TRIP | DEEP IN THE CAUVERY DELTA

Tiruchirapalli (1) - Kumbakonam (3) - Tranquebar (2) - Thanjavur (2) - Chennai
The Cauvery is Southern India’s mightiest river and gave birth to one of its greatest ancient empires – the Cholas. Under their patronage, stunning temples were built, rich art and craft was encouraged, and under them religious devotion and music thrived. All of this was helped by the life-giving waters of the Cauvery and its fertile alluvial soil that gave rise to a surfeit of food and grain, supported by a visionary irrigation system. With this prosperity and the knowledge of river and coastal navigation, the Cholas built a powerful navy that conquered all of South East Asia and created extensive trading links with the Eastern World. Centuries later, European trading companies came calling to the Delta and established posts and principalities on the coast at Porto Novo and Tranquebar.

On this trip, you plunge into the heart of the Cauvery Delta, as you gasp at the UNESCO World Heritage temples of the Cholas at Tanjore, admire their engineering prowess at the Grand Anicut dam, and enjoy the beauty of the rivers, and lush paddy fields of the Delta as you drive along back-country roads. 

And watch the sunrise over the Coromandel Coast in the old Danish colony of Tranquebar from the verandah of the restored Governor’s mansion
Plunge into the heart of the Cauvery River Delta, as you gasp at the engineering prowess of the mighty Chola kings at Tanjore and Anicut, enjoy lush paddy fields as you drive along back-country roads, and watch the sunrise where river meets ocean in the old Danish colony of Tranquebar. 
BEST TIME TO VISIT 
August - March
IDEAL FOR 
Couples & families
BASICS 
8-nights; road-based
PRICES START FROM 
On request

GALLERY

ITINERARY

DAY 1: DRIVE CHENNAI TO TIRUCHIRAPALLI | VISIT OF SRIRANGAM

Fly from Chennai to Tiruchirapalli (or an early morning drive from Chennai). Take a guided visit of the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, one of the largest temple complexes in India, led by an expert guide. The gateway towers surrounding the main temple are beautifully coloured and the mada (temple) streets immediately outside the temple walls, are lined with the homes of the Brahmin priests who serve inside.

DAY 2: DRIVE ALONG CAUVERY RIVER TO KUMBAKONAM | GUIDED VISITS ALONG THE CAUVERY

Today morning with your local expert, you are transferred to Kumbakonam via the Kallanai (mud dam), a 2nd century AD Chola check-dam and water irrigation engineering marvel on the Cauvery River.  Follow the eastern course of the Cauvery River, stopping at a small but beautiful Chola-era village. At this village, go on a guided walk with your expert, who is also a resident of this village. Stop for a traditional South Indian lunch at the local Brahmin home of your tour guide. After lunch, it’s a short drive for a guided visit to the magnificent UNESCO-cited Chola era temple in the tiny village of Gangaikondacholapuram. The tongue-twisting name means. “The town of the Chola who conquered the Ganges”. After a guided visit of the temple, transfer to your village resort deep in the delta.

DAY 3: IN KUMBAKONAM | MORNING EXCURSIONS IN KUMBAKONAM

Today, with your expert guide, you will visit the UNESCO-cited Airavateshwara Temple, in the village of Darasuram which ranks alongside those at Tanjore and Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Learn all about and enjoy a cup of Kumbakonam degree coffee.  Your final stop in the morning along the north bank of the Cauvery River is at Swamimalai, a small hamlet that is home to Tamil Nadu's famous bronze sculpting tradition, where you experience the process of creating magnificent bronze idols of Hindu gods.

DAY 4: IN KUMBAKONAM | EXCURSIONS IN KUMBAKONAM

In the morning on this half-day guided excursion, visit a legendary Vedic school in old Kumbakonam Town. The school has produced renowned scholars and pandits since its establishment in 1542. You will witness students of Vedic studies partaking in vedic chants – a meditative practice rich in spiritual traditions. As the chorus of voices fill the hall, these ancient words reverberate through the room, resulting in an elevating effect even for the casual listener. In the afternoon on this half-day guided excursion. experience art as a cultural institution, by visiting the house of a master artist in Kumbakonam. There, he is keeping the ancient artform of Kalamkari alive and thriving. Kalamkari originated during the Marathas’ rule over Thanjavur. It involves intricate art work on fabric, where the colours are extracted from natural sources such as flowers, barks, roots and seeds to make plant-based dyes on cotton.

DAY 5: KUMBAKONAM - TRANQUEBAR

After a relaxing morning, leave Kumbakonam and drive eastward, passing through vibrant green fields, small villages and happy people who will wave at you for no reason and reach Tranquebar on the east coast. Tranquebar is an atmospheric Danish colonial relic in the middle of vibrant rural Tamil Nadu.

DAY 6: IN TRANQUEBAR​ | MORNING GUIDED VISIT

In the morning, accompanied by a local guide, go on a half-day guided visit of the towering Danish church and the Dansborg Fort and explore the historical streets and buildings. In the evening spend some time on the clean stretch of beach near your accommodation.

DAY 7: TRANQUEBAR TO TANJORE | THIRUVARUR VISIT | SUNSET AT THE BIG TEMPLE

Early morning this day, drive south for just over an hour to reach Thiruvarur, home to the 7th century AD Thyagarajaswami Siva temple. Here go on a guided visit of the little-known but fantastic Muchukunda murals which adorn the ceiling of one of the temple mandapams and been recently restored from centuries of neglect. Then go direct to Tanjore. Tanjore is home to the mighty Brihadeeswara Temple, built over 1000-years ago by the Chola King, Rajaraja I and is considered one of the world’s major architectural feats. Visit this temple at sunset for an unforgettable experience led by a local expert.

DAY 8: IN TANJORE | LOCAL VISITS

Spend your time to explore the other places in Tanjore accompanied by a local expert.  Visit the Royal Palace, built by the Marathas, who occupied Tanjore since the 16th century AD and rule to this day. The palace is home to one of the finest collection of bronzes in the world. The Durbar Hall is still in fine nick and the Saraswati Mahal Library has over 40,000 rare books dating back to medieval periods, palm-leaf manuscripts, and beautiful examples of Tanjore painting. Have lunch at a local restaurant and drop in to see and experience the fine art of Tanjore paintings at a family run workshop that has been preserving this art form for centuries.

DAY 9: DRIVE TO TRICHY AIRPORT. FLY TO CHENNAI OR ONWARDS

You are transferred to Tiruchirapalli airport for your flight back to Chennai or elsewhere.