General
The East Coast Tour from Chennai is a 6-day experiential tour across the Coromandel coast from Chennai to Tranquebar via Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Pichavarm and Chidambaram. The highlights of this tour are a heritage village experience at Dakshin Chitra, rock cut temples in World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram, global village of Auroville, Aurobindo ashram at Pondicherry, boating in mangroves of Pichavaram, temple architecture at Chidambaram and the quaint 17th century Danish port of Tranquebar.
Motorcycle enthusiasts can take the thrilling option of a guided motorcycle tour in a Royal Enfield Classic. Others can choose to experience this private & guided tour in a car.
East coast tour from Chennai itinerary
Day 1 –Dakshin Chitra
We take the East coast road from Chennai towards Mahabalipuram and make a stopover at Dakshin Chitra, the heritage village that showcases art, craft and architecture of all four southern states of India. We spend the next 3 hours experiencing puppet shows, Kanchipuram silk saree weaving, basket weaving, pottery and 17 heritage houses from all across South India.
After a lunch break we proceed to the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram. We end the day with a fantastic orientation of what to expect at Mahabalipuram, over a 7 D theatre.
Day 2 – Mahabalipuram
We start the day with the Shore temple. This 8th century structural temple is made of granite and served as a beacon for sea farers of the time. Next we visit Arjuna’s Penance, a 100 feet x 45 feet bas relief where an entire masterpiece from the Mahabharata epic has been carved. The next halt is at Krishna’s Butterball, a curious sight of a 5 meters diameter ball shaped boulder which is perched precariously on a slope and seems to defy Newton and the laws of gravity!
Panch Rathas, or the 5 chariots is our next destination. These are rock cut monolith temples structures dedicated to Draupadi and the 5 Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata.
After lunch we move to Pondicherry, famous for its french connection, Sri Aurobindo and a lovely beach. We visit the Aurobindo Ashram, which is dedicated to Sri Aurobindo Ghosh the philosopher and revolutionary from Bengal, and his disciple Mirra Alfassa popularly called The Mother.
Day 3 –French connection at Pondicherry
The day begins at Auroville, the radical concept of a global village where thousands of people from across the world have given up their nationalities and are living as global citizens in this tranquil place. We visit Matri Mandir, a architectural masterpiece and spherical meditation centre.
After a French-Indian lunch, we go further along the coast to scenic Pichvaram and Chidambaram the temple town.
Day 4 –Pichavaram Mangroves & Chidambaram
The mangroves of Pichavaram beckon us in the morning. Boating through the mangroves is a mesmerizing experience through a maze of canals, gorgeous backwaters and silver beaches. These mangroves are home to some rare and precious shells and fin-fishes. Our boat ride will take us close to snipes, cormorants, egrets, storks, herons, spoonbills and pelicans!
East Coast trail is an experiential tour in India from Chennai to Tranquebar along the coast, that stimulates all the 5 senses. visit 5sensestours.com
Post lunch, we head to the temple town of Chidambaram. The temple of Thillai Nataraja is a spellbinding experience. This temple is more than a thousand years old and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. You would find Nataraja, the dancing posture of Lord Shiva in this temple. An interesting legend about this temple is that it was consecrated by Patanjali himself, the father of yoga.
Day 5 –Danish connection at Tranquebar
After breakfast we check out of Chidambaram and move to Tranquebar, a sleepy fishing village on the Coromandel Coast. Tranquebar is a forgotten town today, but it used to be a prosperous trading post of the Danish in the early 17th century. We spend the day experiencing a heavenly beach, magnificent specimens of Danish architecture, a church where the first Bible was printed in Tamil language and the 400 year old Fort Dansborg.
Day 6 –Return to Chennai
The journey back to Chennai would take around 7 hours as we go back 300 KMs all along the coast.
The East Coast tour from Chennai ends around 4pm after we reach Chennai.
East Coast Tour from Chennai includes
- Car or Motorcycle as chosen
- Services of a tour guide
- Escort rider for motorcycle guests
- Accommodation
Next Steps
Call +919845677446
Email contact@5sensestours.com
For a guided tour of world heritage site of Mahabalipuram visit Rock cut marvels of Mahabalipuram.
We also organise heritage walks in Chennai. For details of walks like “Marina Beach”, “Gods of Mylapore”, George Town”, “Big fat Indian wedding”, visit 5 Senses Walks.
Guided tours are also available on a Royal Enfield Motorcycle with an escort rider. For exploring the heritage sites on South India on an exciting Royal Enfield Motorcycle, visit 5 Senses Motorcycle Tours.