tamilnadu temple itinerary Dec 2008

Hi,

I have planned a tour starting from Tiruchi for 5 days as follows in a private vehicle to visit the following places.

Kallanai, Samayapuram, Srirangam Ranganathar temple, Jambulingeshwarar temple, Tanjavur periyakoil, Kumbakonam, Darasuram, Swamimalai, Thirunallaru, Gangaikondacholapuram, Konerirajapuram, Chidambaram, Rameswaram, Tiruchendur and Kutralam

We would like to see grand Chettinadu house on our way. Any suggestions on how to go about this is welcome

Please suggest an itinerary with hotel suggestions. Is there any other places on the route which is worthwhile visiting. What are good local things to buy from these places I do not want this trip to be too hectic

Here is a handy map to help you plan your routing
http://www.travelmadeeasy.in/map-tamilnadu.jpg

I think the Chettinadu houses are in the Karaikudi region.

I did something similar in July but not to so many places.

Hotels: Have you seen our Hotels section?
In Srirangam we stayed at the Sri Rengaa, you could also stay in Trichy - several hotels there at all budgets.

Depending on your budget, you could consider the TTDC's Hotel Tamil Nadu chain wherever they are located: tamilnadutourism.org - accommodation link.

For Kallanai, take the riverside road from Trichy - it goes along the banks of the Cauvery. It is much more scenic and tranquil than the regular highway route. From here you can proceed to Thanjavur.

Swamimalai, Darasuram, Koneri, GKCP, etc can be seen as side trips from Kumbakonam. We stayed at the Rayas Hotel there, - plenty more to choose from.

You will get more info from our other members here, also look at other similar threads.

Thanks Snonymous

Hi,
covering all these places in 5 days may not be possible. If you can aviod any of the extreme ends like kutralam, tiruchendur or chidambaram, it might be possible.

i honestly dont know how you are going to travel.it will be very hectic .book a AC car or heat will kill you .i guess you will start from rameshwaram covering trichy-thanjavur-kumbakonam-chidambaram.where will u fit in thiruchendur and kutralam.lets apprroximate the travel
1)theni-rameshwaram 4 hrs.rameshwaram temple.rameshwaram-trichy 7 hrs. 11 hrs travelling time.on the way stop at karaikudi.
2)trichy
3)thanjavur and kumbakonam
4)kumbakonam and chidambaram.
5.return to theni.

can you comment more where you propose to halt.we can perhaps suggest a good itenary then.

Thanks all for the valuable input.

My plan is as follows

Day 1 - Start from Theni visit Kallanai, Thanjavur Big Temple and go to Kumbakonam and halt

Day 2 & 3 - From Kumbakonam visit Darasuram, Swamimalai, Konerirajapuram,Gangaikondacho lapuram and Chidambaram (do not know if I can fit in Tiruvayur, Tirunallaru and Vaitheeswaran Koil) Can anybody help in which places in this list to group together for Day 2 and Day 3 respectively

Day 4 - Start to Rameswaram (if possible arrange to see Chetinad house if not skip) visit temple and halt

Day 5 - To Tiruchendur, see temple and go to Kutralam and halt

Day 6 - Visit falls and back to Theni

Please let me know which are the portions I need to avoid so that the trip is not too hectic and more enjoyable.

In 6 days i think you can do it and i will post the detail eterenary later.

day 1:include swamimalai.its on the way from thanjavur - kumbakonam.you dont have to come back on same route to visit .First day seems to be ok.halt at kumbakonam
day2:kumbakonam,darsuram,ganga ikondacholapuram,Konerirajapur am.halt at kumbakonam
day3:kumbakonam-thirunallaru-vaideshwarankoil-chidambaram-kumbakonam bit hectic halt at kumbakonam.
day4:hectic really hectic .kumbakonam-trichy(21/2 hrs) .trichy-rameshwaram(7 hrs).even if you go by car since roads are not proper it will take 9 hours min.and rameshwaram temple is quite big.can you see temple and appreciate its beauty after 9 hrs of travel.point to think.then u have visit chettinad houses too.
In my humble opinion its good idea travel to kutralam and halt there for 4th day.this is because you can enjoy the falls in evening time releive you tiredness perhaps by getting oil massage.
day5 -thiruchendur
day6 - rameshwaram back to theni

Along the same lines, am I mad?

I also have five days. I plan to do Trichy, Tanjavur (is the Velangani church here?) to Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry and back to Trichy. What do you think?

I think it might be a bit tight, let me work out the itenary :
day 1 = arrive at tiruchi, visit the temple and travel to tanjur-night halt at tanjur.
day 2 = tanjur to kanchi, night halt at kanchi
day 3 = kanchi to mahaballipuram, night halt at mahaballipuram
day 4 = mahaballipuram to pondi
day 5 = pondi to valangini and then to tiruchi.
This is how you plan can be. You can also travel the other way round but I feel it will be tire some. skip kanchi and mahaballipuram.