We are open today until 6:30 pm. Call 020 7590 0798
Madurai Temple, Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu and Chennai

Grand temples & colonial towns

Tamil Nadu tailor-made holidays

Introduction

The southern state of Tamil Nadu is India's temple heartland. Bordered by the central Ghats Mountains and the Bay of Bengal, this Tamil-speaking state has traditionally been protected from northern influence by distance and the military might of successive Deccan Kingdoms. Here, religious ritual is lived and breathed on the streets and along the temple trail it is rare to find a religious building which has outlived its purpose.

Temples of Tamil Nadu

From the 11th-century sculpted stonework of Brihadishvara to the great gateway towers of Madurai, the great Tamil temples of the south pierce the sky of just about every town. We'll organise tours with the most knowledgable local guides as you explore this great network of sacred sites including shrines, holy trees, rocks and rivers, and ancient pilgrimage routes.


Puducherry (Pondicherry)

Formerly Pondicherry, this little slice of France overlooks the Indian Ocean on India's east coast. Indeed, this once off-the-beaten-track gem was under French rule as recently as 1954. And, it's a wonderful concoction of Indian spirit and gallic charm, played out against faded, flower-draped townhouses and a seafront made for strolling. The food, and even the accents, have a distinctly French lilt, and there's plenty of places to simply chill out, whether in a café overlooking the sea, or at an ashram for some serious meditation.


Chennai

Fine examples of Raj and Indo-Saracenic architecture combine with the complex local dances that are still widely practiced in India’s fourth-largest city. Museums and temples abound in this bustling metropolis, which serves up southern India's cultural and culinary traditions with boundless enthusiasm and no little panache. Indeed, once you push aside that searing tropical heat, you'll be treated to everything from colourful street-food markets to bohemian cafes, ending action-packed days with sunset strolls along what is the world's second-longest urban beach.



 

Read more

Tamil Nadu and Chennai holiday ideas

Sri Meenakshi, Madurai

Splendours of Southern India

13-day tailor-made holiday from £3,700 pp incl. flights

This luxury tour introduces you to the flavour and spice of Southern India. Relax and observe whilst the delicate aromas of cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric and curry leaves perfume the air.

Top places to stay in Tamil Nadu and Chennai

Vivanta by Taj, Chennai

Vivanta by Taj Connemara, Chennai

Historic hotel

Chennai’s only heritage hotel, the Connemara was first built in 1854 as the Imperial and has provided luxury accommodation to Chennai's visitors for over 150 years. Since an art deco makeover in 1937, the hotel has served as a living museum to the changing architectural fashions of the city, and to…

The Ideal River View Resort

The Ideal River View in Tanjore, Chennai

Traditional hotel

Attentive service and a serene setting on the bank of the holy Cauvery (Kaveri) River make this homely, family-friendly hotel an ideal base from which to discover the religious, artistic and architectural treasures of Tamil Nadu.

Premium Temptation Villa, Fisherman's Cove, Chennai

Vivanta by Taj Fisherman's Cove

Traditional resort

There are a lot of generic beach resorts around the world, but the Taj at Fisherman's Cove is hardly one of them. Its sleek Scandinavian-style cottages and villas, dotted among the ruins of an old Dutch fort, bring a timeless North Sea ambience to the Coromandel Coast. Set amongst 48 acres of casua…

Palais de Mahe

Palais de Mahe, Pondicherry

Traditional hotel

This historic chateau in the heart of Pondicherry is a striking monument to French colonial rule in this corner of India – an area they ruled for almost three centuries. A seductive fusion of the chic and heady, the Palais de Mahe is one of India's most distinctive eco-hotels, its historical charm …

See all places to stay

Where to go in Tamil Nadu and Chennai

Pondicherry

Pondicherry is best known as the former capital of France's India colony - a Gallic enclave of whitewashed 18th century homes with walled gardens and bougainvillea.

Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram is India's stone-carving capital: a city given over to ancient and modern sculpture and intricate idol making.

Tamil Nadu Temples

The great Tamil temples of the south pierce the sky of just about every town, along with a network of sacred sites, shrines, holy trees, rocks and rivers, and ancient pilgrimage routes.

Chennai

Sprawling Chennai, or Madras, is South India's principal metropolis and the country's fourth largest city.

See all places

Meet our Tamil Nadu and Chennai experts

Speak to a tailor-made specialist on 020 7590 0798

Meet the team

Why book with Wexas Travel?

At Wexas, we specialise in bespoke travel experiences. Our itineraries are just samples of what we can arrange, and can be changed depending on your precise needs, finances and ideas by our experienced destination specialists.

Contact one of our consultants on 020 7590 0798 to discuss how we can tailor your holiday.

Learn why Wexas is the leader in creating luxury holidays. What is tailor-made travel?

Expert advice & support

Visit us in our London office

Let our travel specialists curate the perfect holiday:

  • Inspirational ideas based on experience
  • Established for over 50 years
  • Tailor a holiday to your precise requirements
  • Personalised quotes and documentation

Every step of the way

Every step of the way

Our services are with you from start to finish:

  • Dedicated personal consultants
  • Free airport lounges on qualifying bookings
  • Care and guidance pre, post and during holiday
  • Full financial security: ABTA & ATOL protected