Kanchipuram Private Tour: Day Trips and Temple Tours

Temples and Mahabalipuram in one private day

The 12 hour private day trip collects you at your Chennai hotel or a place you choose and returns you there. The route links the Kailasanathar, Ekambareswarar and Varadharaja Perumal temples with Mahabalipuram, and silk weaving appears among the highlights. A private vehicle, an English-speaking guide and bottled water are included; entrance fees are covered when you select the entrance option. It costs $96 per person, so $192 for a couple and $384 for a family of four. It rates 4.7 from 63 reviews, which makes it the sensible start for first-time visitors who want everything in one go.

The full-day trip with lunch runs the same 12 hours at $90 per person. After the three temples it adds the Shore Temple, the Five Rathas, Arjuna's Penance and Krishna's Butter Ball in Mahabalipuram. Temple tickets, an English-speaking guide, lunch and two water bottles per person are included. Four people pay $360, lunch counted in. It rates 5.0 from three reviews.

If 12 hours sounds long, the 8 hour private day covers Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram by air-conditioned car for $72 per person, or $288 for four. It includes a guide, the entry fees on the itinerary and two bottles of water; lunch is not included. It rates 4.5 from 8 reviews. Our Mahabalipuram guide shows what waits on the coast.

Silk weaving and three temples without the coast drive

The private silk city day stays in Kanchipuram. It visits a weaving centre and the Kamakshi, Kailasanathar and Ekambareswarar temples over 8 hours, collecting you from a Chennai city hotel or the airport. Hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, the entry fees on the programme and bottled water are included. Lunch is extra unless you pick the lunch option. At $86 per person it suits a couple who care more about silk than the sea; two pay $172. Staying inland also skips the 70 km drive to Mahabalipuram. Read about Kanchipuram silk and the temples before you choose. It rates 4.3 from 10 reviews.

A private guide for caves and temples

The private caves and temples tour starts in Chennai, lasts 8 hours and costs $125 per person, or $250 for two. A private English-speaking guide and an air-conditioned vehicle come with it, and the entrance fees on the itinerary are covered. Camera fees at the monuments are not. It suits two friends or a family that wants a guide for the caves and temples of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram and no group to wait for. It rates 4.7 from 17 reviews.

Nine days through Tamil Nadu

The private nine-day route starts in Tiruchirappalli, and Kanchipuram is day seven, with Kailasanatha, Ekambareswarar and silk looms in the programme. Hotel transfers, a guide, entrance fees to temples and attractions, a Tanjore painting workshop, a walking tour in Madurai and local markets are included. At $949 per person it works out to about $105 for each of the nine days. It fits only if you are already touring the state.

What your party pays

Because every price is per person, the total grows with your group. For two, the day trips come to $144 for the 8 hour Mahabalipuram day, $172 for the silk day, $180 for the lunch trip and $192 for the 12 hour day; the caves tour is $250. For four, the same trips cost $288, $344, $360, $384 and $500. Among the day trips, only the lunch trip builds a meal into the price.