We booked a tour for the Mahabalipuram temples. We were picked up directly from our hotel and were driven to the temples with a private car. We started our tour with a visit to the shore temple and continued onwards from there to all the different temples and structures. Our tour guide Kannan provided extensive information on the history of every sight that we visited and answered all of our questions, not just the ones about the temples but all others about different topics as well. We could enjoy a nice view over the entire area from the top of the old light house and had the opportunity to buy traditional stone carvings from a master stone mason. At the end of our tour we shared an excellent traditional Indian meal with our guide near sights. It was an amazing experience which I can recommend to anyone visiting Chennai for the time.

It felt typically British as we meandered around the old part of Chennai in the rain, but it did not dampen the guides enthusiasm! Hareesh took me on a tour of a range of British buildings in Chennai, explaining the history of the British time in the city and the changes they made. Meeting at Egmore station, he explained the different architectural influences on the building from British to Persian. We walked onto the Main station, learning about the effect on Chennai of the railways and the new modern metro system currently being installed. We then took the train for a stop, and took in the Ripon Building, which seemed so incongruous and, well, British, in a very Indian setting. It is still a government building, albeit with the odd addition of an Aircon unit. We passed the railway HQ, complete with a steam train, and finished with a walk around the University of Madras, which is an enchanting campus close to the beach. All in all a very interesting few hours, As a British I'm glad we did a few positive things in India, despite our aggressive colonial past. Hareesh speaks excellent English and is a very engaging guide who made time for a lovely cup of coffee. Communication from 5senses was good throughout.

Our second day tour with 5 Senses covered many interesting sites in Chennai itself. We again had Kannan as our guide and Mohan as our driver. The positive experience with them both is expressed in our review of our day trip to Mamallapuram the day before. We were not rushed and Kannan provided many historical "quirks" and stories about a number of the sites that we would otherwise have been unaware and this added greatly to the experience. Again we enjoyed a delicious meal but this time he walked us through a typical Northern Indian Thali while comparing it with the Southern Indian Thali we had on the Mamallapuram tour. A thoughtful consideration. Based on both our tours with 5 Senses we would highly recommend them.

This was the first of two tours we had with 5 Senses Tours in Chennai. Our guide was Kannan who was very punctual and personable. The trip to Mamallapuram was very comprehensive covering all the major sites. As we are not familiar with the Hindu dieties, Kannan was very patient in explaining the stories depicted in the carvings. His commentary was easy to follow and knowledgeable. He also took us to an impressive Jain temple and explained much about this particular religion. Lastly he took us to lunch for a delicious South Indian Thali and educated us on what each dish was and how they should be eaten. We also had an excellent, safe and careful driver in Mohan.

An outstanding journey through history, culture, and breathtaking architecture. This tailored experience allowed me to explore the wonders of this UNESCO World Heritage site at my own pace, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in India’s rich history. The tour began with a prompt pick-up from my hotel. The guide accompanying me was knowledgeable. One of the highlights was the flexibility of the tour. Unlike group tours, this private setup allowed me to linger at sites that intrigued me the most and skip areas that were less appealing. I also appreciated the opportunity to explore local shops and try some authentic South Indian cuisine, which added a personal touch to the experience.

The Trip is very well organized. Ramesh is a very good guide, taking care, taking time, explaining... Visit ended with a good lunch.

Satish is a very friendly and knowledgeable guide in the history and places of significance in Chennai. Our tour included discussions about the regions history, religious sites, and architectural locations like lighthouse #4 on the beach. I highly recommend you take a tour of Chennai with Satish and take a deep dive into one of India’s premier cities!

It has been my first time to India. This experience would not be as good if I did not had the tour to Mahabalipuram. The sightseeing were astonishing and my guide, Ramesh told me all about those monuments and he has been so proffesional in making photographs and navigating atiund other groups to gain the best view. I have really enjoyed the tour. In the end of the tour we have tried tasty athentic local food. Overall, I am happy about my trip but now I really one day is too little for visiting Tamil Nadu. Anton

5/5. Ganesh was an amazing tour guide! Super knowledgeable and entertaining! Great little tour in a city that needs a guide. Be tough seeing any of this without the local talent!

An early start, but worth it to get time at the temples before they close at 12. Avoiding the cows on the motorway, we drove through the outskirts of Chennai and through padi fields and palm trees to reach Kanchipuram, the town of a thousand temples. We stopped for coffee which was good. Hareesh, our guide, was full of information about the history of the town, it's prominence as a pilgrimage location within India and about the three main temples we visited. His English was excellent, and we learnt more about the Hindu faith and rituals, and made offerings ourselves with his guidance . Of particular interest was the 3500 year old mango tree which defies biologists and produces four different fruits! He took some lovely photos of us in the way, and we also visited a centre to see silk weaving and a family silk business. A great trip, made better by a super guide and driver (who guided us safely through some "interesting" traffic).

10/10 recommend this tour. Guide Satish (and driver) were supremely helpful, friendly, and attentive. We visited multiple temples and museums, and were provided with extra information and context all along the way. We will be booking another tour with this company. Well done!

Nivi was a fantastic guide. We were running 10 minutes late and she was very accommodating and we met her at the first store. She basically held our hand while navigating wedding attire shopping. Would absolutely recommend for anyone looking to shop.

This was a fabulous tour. I was picked up at my hotel in an air conditioned car. We saw multiple temples and the 5 Senses guide was great. He explained the history of these temples from 600AD and a little background to better understand. Before leaving we stopped for lunch. I would highly recommend this trip.

Great local knowledge, friendly and the pace was great. So glad to have booked a guide to bring the area to life. Highly recommend Ramesh our guide, who even taught us to eat traditional thali.

Great solo day tour with Ramesh, so knowledgeable and couldn’t have done more, saw so much during the day. Highly recommend