Chennai with land of Pallavas (Kanchipuram & Mamallapuram)

Arjunan Penance is a 27m x 9m World's largest. It has over 100 sculptures of Gods, Birds Beasts and Saints. This bas -relief is believed to illustrate an instance from Mahabharata when Arjuna, one of the Pandavas, performed rigorous penance with a prayer to Lord Shiva to obtain the Powerful and Divine Bow. The other name for this Bas- relief is the “Descent of the Ganges” Crocodile Bank: This Park provides ample opportunities to watch crocodiles from a safe distance. It is centre houses thousands of crocodiles and alligators of different species found around the world. There is also a tribal society that runs a snake venom extraction centre. Dakshinachitra: One can see reconstructions of traditional houses and other artefacts from rural South India. It aims at providing an insight into the lifestyle of the four southern states. Five Rathas are five free-standing temples. There are about nine monolithic temples at Mahabalipuram. They are the unique contribution of the Pallavas to Indian Art. The monolithic temples are called locally Ratha (Chariot) as they resemble the processional chariots of a temple. The Five rathas, the best of all monolithic temples, are hewn out of a huge boulder. Temples of different plans and elevations have been carved and the leftover portions were intelligently used to cut animals naturally. Krishna's Butter Ball: The huge boulder rests precariously on a narrow rock base defying gravity. Legend has it that several Pallava kings attempted to move it, but all the kings and their elephants could not shift the boulder even by an inch. It is now a popular tourist attraction which stuns the visitors with its balance. Mahishamardhini Cave: The cave has a front mandapa, a triple cell, four pillars, and two pilasters. On either side of this mandapa two large panels one representing Seshasayi Vishnu and the other Mahishamardhini. Panchapandava Mandapam: A large cave temple of which only six lion pillars and similar pilasters at either end are finished. The brackets above the capitals of these pillars are decorated with lions and gryphons with human riders. Shore Temples: This is one of the oldest temples in south India, As it is on the shore overlooking the Bay of Bengal it is called the Shore Temples. it is an excellent example of the first phase of structural temples constructed in the Tamil style of architecture. Trimurthi Cave: A Triple celled temple with a superstructure is believed to be dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, the three gods of the Hindu pantheon. Varah Cave: The mandapa in the front has two lion- pillars and two pilasters, and beyond this in the centre, the cell is guarded by two dwarapalas. There are four panels on the walls of the front mandapa representing Varaha raising goddess earth from the ocean.

Kailasanathar Temple: the temple of the Lord of Mt. Kailash dedicated to Lord Siva. It is made up of a typical Pallava style of a Pyramidal Tower, pillared halls and a vestibule. More than 50 small shrines are enshrined in this temple complex. Varadaraja Perumal Temple: A 23 acre temple complex, with 19 vimanams and around 400 pillared halls, dedicated to Varadarajaperumal. One of the 108 Divya Desam and all the 12 Alwars have visited and sung hymns in praise of the Lord. Vaikunta Perumal Temple: Temple of Lord Vishnu called Vaikunta Perumal, built by Nandivarman dates back to the 8th century. This temple is under the care of the Archaeology Department, Govt. of India. Vaikunda Ekadasi is the most important festival of the temple. Ulagalanda Perumal: This temple was built by Jayam Konda Cholan. This incarnation of Lord Vishnu is called the Vamana Avatharam. This talks about the Divine happening of measuring the entire universe [ulagu = world; alantha=measured] in one step by Lord Vishnu. The Sanctum Sanctorum has a 35-foot Idol of Lord Vishnu. Ashtabuja Perumal Temple: Deviating from the normal posture with four arms, Lord Vishnu is in a standing posture with 8 arms called Ashtabuja Perumal. The temple is one of the 108 Divyadesams of Perumal. A separate Mangalasasanam [hymns] is addressed to Goddess by Azhwar only in this temple. Ekambareswarar Temple: It is one of the Panchabootha Sthalam [five elements of Nature] representing Prithivi [Earth]. Ekam = one, Amaram: Mango tree means Singe Mango Tree. The Single Mango Tree in the outer court is revered as the most sacred. It has an almost 60 m tall Tower. Kamakshi Temple: It is a 12th Century temple in the heart of the town. “Ka” means Goddess Saraswati (God of Education), “Ma” means Goddess Lakshmi (God of Wealth), and “Akshi” means Eye. It is one of the important Temples of Kanchipuram. Kanchi Mutt: It is called Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam established by Adi Sankara himself. Kanchi Kudil was born of a desire to turn a nearly 100-year-old ancestral house into a place of tourist interest. The Tourist gets a feel of the classical living of life in a historic place like Kancheepuram. Craft exhibitions and live demos by artisans are arranged during peak tour seasons to attract overseas tourists. Sriperumbudur: The place is mainly known for the RamanujaSwamy Temple, also known as AdhikesavaPerumal Temple, the birthplace of SrimadRamanuja, the great philosopher of ‘Vaishnavism’. This leads to the ancient temple. The temple here has one of the three important images of Saint Ramanuja made during his lifetime which was set up in Srirangam, Sriperumbudur (his birthplace) and Melkote in Karnataka. End of a Great Cultural & Spiritual Tour!