Chennai to Kochi Temple Route
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Begin in Chennai and end in Kochi on a 14 day adventure through Tamil Nadu and Kerala. You’ll explore British era Fort St George and vibrant temples, then visit Kanchipuram’s sacred shrines and UNESCO listed Mahabalipuram. Drift through French flavoured Pondicherry and marvel at the grand Chola temples of Chidambaram, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram. Expect to see Thanjavur’s Brihadisvara, Trichy’s Rock Fort and Srirangam, and Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple – aarti included. Continue to Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari for coastal views and culture, before lazy days in Kovalam and a Trivandrum taster. Cruise Alleppey’s backwaters aboard a private houseboat, then dip into Fort Kochi’s heritage and a Kathakali performance.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more.
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Overview
Duration
14 daysHotel Rating
3, 4 or 5 star hotelsStarts
ChennaiEnds
KochiMinimum Age
No minimum ageMaximum Age
Tours have upper age limits for several reasons, such as but not limited to: tour pace, activity level, and accommodation standards. If you fall outside of this age limit, we do have lots of other tours in India that are suitable for all ages!
Arrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
YesTour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Country
IndiaPassengers
$3,240.00
$1,812.00
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Tour Style
Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private Tour
Trip Type
Private Tours
Range
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Tour Guide
Yes - for included sightseeing.Group Size
Min 1 / Max Private TourRange
On this tour, you won't be joined by other travellers, and will just be travelling with your booking party. Some transportation & sightseeing may be shared, check the Inclusions for more information.
Guiding Style
This tour includes scheduled sightseeing with expert guides in key destinations as per the Inclusions, as well as transportation (either with a driver or public transport), plus of course your accommodation. There is no single tour guide or tour leader throughout the trip. You’ll have support where it counts, and more freedom in between. Our cruise tours also fall into this category where you will be looked after by a crew. For more information, check the Inclusions of this tour.
Tour Pace
A balanced pace, with a mix of free time and visits to multiple locations, allowing for both relaxation and exploration. Generally doesn't visit more than one or two destinations per day.
Physical Rating
A moderate amount of walking is required during sightseeing, with some free time, offering a balance between activity and relaxation. As a general rule, you should be able to walk 2-kilometres without stopping.
Trip Type
Private ToursPlaces You'll See
Chennai
Kanchipuram
Mahabalipuram
Pondicherry
Tiruchirappalli
Chidambaram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Darasuram
Thanjore
Thanjavur
Trichy
Madurai
Belakavadi
Rameshwaram
Rameswaram
Kanyakumari
Kovalam
Thiruvananthapuram
Alleppey
Alappuzha
Cochin
Kochi (Cochin)
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Included
Not Included
Accommodation Standard
Prices
Itinerary
Day 1 - Chennai
On arrival at Chennai airport, we’ll meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Later, we set out on a city tour, taking in Fort St. George and its museum – established by the British East India Company in 1640 and regarded as the first British stronghold in India – Kapaleeshwarar Temple, the beautifully landscaped Semmozhi Poonga botanical garden, Dakshina Chitra living history museum, and Arulmigu Sri Parthasarathy Temple, an important Vaishnavite shrine dating to the 8th century. In the evening, we take a relaxed walk along Marina Beach. Overnight in Chennai.
Day 2 - Chennai to Mahabalipuram
After breakfast we drive from Chennai to Mahabalipuram via Kanchipuram – around 120 km and 3 hours. In Kanchipuram – the City of Thousand Temples and renowned for silk – we visit Kailasanathar Temple, an 8th‑century Shiva shrine noted for its sandstone architecture and 58 subsidiary shrines; Ekambareswarar Temple, home to a revered 2,500‑year‑old mango tree said to bear four varieties of fruit; Varadharaja Temple, one of the 108 sacred Vaishnavite sites; Vaikundhaperumal Temple, another Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu; and Kamakshiamman Temple, associated with Adi Shankaracharya. If you wish, you can also visit a local handloom unit to see Kanchipuram’s famed silk saree weaving. We then continue to Mahabalipuram and check in at the hotel.
Later we explore Mahabalipuram’s rock‑cut heritage: the monolithic rathas carved top‑down from single boulders – including the Five Rathas, Ganesha Ratha, Valayankuttai Ratha and Pidari Rathas – the Shore Temple, a 7th‑century granite complex with two Shiva shrines and an Anantasayana Vishnu carving, part of the UNESCO‑listed Group of Monuments since 1984, and the Pallava‑era cave temples with bas‑reliefs that were originally plastered and painted. We also see Krishna’s Butterball, a striking granite boulder poised on a slope. The rest of the day is yours to relax. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 - Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry
After breakfast in Mahabalipuram, we drive to Pondicherry – about 120 km and approximately 3 hours – and check in to the hotel. In the afternoon, we visit Auroville, the experimental community founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, taking in its focal point, the Matrimandir – a futuristic spherical temple clad in gold discs – as well as the Auroville Botanical Gardens and Auroville Beach. We continue to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, established in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, and the Pondicherry Museum, noted for its collection of Chola‑period lost wax bronzes including 81 sculptures. We then explore the French Quarter, and you can customise the walk with your guide to include the French Consulate, French Institute, Raj Nivas, Bharati Park (Aayi Monument), Government Square, beaches, monuments, churches and French schools – you may also like to pause for a coffee and dessert along the way. The evening is free for you to relax on the beach. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 - Pondicherry to Tanjore
After breakfast, we drive from Pondicherry to Tanjore – approx. 180 km and 4 hours – with visits en route. In Chidambaram, we visit the Nataraja Temple, dedicated to Shiva in his dancing form. Set in the heart of the town, it saw major works under the Chola and Pallava kings, with further rebuilding recorded in 1213 AD by Aragalur Udaya Iraratevan Ponparappinan. The complex is noted for its impressive gopurams, five mandapams and extensive inscriptions, along with massive walls, the Sivagangai tank and four shikharas decorated with 108 dance poses from the Natya Shastra.
We continue to the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, built in the Tamil style on a square plan. Its structural elements resemble those of the Brihadisvara Temple in Tanjore. The complex includes Nandi, Alankar, Maha, Mukha and Ardha mandapas, with additions and restorations after the 14th century and in the 19th century. A seated Nandi stands on axis about 200 metres from the sanctum. Around the sanctum are five shrines, a 19th century Lion Well and a monolithic Navagraha group. Our final stop is the Darasuram Temple, known for its fine stone carving, an 85 feet high vimana and a front mandapam shaped as a chariot drawn by horses; the Periya Nayaki Amman temple stands alongside.
We then continue to Tanjore and check in at the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 5 - Tanjore & Trichy
After breakfast, we explore Tanjore’s Brihadeeswara Temple and Fort, a landmark of Chola architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its 63–metre tower is crowned by a single block of granite said to weigh about 81 tonnes. We then visit the Thanjavur Palace complex – built by the Nayakas around 1550 and later by the Marathas – to see the Art Gallery in the Nayak Durbar Hall, the Hall of Music and the Saraswathi Mahal Library, which preserves over 30,000 palm–leaf and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages alongside notable Chola bronze sculptures from the 9th–12th centuries. Later, we drive to Trichy – about 60 km, approximately 1.3 hours – for the night. Overnight at hotel.
Day 6 - Trichy & Madurai
Trichy – Madurai (135 km – around 3 hours). After breakfast we explore Tiruchirappalli’s highlights, starting at Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple with its 22 gopurams, including India’s tallest at 72 metres and 13 storeys. We continue to the Rock Fort, an 83‑metre granite outcrop with a stepped climb to Uchipillaiyar Koil for panoramic views. En route, we pass the Thayumanaswami Temple, where the lingam is part of the rock itself, and the 6th–7th century Pallava cave temples. At the foot of the hill are a temple tank and pavilion used during the float festival. We also visit Tiruvanaikkaval’s Jambukeshwara Temple, dedicated to Shiva and known for its five concentric walls and seven gopurams.
We then drive to Madurai and check in at the hotel. Later we visit the Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple – one of India’s largest temple complexes from the 16th–18th centuries – to observe its ceremonies and lively temple precincts. We continue to Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple, Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple and Tirumal Nayak’s Palace, noted for its ornate design and a roofed arcade supported by 48–foot‑high stone pillars. In the evening we return to Meenakshi Temple to attend the Aarti. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 - Drive to Rameshwaram
Madurai – Rameshwaram (170 km – 3 hours approx). After breakfast we drive to Rameshwaram and check in at the hotel. This island is separated from the mainland by a narrow strait. We visit the celebrated temple associated with Lord Rama – tradition holds that he came here and built a bridge across the Palk Strait to reach Lanka to rescue Sita. The shrine is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva, with a linga believed to have been established by Rama in thanks. Its 1,219 m pillared corridor – with 3.6 m‑high carved granite pillars – dates to the 12th century and is the longest in India. We also visit Adam’s Bridge – a chain of reefs, sandbanks and islets that almost links India with Sri Lanka – known in legend as the route taken by Hanuman’s army. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 - Journey to Kanyakumari
After breakfast, we drive 320 km – around 7 hours – from Rameshwaram to Kanyakumari and check in at the hotel on arrival. The rest of the day is at leisure – you can relax on the beach and watch the sunset. Overnight at hotel.
Day 9 - Kanyakumari Sightseeing & Kovalam
After breakfast in Kanyakumari, we visit Kanyakumari Temple – one of the 108 Shakti Peethas – followed by Gandhi Mandapam and the Vivekananda Memorial, where sunset views are a major highlight. We then continue to Padmanabhapuram Palace and the surrounding temple town, about 11 km from Kanyakumari, noted for Dravidian‑style temples with towering gopurams. Kanyakumari is also a good place to pick up seashell crafts if you wish. Later we drive to Kovalam – 80 km, approximately 2 hours – and check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 - Trivandrum Day Trip
After breakfast at the hotel, we set out for a city tour of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). We visit Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple – the city’s presiding deity – where the Maharaja of Travancore still pays homage to Lord Vishnu reclining on Anantha, the great serpent. We continue to Attukal Temple, then explore the city’s cultural landmarks at the Napier Museum, Kuthira Malika and the Sri Chitra Art Gallery. We also drive along the coast to see Shankumugham Beach, Kovalam Beach, Vizhinjam Lighthouse and Lighthouse Beach Road. Return to Kovalam for overnight at the beach hotel.
Day 11 - Kovalam at Leisure
In Kovalam, we begin with breakfast at the hotel. You then have the day at leisure – ideal for personal activities and unhurried relaxation. We stay overnight at the beach hotel.
Day 12 - Kovalam to Alleppey & Houseboat Overnight
After breakfast in Kovalam, we drive to Alleppey (160 km/3 hours approx) to board the houseboat. We cruise the backwaters through palm-lined narrow canals, open paddy fields and tidy hamlets along the banks. En route we pass traditional Chinese fishing nets – reminders of Kerala’s historic maritime trade. Watch for flocks of ducks and small birds skimming the water. You can try fishing from the houseboat if you wish. As evening approaches, we relax on the sun deck and watch the sunset. Your houseboat has electricity, a sitting–cum–dining area, a separate bedroom with an attached toilet, a sun deck and a fully equipped kitchen with a chef and driver. Lunch and dinner are served on board. Overnight on the houseboat.
Day 13 - Alleppey to Kochi
After breakfast we disembark from the houseboat and drive to Kochi (Cochin) – 60 km, around 1 hour 30 minutes – and check in to the hotel. We then explore Fort Kochi, known for its Chinese fishing nets, beaches and historic architecture, before visiting St. Francis Church – associated with Vasco da Gama. In Mattancherry, we see the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568, and the Dutch Palace, noted for its Kerala temple murals, exhibits and portraits. If time permits, you may also visit Hill Palace Museum, the largest archaeological and heritage museum in Kerala. We continue to Bolgatty Palace – the oldest surviving Dutch palace outside Holland – now a heritage hotel, and see Willingdon Island, a man‑made island created in 1933 with pleasant walkways and jetties. In the evening, we enjoy a Kathakali dance performance, renowned for its elaborate costumes, expressive makeup and stylised movement. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 - Kochi
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer you to Kochi airport – timed to your flight schedule – for your onward journey.
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Hotels
The hotels listed below are examples which we frequently use on this tour. Alternative hotels of a similar standard may be used instead.
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Prices & Dates
The prices you see below are a guide, with final prices per person being determined by the number of travellers in your booking party, desired hotel standard and the rooming arrangements required. To see an accurate price, please click "Book Dates" and enter the details for your booking party.
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