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A 5-day private temple journey

Pancha Bhoota Sthalam

Five temples, five elements: earth, air, fire, space and water.

Days
5
Temples
5
Looked after
16 things
By road
680 km

The journey, temple to temple

Five temples that honour Shiva as the five elements. Four are in Tamil Nadu and one, Srikalahasti, lies just across the border in Andhra Pradesh. Five days from Chennai to Tiruchirappalli.

  1. ArriveChennai
  2. Day 1Srikalahasteeswara Temple
  3. Day 2Ekambareswarar Temple
  4. Day 2Arunachaleswarar Temple
  5. Day 3Thillai Nataraja Temple
  6. Day 4Brihadisvara Temple
  7. Day 4Jambukeswarar Temple
  8. Day 5Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
  9. HomeTiruchirappalli

General itinerary Not a map: the order of the journey. Your own plan is shaped around who is travelling when we call you.

Day 1 of 5

Air: Srikalahasti

  1. Chennai
  2. Srikalahasti
  3. Kanchipuram
ChennaiKanchipuram

230 km by private car, about 6 hours in all, by way of Srikalahasti. The longest road day, taken first while everyone is fresh.

  1. Morning

    Drive north to Srikalahasti

    The one temple of the five outside Tamil Nadu, in Andhra Pradesh.

  2. Midday

    Srikalahasteeswara Temple

    Here the element is air. A lamp in the sanctum is said to flicker though no wind reaches it.

    The hunter who gave his eyesThe story of this temple

  3. Evening

    On to Kanchipuram

    South again to the city of temples and silk for the night.

Looked after on day 1

  • Pickup from your home or hotel in Chennai
  • Car and driver
  • Guide at the temple
  • Hotel in Kanchipuram

Night in KanchipuramA stay chosen for rest and for nearness to the temple.

Day 2 of 5

Earth and fire: Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai

  1. Kanchipuram
  2. Tiruvannamalai
KanchipuramTiruvannamalai

120 km by private car, about 3 hours.

  1. Morning

    Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

    Here the element is earth. A sacred mango tree stands within the temple.

    The lingam held against the floodThe story of this temple

  2. Midday

    Drive to Tiruvannamalai

    Through the midday closing, to the foot of Arunachala.

  3. Evening

    Arunachaleswarar Temple

    Here the element is fire, and the hill itself is held sacred. The temple lies at its foot, entered under some of the tallest gopurams in the south.

    The column of fire without endThe story of this temple

Looked after on day 2

  • Car and driver
  • Guide at both temples
  • Special-entry ticket where offered
  • Hotel in Tiruvannamalai

Night in TiruvannamalaiA stay chosen for rest and for nearness to the temple.

Day 3 of 5

Space: Chidambaram

  1. Tiruvannamalai
  2. Chidambaram
TiruvannamalaiChidambaram

155 km by private car, about 4 hours.

  1. Morning

    Drive to the coast country

    A morning on the road, arriving for lunch and rest.

  2. Evening

    Thillai Nataraja Temple

    Here the element is space. Shiva is worshipped as Nataraja, the dancer, and beside the sanctum a curtain is drawn back on an empty space: the secret of Chidambaram.

    The dance in the Thillai forestThe story of this temple

Looked after on day 3

  • Car and driver
  • Guide at the temple
  • Hotel in Chidambaram

Night in ChidambaramA stay chosen for rest and for nearness to the temple.

Day 4 of 5

Water: Thiruvanaikaval

  1. Chidambaram
  2. Gangaikonda Cholapuram
  3. Tiruchirappalli
ChidambaramTiruchirappalli

170 km by private car, about 4 hours. Gangaikonda Cholapuram is on the way and makes a good pause.

  1. Morning

    Drive inland along the Kaveri

    With a stop at the Chola temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram if you wish.

  2. Evening

    Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval

    Here the element is water. The fifth temple, and the end of the circuit.

    The spider and the elephantThe story of this temple

Looked after on day 4

  • Car and driver
  • Guide at the temple
  • Hotel in Tiruchirappalli

Night in TiruchirappalliA stay chosen for rest and for nearness to the temple.

Day 5 of 5

Srirangam, and home

  1. Tiruchirappalli

  1. Morning

    Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, if you wish

    The island temple is ten minutes from Thiruvanaikaval, for those who would like to see it before leaving.

    The god who would not be movedThe story of this temple

  2. Departure

    Tiruchirappalli airport or station

    Your driver takes you to your flight or train.

Looked after on day 5

  • Car and driver
  • Drop at Tiruchirappalli airport or station

HomeYour driver sees you to your flight or train.

things looked after, so that you only have to arrive.

A normal itinerary leaves all of this to you. On this journey it is ours.

On the road

  • Pickup from your home or hotel in Chennai
  • Car and driver
  • Drop at Tiruchirappalli airport or station

At the temples

  • Guide at the temple
  • Guide at both temples
  • Special-entry ticket where offered

Rest and stays

  • Hotel in Kanchipuram
  • Hotel in Tiruvannamalai
  • Hotel in Chidambaram
  • Hotel in Tiruchirappalli

On every journey To be confirmed

  • One host who plans the journey with you and stays on call while you travel
  • A private air-conditioned car and driver for every day on the road
  • Stays chosen for rest and for nearness to the temple
  • A local guide at each main temple
  • Special-entry darshan tickets booked ahead, where a temple offers them
  • Priests and pujas arranged on request

The temples, and the stories they keep

Before you go

Distances and drive times are approximate. Temple hours and rules are confirmed before you travel.

Would you like to make this journey?

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