Tamil Nadu Itinerary ideas

Three days

• Kanchipuram
• Shankara Madam
• Kailasanatha: consider ASI guide
• Vaikunta Perumal
• Ekambaranathar
• Kamakshi
• Devarajaswami
• Kanchi Kudil (local history): 53 A, VN Dillai St
• Vegavathi River?
• Marakkanam Siva temple
• Kaliveli tank: migratory water fowl & pelicans
• Uttaramrur
• Two late Pallava temples by Dantivarman
• TBD

Five days

Route 1: Coastal Tamil Nadu

• Viluppuram
• Kalrayan Hills
• Thiruvakkarai
• national geological park with petrified trees
• Sivan Kovil (Special prayers every Pournami)
• Marakanam Beach Salt field
• Ginjee/Senji-Ramagiri/Krishnagiri
• Venugopalaswamy temple
• Mandagapattu Village rock-cut temple: archaelogical site
• Sathru Malleshwara Alayam, Thalavanur village
• Brahma Easalam: Kamalakanni Amman & mural paintings, Rajagiri hill
• Fort (Rajagiri, Krishnagiri)
• Kalyana Mahal tower
• Venkatarama temple
• Tirumalai Jain complex
• Thiruvaamathoor Abhirameshwarar
• Thumpoor Nagamman
• Ennairam Narasimha Swamy
• Thalavanur Shatru Malleswaralayam – Rock cut temple
• Pachchaiamman Temple
• Theerthangarargul Jain sculptures
• Melmalayanur Angala Parameshwari
• Singavaram Ranganathan
• Mel Chittamur Jain temple
• Thirunarungondai Jain cave & temple
• Thirukkoilur
• Ulagalanda Perumal
• Kabilar Kundru
• Mayilam - Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple
• Veedur dam
• Gomukhi dam with 2 waterfalls
• Megam falls 6 Km from Kachirayapalayam
• Eesalam-Ramanatha Easwarar
• Thiruvennainallur Sivan Kovil: Birthplace of Sadaiappar, patron of Kambar
• Auroville
• Garden: 10-1, 2-4:30 except Sunday
• Matri Mandir with tickets?
• Puducherry
• Aurobindo Ashram
• Beach
• Museum
• Manakula Vinayagar temple
• Botanical gardens (10-5)
• Beaches
• Goubert Ave (Beach Road)
• North: Quiet, Reppo, Serenity
• South: Chunnambar: Paradise Beach: water sports, backwater boats
• Boating: Mudaliar Kuppam
• Arikamedu archaelogical site
• Government Pondicherry park
• Cuddalore
• Pichavaram Mangrove forest: Parasailing, rowing, caneoing, boating
• Vadalur: Sathyagnana Sabhai, Ramalinga Swamigal, Dec-Jan Thai Poosam festival
• Srimushnam Bhuvaraha Swami Temple
• Padaleeswarar Temple
• Devanatha Swami Temple
• Tiruppapuliyur Pataleswarar
• Mannargudi Sri Rajagopalaswami
• Thiruvahindrapuram Devanatha
• Kalvarayan hills
• Sethiarthoppu
• Veeranam Lake
• Bhuvanagiri Raghavendra Swami birthplace
• Anaivari village (sugarcane/paddy): Kali Amman Kovil
• Arulmigu Sree Madhurakaaliyamman in North Senninatham village
• Chidambaram
• Nataraja Temple
• Ariyalur
• Gangaikandachozhapuram
• Jayankondam (originally Nellimagramam)-Sivan Kovil with Nellikai tree
• Kaliyaperumal temple
• Siva Temple is located in Thirumazhapadi. This Temple is called Sri Vaithiyanatha Samy Koil
• Vettakudi - Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary
• Valikandapuram Temple
• Perumal Kovil
• hirumanur Temple, Keelapaluvar, and Melapaluvur Monuments
• Elakuruchi church-Joseph Besky-Veerama Munivar
• Dharasuram
• Airavateshwara
• Nagapattinam
• Shri Kayahorana Swami Neelayathatchi Amman Temple
• Sowriraja Perumal Temple
• Poompuhar
• Silappathikaram Art Gallery
• Tharangampadi
• Masilamaninathar (dilapidated)
• Koothanur Sarasvati
• Sikkal Singaravelan
• Thirukkuvalai/Thiruvarur/Thiruvaiyaru
• Thyagarajaswamy
• Sri Murugan Temple is situated at Engan
• Sri Kothandaramar Temple at Thillaivilagam in Tiruthuraipoondi Taluk
• Sivan Temple at Alangudi
• Bird Sanctuary at Udayamarthandapuram in Tiruthuraipoondi Taluk
• Kilaiyur twin temples
• Vedaranyam
• Vedarnyeshwarar
• Kodikkarai Backwaters/Bird sanctuary & Boating (Point Calimere)
• Great Vedaranyam Salt Swamp: Dec & Jan: Flamingoes
• Jeep/bus/walk
• Muthupet Mangrove Forest & Lagoon
• Go to Pettai village, get permission from forest department & get boats (Rs.700/day), Early morning is the best time
• Anbil
• Trichy
• Mukkombu (Kollidam river branches off from Kaveri)
• Pachamalai
• Ucchi Pillaiyar/Thayumanavar
• Jambukeshvara @ Thiruvanaikkaval
• Kalanai (Grand Anicut)
• Lower/upper cave temple
• Srinivasanallur
• Koranganatha
• Punaji temple
• Namakkal temple
• Srirangam
• Nartamalai
• Mallaiyadipatti
• Perambalur
• Rajankudi Fort
• Siruvachur Mathurakaliamman Kovil
• Sathanur Fossil tree
• Chettikulam village
• Ekambareshwarar
• Baladhandayuthapani
• Pachamali hill station
• Foothills Myluthu Falls
• Akaya Gangai high up
• Valikandapuram Sri Valeeswarar temple
• Elambalur Brummarishi Malai
• Ladapuram Natural Falls
• Sri Thirumangali Amman Temple
• Sri Viruthagreeswar Temple at Venganur
• Karur
• Kalyana Venkatramaswami temple @ Thanthonrimalai
• Kalyanapasupathishwarar
• Velayuthapalayam, Pugalur, Pugazhli Murugan temple
• Thottakkurichi Shree Malaiyamman Temple,Karur
• Nerur Sadashiva Brahmendra Samadhi, river side park
• Mayanur - Kaveri bed regulator, River side park
• Chettipalayam - Amaravathi bed regulator, park
• Vennaimalai Shree Balathandayuthapani temple
• Vangalamman Temple, Vangal
• Sri Sellandiamman temple, Kadambankruchi, Near Kavery River
• sri solliamman temple, Athur
• kalliamman kovil, Manmagalam
• Noyyal Shree Selaandiyamman Temple, Karur
• Sree meghabhalishwar temple, Pugalur
• Murugan temple,Paalamalai
• Sri Sellandiyamman Temple, sanappiratti
• Sri Sakkarathalvar temple, karur
• Thanjavur
• Brihadeeshwara
• Bird Sanctuary at Vaduvur
• Royal palace
• Saraswathi Mahal Library
• art gallery/Sangeeta Mahal
• Pullamangai
• Brahmapurishvara temple
• Master silk weavers
• SwamiMalai
• Karpathishvara Temple
• Sculptors
• Tirumangalakkudi Pramanatheshvara
• Kumbakonam
• Sarangapani
• Kumbeshwara
• Nageshwara
• Mahamaham tank

Route 2: Central Tamil Nadu

• Hoggennakkal waterfalls
• Salem
• Yercaud
• Lake
• Kiliyur Falls
• Mettur
• Kalrayan hills?
• Rasipuram
• Namakkal
• Thayar Kovil
• Botanical Garden, Semmedu, old Tampcol site
• Rock fort
• Narasimhan
• Ranganathan
• Tiruchengode/Thirukodimadachengondurur: Ardhanareeshwara
• Kolli Hills (Namakkal district)
• Arapaleeshwarar
• Akasha Ganga
• Masila Falls
• the Horticulture Farm, the Herbal Farm, Boat house, Peryaswamy Temple, View Point and the Telescope House
• Boat house @ Vasalurpatty, Sollakadu-Thinnanurpatty road

Route 3: Western Tamil Nadu

• Coimbatore
• Indira Gandhi National Park
• Trichy

Near Tirupathi

• Tirupathi
• Rock formation: Serpent hood, conch, discus
• Akasa Ganga
• Papa Vinasam Dam
• Sri Venkateshwara national park
• Chandragiri Fort
• Sound & Light show: Nov-Feb 7:30 PM
• museums (10-5, Sat-Thu)
• Govindarajaswami
• Venkateshwara museum of temple arts
• Kapileshwaraswami temple
• Kapila Theertham waterfall
• Thiruchanur
• North Pulicate Lake
• Neelapattu Lake
• Nellore
• Mypadu Beach
• Horsley Hills

Near Guruvayur

• Jan 17: Chennai to...
• Jan 18: Guruvayur
• Punnathoor Kotta temple elephants
• Sri Maheswara Temple, Koorkancherry Jan-Feb Utsavam
• Cheruthuruthi
• Kerala Kalamandalam
• Thauryathrikam festival? (January)
• Shiva temple
• Thrissur Archaelogy museum (9-1, 2-4:30) in Sakhthan Thampuran Palace
• Royal Chariot
• Guruvayur Devaswom Institute of Mural Painting
• Thypooya Mahotsavam festival in Jan/Feb
• Jan 19: ...to Ernakulam
• Tirupunitra
• Hill Palace Museum
• Deer park, cashew trees
• Cherai Beach
• Goureeswara Temple
• 9 day Utsavam with traditional dance (Jan/Feb), 2nd day: Elephant procession
• Purnatresan
• Vadakkunnatha temple
• Museums
• Durbar hill road Shiva temple Utsavam (Jan/Feb)
• Netoor
• ENS Kalarippayattu school, opp Mahadevar temple: demos: 6-7 PM, Sun (3-7 PM)
• Mattancherry palace & Parikshit Tampuran Museum (10-5 except Fri & national holidays)
• Kalady
• Cochin Cultural Center
• Kerala Kathakali Center (6:30-7:30 PM, make-up 5:00PM, check timings)
• Jan 20: …to Chennai

Near Hoggenakkal

• Hoggenakkal
• Kolli Hills
• Yercaud & Shevaroy Hills?
• Shevaroyan temple
• Lady’s seat
• Bear cave

List of Places

• Chennai
• Kanchipuram?
• Mahabalipuram?
• Pulicat Lake?
• Yelagiri Hills?
• Yercaud?
• Anbil
• Kaveri?
• Kolli Hills?
• Swami Malai?
• Chidambaram?
• Point Calimere Sanctuary, Kodigeri/Kodikkarai?
• Vedaranyam?
• Guruvayur
• Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary/Indira Gandhi National Park? Coimbatore District
• Erivakulam National Park? Munnar?
• Silent Valley National Park?
• Coonoor?
• Ratnagiri Murugan temple?
• Marudhamalai?
• Ooty?
• Mukurthi National Park?
• Mudumalai National Park?
• Annamali Hills?
• Thekkady, Periyar National Park?
• Tirupathi
• Thiruthani?
• Vellore: Sripuram Golden Temple, Jalagandeshware Temple?
• Puducherry?
• Kodumbalur Muvakoil temple

Other wishlist:

• Coorg, Thala Kaveri, Madikeri
• Nagarhole National Park
• Bandipur National Park

Local places near Chennai

• Crocodile Bank
• Night Safari: 7-8:30 PM weekends

• Pulicat?
• Muttukadu
• DakshinaChitra
• Boating
• Marina Beach & other beaches
• Chepauk Palace
• Covelong Beach
• Guindy/Vandalur? Vaguely remember a zoo here. If so, reject.

• Elagiri hills?
• Vedanthangal?

• Mahabalipuram
• Shore temple, Arjuna’s/Bhagiratha’s Penance/Descent of Ganges, Krishna Mandapam, Varaha Mandapam, Pancha Ratham, Mahishashuramardhini Mandapam, Ganeha Ratha, Krishna’s butter ball, Kotikal Mandapam, Ramanuja Mandapam, Dharmaraja cave: consider hiring ASI guide
• Tiger cave in Saluvankuppam
• Trimurthi cave, Adivaraha temple, Varaha Cave temple
• Mammalapuram Dance festival
• Beach away from the shore temple
• New lighthouse, Old lighthouse temple/Olakaneshvara
• Vedagirishwara Eagle temple in Tirukkalunkundram: Bhaktavatsaleshvara
• Injambakkam Cholamandal Artists’ village
• Vivekananda House
• Ramakrishna Mutt temple
• Theosophical Society
• Fort St.George
• Museum
• Chennai Government Museum, Pantheon Road
• Kalakshetra
• Music Academy, Krishna Gana Sabha, Sangita Vidyalaya
• GeorgeTown
• Chennakesavara
• Chennammallikesvara
• Esplanade Lighthouse
• Burma Bazaar
• Sriperambathur: Ramayana friezes
• Thiruttani
• Vellore
• Sripuram temple
• Fort
• Museum
• Jalakanteshwara
• Vrinchipuram Marghabandhu temple
• Thiruvannamalai
• Arunachala temple
• Ramanashram
• Virupaksha/Skandashram Caves
• Panamalai Talagirishvara temple
• Chengalpet
• Vallam
• Three Pallava cave temples