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Rediscover ancient Chola Kingdom over 2 days from Chennai
Rediscover ancient Chola Kingdom over 2 days from Chennai
Rediscover ancient Chola Kingdom over 2 days from Chennai
Rediscover ancient Chola Kingdom over 2 days from Chennai
Rediscover ancient Chola Kingdom over 2 days from Chennai

Rediscover ancient Chola Kingdom over 2 days from Chennai

By Five Senses Tours
Features
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Overview
  • Marvel at 1000 year old temple architecrure & bronze casting
  • Ogle at temple frescoes made from plant extracts
  • Explore Asia's oldest library with ancient manuscripts
  • Visit the Grand Palace in Tanjore with secret passages
  • Rediscover lost city of Cholas at Gangaikonda & Darasuram

Activity location

  • Tanjore
    • Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Lobby of Chennai hotel
    • Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included2 day 1 night guided tour of Ancient Chola Kingdom from Chennai with guide, hotel and private car
  • What's includedWhat's includedPrivate car
  • What's includedWhat's includedGuide
  • What's includedWhat's includedAll entrance charges
  • What's includedWhat's includedPick up and drop from Chennai hotel/airport
  • What's includedWhat's included1 night stay in hotel on double occupancy (single room if single person books)
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedlunch and dinner
  • What's excludedWhat's excludeddrinks
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedCamera and mobile charges

Know before you book

  • Departure and return is from Chennai
  • In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.

What you can expect

Day 1- 7AM- Hotel pick up in Chennai

1 PM- Tanjore

A 350 KM ride will take us to Tanjore the first capital of the Ancient Chola Empire.

Brihadeswar Temple of Tanjore

The famous Brihadeeswara Temple is our first destination in the Great Living Chola Temples Trail. It is one of the greatest architectural creations in India. The Thanjavur Big temple, which celebrated its 1000th birthday in 2010, remains the finest specimen of architecture, sculpture, bronze casting and painting.

The Brihadeswar Temple in Tanjore also has an excellent collection of frescoes. These frescoes can be found on the walls around the sanctum sanctorum and they depict the legendary tales of Lord Shiva. Some of these were painted by the King Raja Raja Chola himself. It is believed that extracts from special plants were used to paint the same and hence the Thanjavur paintings have lasted for so many years.

Grand Palace of Tanjore

Built during the Nayak rule, the Grand Palace of Tanjore was repaired during the rule of the Marathas. Walk through the queen’s courtyard and witness divine scenes painted on the walls of the Durbar Hall. Also, search for the underground passage in this palace. There is also the Royal Museum, a gallery and the Saraswati Mahal Library stationed within the palace complex.

Overnight stay in Tanjore.

Day 2-Morning- Drive from Tanjore to Darasuram

Temple of Airateswar in Darasuram

Darasuram is home to Airavateswar Temple, our second destination in the Great Living Chola Temples Trail. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Temple was built by Chola King Raja Raja II in the 12th century AD. This shiva temple at Darasuram near Kumbakonam is a UNESCO world heritage site and a treasure trove of Art, Carvings and Architecture. The temple gets its name after Airavat the white elephant of Lord Indra who came here to worship.

Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Our final destination in the Great Living Chola Temples Trail is Gangaikondacholapuram, a city built in 1025 by Rajendra Chola, son of the famous Chola emperor Raja Raja. It was meant to commemorate his victory over the Pala Empire across the Ganges. Gangaikonda Cholapuram served as the capital of the mighty Chola Empire for 250 years and is most famous for its Shiva Temple.

3 PM- Drive back to Chennai from Gangaikonda Cholapuram

830 PM- Drop back to hotel in Chennai

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIESTanjore
    • Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLELobby of Chennai hotel
    • Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India