Reception at Chennai airport (ex Madras) by our local representative or your driver. Delivery of your travel documents (hotel reservation, domestic plane ticket, train ticket, etc.). With the details of your program and your travel itinerary. Then drive to Mahabalipuram, a village 50 km south of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, which is home to an archaeological site and major temples built under the Pallava dynasty between the 7th and 8th centuries.

After breakfast, visit the magnificent Temple of the Shore, built from 700 to 728 under the Pallava dynasty and which owes its name to the fact that it is built by the sea, on a promontory jutting out into the Gulf of Bengal. It has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1984. Then visit the Panch Rathas (or five Chariots), a set of incredible shrines where each of the complex’s five monuments resembles a chariot. Before leaving Mahabalipuram for Pondicherry, visit the Tiger cave. Arrival in Pondicherry, a French colony until 1954, which today has become a small town in Tamil Nadu. Transfer to the hotel, free evening for, for example, a walk by the sea.

Day in Pondicherry to admire the architecture and charm of the former French colony, with its tree-lined streets, mustard-colored colonial villas and high-end boutiques. Visit of the famous churches and the museum on French culture in colonial times. Then drive to Auroville where you will see the famous temple dedicated to meditation: the Matrimandir. It consists of a huge golden sphere 36 meters in diameter. Its construction, undertaken in 1972, without any construction machinery, is certainly the one that required the most labor (Aurovillian and Indian). Return to Pondicherry with a visit to the markets and the discovery of the city on foot. Meal in a good little restaurant located by the sea. Overnight at the hotel.

Get up in the morning and leave for Thanjavur. On the way, visit the Hindu temple of Chidambaram dedicated to the god Shiva. You will admire many sculptures from the Chola period, a very ancient dynasty from South India. On the way, stop at Gangaikondacholapuram to visit the masterpiece of the Chola dynasty: the Brihadisvara temple (12th century) known for its large statue of “Nandi” and its exceptional architectural quality. Then drive to Chidambra, a medium-sized town known throughout India for its shrine of Naṭarāja, the “cosmic dancer”, one of the most famous representations of the god Shiva performing his “blessed dance”. Continue to Thanjavur and transfer to the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Brihadesvara temple built by Rajaraja Chola, an important ruler of the Tamil Chola dynasty, from 985 to 1014. This temple, a masterpiece of religious architecture, Dravidian style and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is dedicated to Shiva. Then drive to Trichy and its magnificent temples. Visit of the temple of Sriranganathaswam, the most famous of all, a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. Road to Chettinad and installation at the hotel.

Day in the small town of Chettinad, well known for its cuisine, beautiful mansions and temples. Visit of the museum on the history of the region, discovery of sumptuous palaces and ancient forgotten residences of the Chettiars, a rich Tamil trading community. Today, many still belong to the descendants but most are emptied to be simply kept, without furniture. Since their maintenance is expensive, some are dismantled in order to sell the construction materials that compose them. Two French architects, Bernard Dragon and Michel Adment, created an NGO in the early 2000s to defend their conservation with the government of Tamil Nadu. They finally obtain the inscription of three villages in a list of protection of UNESCO. Return and overnight at the hotel.

Drive to Madurai, the second most important city and the cultural capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, known to be home to numerous temples and to be a sacred city and a Mecca of Hindu pilgrimage. Visit of the famous Hindu temple Meenakshi, dedicated to Shiva and his wife the goddess Pârvatî. This temple is known to be one of the masterpieces of Dravidian architecture and one of the most important working temples in India. Then visit the Gandhi Museum and the Nayaks Palace (dating from 1636). This palace was largely destroyed and all that remains is the courtyard and its portico, the imposing 12-meter-high pillars, the theater and numerous statues. The whole is well worth a visit. In the evening, walk to the market where you can buy your souvenirs. Return to the hotel.

Get up in the morning. After breakfast, free time to return to the temple, if you wish, to appreciate the serenity that emanates from it, its history and its unique architecture. Later, transfer to Madurai airport for your flight to Chennai. Transfer to the hotel. Evening free to explore the city or rest at the hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Chennai airport for your return international flight. Depending on your flight schedule, you will be free to visit the city with your driver.