Cultural Tamil Nadu, BHTGRP115

Day 01

Chennai - Kanchipuram (1 Night)

Tour guests will arrive at Chennai Airport as per their scheduled flight. Upon arrival they will meet Bharatatva tour manager at the airport and proceed to Kanchipuram - also known as the 'Golden city of thousand temples.'
Joining and Leaving (J&L) tour guests will join the group on their own. The transfer charges to reach the designated place or hotel will be borne by the (J&L) guests.
Today we visit the ancient Vishnukanchi Temple. In the evening we enjoy short Meet & Greet session.

Today’s Highlights :

Vishnukanchi Temple

Night Stay in Kanchipuram

Dinner

Tea/Coffee/Soft drinks and one Dry Snack en-route to Kanchipuram.

Day 02

Kanchipuram - Trichy (2 Nights)

Today we proceed to Trichy- an educational and industrial city. Upon arrival we visit Rockfort Temple- This is a rare place of magnificent architecture and serenity. It is an old fort that has a temple on top of it.

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Tea/Coffee and two Dry Snacks en-route to Trichy, Tea/Coffee at Rockfort temple

Day 03

Trichy

Today we visit Ranganatha Swamy Temple- The temple is devoted to Lord Ranganatha, a reclining form of Lord Vishnu. Kallanai Dam- a 2000-year old construction and was built by the kings of Chola dynasty. Butterfly Garden- Large park featuring a glass butterfly house

At the Ranganatha Swamy Temple we arrange VIP Darshan for you. It might not be possible during government movements, special delegate visits, or religious ceremonies. Still, in such situations too, we will try our best to make it available to you.
Important: VIP Darshan does not mean direct Darshan and you will still have to wait in the queue, which however may be comparatively shorter than the general queue.

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Tea/Coffee along with One Dry Snack during temple visit, Tea/Coffee at Kallanai Dam

Day 04

Trichy - Chettinad - Madurai (1 Night)

Today we proceed to Chettinad- the Land of Heritage and Devotion. Here we visit Chettinad Palace- The construction style of the palace reflects some European influence, which only adds to the regal beauty of the palace. We then enjoy Mansion Hopping- one of the key things to do in Chettinad. Chettinad houses were built in the prosperous years of the Chettiar community. The palatial houses have a unique setting with wide courtyards, spacious rooms, ornamented columns and furnishings embellished with marble and teak. In the evening we arrive at Madurai- Known as the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Ice-cream at Chettinad, Tea/Coffee along with one Dry Snack en-route to Madurai

Day 05

Madurai - Rameshwaram (2 Nights)

Today we visit Meenakshi Amman Temple, also known as the Meenakshi-Sundershwara Temple. It is one of the oldest temples in India. This temple holds great importance to the Indian people due to its mythological and historical significance. It is believed to be the site where Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. Further we proceed to Rameshwar. Upon arrival we visit APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Tea/Coffee along with One Dry Snack at Meenakshi Temple, Tea/Coffee at Rameshwaram

Day 06

Rameshwaram

Today early morning we visit Ramanathaswamy Temple- This is one of the very few temples in the history of India which is built in the Dravidian style architecture. It is widely known for its historical significance and has 22 theerthams where one can take a bath to get rid of the sins. Further we drive through Pamban Bridge- Surrounded by blue waters from all sides. Inaugurated by Rajiv Gandhi, this engineering marvel is the second longest sea bridge in India after the opening of Bandra-Worli Sea Link in 2010. In the evening we enjoy a beautiful walk at Dhanushkodi Beach.

At the Ramanathaswamy Temple we arrange VIP Darshan for you. It might not be possible during government movements, special delegate visits, or religious ceremonies. Still, in such situations too, we will try our best to make it available to you.
Important: VIP Darshan does not mean direct Darshan and you will still have to wait in the queue, which however may be comparatively shorter than the general queue.

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Tea/Coffee at Ramanathaswamy temple, Bhutta and Coconut water at Dhanushkodi

Day 07

Rameshwaram - Vellankani - Thanjavur (2 Nights)

Today we visit the beautiful Church of Vellankani dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health. Further we proceed to Thanjavur- known for its historical importance and cultural significance.

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Tea/Coffee at Vellankani, Tea/Coffee along with Two Dry Snacks en-route to Thanjavur

Day 08

Thanjavur

Today we visit Brihadeeswara Temple - A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thanjavur, the Brihadeeswarar Temple is a Chola architectural masterpiece. The round apex structure is believed to be built out of a carving on a single stone. Later we visit Maratha Palace- also known as �Sivagangai Fort�

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Tea/Coffee at Brihadeeswara Temple, Tea/Coffee along with one Dry Snack at Maratha palace

Day 09

Thanjavur - Chidambaram - Pichavaram - Pondicherry (2 Nights)

Today we will visit the tiny town of Chidambaram, which is home to the most iconic Shiva temple in India. We visit the Chidambaram Nataraja temple or Thillai Nataraja temple, one of the ancient temple in South India. Later we visit the Pichavaram mangrove forest. To discover nature in its most beautiful shape, here we take a boat ride through the forest & we look at an assortment of extraordinary and indigenous birds. Further we proceed to Pondicherry - The city which offers glimpse of France in India.

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Tea/Coffee at Chidambaram, Tetra Pack juice and one Dry Snack at Pichavaram

Day 10

Pondicherry

Today we explore the beautiful city of Pondicherry, we view Auroville and visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry Museum, Ayee Mandapam - Park Monument (Bharathi Park), Vinayagar Temple, French War Memorial and Catholic Church - Notre Dame des Anges Church. In the evening we take a wonderful heritage walk in the French colonies as well as along Promenade Beach.

Today’s Highlights :

Auroville, Pondicherry Museum, Ayee Mandapam, Vinayagar Temple, French War Memorial, Catholic Church - Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus, Walk in French colonies

Night Stay in Pondicherry

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Coconut Water during city tour

Day 11

Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram (1 Night)

Today morning we stroll around Promenade beach. Later we proceed to Mahabalipuram- historically important town situated on the Coromandel Coast, along the Bay of Bengal in the state of Tamil Nadu. Upon arrival we visit the most famous Shore Temple, legendary Panch Rath, exquisite Varah Caves, awe-inspiring Arjuna's Penance and fascinating Krishna's Butter Ball.

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Tea/ Coffee along with Two Dry Snacks en route to Mahabalipuram, Coconut water during Mahabalipuram Sightseeing�s

Day 12

Mahabalipuram - Chennai - Departure

Today we proceed to Chennai - capital city of the state Tamil Nadu, which is known as the �Detroit of India� because many automobile industries are located here. Upon arrival we have free time for shopping.

It�s time now to say goodbye, Phir Milenge!
Let�s stay in touch with each other through email, phone, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, etc. and meet again on yet another memorable Bharatatva tour. See you all!
Tour guests will proceed to the airport as per their scheduled group flight departure time and start their journey back home.
Joining and Leaving (J&L) tour guests will leave the group after the scheduled program. The transfer charges to reach their respective airport/cruise/rail/bus terminal will be borne by the (J&L) guests.
Tour concludes.

Please note:
Airline:
On group tours, we generally fly with the airlines that are group-friendly.
Group tours are based on economy class, if you wish to travel by Premium Economy / Business Class / First Class, we can arrange the same at an additional cost subject to availability.
During your air travel, refreshments and meals are provided as per the airline policy. However, we recommend you to carry dry snacks of your choice for the flight journey.

Transport:
For transfers and sightseeing we use small cars / Tempo Travellers / Mini or big coaches depending on the respective tour group size.
The seating arrangement in the coach is based on booking priority. Seat numbers 1 & 2 are reserved for Tour Managers and Tour Guides. Seat numbers 3 & 4 are reserved as Prime Seats which can be availed by paying an additional cost.
In case of small cars there will be 4-6 guests in one car as per the capacity and guests occupy the seats on rotation basis.
If you wish to utilise the vehicle solely for yourself or your family or you would like to upgrade the vehicle, we can arrange the same at an additional cost subject to availability.

Sightseeing attractions:
Given the current dynamic situation, some monuments or sightseeing places may be closed temporarily without any prior notice. Sometimes due to rush or changes in the reservation system, entrance to the sightseeing attractions may be unavailable; in such cases, every attempt will be made to visit an alternate sightseeing place if possible or refund of the entry fee will be given.

Hotels:
The hotels on tour are comfortable and have been appreciated by Bharatatva�s guests in the past. Kindly check your respective hotels before booking your tour.

Room Sharing:
Sometimes, two single unfamiliar travellers (gender - alike) share a room, should read the instruction paper along with the terms & conditions and abide by the same.

Meals:
On tour, we provide all meals, from day one to the last day, as mentioned in the itinerary.
In case of early arrival or late departure due flight timings, guests will be provided an additional meal/s without any extra cost.
In case of connecting flights, if the transit time exceeds beyond three hours, guests will be provided with a meal/meal coupon.
Generally, meals are provided in the restaurants. On certain occasions, packed meals will be provided for the ease of itinerary operation/sightseeing.
Breakfasts are generally Indian or Continental whereas, lunches and dinners are in the form of set menu and are Indian OR Indian along with a regional dish OR regional cuisine OR popular street food.
At religious places due to restrictions, only vegetarian food will be served. At all other places, meals are a combination of Vegetarian or Non Vegetarian food items.

Today’s Highlights :

Breakfast

Tea/Coffee and one Dry Snack en route to Chennai

Tour Inclusions

To and Fro economy class air ticket (Direct Domestic Flights) with current airport taxes
Baggage Allowance as per the airline policy
Travel by comfortable A/C or non A/C small cars or Tempo Travellers or Mini Buses or big buses depending on the respective tour group size
Accommodation in comfortable hotels on twin/triple/Single sharing basis
All Meals – Morning tea/coffee, breakfast, lunch, evening tea/coffee with cookies/snacks, dinner and Water Bottle (1 Litre) per person per day
Guide & driver tips, hotel & restaurants tips
Permits/ entrance fees of all sightseeing places which is to be visited from inside
Accompanied local guide/s services wherever require
Bharatatva Tour Manager Services from Day 01 Meeting point till the dropping point on last day
Travel Insurance for guests up to 70 years of age

Tour Exclusions

Government of India Goods & Services Tax (GST) of 5%
Any increase in airfare, airport tax, fuel surcharge etc.
Any new tax/es levied by the central or state government
Cost of Insurance
Any upgradation in airline class, vehicle, hotel or hotel room category
Cost of Pre/Post tour hotel accommodation
Any extra expense incurred due to any forced majeure situation before the tour departure or during the tour, such as change in airline schedule, route or operation, changing the tour date, change in hotel etc.
Personal expense like porterage, laundry, telephone, shopping, alcoholic beverages, extra mineral water or food which is not a part of group’s set meal menu
Any extra cost incurred due to illness, accident, hospitalization or any personal emergency
Cost of any optional activity or service
Anything specifically not mentioned in the ‘tour price includes’ column

Need To Know

Weather

For detailed Information about weather kindly visit www.accuweather.com

Transport

A/C Vehicle Type - depends upon group size.

Documents Required for Travel

ADULT: Voters ID / Passport / Aadhar Card / Driving Licence
CHILD : Passport / Aadhar Card / School ID
INFANT: Aadhar Card/ Birth certificate
ID card, ID card type and ID card number is mandatory at time of booking, kindly carry the same ID card on tour.
For NRI and Foreign National Guests alongwith Passport, Valid Indian Visa/ OCI Card/ PIO Card is mandatory.
Carry one passport size photo.

Remarks

All meals are provided by Bharatatva in case the flight reaches the stipulated destination early morning or leaves destination late in the evening.
The tour price varies for NRI’s or foreign nationals, for more details kindly contact your travel advisor
NRIs and Foreign nationals please ensure proper identity is conveyed to booking executive at the time of booking and all details along with passport copies are handed over to the booking executive.
Standard Check-in and check-out time of hotels in India is generally 1.30 PM and 10 AM respectively.

Advanced Preparation

As everyone is becoming a frequent traveller now, we suggest that you make your own travel accessories kit to ensure a stress free holiday.
Always make sure to carry less and light luggage, use a four wheel small or medium suitcase and please make sure that you are carrying only one suitcase per person. This will ensure that you will travel smartly and without any inconveniences.
It is also recommended that you have one cross shoulder bag or haversack for your handy needs which will ensure that you are comfortable at the time of sightseeing and also easy for photography during your tour.
A smart cap/hat and sunglasses are definitely something that you should have in your kit.
Though Bharatatva provides all three meals, that is breakfast, lunch, dinner and Bharatatva treats as per the itinerary, you can carry dry snacks of your choice in small sealed packets for munching during air travel or road journeys.
If you are travelling during the monsoon or to destinations where it is rainy, please carry a small umbrella or poncho.
For international tours, please carry a universal adapter for charging your cameras and mobile phones.
Ensure that your clothing and footwear is suitable for the destination you are travelling to.

Payments & Cancellation Terms

Guests will be needed to pay an advance booking amount of Rs.10,000/- per person to raise invoice and Air/ Train Ticket Blocking/Booking.
Anu Discount/ offer Coupon Codes are to be informed before Raising the invoice.
40% Advance at the Time of booking after receiving Invoice and rest 15 Days prior to tour start date.
Any Air/ Train Bookings to be made should be paid 100% in advance
In case of offers applied with more than 40% Discount then 100% in Advance.
0% Cancellation for any land package bookings 45 Days before departure.
30% Cancellation for any land package bookings 15 Days before departure.
100% Cancellation for any land package bookings 7 Days before departure.
Cancellation of Air/ Train Tickets subject to cancellation policy of respective train/ flight operator.
Guest can pay by Cash /Online Transfer/ Cheque/ Demand Draft / Debit card / credit card.
For Debit / Credit Card payments 1.8% additional convenience charge will be applicable
All Payments to be made via Official Payment link or Bank details provided on Invoice.

Important Notes

Please confirm current Tour price, availability & Offers before booking the tour.
At the time of booking Invoice and Detailed Itinerary will be shared along with Inclusions and Exclusions.
All Flight/Train Tickets with confirmations will be shared 15 Days before departure.
Hotel Vouchers and Accommodation details will be shared 15 Days before Tour Start Date after Complete Payment.
Tour Manager Contact Details will be shared 7 Days Before Tour start Date.
Tour Manager will arrange a Video Call/ Meet 5 Days before Tour start date.
For any Customizations or additional requests are to be made at the time of booking. Bharatatva will try its best to accommodate your requests.