Breakfast at hotel.
Drive to Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram (approx 140 Kms / 3 hrs) for excursion.Kanchipuram: visit the Ekambaranathar Temple, where Shiva is worshiped as Prithvi (earth), one of the five basic elements of the physical world. Proceed to the vaishnavite Vaikunta Perumal temple, with its famous battle scenes depicting Pallava valor. Also visit the Varadharaja Perumal Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is the third most important of the 108 holy shrines or divyadesams of Vishnu. Visit the Kamakshi Temple, dedicated to Kamakshi, one of the forms of the goddess Parvati. Later, visit the Kailasanatha Temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is one of the finest structural constructions of the Pallava ruler Rajasimha, and features particularly fine carvings.
Mahabalipuram: Mahabalipuram lies on the Coromandel Coast, and was a well-established seaport between the 7th and 10th centuries. Visit the Panch Rathas or Five Ratha temples; of the nine monolithic rock-cut temples found in Mahabalipuram, the most important are these, dedicated to the five Pandava brothers from the epic Mahabharata. The Dharmaraja Ratha is named after the eldest Pandava, and is the largest one in the lineup. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Visit Arjuna’s Penance, the massive rock cut bas relief sculpture. It measures 27 meters in length and 9 meters in height, and depicts the story of Arjuna. Later, visit the Shore Temple; a five-storied structure made out of finely cut granite, and one of the earliest and most important structural temples. UNESCO has listed it among the world heritage sites.
Later drive back to Chennai. (No Vehicle at disposal). Overnight in Chennai.
