Experience the breathtaking Eastern Ghats, and the coast that straddles the Bay of Bengal. You’ll be immersed in the rich and colourful culture of the region, and also experience the culinary delights and art that make this part of the country special.

DAY WISE ITINERARY

COIMBATORE – CHENNAI: Jan 29-Feb 4, 2023

Day 1 – Coimbatore

Welcome to what is often referred to as the ‘Manchester of South India’.

Once you arrive and are transferred to the hotel, feel free to spend the day in one of Tamil Nadu’s most significant cities. After your day of leisure, we’ll help ensure that your documentation is in order for the journey ahead.

Spend the evening meeting your fellow travellers over a pre-drive briefing and dinner.

Day 2 – Coimbatore to Chettinad
263 Km | 5 hrs

We eat a sumptuous breakfast together and begin the first leg of the journey.

After a coffee and lunch break en-route we reach our next destination Chettinad, the home of the Nattukottai Chettiars, a prosperous banking and business community. The city is known for its local gastronomy, unique architecture, and ancient religious temples.

After check-in, we spend the afternoon visiting the Athangudy tile makers, handloom cotton weavers or go on a heritage village walk. We try our hands at Kolam making (a floor drawing made from coloured flour) and end our evening making Chettinad cuisine in an interactive session with a renowned local chef.

We end our day with an evening of rejoice and repast and call it a night in anticipation of tomorrow.

Day 3 – Chettinad to Kumbakonam
147 km | 3 hrs

We meet in the morning and, after breakfast, set about exploring Chettinad’s unique architecture and glorious and ancient Chola temples.

We return after the day’s sightseeing for lunch before getting back on the on the road. We continue our journey and reach our next destination in the early evening.

We spend the rest of the day at leisure before meeting again for the evening to enjoy a meal that is fit for a king, aptly named ‘the Maharaja Thali’.

Day 4 – Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam is an idyllic town skirted by Cauvery and Arasalar rivers. Well-known as a temple town, Kumbakonam is home to around 188 temples, the most prominent of which is the Kumbeswarar Temple.

After breakfast, we begin a full day of exciting and unique activities, ranging from a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Monuments at Thanjavur, Darasuram, Gangaikonda and Cholapuram, pottery making, pot breaking, lost wax casting, revisiting Kalamkari art and Pattu silk weaving.

We meet again for an evening of dinner and merriment and end the day in anticipation of what tomorrow has in store for us.

Day 5 – Kumbakonam to Puducherry
126 km | 3 hrs

We have an early breakfast, and after checking out begin our journey. En-route, we stop for a bit of exploring ‘off the beaten path’, negotiating unmatched terrains as our Defenders easily drive over the extraordinary landscapes of this part of the country.

As we reach our next destination in time for lunch, we soon see the azure expanse of the Bay of Bengal.

We spend the evening exploring in and around Puducherry, visiting Auroville, an experimental township where people from all over the world live together, searching for human unity and transformation of consciousness.

We return later that evening for a distinctively French and South Indian fusion dinner together.

Day 6 – Puducherry to Chennai
118 km | 2.5 hrs

After our morning breakfast, we explore what this unique Franco-Tamilian city has to offer. We go on a heritage city walk together and imbibe the place’s local culture and beach-like bonhomie. The Puducherry Museum and Hidesign’s flagship store are a must-see as well.

Post-lunch, we resume the last leg of our journey. With the Bay of Bengal our constant companion, we make it to Tamil Nadu’s capital and a megacity known for its ancient temples, vibrant art, natural wonders and bustling culinary scene.

We spend our time relaxing and unwinding before we meet again for our last feast together.

Day 7 – Chennai

We say goodbye over breakfast and look forward to our next journey together before the prearranged airport transfers whisk you away to your next destination!

CHENNAI – COIMBATORE: Feb 12-18, 2023

Day 1 – Chennai

Welcome to Tamil Nadu’s capital and a megacity known for its ancient temples, vibrant art, natural wonders and bustling culinary scene. Once you arrive and are transferred to the hotel, feel free to spend the day at leisure.

Later that evening, we’ll help ensure that your documentation is in order for the journey ahead and meet your fellow travellers over a pre-drive briefing and dinner.

Day 2 – Chennai to Puducherry
118 km | 2.5 hrs

We eat a sumptuous breakfast together and begin our first leg of this impressive journey. With the Bay of Bengal our constant companion, we make our way to Puducherry.

We spend the evening exploring in and around Puducherry, visiting Auroville. In this experimental township, people from all over the world live together, searching for human unity and transformation of consciousness. We go on a heritage city walk together and imbibe the place’s local culture and beach-like bonhomie. The Puducherry Museum and Hidesign’s flagship store are a must-see as well.

We return later that evening for a distinctively French and South Indian fusion dinner together.

Day 3 – Puducherry to Kumbakonam
126 km | 3 hrs

After our morning breakfast, we check out and resume our journey. En-route, we stop for a bit of exploring ‘off the beaten path’, negotiating unmatched terrains as our Defenders easily drive over the extraordinary landscapes of this part of the country.

We soon reach Kumbakonam, an idyllic town skirted by Cauvery and Arasalar rivers. Well-known as a temple town, it is home to around 188 temples, the most prominent of which is the Kumbeswarar Temple.

We spend the rest of the day at leisure and meet again for an evening to enjoy a meal that is fit for a king, aptly named ‘the Maharaja Thali’.

Day 4 – Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam is an idyllic town skirted by Cauvery and Arasalar rivers. Well-known as a temple town, Kumbakonam is home to around 188 temples, the most prominent of which is the Kumbeswarar Temple.

After breakfast, we begin a full day of exciting and unique activities, ranging from a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Monuments at Thanjavur, Darasuram, Gangaikonda and Cholapuram, pottery making, pot breaking, lost wax casting, revisiting Kalamkari art and Pattu silk weaving.

We meet again for an evening of dinner and merriment and end the day in anticipation of what tomorrow has in store for us.

Day 5 – Kumbakonam to Chettinad
147 km | 3 hrs

We eat a sumptuous breakfast together and resume our journey. We reach our next destination Chettinad, the home of the Nattukottai Chettiars, a prosperous banking and business community. The city is known for its local gastronomy, unique architecture, and ancient religious temples.

After check-in, we spend the afternoon visiting the Athangudy tile makers, handloom cotton weavers or go on a heritage village walk. We try our hands at Kolam making (a floor drawing made from coloured flour) and end our evening making Chettinad cuisine in an interactive session with a renowned local chef.

We end our day with an evening of rejoice and repast and call it a night in anticipation of tomorrow.

Day 6 – Chettinad to Coimbatore
263 Km | 5 hrs

We meet in the morning and, after breakfast, set about exploring Chettinad’s unique architecture and glorious and ancient Chola temples.

We return after the day’s sightseeing for lunch before getting back on the on the road. After stops for coffee and lunch en-route, we reach our next destination, the ‘Manchester of South India’, one of Tamil Nadu’s most significant cities.

We spend our time relaxing and unwinding before we meet again for our last feast together.

Day 7 – Coimbatore

We say goodbye over breakfast and look forward to our next journey together before the prearranged airport transfers whisk you away to your next destination!

ACCOMMODATION

Welcomhotel Coimbatore is located in the heart of Kovai city and it draws inspiration from the glorious elements of the city in its design and amenities. The hotel combines the comfort and warmth of ITC’s Hotel Group’s hospitality with modern day verve.

Visalam, a palatial home of Kanadukathan village, is a 70-year-old heritage house of rare distinction. It is an endearing symbol of paternal love that equally captures the soul of Chettinad, a region renowned for its palatial homes, fiery cuisine and colourful culture. This CGH Earth destination is a window to the unique ways of life of the prosperous trading community of the Chettiars of Tamil Nadu.

Mantra Koodam is a divine experience nestled in Veppathur, Kumbakonam – the town of 5,000 temples and is designed like an ‘agraharam’ – the characteristically Brahmin Street lined with ‘illams’ (homes). The cottages in this CGH Earth destination are designed like traditional Tamil homes – with large verandahs, Athangudi tiles on the floor, ornate Burmese teak doors and open-to-air bathrooms.

Palais de Mahe at Puducherry lies close to the sea side promenade, barely 50 metres from the cool breezes and gentle rumblings of the Bay of Bengal. This CGH Earth signature hotel – with its majestic courtyard, deep verandahs, attractive pillars and period furniture – combines south Indian fire and flavor with the spirit of Colonial France to bring you an experience that is in every way unforgettable.

The Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort & Spa beach resort in Chennai, built on the ramparts of an old Dutch Fort, allows you to revel in seaside hospitality with rooms, cottages and villas, all designed for relaxation and rejuvenation, set amidst lush manicured landscaping with breathtaking views of the sea.