Pancha Bhoota Sthalam & Navagraha Temple Tour

Treat yourself to a delicious breakfast in the morning. After that, check out of your hotel.

Now, it’s time for the temple tour. You’ll be taken to the following sacred shrines:

• Kamakshi Amman Temple – This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi, who is considered the incarnation of Goddess Parvati.
• Varadharaja Perumal Temple – This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
• Kailasanathar Temple – Visit this old temple that is from the 7th century. This was built by Pallava king Rajasimha and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Ekambareswarar Temple – This is yet another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It’s associated with one of the Pancha Bhoota, that is, the element of earth (Prithvi).
• Kumarakottam Temple – This temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan, who is considered as the war god in Hinduism.

If there’s still time, you’ll be taken for shopping at Kanchipuram. Shop the beautiful hand-woven Silk Sarees here.

After this, you’ll be driven to Tiruvannamalai. This place is popular for Annamalaiyar Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva, where he is worshipped as Arunachaleswarar or Annamalaiyar. The Shiva Lingam itself is said to be one of the Pancha Bhoota (fire, to be specific). Do not forget to capture the pictures of the Temple Gopurams against the backdrop of Annamalai Hills.

In the evening, you’ll be taken to your hotel. Check in and rest for the night.

Savour a delicious breakfast in the morning. After that, check out of your hotel.

Now, you’ll be driven to Pondicherry, where you’ll visit Auroville Matrimandir. You’ll get to enjoy its beautiful outer views from the Viewing Point. Take pics of the Matrimandir golden globe!

Now you’ll be checked into your hotel. After that, you’ll be taken to the following sightseeing attractions:

• Sri Aurobindo Ashram: This is one of the most popular and wealthiest ashrams in India. You’ll find people coming here from all over the world to seek spirituality.
• Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple: This ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh.
• Puducherry Museum: Enjoy art and history in this museum. You’ll also get to witness the largest collections of Chola bronzes here.

Now, you’ll be driven to Chidambaram. It’s known for Thillai Nataraja Temple, spread over an area of 40 acres. Here, lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Nataraja. He is also associated with one of the Pancha Bhoota – Sky (Akasha). Capture the pics of the Nataraja Temple Gopurams.

After this, if time permits, you’ll be taken to the following two temples:

• Vaitheeswaran Koil: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is one of the Navagraha temples. Lord Shiva is worshipped as the Vaidyanathar or Vaitheeswaran, which translates to the “God of Healing”. It's believed that whoever offers their prayers here gets cured of illnesses.
• Gangaikonda Cholapuram: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Enjoy the Dravidian style of architecture here.

Later, you’ll be driven to Kumbakonam. Once you’re there, check into your hotel for an overnight stay.

Note: Puducherry Museum is closed on Mondays and national holidays.

Relish a nice breakfast in the morning. After that, check out of your hotel.

Now, you’ll be taken for sightseeing in Kumbakonam. This place is popularly known as the temple city, as there are a large number of temples here. You’ll be visiting:

• Adi Kumbeswarar Temple: This is one of the oldest Shiva temples.
• Mahamaham Tank: Visit the most prominent landmarks of the town!
• Airavatesvara Temple: Built by the Chola Kings, this temple is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After this, it’s time to cover the Navagraha Temple circuit. You’ll be visiting the following temples that are dedicated to nine celestial planets:

• Thingalur – Kailasanathar Temple (Moon/Chandra)
• Alangudi – Apatsahayesvarar (Jupiter/Guru)
• Thirunageswaram – Naganathar (Rahu)
• Suriyanar Kovil – Surya (Sun)
• Kanjanur – Agniswarar (Venus/Sukra)
• Vaitheeswaran Koil – Angaraka (Mars)
• Thiruvenkadu – Swetharanyeswarar (Mercury/Budha)
• Keezhaperumpallam – Naganathaswamy (Ketu)
• Thirunallar – Dharbaranyeswarar (Saturn/Shani)

After this, check into your hotel at Kumbakonam for the night stay.

Have a nice breakfast in the morning.

Now, you’ll be driven to Thanjavur (Tanjore). Once you get there, you’ll be visiting the prime sites of this place:

• Brihadeeswara Temple: Welcome to the biggest attraction of Thanjavur which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take pictures of the Temple’s Vimana Tower and palace courtyards which serve as the fine example of the architectural marvels from the 11th century.
• Thanjavur Palace: Visit the palace which once served as the residence of the Maratha rulers for centuries! This is a great historical structure and is prominent attraction of the town of Thanjavur.
• Thanjavur Art Gallery: See the rare bronze idols and stone sculptures here. The gallery clearly gives the visitors a glimpse of the golden age in Tamil history.

After this, you'll be driven to Tiruchirappalli – the cultural hub of Tamil Nadu. Marvel at the historical monuments here.

Once you get there, you’ll be checked in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast in the morning, check out of the hotel.

Now, you’ll be taken for sightseeing in Tiruchirapalli.

The very first place we’ll be visiting is Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple, located at Srirangam. Dedicated to Lord Ranganatha Swamy. This is yet another 108 main Vishnu temples. Take snaps of the huge towers here, which are 21 in number.

After this, you’ll be taken to the Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari Temple. This is dedicated to both Lord Shiva (as Jambukeswarar) and Goddess Parvathi (as Akilandeswari). This temple is also associated with one of the Pancha Bhoota – Water (Jala).

Later, you’ll visit the Ucchi Pillayar Temple (dedicated to Lord Ganesha) from the 7th century. This temple is located at the top of Rockfort, from where you can click great aerial views of the temple.

Now, it’s time to go to the Government Museum, where you can see exhibits relating to geology, zoology, anthropology, epigraphy and history.

Then go to the Butterfly Conservatory Campus (Butterfly Park) and spot thousands of butterflies! Take pictures of the colourful butterfly gardens.

Now take a trip to Nakshatra Vanam where there are 27 tree species corresponding to 27 stars and 12 trees corresponding to 12 zodiac signs of Indian astrology.

This concludes your tour. Now, you’ll be dropped off at Trichy Airport/railway station from where you can continue your journey back home. Hope you have a nice trip with us.