Tamil Nadu · 14 days
Tamil Nadu, end to end
The Pallavas, the Cholas, the Chettiars and the French, in one line down the coast.
The journey
Tamil Nadu on its own, which almost nobody does — it usually gets a week on the way to Kerala. Fourteen days is enough to take the dynasties in order: the Pallava shore at Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram, the Nayak city at Madurai, the Chettiar villages, and then the Chola river towns, where the eleventh century is still the best thing anyone built. Pondicherry at the end, because after all that stone a French grid and a sea wall are a relief.
Route
- Chennai
- Mamallapuram
- Kanchipuram
- Athoor
- Madurai
- Chettinad
- Thanjavur
- Tranquebar
- Chidambaram
- Pondicherry
- Auroville
What stays with you
- 01Mamallapuram: the shore temple, the five rathas, and the carvers still at work
- 02Kanchipuram, and silk being woven where it has been woven for a thousand years
- 03The flower market at Dindigul, at the hour it is worth being at
- 04Chettinad — the mansions at Kanadukathan, and the tiles at Athangudi
- 05Brihadeeswarar at Thanjavur, Darasuram and Gangaikondacholapuram
- 06Tranquebar, a Danish fort on a Tamil beach, and Pondicherry after it
Day by day
A shape rather than a timetable. Days move, and most people move one or two of them.
1 – 2
Into Chennai, and down to Mamallapuram. The bas-reliefs and the shore temple.
3
Kanchipuram for the day — the temples, and the silk.
4
By train to Dindigul, and out to a house by the lake at Athoor.
5
The villages, temples and plantations around the lake.
6
The flower market, then Madurai. The Nayak palace, and the Meenakshi temple in the evening.
7
East into Chettinad. Thirumayam fort on the way.
8
The mansions at Kanadukathan, and the tile works.
9
North to Thanjavur, and the great temple.
10
Darasuram and Gangaikondacholapuram, then out to Tranquebar on the coast.
11
Chidambaram in the morning, and on to Pondicherry.
12
The ashram, the French quarter, and Auroville.
13 – 14
Back up the coast to Chennai, and out.
Shall we plan it?
Tell us roughly when, and how many of you, and we will come back with dates, a price and anything we would change about the route.
Or write to us at info@scenicescapesindia.com
Tamil Nadu