Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram Tour from Chennai

7:00 AM - Meet with your tour guide and depart from Chennai Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel or a pre-arranged meeting point in Chennai at 7:00 AM. From there, you'll depart for Kanchipuram, a historical city famous for its temples and silk sarees. It's located around 70 km from Chennai, and the journey takes around 2 hours by car.

8:30 AM - Arrive in Kanchipuram and visit the following attractions:

Kailasanathar Temple Your first stop in Kanchipuram will be the Kailasanathar Temple, one of the oldest temples in the city. It was built in the 8th century by the Pallava dynasty and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has a beautiful architecture with intricate carvings on the walls, pillars and the roof.

Ekambareswarar Temple Your next stop will be the Ekambareswarar Temple, one of the largest temples in Kanchipuram. It's dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for its 3500-year-old mango tree, which is said to be one of the largest in India. The temple also has a 59-meter high gopuram (tower) that's visible from a distance.

Kamakshi Amman Temple Your third stop will be the Kamakshi Amman Temple, a popular pilgrimage site for followers of the goddess Kamakshi. The temple is believed to have been built by the Chola dynasty in the 14th century and has a stunning architecture with colorful paintings on the ceiling.

Varadharaja Perumal Temple Your final stop in Kanchipuram will be the Varadharaja Perumal Temple, one of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred shrines) dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is known for its huge 100-pillar mandapam (hall) and the gold-plated vimana (tower) over the sanctum sanctorum.

12:00 PM - Stop for lunch at a local restaurant After visiting the temples, you'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Kanchipuram. Your guide can recommend a good place to eat and help you with the menu if needed.

1:00 PM - Depart for Mahabalipuram After lunch, you'll depart for Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rock-cut temples and ancient monuments. It's located around 70 km from Kanchipuram, and the journey takes around 1.5 hours by car.

2:30 PM - Arrive in Mahabalipuram and visit the following attractions:

Shore Temple Your first stop in Mahabalipuram will be the Shore Temple, a stunning temple located on the beach. It was built in the 8th century by the Pallava dynasty and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has a beautiful architecture with intricate carvings on the walls and pillars.

Pancha Rathas Your next stop will be the Pancha Rathas, a group of five monolithic rock-cut temples. Each temple is shaped like a chariot and is dedicated to a different Hindu deity. The temples are believed to have been built in the 7th century by the Pallava dynasty.

Arjuna's Penance Your third stop will be the Arjuna's Penance, a massive bas-relief sculpture carved on a huge granite boulder. It's believed to depict the scene from the Hindu epic Mahabharata where Arjuna performs penance to obtain a boon from Lord Shiva. The sculpture is 27 meters long and 9 meters high and has intricate carvings of gods, animals and humans.

Krishna's Butter Ball Your final stop will be the Krishna's Butter Ball, a huge natural rock balanced on a slope near the Ganesha Ratha temple. It's believed to represent a playful act of Lord Krishna, who was fond of stealing butter as a child. The rock is around 6 meters high and 5 meters wide and has been standing in its precarious position for over 1200 years.