Thondai Nadu
Duration
8D, 7N
Overview
Tondaimandalam, also known as Tondai Nadu, is a historical region located in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh and the northernmost part of Tamil Nadu. The region comprises the districts which formed a part of the legendary kingdom of Athondai Chakravarti. The boundaries of Tondaimandalam are ambiguous – between the river basins of Penna River and Ponnaiyar River. During the reign of Rajaraja I, this region was called as Jayankonda Cholamandalam. The region includes the Nellore, Chittoor, North and South Arcot and Chingleput districts of the Andhra and Madras states. Chennai was part of the region. It covers the present-day areas of Nellore, Chittoor, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakuruchi, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore and Chennai districts of modern-day Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Included/Exclude
- A/c Accommodation on twin sharing basis with Daily Breakfast(Only 1 B/F).
- AC car for all the transfers and local sightseeing as per the given itinerary.
- Well-experienced and bilingual driver till the departure.
- All the expenses related to the vehicle (toll, tax, parking, permits, driver batta, etc).
- Hotel Check-in at 12 pm and check-out at 10 am.
- The driver is only available as per the program given above.
- All the applicable taxes.
- No hidden costs.
- The packages do not include Volvo bus tickets.
- Guide charges, entry fees, Camera Charges, Massages, Elephant Safaris, Personal expenses like laundry, tips and telephone calls, Optional Tours, Travel Insurance, etc.
- Optional activities are mentioned in the itinerary & anything not mentioned in the above package.
- In case of payment made by cr card or debit card service charge of 2.5% and 1% will be charged extra.
Tour Amenities
Accepts Credit Cards
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Restaurant
Wireless Internet
Tour Plan
Bhavani Amman Temple, Periyapalayam Bhavani Amman Temple in Periyapalayam near Chennai stands as an attraction to many devotees, Bhavani Amman is the main deity of the temple. The Temple is well maintained and well organized to help the devotees to have a memorable Dharshan of Sri Bhavani Amman.
Pulicat (Pazhaverkaadu) is the second largest brackish-water lake on the Coromandel Coast of southeastern India. It lies at the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh states. The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal. Sriharikota is home to the town of Pulicat.
The shallow lake is known for its diversity of aquatic birds and is an important stopover on migration routes. Approximately 15,000 flamingos visit the lake each year, along with pelicans, kingfishers, herons, painted storks, spoonbills and ducks. The beaches of Sriharikota are an important nesting spot for sea turtles. Fancy and utility articles, made out of palm leaves by women, are a speciality of Pulicat. Seafood export is another major activity.
Gudiyam Caves: The claims of Gudiyam village residents at the foothills of Allikuzhi ghats, near Poondi in Tiruvallur district, that they live near a place once inhabited by pre-historic hominids may sound exaggerated at first. But a 3km trek through thick forest bushes makes one realise that there is some truth in what they say. It is a known fact that millions of years ago, man lived in jungles and climbed up trees or sought shelter in caves. Subsequently, he invented ‘spears’ made of sharp stones tied to wooden sticks to ward off attacks from wild animals and sometimes to kill the beasts for food. The State Department of Archaeology has set up a museum near the Sathyamoorthy Sagar in Poondi exclusively for preserving the exhibits of pre-historic artefacts collected in and around Poondi areas, including the Allikuzhi ghat area.
Poondi: Poondi is a small village, is situated at a distance of about 60 km. from Chennai. Frequent buses are available from Chennai and Tiruvallur to reach this place. ‘Poondi’ the name, it is said, is derived from Poondu in Tamil, the shrub which was once abundant in this place. Poondi has acquired significant importance as it has a huge reservoir called Sathyamurthy Sagar. The water from this reservoir goes to the Red Hills lake from where Madras city receives water supply after undergoing necessary processing.
Veera Raghava Perumal Temple The temple is one among the 108 Divya desams of Vaishnavas and a part of tondai naadu Divya Desams. The presiding deity Veera Raghava Perumal is in a reclining position in the temple.
Mahendravadi owes its origin to Pallava Mahendra Varman-I (AD 580-630). According to an inscription in Pallava grantha this cave temple was excavated by Gunabhara on the bank of a large tank called Mahendra thataka.
Sholinga Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple atop a hill on a single stone is the Lord Narasimha Divya Desam in Sholingar, also called Chozha-Simha- Puram and Thiru Kadigai. This is also referred to as North Srirangam. There are two temples of significance here-the Yoga Narasimha temple at Periya Malai (the big hill) and the Yoga Chathurbhuja Anjaneyar temple at Chinna Malai (the small hill). In downtown Sholingur, one finds the Aathi Kesavaperumal Kovil built by the Chozha kings. Atop the hill, in Thiru Kadigai, one finds the Moolavar deity and Amruthavalli Thaayar, while in the town below; one can have darshan of the Utsava Deity.
Vallimalai Murugan Temple Is a temple dedicated to Lord Murugan which is located on top of the hill, part of the Eastern Ghats. The temple is known for its majestic views. The temple is located on beautiful hills on the top of the mountain.
Tiruvalam The presiding deity of this shrine is, Sri Vallanadheeswarar. Saint Thirugnana Sambandar has composed a Padhigam in praise of the deity. The feature of this shrine is that the Nandhi is not facing the Lord, but facing the opposite direction.
Villapakkam The hilly area locally known as Pancha Pandava Malai in Villapakkam was a flourishing Jain centre during the early medieval period as is evident from the rock-cut cave temple, natural caverns with Jain figures and inscriptions. The rock-cut cave temple is a large excavation on the eastern face of the hill.
Delhi Gate In 1751 Robert Clive captured this fort and named the gate, Delhi Gate, as this victory was the beginning of his capture of Delhi. It is believed that Clive used to take strategic decisions in the upper room. There is a stone slab with the following inscription near the big doorway. The gate formed part of the fortification of Arcot during its memorable defence by Lord Clive in 1751.
Rathinagiri Bala Murugan Temple was built around the 14th century. Over the passage of time, an ordinary sand structure was converted into a stone shrine. The 14th Century poet Arunagirinathar has sung about this temple
Kanchanagiri It is famous for the small Siva temple on a plateau surrounded by hills. One can see many suyambu lingams. It is believed that they are the Siddhas who lived there for thousands of years.
Erukkampattu is a small village situated close to the monuments at Vallimalai and Melpadi. The temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is built on the lake bund. The god is enshrined here in the Sayana form of Ranganatha. The recent earthwork carried out in the temple revealed discoveries including a broken but beautiful stone image of Bhoga Sayanamurthy assignable to the middle Chola Period.
Balamathi Hills is a serene and small beautiful village located on top of the hills of Eastern ghats. It is famous for its Balamurugan Temple. Balamathi enjoys a pleasant breeze and a substantially low temperature which makes an ideal break away from the city’s naturally hot weather.
Amirthi Zoological Park It is situated under the Javvadu/Javadi Hills of Tellai across the Amirthi River. The area of the park is 25 hectares and one can find beautiful waterfalls. There are also different kinds of birds and animals.
Sripuram Golden Temple A grand ‘golden temple’, the Mahalakshmi temple, located on a sprawling 100 acres of land at Sripuram, near Vellore, has been constructed by Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peetam, The temple, covering 55,000 sq ft, has intricate carvings and sculptures in gold. Except for the pathway, the entire structure has been made of gold and copper. About 400 goldsmiths and coppersmiths, including craftsmen from Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanam, have completed the architectural marvel in gold in six years. The pathway to the temple has been laid out in the shape of a star.
Jalakandeswarar Temple Situated inside the Vellore Fort, this temple boasts of a majestic Gopuram (tower). Here Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of “Jalakandeswarar”. The temple is located at sub-ground levels than the temple moat, hence the name Jalakandeswarar. The temple was in a closed state for a very long period.
Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in heart of the Vellore city, built by Vijayanagara kings. The fort was at one time the headquarters of the Aravidu Dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire. The fort is known for its grand ramparts, wide moat and robust masonry. The fort houses the Jalakanteswarar Hindu temple, the Christian St. John's Church and a Muslim mosque. The first significant military rebellion against British rule erupted at this fort in 1806.
Vettuvanam Ellaiamman Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Renukadevi. This Temple is considered one of the Sakthi Peetams. This has a legend connection with the Renuka Devi Amman temple at Padavedu and Gangai Amman temple at Gudiyatham.
Mahadevamalai: The LINGAM resides in the centre of the triangle-shaped hill which is formed from a single rock. Among the various names of Lord Shiva, 1008 names are considered holy, of which, SAKTHISHIV is considered supreme since it encompasses the entire divinity. Since the hill is the manifestation of Goddess Sakthi and Lord Shiva, it is called as).
Mordhana Dam is constructed between two hills that are widely spread with greenery. The Mordhana Dam is a scenic picnic spot. The Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Vadapalli and Kanipakam are the nearby places to visit across the Mordhana Dam.
Yelagiri Hill is at an average of 1000 meters altitude and is one of the most popular hill stations of Tamil Nadu. Situated amidst four mountains well known for their salubrious climate prevailing throughout the year. Travel by the winding Ghat road that has 14 hairpin bends, and you can reach the Yelagiri hilltop. The ride offers panoramic breathtaking views of the hills and their surroundings. The seventh bend is significant since it offers a view of the slopes of the mountain and the green forests. The highest point in Yelgiri is the Swamimalai Hill, standing tall at 4,338 ft and a popular destination for trekkers.
Punganur Lake Park & Boating: This is an artificial lake dug. A well-laid-out park on a 6-acre stretch of land, adjacent to the lake, is established for children-centric entertainment at Yelagiri. Boating on the waters of this lake is an enchanting experience. An artificial fountain can be seen at the centre of the lake.
Velavan Temple: A temple for Lord Murugan is located atop a hillock. The location of this temple also serves as a viewpoint. From here, one can have the pleasure of viewing the green woods of the Yelagiri Hills. A gigantic sculpture of Gadothgajan [mythical character] in a standing posture is located in front of this temple.
Government Fruit Farm: The botanical Gardens at Athanavur and Nilavur have varieties of fruit-bearing trees and plants with flowers of various hues, fragrances and shapes.
Government Herbal Farm: The forest department maintains a herbal farm adjacent to Punganur lake. Herbs and shrubs are cultivated here to provide the main ingredients in the manufacture of medicines for Ayurveda and Siddha forms of Indian medical treatment.
Telescope: Telescope has been installed on the Ghat road for the benefit of tourists to have a glimpse of the slopes and terrains of the hills. There are also temples dedicated to Tamil Annai, Vinayagar and Hanuman.
Jalagamparai Water Falls: It is a 5km downhill trek away from Yelagiri, The “Attaru” River passes through the yelagiri hills and falls from a height of 30 Mtrs. This could either be reached from Tiruppaththur, 15 Kms away or it is an hour’s trek from the hills. There is a Murugan Temple adjacent to the Jalagamparai falls, located within a building constructed in the shape of the Lingam. The isolated location of the waterfalls attracts visitors in large groups for picnicking.
Javadhu Hills: The most panoramic Javvadhu Hills are situated in the Northwestern part of Tiruvannamalai a part of the Eastern Ghats. The beautiful mountain lies at 2350 ft to 3500 ft above sea level with many picturesque sites, cliffs and precipices which attract a lot of tourists. Places of interest where tourists can have a good time include: Beema Falls, Komutteri Lake, Kavalur Observatory, Amirthi Forest, and the Glass House
Beema Falls: Water is available in these falls for almost 8 months in a year. The majority loves to bathe here when the flow is less as they find it an enjoyable experience.
Komutteri Lake: This is the biggest lake on the Javadhu hills and is also called Kolappan Lake. Boating facilities were introduced to attract tourists. An artificial island in the centre of the lake finds tourists throng this place for leisure.
Kavalur Observatory: This is the biggest observatory in Asia under the control of the Government of India. Astronomy, Stargazing and research on stars are the main activities of this observatory. Scientists from all over the country and abroad visit these research centres for their studies. Computer-controlled Big telescope attracts tourists in numbers and strength.
Glass House - Melpattu Village: Constructed during British rule is located at Melpattu village, the highest peak of Javadhu hills. There is a Herbal Farm set up and maintained by the Forest Department. Cave-like stone Age Houses found at Kilseppili-Valparai are more than 5000 years old and are the stunning attraction of all time.
Sathanur Dam: Exotic landscape, Children Park with a mini-zoo and a Crocodile farm run by the State Forest Department. This is one of the best picnic places in our District. The Beautiful Garden with colourful statues is also available in it. This Garden is one of the Famous Cine Shooting spots in South India.
Annamalaiyar temple: This gigantic temple is located at the foot of the sacred Tiruvannamalai Hills. It is located in an area of 25 acres, with Nine lofty Towers, encompassed by several shrines, mandapams and other enclosures decorated with finely and aesthetically carved pillars and sculptures. Inscriptions on the walls of this temple date back to the period between the 10th and 16th centuries. The temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams, which means the manifestation of five natural elements: land, water, air, sky and fire. Annamalaiyar is said to have manifested himself as an element of FIRE in this Temple.
Ramana Ashram: Raman Maharishi, the 20th-century saint lived here and taught simple Ramana Ashramway of life. This Ashram developed and maintained by Sri Ramana Maharishi’s disciples attracts tourists from all over the world.
Thirukkoilur Ulagalanda Perumal The presiding deities of the Vishnu Temple are Ulagalanda Perumal and Pushpavallithayar.
Kabilar Kundru is also yet another picnic spot at Thirukkoilur which is situated in the middle of the river Pennayar. Kabilar was a saint here and his last resting place is maintained by the state Archaeological Department.
Melnaariyappanoor Church The 100-year-old famous church is constructed by the Kunchaan, a devotee of St. Anthoniyar. This church is located at Melnaariyappanoor. It is famous for the shrine dedicated to the King of Miracles, Saint Antony of Padua
Kalvarayan Hills The hills straddle a number of Tamil Nadu districts, extending northeast from the Salem District. The range serves as a boundary between the Salem and Kallakurichi districts.
The proximity of clouds falling near the peak of Vellimalai hilltop is a popular tourist spot for locals during the monsoon season. Vellimalai is a pristine unexplored location. There are so many villages on Kalvarayan hills’ hilltop and in the chilly of climates in Innaddu.
It is one part of the Eastern ghats, that lies on the western side of the Kallakurichi Taluk. This area is spread over an area of 600 sq. km. Approximately the height ranges from 1000 ft to 3800 ft from the sea level. Kalrayan hills Possess innumerable tourism Potentialities like waterfalls, jungle streams, rivers and rivulets and lovely jungle walks. The place is a veritable paradise for trekkers. It is also called as ‘Poor man’s hill station’ of Tamil Nadu. Places of interest are Periyar Waterfalls, Gomukhi Dam, and Megham Falls.
On the counterpart, Periya kalvarayan Hills is located in Salem District, which aran e high altitude region of Kalvarayan Hills. Coffee estates, Nagalur waterfalls, and Kunnur (The highest village of Kalvarayan Hills) are located in Salem District.
Vadalur: Sathya Gnana Sabha was established by a Saivaite saint called Ramalinga Swamigal or Vallalar. Thai poosam is the most popular festival of Vadalur Sathyagnana Sabha. Only on this day, all the screens that remain closed year long are open to the public to have darshan of the Eternal Lamp [Jyothi] believed to have been lit by Vallalar himself.
Virudhachalam: Vriddhachalam or Big Mountain was called as Thirumudhukundram in ancient times. There is a popular Vridhagiriswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Siva.
Srimushnam: Buvaraha Perumal Temple, one of the popular vaishnavaite Temple of the state. A Swayam Vyakta Deity [self-created] of Saligramam Stone representing Varaha Avataram, is located here. The front Mandapam is called Purushasukra mandapam. The exotic Mandapam sculptured like a chariot ridden by Horses and Elephants speaks of its architectural excellence.
Natarajar Temple: This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva called as Natarajar is one of the Five Sabhas where Lord Siva performed the Cosmic Dance. The traditional name of the temple is Tillai Nataraja-Kootham Kovil. Chidambaram is a Pancha Bootha Sthalam, representing Akasam [Sky], one of the five elements of nature. This temple has 9 gateways, Four majestic 7 tiered towers and Sikaram covered with Gold Plates. The architecture of this temple is unique and dedicated to the art of Bharatha Natyam, a classical dance form of the State of Tamil Nadu.
Tillai Kaliamman Temple is situated at the northern end of the town. It was built by Kopperumsingan who ruled between 1229 and 1278 AD. Legend says that after the defeat of Kali in a dance competition with Shiva, Kali was banished from the Nataraja temple to the outskirts of the town where a temple was erected for her later, Popularly called the Thillai Kali Amman temple demonstrates the importance of Siva-Sakti concept. Lord Shiva performed the special cosmic dance the "OORTHAVA THANDAVA" here. The Chola period’s inscriptions are found in this temple.
Bhuvanagiri: Silk weaving is every household activity in this town. Bhuvanagiri Silk Textiles have its brand equity all over the world.
Pichavaram the second largest Mangrove forest in Tamil Nadu is one of the unique Eco-tourism spots in South India. The backwaters, interconnected by the Vellar and Coleroon river systems, offer abundant scope for water sports, rowing, Kayak and canoeing. The Pichavaram forest not only offers waterscape and backwater cruises but combines another very rare occurrence - the mangrove forest trees permanently rooted in a few feet of water. The Pichavaram mangroves are considered among the healthiest mangrove occurrence in the world. The Pichavaram mangroves attract an appreciable bird population of residents, local migrants and true migrants. At the mangroves, so far, 177 species of birds belonging to 15 orders and 41 families have been recorded.
Port Novo: It is also called Parangipettai. Remains of the Portuguese fort are located here. Annamalai University has established a Marine Biological Research Station in this town. Porto Novo is now an important fisheries centre.
Thiruvakkarai: The country's first national fossil wood park was created here, by fencing in a large fossil-bearing area. These petrified trees approximately 20 million years ago are lying scattered on low mounds and stream sections.
Silver – Beach Devanampattinam: It is situated in the east of Cuddalore Town. Horse Riding, Boating and Children's play area attract a large number of tourists to this beach. It is the second longest beach on the Coromandel Coast and is considered to be one of the longest beaches in Asia.
Padaleswarar Temple: Padaleswarar- Aunthuva Nayaki Temple dedicated to Lord Siva is located within the city of Cuddalore. Saivite Saints Appar, Thirugnana Sambanthar, and Arunagiri Nathar have visited this temple and sung hymns in praise of God.
Thiruvananthapuram: Lord Vishnu is called Devanatha Swami and Achuthan in this temple and it is located on the banks of Gadilam River, at Thiruvananthapuram.
Mailam: This is an abode of Lord Murugan on the Hillock; the Colourful Panguni Uthiram festival attracts devotees in large numbers from far and near. The temple was built by the Pommayapuram Pontiff.
Gingee Fort: It is a Fort on three Hillocks at an altitude of 800 ft. Maratha king Chatrapathi Sivaji ranked it as the "most impregnable fortress in India”. This fort was built by Ananda Kone, Chief of the Local Shepherd community. Kurumbars, Cholas, Nayaks, Marathas, Mughals and the British followed them. Venkataramana Temple, Kalyan Mahal, Horse stables, Granary, Mosque and Prisoner's Cell may not be in the same shape as before, but it speaks of the richness of the past. Rajagiri and Krishnagiri are two important fortifications located here and they are popular picnic spots.
Melmalayanur Temple: The temple of Angala Parameswari is situated here. In the inner sanctum, there is a snake pit which is being worshipped. There is a crowd of devotees on every new moon day.
Melmaruvathur Temple: Arulmigu Sri Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam is situated at Melmaruvathur, 92 km from Chennai) in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India.
Alamparai Fort: The ruins of Alamparai Fort (also called Alampara) lie near Kadappakkam, on the land overlooking the sea. Constructed in the late 17th century during the Mughal era, the Alamparai Fort once had a 100-metre-long dockyard stretching into the sea, from which zari cloth, salt, and ghee were exported.
Mudaliarkuppam Boating: Also called a Rain Drop Boat house, maintained and operated by the TTDC, is 90 km from the city of Chennai and 30 km south of Mamallapuram on the East Coast Road. This boat house has varieties of boats, water scooters, and speed boats to suit the taste of the visitors. A boating trip is arranged to the nearest beach island in Odiyur Lake. The avian population around this island comprises both resident and migratory birds of different species.
Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary
Thirukalukundram & Thiruporur
End of a Great Tour!
Duration
8D, 7N
Related Tours
Featured
