Tamil Nadu is in the south-eastern corner of India. Above all, it has a great history dating back thousands of years. This Tamil speaking Dravidian state has seen the powerful Chola and Pallava dynasties leave behind temples of undeniable beauty. Furthermore, they have left stunning colourful stone carvings and bronze sculptures that impress any visitor. A tour of Tamil Nadu doesn’t have to involve seeing a long list of temples, as its rural heartlands are exceptionally interesting. For instance, a visit to the rural district of Chettinad or the hills around Kodaikanal gives your tour a perfect balance.
The British established the capital of Tamil Nadu, Madras (now Chennai), in the 17th century. Moreover, the French established Pondicherry, the Danes at Tranquebar and the Dutch at Cuddalore. For those interested in temples, you can explore Kanchipuram, close to Madras. The rock-cut shore temples of Mahabalipuram are undeniably exquisite. Moreover, you will be astounded by the temples in Tanjore. Madurai has the most impressive temple, the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Many guests combine Tamil Nadu with a journey across into neighbouring Kerala or add on a beach stay in the Andaman Islands.
This is just a selection of suggested itineraries that are there to help you with your ideas and to start the conversation with us about planning your tailor-made holiday. All our holidays are private for you and your party, and can depart on any day you like. We can adapt and change any element of these journeys, or design an itinerary from scratch around your travelling plans.
Combining the cultural highlights of Tamil Nadu and the beautiful beaches of the Andaman Islands is one of India’s best-kept secrets. Start in Chennai, formerly known as Madras, before exploring Pondicherry and the superb shore temples of Mahabalipuram.
For hardened Indiaphiles, Tamil Nadu is somewhat of a holy grail. Lying off-the-beaten-track, you can explore stunning Hindu temples with a distinct Dravidian Culture awaiting you.
This classic route takes you from Chennai (Madras) in Tamil Nadu, through the hills and into the Kerala to see the tea estates, backwaters and ending on the beach.
This is just an overview of the hotels and lodges we feature, from characterful boutique lodges to luxury hotels. We do have a range of other hotels that we use, so if you don't see from our portfolio what you are looking for, we almost certainly know about it and can help plan an itinerary using it.
This is a selection of experiences that allow you to see the destination in new and interesting ways. Almost all our experiences include a private guide, and can be then tailored to your particular interests. Indeed, many of the experiences we offer are created individually for our guests, so this list is by no means conclusive. In fact, we leave a couple of our best ideas up our sleeves for when you enquire with us.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.