Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer

You will be picked up from your hotel by your driver and guide. Our tour starts with a journey to Kanchipuram, a city about 45 minutes from Chennai. Historically, Kanchipuram was a center of education and was known as the “ghatikasthanam”, or place of learning. The city was also a religious center of advanced education for Jainism and Buddhism between the 1st and 5th centuries. Located on the banks of the Vegavathy river, it has many temples. In Vaishnavism Hindu theology, Kanchipuram is one of the seven Tirtha (pilgrimage) sites, for spiritual exercise. The city is well known for its hand woven silk saris. Most of the city's workforce is involved in the weaving industry. On your tour, we will visit the three temples that exemplifies this sacred town—Kailasantha and Ekambareshwara temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and Vaikuntaperumal temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

From Kanchipuram, we will travel to the ancient Pallavan port of Mamallapuram. This is a historic town and bustling seaport, where ancient Indian traders sailed to countries of Southeast Asia as far back as the 1st century. Here, you can view the group of sanctuaries carved out of rock in the 7th and 8th centuries: Rathas (temples in the form of chariots), Mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open air rock reliefs such as the famous “Descent of the Ganges”, and the Shore Temple, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva. The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return back to your hotel in Chennai by late evening.