a simple sanctum highlighting many epic mythological scenes and brilliant woodwork. Spend time observing a typical Nayak-styled temple dedicated to Lord Rama at the Ramaswamy Temple. Sense the legend of Siva coming alive after consuming poison at the Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi. Offer prayers at the Thirunageswaram Temple, while watching the wonder of milk abhishekamduring raahukalam. Last stop is the mesmerising Suriyanar Temple, dedicated to Sun God. Despite damage caused during the Tsunami, its splendour is ethereal when the sun graces its façade. Your day comes to an end here.

Duration: 10 hours

On this day trip, which introduces the local flavour and fervour of Thanjavur, you’ll witness why this region is a fascination amongst varied people.  Unfold its rich heritage art and architectural marvels, signs of literature and music, legacy of exquisite handicrafts and a lot more.

Brace yourself to an entire day of soaking in the local life and history of Thanjavur. Your guided tour of around 10 hours starts around 9am and stretches across the dominating symbol of Chola Empire, the Brahadeeswara Temple now protected as a heritage site under UNESCO. Understand its glorious past and observe its present day status. Visit one of the oldest libraries in Asia, Saraswathi Mahal Library with a collection of ancient palm-leaf and paper manuscripts and sketches. Stop by at Rajagopalasami Canon, a less visited object of heritage value at the Thanjavur Fort. Spend time at the South Zone Cultural Centre that preserves and promotes traditional cultural heritage. Explore artist workshops and homes specialising in Tanjore Paintings to witness the evergreen style taking shape on hundreds of canvas.

Duration: 10 hours

On this historical tour of Thanjavur, chance upon Maratha architecture which further added to the city’s magnificence. 

Your guided tour of 10 hours starts around 9 am and will take you to Chandramouleeswara Temple situated atop Hariharan Kundram.Now in ruins, this temple was a prominent sanctum in its glory days. Offer prayers at the Punnainallur Mariamman Temple, constructed by the Maratha ruler, Venkoji Maharaja Chatrapati. Rediscover the charm of ornate wonders of the Orathanadu and Kalyan Mahal Chatrams that once provided boarding, food, and health facilities for travellers and their animals. Understand origins of Tanjore paintings during the Maratha regime. Visit Thanjavur plate making workshops, an art form that originated and flourished from the Maratha times. Also stop by at the Thanjavur Maratha Palace and revel in its glorious complex consisting of the queen’s courtyard and Durbar Hall.

Duration: 10 hours 

Take a fascinating trip to two famed sites in Chennai. Visit Fort St. George, the first fortress built by the English in 1644. This structure is also the starting point of the Marina Beach which runs a distance of 13 kms along the city’s coast.

This tour takes around 3 hours. You can choose betweentime slots of 10 am -1 pm and 3-6 pm. Be picked from a location of your choice and undertake the journey in a car accompanied by an informed guide.

The first stop will be at San Thome. Containing the remains of the Apostle St Thomas, it is an ancient basilica built by the Portuguese and rebuilt in a Gothic style by the British. A drive on the road along the beach gives you a glimpse of the fishermen’s settlements that are built here. There is also an ancient light house on the southern end of the beach, which is a famous landmark in the city and offers splendid views of the ocean.

Visit the Fort St. George thathas a museum with many exhibits dating back to the British era. The St. Mary's Church, which is the oldest Anglican church in India and famed as the 'Westminster Abbey of the East', is also situated within its premises. The trip concludes after a tour of the various structures within the fort.Witness public buildings and sculptures along the Marina Promenade, unwind on the beach to delight in the local life and colourful stalls

Duration – 3 hours

About the Destination:

Situated in Pamban of Rameshwaram, Kathadi is home to Tamil Nadu’s most exotic waters, therefore, making it an ideal destination for water lovers! Not only for water sport enthusiasts, but the beach and temple lovers can also enjoy splendid moments in the town within Rameshwaram tour. Camping on the shores of the Palk Strait is an affair by itself – after all, what can top crystalline blue waters, the starry night sky and the quietude of the surroundings. There’s also excellent food to be had in these areas. 

So, be it kayaking, snorkelling, swimming, camping, relaxing, honeymooning or visiting temples, Kathadi and Rameshwaram tour package provides the perfect tour for you to explore the magic of the places, and take back some warm memories.

About the Activity:

To enjoy what Kathadi has to offer, the tour starts off with a few water adventure sports such as sea kayaking and stand up paddle boating. This is followed by a more relaxed evening in Rameshwaram, with a visit to the main temple and then soaking your feet in the cool, Dhanushkodi Beach. Back at the campsite, a BBQ dinner and a night under the stars awaits you! The Kathadi and Rameshwaram tour package ends with a snorkeling activity in the midst of the ocean and leisure, which you can use to swim or nap or just take in the natural beauty.

Depth of Water: Shallow