Tamil Nadu temple trail logistics
 

Hi All,

We just got back from a trip to Cambodia. Angkor Wat lives up to the hype, and it whets our appetite for ancient temples. We have been contemplating a trip to South India for a while. Although there is no definite date, it is never too early to get into the research/planning mode. We are fully aware that traveling in India is challenging and rewarding at the same time. I have been to Bangalore on business trips, and taken a day trip to see the small but exquisite Hoysala temples near Hassan. My wife has not been to India before. The current plan is to focus on Tamil Nadu temple trail and Kerala. I have been following a recent thread that has a wealth of information. Tamil Nadu is particularly challenging logistically for a couple of reasons:

- We are fairly slow travelers. Normally we would like to stay put somewhere for 3 nights and take day trips to minimize packing/unpacking. However the sights on the temple trail are spread out, with considerable distance between major sights.
- We would like to do sightseeing when it is relatively cool in the early morning and late afternoon. That is workable only if we stay close by, as everyone advises us not to be on the road when it is dark.

Clearly we need to prioritize. Based on initial research, we want to visit (from North to South), with a 2-night stay each at:

- Mahabalipuram
- Pondicherry
- Thanjor
- Chettinad
- Madurai

We will have a car, with driver. The ambitious side of us wants to see more, at least as options. This is where we need input on feasibilities:

- I understand Kanchipuram can be visited as a day trip from Mahabalipuram. Is it workable to leave Mahabalipuram early, visit Kanchipuram, and continue to Pondicherry for overnight before it is dark?
- Now it is pretty far from Pondicherry to Thanjor (5+ hours?). There are temples on the way, at Chidambaram and Kumbakonam. Do we have time to visit one (or two) on the way? If so, which temple is more interesting? Again we want to be off road when it gets dark.
- There are some important temples in Trichy. It is viable (and advisable) to visit Trichy from Thanjor as a day trip?

In comparison, Kerala is relatively straightforward logistically. We will tackle it after we have a realistic understanding of Tamil Nadu portion of the trip.

You might find my TR helpful, although I was traveling in the opposite direction. Start here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...omment-7055547

Are you flying into Chennai? I would be inclined just to stop in Mamallapuram on the way to somewhere else, but maybe you need to get over jet lag. If the object of the exercise is temples, Pondi doesn't fit.

Just a few thoughts...I was underwhelmed by Pondicherry and would limit your visit there to one night. Loved our visit to Mammallapuram but wished I had been there for the sunset or sunrise which we were told is fabulous. We were able to see all the attractions within a one day visit and that include the time it took us to get from Pondicherry which is approximately 2 1/2 hrs away. We really wanted to visit Kanchipuram, but didn't as the logistics were difficult. The hours of temple openings are limited to 5 am to noon, then 4 pm till 9 pm. You should recheck the times as I've read conflicting reports. I believe the distances between chennai and Mammalapuram was less than two hrs and the drive between Mammallapuram and kanchipiram is also a little less than two hrs, so with proper planning you should be able to see them both, depending on when your flight arrives.