MILESWORTH JOURNEYS
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  • INDE
    • Faits saillants de l'Inde
    • Régions à visiter >
      • Inde du Sud
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      • Inde de l'est et du nord-est
    • Quand doit-on aller. Où aller
    • Itinéraires suggérés >
      • Tamil Nadu Classique
      • Triangle d'or et Rajasthan avec des enfants
      • Aventures au Konkan, au Deccan et au Malnad
      • Lever du soleil á Kanchenjunga
      • Coromandel au Malabar
    • Conseil Essentiel >
      • Planification de voyage et budgétisation
      • Obtenir des vols à droite
      • Des trains démystifiants
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TRIP | THE HEART OF TAMIL NADU

Madurai (1) - Karaikudi (5) - Athoor (1) - Madurai
Blend in with the glorious past and the busy present of Madurai with its great temples that showcase architectural brilliance. Venture inside the cavernous Puthu Mandapam, a 17th century pillared entrance hall opposite the Meenakshi Temple's east tower, to find rows of tailors and stalls selling fabric, jewellery, and handicrafts.

In the heart of South India's Tamil Nadu, lies the colourful and extravagant mansions of the Chettiars - a prosperous trading community who made their fortunes in the 19th and early 20th century. Their huge mansions (some with over a hundred rooms!) are crumbling, but filled with Burmese teak, Italian marble and English iron. Slowly but surely, India is waking up to Chettinadu’s intricate heritage, and this 75-village web, centred on Karaikudi, is now home to some of South India’s most exquisite hotels.  While here, explore the weekly markets called a santhai and shop for hand spun cotton fabrics, palmyra leaf baskets. Visit the loom at Mahalakshmi or local shops for the famous Chettinad sari – a striking combination of checks and stripes in bold colours, and stop at the tile manufacturing units at Athangudi and custom order your own handmade terracotta tiles. Browse for antiques and collectibles in Karaikudi at the Muneeswaran Koil Street. 

Proceed to Athoor, a charming hamlet nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats. 
Staying and visiting here offers the opportunity to see a slice of real rural Tamilnadu – the way that most of South India lives.
Deep in Tamil Nadu's sultry South, explore the gloriously extravagant mansions, food and lifestyle of Tamil Nadu’s wealthy 19th-century Chettiar traders, strewn across dusty, dark-ochre plains, like colour-bursting palaces straight out of a kids’ Eastern-themed storybook. 
BEST TIME TO VISIT 
August - March
IDEAL FOR 
Couples & families
BASICS 
7-nights; road-based
PRICES START FROM 
US$ 1,095 per person


ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVE MADURAI

Fly in the morning from Chennai to Madurai, one of the oldest cities in South Asia. Visit Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar Temple, built to its current form in the 15th century AD. The massive gopuras (pagodas) of this vast temple complex, writhing with multi-coloured mythological figures and crowned by golden domes, remain the greatest man-made spectacle in South India. After lunch go on a private guided-walk of Madurai as the history and culture of this wonderful and ancient city is uncovered by a local insider who has lived here for generations. Later in the evening , go on an exciting food tour of the city’s most authentic eateries to taste the local flavours of different restaurants in the city.

DAY 2: DRIVE MADURAI - CHETTINAD

Drive from Madurai to Karaikudi – the home to the Chettiars, a community of Tamil traders. Later in the evening go on a private guided exploration of the famous mansions of Chettinad at Kothamangalam, Kanadukathan and Pallathur. Walk the narrrow streets of the Kanadukathan Heritage Zone and visit magnificent mansions and homes of the Chettiars. 

DAY 3: IN CHETTINAD

Today explore one of the local weekly markets called a santhai and shop for hand spun cotton fabrics, palmyra leaf baskets, and locally-grown food produce that comes from village farms.

DAY 4: IN CHETTINAD

Visit the loom at Mahalakshmi or local shops for the famous Chettinad sari (traditional Indian dress for women) – a striking combination of checks and stripes in bold colours, and stop at the tile manufacturing units at Athangudi and custom order your own handmade terracotta tiles.

DAY 5: IN CHETTINAD

Morning at leisure. In the evening, if you are up for an hour of window shopping, then browse for antiques and collectibles in Karaikudi at the Muneeswaran Koil Street. There are a number of antique shops selling items purchased from local homes and mansions – glassware, lacquerware, basketware, and furniture.

DAY 6: IN CHETTINAD

Enjoy the day choosing to do what you love from an array of activities - Ayurvedic massages, carambol game, antique shopping, presentation on Chettinad heritage and the protection & heritage based projects, visit of potter’s workshop, bullock cart ride, wood carving workshop.

DAY 7: DRIVE CHETTINAD - ATHOOR

Athoor is a small village in the foothills of the Palani Range.  Experience the way of life that is largely Tamil Nadu - an agrarian village community.

DAY 8: IN ATHOOR | DRIVE TO MADURAI

Enjoy the delicious food at your farm stay, village and countryside walks before heading back to Madurai airport.

INDIA


Highlights of India
Regions to Visit
When To Go Where To Go
Suggested Itineraries
Essential Advice

sample programs - INDIA


Classic Tamil Nadu
Golden Triange & Rajasthan with Kids
Adventures in the Konkan, Deccan and Malnad
Sunrise Over Kanchenjunga
Coromandel to Malabar

PLAN YOUR INDIA TRIP


Trip Planning & Budgeting
Getting Flights Right
Demystifying Trains
Choosing Accommodation
Renting a Car and Driver
Other Costs

BEYOND INDIA


Vietnam
Cambodia

our WEBSITES


Coromandel Journeys
Orient Journeys

our services


Inbound Destination Services
Learning Journeys
Overseas Luxury Travel

about us


Company Profile
Why Milesworth Journeys?
Our Team
In the Media
Fair Business Policy

contact us


Booking Form
Call +91 44 24320522 or        
         +91 44 24338665
Email travel@milesworth.com

BOOKING & PAYMENT


​INDE


Faits saillants de l'Inde
Régions à visiter
Quand doit-on aller. Où aller
​Itinéraires suggérés
​Conseil essentiel

​​EXEMPLES DE PROGRAMMES - INDE


Tamil Nadu Classique
​Triangle d'or et Rajasthan avec des enfants
Aventures au Konkan, Deccan et Malnad
Lever du soleil á Kanchenjunga 
Coromandel à Malabar

​PLANIFIEZ VOTRE VOYAGE EN INDE


Planification de voyage et budgétisation
Obtenir des vols à droite
Des trains démystifiants
Choisir un logement
Louer une voiture et un chauffeur
​D'autres coûts

​AU-DELÀ DE L'INDE


Vietnam
Cambodge

​NOS SITES INTERNET


Coromandel Voyages
​Orienter les voyages

​NOS PRESTATIONS DE SERVICE


Services de destination entrants
Parcours d'apprentissage
Voyage de luxe à l'étranger

À PROPOS DE NOUS


​Profil de la société
Pourquoi Milesworth Journeys
​Notre équipe
Dans les Médias
​Politique commerciale équitable

​CONTACTEZ NOUS


Formulaire de reservation
​Appel +91 44 24320522 or               +91 44 24338665
Email 
travel@milesworth.com

​RÉSERVATION & PAIEMENT


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Visit us at Milesworth Travel | RM Towers | 108 Chamiers Road | Chennai 600041 | Tamil Nadu | India
  • Home
  • INDIA
    • Highlights of India
    • Regions to Visit >
      • Southern India
      • Northern India
      • Central India & West Coast
      • East & North East India
    • When To Go. Where To Go
    • Suggested Itineraries >
      • Classic Tamil Nadu
      • Golden Triangle & Rajasthan with Kids
      • Adventures in the Konkan, Deccan & Malnad
      • Sunrise over Kanchenjunga
      • Coromandel to the Malabar
    • Essential Advice >
      • Trip Planning & Budgeting
      • Getting Flights Right
      • Demystifying Trains
      • Choosing Accommodation
      • Renting A Car and Driver
      • Other Costs
  • Beyond India
    • Vietnam
    • Cambodia
  • Our Services
    • Inbound Destination Services
    • Learning Journeys
    • Overseas Luxury Travel
  • About Us
    • Company Profile
    • Why Milesworth Journeys
    • Our Team
    • In the Media
    • Fair Business Policy
  • Contact Us
    • Booking Form
  • Accueil
  • INDE
    • Faits saillants de l'Inde
    • Régions à visiter >
      • Inde du Sud
      • Inde du Nord
      • Inde centrale et côte ouest
      • Inde de l'est et du nord-est
    • Quand doit-on aller. Où aller
    • Itinéraires suggérés >
      • Tamil Nadu Classique
      • Triangle d'or et Rajasthan avec des enfants
      • Aventures au Konkan, au Deccan et au Malnad
      • Lever du soleil á Kanchenjunga
      • Coromandel au Malabar
    • Conseil Essentiel >
      • Planification de voyage et budgétisation
      • Obtenir des vols à droite
      • Des trains démystifiants
      • Choisir un Logement
      • Louer une voiture et un Chauffeur
      • D'autres coûts
  • Au-delà de l'Inde
    • Vietnam
    • Cambodge
  • Notre Prestations de service
    • Services de destination entrants
    • Parcours d'apprentissage
    • Voyage de luxe à l'étranger
  • À propos de nous
    • Pourquoi Milesworth Journeys
    • Notre Équipe
    • Dans les Médias
    • Politique Commerciale Équitable
  • Contactez Nous
    • Formulaire de Reservation