discover South India
Cultural Heritage Tour with Yoga
October 6 - 16, 2025
with Tyler Langdale & Josh Pane
itineray
Day 1: 06/10/2025: Arrival at Chennai International Airport - Mahabalipuram (Overnight Stay in Radisson Blu, Mahabalipuram)
Day 02: 07/10/2025: Mahabalipuram sightseeing (One More night Stay in Radisson Blu, Mahabalipuram)
Day 03: 08/10/2025: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (Overnight stay in Promenade, Pondicherry)
Day 04: 09/10/2025 Full day visit of Pondicherry (One more night stay in Promenade, Pondicherry)
Day 05: 10/10/2025 Pondicherry - Gangaikondacholapuram - Darasuram - Kumbakonam ( Overnight stay in Mantra Koodam, Kumbakonam)
Day 06: 11/10/2025 Kumbakonam - Thanjavur (Overnight stay in Great Trails River View, Thanjavur)
Day 07: 12/10/2025 Thanjavur - Trichy (Overnight stay in Blossoms, Trichy)
Day 08: 13/10/2025 Trichy to Mysore - Journey by Train (overnight on train)
Day 09: 14/10/2025 : Mysore
Overnight stay in Royal Orchid Metropole, Mysore
Day 10: 15/10/2025 : Mysore full day sightseeing (One more night stay in Royal Orchid Metropole, Mysore)
Day 11: 16/10/2025: Departure from Bengaluru Airport for your onward journey
Mamallapuram (Day 2) is a historic town that finds mention in ancient Hindu mythology and legends. It was a bustling port city from the 1st century BC till the time of the Pallavas in 9th century BC.
Present day Mahabalipuram is a modern town replete with the glorious vestiges of its heritage. You can experience the competitive art works like Sea Shore Temple, Mahishasura Mardini Cave, Five Chariots, Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna’s Butter Ball, Varaha Cave, Tiger Cave etc.
Visit Chidambaram Nataraja Temple (Day 5), a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja , the form of a Shiva as the lord of Dance. Chidambaram the name of the city literally means “Stage of consciousness”. The temple architecture symbolises the connection between the Arts and Spirituality , Creative activity and the Divine. Then the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple . The person who can be credited with the erection of this temple is King Rajendra Chola, son of Raja Raja Chola. Rajendra built this temple to recreate his father's achievement, the Brihadeeswara Temple of Thanjavur.
Visit Darasuram Airavatesvara Temple (Day 5). This temple is a storehouse of art and architecture and has some exquisite stone carvings. Although this temple is much smaller than the Brihadeeswara Temple or the Gangaikondacholapuram Temple, it is more exquisite in detail. This is because this temple is said to have been built with nitya-vinoda , "perpetual entertainment", in mind. Both the temples are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as 'Great Living Chola Temples'.
Trichy- Visit Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam (Day 7), which was built between the 6th and the 9th centuries by the Azhwar Saints. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is the 1st of the 108 Divya Desams or Vishnu Temples in the world. Visit the Jambukeswarar Temple, a Shiva temple whose history dates back around 1,800 years, built during the Chola dynasty by King Kochengat Cholan. It is dedicated to Lord Jambukeswarar (Shiva) and Goddess Akilandeswari. The temple represents the element of water among the five PanchaBhoota Sthalams, featuring a perennial spring inside the sanctum.
Visit the famous Rockfort Sri Ganesha Temple (Day 8) and walk in the bazaar streets. Continue your travel from Trichy to Mysore comfortably via train overnight.Upon arrival at Mysore Railway Station, our transport team will greet you and Transfer to the hotel and relax!
cost:
Double Occupancy Room: $3499 per person
Single Occupancy Room: $4499 per person
Pondicherry (Day 3) - visit to “Soul of the City” the Auroville Matrimandir. It is a structure of spiritual significance for the Guru of integral yoga, in the centre of Auroville established by the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. In the evening, you can have a Rickshaw Ride through French colonies and Commercial Streets.
Visit the famous Goubert Markets (Day 4) and the famous Aurobindo Ashram. The ideals of the ashram are based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and Mira Alfassa. Visit the famous Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple , the most vibrant temple in the heart of the town. Visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus , established in 1908 by the French missionaries and attained the status of basilica in 2011. This Catholic Church is one of the finest churches of Pondicherry and an excellent example of Gothic architecture.
Thanjavur Art Gallery (Day 6), situated within the Thanjavur Royal Palace, is one of the main attractions of Thanjavur town. Thanjavur Art Gallery, which is housed in the Nayak Hall of the place, has an extensive collection of stone and bronze statues and idols belonging to the Chola period (8th – 9th centuries). Bronze statues belonging to the Pallava period are also displayed here. The Art Gallery also displays murals, paintings, sculptures and other artefacts that can be dated to the period in between the 8th and 18th centuries. Visit the famous Brihadeeswara Temple also known as Big Temple, built in the year 1010 AD by the mighty Chola Emperor Raja Raja Chola. It remains as one of the greatest glories of Indian architecture. This temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as 'Great Living Chola Temples'. Then have a short drive to Bronze Making Place as this city is famous for Five Metal Bronzes.
In the afternoon, Visit the famous Mysore Maharaja Palace (Day 9), a huge complex belonging to the 19th century designed by an Italian architect Henry Irwin and built by the Wodeyars. It was the official residence of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore, the Wodeyars, and has two giant durbar halls, massive courtyards, gardens and buildings. Afternoon visit the famous Chamundeshwari Temple, located on the Chamundi Hills . Considered as one of the many Shakti Peethas, the temple has an impressive seven-storied Gopuram, decorated with exquisite carvings. In the afternoon visit the famous Srirangapatna, an historical town of Great Muslim Warrior Tipu Sultan.
Visit the famous Devaraja Market , an apt place to get a flavour of the local people's ( Mysoreans, as they are called ) daily life. With more than 100 years of history, this market is well knitted into the heritage of Mysore. Have a drive to Somnathpur to visit the famous 11th century Hoysala Architecture temple dedicated for Lord Krishna, Sri ChennaKesava Temple. In the evening, have a visit to the famous Brindavan Gardens adjoining the Krishnarajasagar Dam which is built across the Kaveri River.