The island of Rameswaram on the Gulf of Mannar is one of the main fishing villages in Tamil Nadu. More importantly, it is a major pilgrimage centre for pious Hindus who worship Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu known respectively as Shaivites and Vaishnavites.

Most visitors come to see the impressive Rameswaram Temple, famous the world over for its lengthy and ornate corridors, representing fine architectural masterpieces. Rameswaram also boasts of fabulous beaches edging its coral reef waters abundant with exotic marine life, making it a haven for adventure seekers.

The temple town of Chidambaram, 58 km south of Pondicherry greets the visitors, with a beautiful temple, dedicated to Lord Nataraja - Lord Shiva in the enthralling form of a Cosmic Dancer. This is one of the few temples, where Shiva and Vishnu are enshrined under one roof. Chidambaram is also called Thillai, since the place was originally a forest of Thillai shrubs. It is one of the five Shaivite mukti sthalams, the other four being Kalahasti, Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai and Tiruvanaikaval. A unique feature of Chidambaram is that a person of any race or religion can visit the shrine and pray

How to Reach

Air
Nearest Airport is Trichy.
Rail
It is connected by rail with Trichy, Madurai, Chennai.
Road
It is also connected with all major towns.

History

Chidambaram (also Thillai) literally means the sky permeated by an atmosphere of intelligence and wisdom. According to legend, it was once a forest of tillai, a mangrove species of trees. There was once a small shrine on the banks of a tank. The saints Vyagrapada and Patanjali are said to have worshipped at this shrine, now called Thirumoolanathar. It is believed that their penance attained fruition with the revelation of Shiva's cosmic dance by Lord Nataraja on the auspicious Thai Poosam day.

The golden hall of dance was built and covered with gold plates by Jatavarman Sundra Pandya (ad 1251-1272). He was very proud of his achievement, and as such assumed the title of Hemchandandana Raja (literally the king who covered the temple with gold).

Sights to Visit

The Natraj Temple The temple located in the centre of the town covers an area of 40 acres. It is one of the ancient temples of Tamil Nadu. The roof of the sanctum sanctorum is covered with gold plates. The presiding deity of the temple is represented by air, one of the five elements of the universe and is known as Akasa Lingam. The Eastern tower rises to a height of 40.8 metres. 108 Bharatha Natyam dance gestures can be seen on the Eatern towers as well as Western tower. The Northern tower rises to a height of 42.4 metres. The Sivakamiamman temple, the Sivaganga tank, the thousand pillar hall are other important features of the temple.

Kali Temple
The Thillaikaliamman temple is on the northern end of the town. It was built by Kopperunjingan, who ruled between 1229 AD and 1278 AD.

Viadanatheeswarar Temple
About 25km. south of Chidambaram, Vaitheeswarankoil is well known for its Viadanatheeswarar Temple, dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. People come bathe in the tank waters in the belief that illnesses will be cured.

Festivals
The Natyanjali festival, which brings all the prominent dancers of India, together on the same platform, opens on the auspicious occasion of Mahasivaratri, in the month of February. It is performed at the 'Prakara' of the temple, and the dancers, full of intense bliss and devotion, with their evocative abhinaya, offer their dance to the great divinity, Lord Nataraja.

Your Itinerary for Chidambram
(Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Chidambram - Gangekondcholapuram - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Kovalam - Chennai (14 Nights / 15 Days))

Day 01 :- Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai & check in at Hotel for overnight stay.

Days 02:- Chennai
Breakfast & leave for sightseeing of Chennai, the first British major settlement in India. Visit Kapleshwara temple, St. Thomas Church, Art Gallery, St. George Fort, Marina beach ( 2nd longest beach of the world after California ). Return to Hotel for overnight.

Days 03:- Chennai – Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram ( 130 Km, 05 hours )
Morning leave for Mahabalipuram enroute Kanchipuram, once the Golden city of India to visit Shiv Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi temples. Continue your drive to Mahabalipuram, arrive & check in at Hotel for overnight stay.

Days 05:- Mahabalipuram - Chidambram - Gangekondcholapuram - Tanjore
Morning leave for Tanjore, your first stop will be at Chidambrum golden Natraja temple. Afterwards drive to Gangekondcholapuram exciting Shiva temple built from 1012-1044 AD by Kind Rajendra I. The speciality of the temple and 1000 years engineering is the rays of sun falls on Nandi ( bull ) and it reflects and give light to the Shiva Lingam since sun rise to sun set. Your next stop will be at Kumbakonam water tank, it is believed that after every 12years 9 scared holy rivers including holy Ganges are meeting here. During those days thousands of pilgrims dip into the tank to wash their sins. Next stop at 13th century Shiva temple at Darasuram. Finally reach to Tanjore, arrive and check in at Hotel for overnight stay.

Days 06:-Tanjore - Trichy ( 56 Km, 01.1/2 hours )
Morning sightseeing of Tanjore visiting Brideshwarar Shiva Temple was built by King Raja Rajan from the year 985 - 1010 AD. As usual South Indian temples have big Gopurmas ( towers ) but this temple is parameter shaped, 65 meters high from the ground. This is one of the superb temple architect of the Chola dynasty. Afterwards visit Raja Rajan art gallery to see bronze statures of 9-16th century. Return back to Hotel and after some rest drive to Trichy, arrive & check in at Hotel. Afternoon visit Srirangam Vishnu temple has 21 gopurmas ( towers ), one of the gopurma is 73 meters highest in India. Afterwards visit Rock Fort 83 meters above the ground having 344 steps to reach on the top to see Vinayaka temple.
Return back to your Hotel for overnight stay.

Day 07 :-Trichy - Madurai ( 131 Km, 03 hours )
Morning leave for Madurai, arrive and check in at Hotel. Afternoon visit 16th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Afterwards visit biggest Meenakshi temple, the temple has two main shrines one is dedicated to goddess Parvati ( Meenakshi ) and another to Sunereshwara ( Shiva ). The doms of both the shrines are covered with heavy gold plates. You can also see 1000 pillars hall built in 16th century by Nayakas by pure granite stones.
Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 08 :- Madurai - Periyar ( 140 Km, 04 hours )
Breakfast at Hotel and leaver for Periyar, arrive and check in at Hotel . Afternoon a special visit to the spices Garden to watch different varieties of spice plantations such as cardamom, cinnamon, peeper, clove, vanilla, ginger, tea and coffee plantations etc. Periyar is on 1000 meters above sea level and is rich in spice growing. 95% pepper in India is produced from here. Vaskodegama was the first European landed at Malabar coast in 1498 A.D. in search of spices. Those days pepper was exported against the equal weight of gold, so in the beginning of 15th century pepper was called black gold. Afterwards visit Periyar Tiger Reserve by boat to watch different varieties of animals such as tiger, panther, leopard, bison spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, groups of wild elephants and many birds.
Return to Hotel for overnight stay.

Day 09 :- Periyar - Houseboat Cruise - Kumarakom
After breakfast drive to Kumarakon to board houseboat Cruise to enjoy the cruise in backwaters. This cruise is very exciting and sensational to watch the real traditional Kerlan life who lives on the banks of backwaters. Overnight with full meals at Houseboat cruise.

Day 10 :- Houseboat Cruise - Alleppey - Cochin ( 60 Km, 01.1/2 hours )
Houseboat will drop you at Alleppey to board your vehicle & drive to Cochin. Arrive and check in at Hotel , afternoon visit Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets and St. Francis Church, one of the oldest Church built by the Europeans in 1503 A.D.
Late afternoon visit to watch traditional Kerlan Kathakali dances. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 11 to Day 14:- Cochin - Kovalam ( 235 Km, 05 hours )
Morning leave for Kovalam, arrive & check in at Hotel to enjoy at sea beach till day 15.

Day 15 :- Kovalam ( Trivandrum ) - Chennai ( By Flight )
Transfer to Trivandrum airport to board flight for Chennai. After little sightseeing & dinner transfer to Chennai International airport to board flight back to your country with pleasant memories of South India.

Tour Ends.