Free Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
Free Cancellation
June 19100% refund
June 20No refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry one day trip from Chennai with Lunch
2 Adults x $239.00
$478.00
Approx Total
$478.00
Pickup included
Inclusions / Exclusions
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English, French
Private transportation
Headsets to hear the guide clearly
Lunch
Entry/Admission - Monuments
Personal expenses
Gratuities
Beverages
Overview
For a well-organized 12-hour day trip from Chennai, begin at 7:00 AM with a drive to Pondicherry, which takes approximately 3 hours. Start your visit at the serene Aurobindo Ashram, then explore the historic French Quarter and the Manakula Vinayagar Temple. Following this, take a relaxing stroll along Promenade Beach. Next, proceed to Auroville to experience its innovative architecture and the Matrimandir. After enjoying lunch, drive to Mahabalipuram and tour the Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, Arjuna's Penance, and Krishna’s Butterball. Return to Chennai by 7:00 PM to conclude a memorable and enriching day.
Itinerary
Pancha Rathas
Make the first stop of the day at the Pancharathas, or five chariots, a series of monolithic temples built by the Pallavas.These are rock cut monolith temples structures built in the 7th century. Each of the 5 rathas or chariots are dedicated to the lead cast of the Mahabharat epic- Draupadi, Arjuna, Nakul-Sahadeva, Bhima and Yudhister. There is also a sculpture of an elephant next to the ratha of Nakul-Sahadeva. Once you stand towards the rear of the elephant you will notice that there is an uncanny resemblance between the rear of the chariot and the elephant.
45 minutes
Arjuna's Penance
We next visit Arjuna’s Penace, a bas-relief monument that’s considered one of India’s most magnificent pieces of ancient art, depicting vivid scenes from the Mahabharata. The relief is 100 feet long and 45 feet tall! The main story being told is how Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, performed severe austerities in order to obtain Lord Shiva's weapon.
30 minutes
Krishna's Butter Ball
The next stop is Krishna’s Butterball, a granite boulder that’s poised on a stony slope. This curious boulder seems to defy Newton's laws of gravity and has not moved an inch despite being in this precarious position on the slope for more than a thousand years.
15 minutes
Shore Temple
Our last port of call is the Shore Temple. The magnificent temple overlooks the Bay of Bengal and was an important centre during the reign of the Pallavas when Mahabalipuram was the main port of their Kingdom. Built by King Raja Simha during the early 8th century, the Shore Temple is a landmark in the architectural landscape of India. Marco Polo referred to this as the seven pagodas. The existing temple is the last surviving of the 7 which once stood as a beacon for sea farers.
45 minutes
N/A
Shri Aurobindo, a great seer, poet and prophet of the twentieth century, made Pondicherry his home from 1910 till his death in 1950. His vision and ideals continue to draw people from all over the world.
30 minutes
Auroville
we travel to Auroville, the radical concept of a global village where thousands of people from across the world have given up their nationalities and are living as global citizens. Auroville was conceived with the vision that- “There should be a somewhere on earth, a place which no nation could claim as its own, where all human beings of goodwill who have a sincere aspiration could live freely as citizens of the world and obey one single authority, that of the supreme truth; a place of peace, concord and harmony…”. Guests will also get to see the various ways in which its citizens practice sustainable way of life. Matri Mandir is a giant dome for silent meditation.
1 hour
Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple
The Manakula Vinayagar Temple, in Puducherry, is a grand and beautiful temple, dedicated to the Hindu lord Ganesha. Puducherry might be a place full of churches but Manakula Vinayagar Temple is highly coveted among Hindu devotees and tourists, traveling from all parts of the country. Being more than 500 years old, it has an illustrious history and is one of the oldest temples in the region.
30 minutes
N/A
We visit a unique factory which makes hand made paper. Sri Aurobindo Paper Factory started 50 years ago and makes paper from 100% cotton rag pulp. In this visit guests will experience how the paper is produced from cotton rags and then processed with techniques like silk screen printing and marbling.
30 minutes
Sample Menu
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Free Cancellation
June 19100% refund
June 20No refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
5 stars
12
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
We perform checks on reviews
We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her
Reviews by TravelOne travelers
Showing 1-5 of 12 reviews with 5 stars
Clear filter
Highly recommended
Published on Oct, 2024
This tour is long and best.Both places are great and our guide done the great job.Driver done his job in great manner.Highly recommended!
Spectacular site
Published on Jun, 2024
The temples are amazing and the grounds are well kept. The (3) site pass is a great investment. It is unfortunate that the India government adds such a hefty fee for foreigners (600irp instead of 40 irp for nationals).
Lovely experience
Published on May, 2024
Lovely experience with Wonder tours.I booked the tour at last minute.Tour started from Chennai and we visited Pondicherry.After lunch we visited Mahabalipuram.Both places are amazing and our guide Nanda is brilliant.
Lovely time!!
Published on May, 2024
Great experience and history of 2 places. Basha did a great job and obviously is a
local to the area so has a detailed history of the area.Would recommend
Long day trip
Published on May, 2024
Very long day trip with our guide Nanda.He patiently answered all my questions.Both Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry are the great places to visit.
We guarantee the lowest price on all 200,000+ experiences we sell. If you find the same product cheaper within three days of booking or while you're in your destination, we'll refund the difference.It's Easy To Do
Gather your information
Assemble your Viator Booking Number or Itinerary Reference Number and the proof of the lower price you found.
Send it to us
Email connect@travelone.io with the documents, your name, and your home address.
We'll review
We'll examine your materials and get in touch as soon as we can.
Receive your refund
If everything checks out, we'll refund you the difference between the two prices.
TravelOne uses cookies to give you the best possible service. If you continue browsing, you agree to the use of cookies. More details can be found in our privacy policy.
Do you have a destination in mind, or would you like TravelOne AI to suggest one?
What is your destination?
Are you visiting Japan for the first time?
Travel Date
What is your general interest for this trip?
City Breakup
Travelers Details
Adults
Ages 12 or above
Child
Ages 8-12
Child
Ages 3-7
Infant
Ages 0-2
Adults
Ages 12 or above
Child
Ages 8-12
Child
Ages 3-7
Infant
Ages 0-2
Accommodation Preferences
Preferred Star Rating?
Property Preference?
Property Location?
Preferred Hotel Chain?
Meal At The Hotel?
Dining Preferences
Which meal package would you like to choose?
What are your meal preferences?
Dining Style Preferences?
Cuisine Preferences?
Dining Atmosphere Preferences?
Preferred Meal Times?
Transportation
What are your preferences for arrival/departure transfers?
What are your preferences for internal transfers?
Guide Support
What kind of guide support do you prefer during your trip?
Preferred Language for Guide?
Preferred Type of Guide?
Group Size for Tours with Guides?
Desired Role of the Guide?
Specific Guide Personality/Style Preference?
Dining recommendations/reservations?
Flights Preferences
What are your preferences for onward and return flights?
Cabin Class
Preferred Departure Time
Preferred Arrival Time
Preferred Airlines
What are your preferences for internal flight?
Cabin Class
Preferred Departure Time
Preferred Arrival Time
Preferred Airlines
What type of experiences do you seek while traveling?
Culinary Classes and Workshops
Candy Making ClassesChocolate ToursCocktail TastingsMixology ClassesPaella Making ClassesPasta Making ClassesPizza Making ClassesOlive Oil TastingWine Making Workshops
Golf Tours & Tee TimesLacrosse ClassesSoftball ClassesTennis
Winter Sports
SkiingSkiing Classes
Combat & Tactical Sports
Martial Arts ClassesPaintball
Extreme & Challenge-Based Sports
Obstacle Courses
Sports Training & Lessons
Sports LessonsCyclingCycling Classes
Exclusive & VIP Experiences
Private and LuxuryViator VIP ToursOnce in a Lifetime ExperiencesViator Experience Award 2022Viator Experience Award 2023Viator Experience Award 2024Viator Exclusive Tours
Private & Personalized Travel
Private Day TripsPrivate DriversPrivate Sightseeing Tours
Romantic & Scenic Experiences
Romantic ToursSunset CruisesHelicopter ToursLimousine ToursLuxury Car ToursPhoto Shoots
