Destination: India
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Southern Temples & Beaches
This route, beginning in Chennai and ending in Mumbai, blends some of the steamy south's top temples with its most beautiful beaches.
After finding your feet in Chennai, wander south to Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) to admire the Shore Temple before diverting inland to Tiruvannamalai to see the captivating Arunachaleswar Temple. Swing southeast to Pondicherry, a charismatic seaside town that's home to the vibrant Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple. Slip further south to Chidambaram to savour the Nataraja Temple, then travel southwest to Thanjavur for the Brihadishwara Temple. Check out Tiruchirappalli's Rock Fort Temple before plunging down to Madurai, site of the awesome Sri Meenakshi Temple. Kick off some serious beach therapy in tropical Kerala, stopping at Kovalam and Varkala before working your way up to Alleppey, base for touring the magical backwaters. Roam around Kochi then journey north to coastal Mangalore before travelling inland to see the Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebid. Pause in the sacred seaside town of Gokarna before getting your feet wet in beach-blessed Goa, eventually making your way north to Mumbai, where visiting the rock-cut temples on Elephanta Island and snacking on bhelpuri at chirpy Chowpatty Beach is the perfect way to wrap up your trip.
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