India
Treasures of Chennai
Extend your cruise with an exquisitely curated journey through Chennai and the storied coastline of Tamil Nadu. Discover colonial landmarks, ancient temples, and UNESCO World Heritage sites that reveal the region’s rich cultural tapestry. Savour refined regional cuisine, wander through atmospheric neighbourhoods shaped by centuries of history, and engage with artisans, storytellers, and living traditions that embody the enduring spirit of the South.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1
Upon arrival in Chennai, you will be welcomed by our Pierce & Leslie colleague who will escort you to your hotel and help you to check-in.
Tonight, enjoy dinner at an award-winning Chinese fine-dining restaurant or a celebrated Indian speciality restaurant.
Tonight, enjoy dinner at an award-winning Chinese fine-dining restaurant or a celebrated Indian speciality restaurant.
Day 2
After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel to begin a guided exploration of Chennai’s highlights.
Start with a visit to Fort St. George, Britain’s first stronghold in India and the foundation from which the British Empire expanded. Continue past notable landmarks including the Victory War Memorial, built in honour of soldiers who lost their lives in World War I, and the impressive Senate House, a fine example of Indo-Saracenic architecture by 19th-century architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm.
Visit the Madras Museum, home to an extensive collection spanning archaeology, anthropology, art, and natural history. Thereafter, enjoy a tuk-tuk ride to Mylapore, one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, where you will visit the historic Santhome Church, built by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century.
Take a heritage walk through the surrounding area, including the narrow Mada streets encircling the 16th-century Kapaleeswarar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Time permitting, visit Kalakshetra, a renowned cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional Indian music and dance, before returning to your hotel.
Start with a visit to Fort St. George, Britain’s first stronghold in India and the foundation from which the British Empire expanded. Continue past notable landmarks including the Victory War Memorial, built in honour of soldiers who lost their lives in World War I, and the impressive Senate House, a fine example of Indo-Saracenic architecture by 19th-century architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm.
Visit the Madras Museum, home to an extensive collection spanning archaeology, anthropology, art, and natural history. Thereafter, enjoy a tuk-tuk ride to Mylapore, one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, where you will visit the historic Santhome Church, built by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century.
Take a heritage walk through the surrounding area, including the narrow Mada streets encircling the 16th-century Kapaleeswarar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Time permitting, visit Kalakshetra, a renowned cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional Indian music and dance, before returning to your hotel.
Day 3
After an early breakfast at 08:00, depart on an excursion to Mamallapuram (approximately 2 hours, excluding stops).
En route, stop at Dakshina Chitra, a living cultural museum showcasing the traditions, architecture, and crafts of South India’s four states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Continue to Radisson Blu Resort, Temple Bay for lunch the resort’s seafood speciality restaurant.
After lunch, explore the remarkable rock-cut monuments of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an open-air museum of Tamil art created under the patronage of the Pallava dynasty. Visit the iconic Shore Temple, the sole surviving structure of its original complex, along with the Pancha Rathas, a group of monolithic chariot-shaped shrines, and Arjuna’s Penance, an extraordinary open-air rock bas-relief.
Late in the afternoon, return to your hotel in Chennai.
En route, stop at Dakshina Chitra, a living cultural museum showcasing the traditions, architecture, and crafts of South India’s four states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Continue to Radisson Blu Resort, Temple Bay for lunch the resort’s seafood speciality restaurant.
After lunch, explore the remarkable rock-cut monuments of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an open-air museum of Tamil art created under the patronage of the Pallava dynasty. Visit the iconic Shore Temple, the sole surviving structure of its original complex, along with the Pancha Rathas, a group of monolithic chariot-shaped shrines, and Arjuna’s Penance, an extraordinary open-air rock bas-relief.
Late in the afternoon, return to your hotel in Chennai.
Day 4
Today, you will be met by our colleague in the hotel lobby, and he will escort you to your onward connection – whether to the airport for your departing flight or to the port for embarkation.
Please note that certain attractions operate with fixed opening and closing times, which may not always align perfectly with your specific itinerary.
Please note that certain attractions operate with fixed opening and closing times, which may not always align perfectly with your specific itinerary.
Snapshots from the itinerary
