Holiday in Chennai (Madras) India

Chennai - the capital of Tamil Nadu, on India's South East coast is a city rich in history and culture. There are also many destinations nearby that are worth a visit. You can travel to the beaches of Mahabalipuram and the temples of Tirupati and Rameshwaram or the hill station of Ooty. There are lots of great destinations you can get away to, after you've enjoyed seeing the attractions of Chennai.

Holiday Travel to Tirupati

Tirupati, a holy town in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for the Hindus. It lies at the foot of the seven Tirumalai Hills representing the seven heads of the Hindu serpent god Ananta (or Sesha). Tradition has it that the hills are the abode of Sri Venkateswara ("Lord of the Seven Hills"), an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. The temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara is a glorious example of Dravidian architecture and a prominent center of pilgrimage. Tirupati serves as a base for the daily influx of about 25,000 pilgrims who come to visit the temple, which is said to be the richest temple in the world.

Kapaleeswarar Temples, Chennai

Travel to Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram Mahabalipuram, a small village in the state of Tamil Nadu, was an important seaport of the Pallava dynasty of Kanchipuram. Mahabalipuram is known for its famous Shore group of Temples which is witness to the zenith of Pallava architecture. Now a World Heritage, the temple has suffered due to erosion by sea, salt and wind. Site Nearby are more temples and crafts villages where you can have a closer look at the craft of stone carving.Apart from the temples, the place has some beaches where you can enjoy the view of the waves. Kanchipuram

Mahabalipuram Tour

The Golden City of a thousand temples and one of the seven sacred cities of India, Kanchipuram is 71 km from Chennai. It served as the capital of the Pallavas, the Cholas and Vijayanagar Empire. Some of the best temples in the town were built by the Pallavas. A great seat of learning the place was associated with Adi Sankaracharya, Appar, Siruthonder and the great Buddhist Bhikku. In the present time Kanchipuram has emerged as a place for hand-woven silk fabrics. Sakkiswarar Temple, Vaikuntha Perumal, Temple Kailasanatha Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Devarajaswamy Temple and Kamakshi Amman Temple are some of the famous temples in Kanchipuram.

Travel to Pondicherry Pondicherry, a former French colony, is situated on the east coast of India. Both the European culture and Indian tradition exist side by side which truly amazing. The most famous place of interest is the town of Auroville, an oasis of peace and enlightenment. Aurobindo Ashram founded by the great revolutionary Aurobindo Ghosh during the British India draws devotees from all over the world.

Holiday in Pondicherry Beach

Travel to Rameshwaram - Madurai Situated at the tip of Indian peninsula in the gulf of Manner, Rameshwaram is an island and a very important pilgrim center of the Indians. Known as the Varanasi of the South this is a very sacred place where Lord Rama worshiped Lord Shiva to cleanse away the sin of killing Ravana. Here a bridge was built by across the sea to rescue his consort Sita, who was abducted by Ravana. The presiding deity of the temple is the Linga of Sri Ranganatha, which happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. It is believed by the Hindus that in order to attain moksha (freedom from the cycles of birth and death) the visit to Rameshwaram is mandatory.

Rameshwaram Travel

Madurai (Madras) Holiday Tour Madurai is an absolute must visit for the traveler to Tamil Nadu. Madurai ( "city of nectar") is the oldest and second largest city of Tamil Nadu Located on the Vaigai River the city is home to museums, shops, markets and cinemas to sights of ordinary life of a typical Indian town. But Madurai's claim to fame is the Sree Meenakshi Temple which stands in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of city life. The Sree Meenakshi Temple, built by the Pandyas, is an oasis of peace and tranquility. There is no doubt that the life of Madurai revolves around the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. The temple has a thousand pillared 'Mandapam', each of them is delicately and exquisitely carved.

Holiday in Madurai

Other prime attractions of Madurai are Vandiyur Kanmoy Tourist Complex, Vanditur Mariamman, Teppakulam Thirumalai, Nayak Mahal, Koodal Azhaar Temple, Azhagar Koil and the Gandhi Museum Mysore Sightseeing Tour For a person having even slight interest in history, Mysore is an absolute must visit. Situated 770m above sea level, Mysore has always captivated the tourists with its rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. The city is famous for sandalwood, silk and fine inlay-work using ivory. The celebration of Dushera which is a 10-day affair puts Mysore on the pedestal of tourist maps.

Mysore Palace Tour

Within the town are several places of interest. The majestic palace, built by the British architect Henry Irwin in 1897 to replace a wooden one destroyed by fire, stands at the center of the town. On Sunday evenings, people floods into the palace grounds, ready for the illuminations: 60,000 bulbs light up at the flick of a switch, accompanied by military music. Chamundi Hills, Brindavan Gardens, St. Philomena's Church, Mysore Zoo and The Venkatappa Art Gallery are other places of attraction.

Weekend Holiday in Ooty Known to the tourists as the "Queen of Hill Stations", Ooty is 90 kms from Coimbatore. Situated at an altitude of 2,286 m in the Nilgiris, Ooty or Udhagamandalam is famous for its astonishing scenic beauty with silver oak and teak trees bordering the skyline The place is also known for the salubrious climate coupled with a breath-taking lake. Nearby destinations are Botanical Gardens, Tiger Hill, Dodabetta Peak, Valley View Lake, Wilson Fish Farm, St. Stephen Church, Marlimund Lake, Wenlock Downs, Avalanche, Elk Hill, Kalhatti Falls, Snowdon and Glen Morgen.

Holiday in Ooty