• Wonder Tours - Tour Overview
• Ekambareswarar Temple - Among South India’s five Shiva temples linked to the five elements, this 12-hectare site is dedicated to earth. Visitors enter through the 59m-high, unpainted south gopuram, adorned with vibrant carvings crafted in 1509 during the Vijayanagar era. Inside, a columned hall leads left into the central area, with Nandi facing from the right. The inner sanctum (for Hindus only) houses a lingam made of earth and a mirror chamber where the central Shiva image is endlessly reflected.
• Kailasanathar Temple - The tour includes a visit to the splendid Kailasanathar Temple from the Pallava period. Kanchipuram served as the capital of the medieval South Indian Pallava Kingdom. The Pallavas played a key role in the evolution from rock-cut architecture to stone temples. These architectural marvels, constructed in 600 AD, are truly remarkable.
• Pancha Rathas - Located at the southern end of Mamallapuram, the Five Rathas were impressively carved from single large rocks. Each of these exquisite 7th-century temples was dedicated to a Hindu deity and is named after one or more of the Pandavas, the five heroic brothers from the epic Mahabharata, or their shared wife, Draupadi. The rathas were buried in sand until uncovered by the British 200 years ago.

Ratha, meaning ‘chariot’ in Sanskrit, may refer to the temples’ design or their role as divine vehicles. It is believed they were not originally intended as places of worship, but as architectural prototypes.

• Arjuna’s Penance - The tour also includes Arjuna’s Penance, a 100 feet x 45 feet bas relief depicting a masterpiece from the Mahabharata epic.
• Krishna’s Butter Ball - The next stop is Krishna’s Butterball, an intriguing sight of a 5-meter diameter boulder that precariously balances on a slope, defying Newton’s laws of gravity!
• Shore Temple - Majestically standing as a testament to rock-cut elegance by the sea, surrounded by gardens and ancient courts, the two-towered Shore Temple epitomizes the pinnacle of Pallava architecture and the maritime aspirations of the Pallava rulers. Despite its modest size, it boasts excellent proportions and outstanding carvings, many now weathered into Impressionist-like embellishments. Constructed under Narasimhavarman II in the 8th century, it is the earliest significant free-standing stone temple in Tamil Nadu.

• Local guide
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Entry/Admission - Kanchipuram temples
• Entry/Admission - Mahabalipuram Monuments

• Gratuities
• Drinks

It’s quite possible to dedicate an entire day to discovering the amazing temples, caves and rock sculptures of Kanchipuram and Mamallapuram. The majority of these were sculpted straight from the rock in the 7th-century under the rule of the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, also known as Mamalla (Great Wrestler), the one who brought the city its name. Certified guides from the Archaeological Survey of India can be engaged at these locations.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.