The Best of South India
Destinations to visit :Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Trichy - Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar - Munnar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Ooty - Mysore - BangaloreDuration of the Tour : 17 Nights / 18 Days
Day 01 / Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai. Meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Day of leisure. Night stay in Chennai.Day 02 / Chennai
Morning after breakfast proceed for sight seeing tour of Chennai covering St.Thomas Church, Kapaleshwar Temple and Fort St.George. Drive past the Marina Beach, the natural sandy beauty and spacious promenade and beautiful gardens of the beach attracts tourists visiting Chennai. Night stay in Chennai.Day 03 / Chennai - Kachipuram - Mahabalipuram
Morning drive to Kanchipuram-- known as the Golden City of a Thousand Temples, is one of the oldest towns in India. It is famous for both its temples, many of them remarkably well preserved and for its hand-woven silks. Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities of India and it is the only one associated with both Shiva and Vishnu. Visit Ekambareshwar Temple, Kailashnath Temple, Kamakshi Temple, the Vaikunthaperumal Temple, all built in the 7th and 8th centuries. With a weaving tradition dating back to the Pallava era (when silk was the royal cloth), Kanchipuram is justly famous for its particularly fine silk saris, embellished with stunning patterns. Visit the local homes of the weavers and watch them create magic out of silk thread into saris. Continue drive to Mahabalipuram & transfer to hotel. Later proceed for city sightseeing.Mahabalipuram - This is a small, quiet seaside resort with a unique 7th-century Shore Temple, a lovely beach and some of the most beautiful rock-cut temples in the world. Situated on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, Mahabalipuram was already a famous seaport in the 1st century AD. This town was a workshop for temple building. Visit the seven pagoda-style Shore temples, lashed by the waves of the sea and the seven rathas or temple chariots, a group of monolithic monuments & animal figures carved out of solid rock, the earliest known examples of Dravidian architecture. They were constructed in a single century-long burst of creative enthusiasm, starting in the reign of Narasimhavarman 1 (AD 630-68). End the visit by photography of the beautiful Shore temples at sunset. Night stay in Mahabalipuram.
Day 04 / Mahabalipuram - Trichy
After breakfast drive to Trichy, short name of Trichurapalli, situated on the banks of Kaveri River is a blend of history and tradition as well as pilgrim centre, it is famous for Ranganath temple at Srirangam. Later city tour visiting Rock fort and its temple at a height of over 23mts. Also visit Srirangam and Jambukeshwar Temple. Night stay in Trichy.Day 05 / Trichy - Tanjore - Madurai
Morning drive to Thanjavur (Tanjore)(104kms/03hrs) enroute visiting the Brass factory at Kumbakonam. Tanjore once the capital of Chola Kings, has the Brahadeswara temple(or the big temple of God).The temple tower rises to a height of 15mts from a square base of 29 mts and then tapers off, making a total of 66mts. Continue drive to Madurai. The ancient city of Madurai, some 2600 years old is laid out in the banks of river Vaigai as a lotus flower with the Meenakshi temple in the centre. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Madurai.Day 06 / Madurai
Madurai is over 2500 years old and is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu - Ancient seat of learning. The city is planned in the shape of a lotus. Situated on the banks of the Vaigai River, Madurai is the ancient capital of the Pandya Kings. Legend has it, that the divine nectar falling from the locks of Lord Shiva gave the town its ancient name, Madhurapuri—the land of nectar. Today, it is an important business centre. The crowning glory of Madurai is the Meenakshi Sundareshwara Temple Complex, which is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, her consort Lord Sundareshwara, and her celestial brother, Lord Vishnu. The Meenakshi Temple has a thousand-pillared hall. Also enjoy a 'light & sound Panorama' in Thirumala Naik Temple or visit to Alagar hills & Thirupura Rock Temple. In the evening, listen to the distinctive temple music at Thiruppa Rakundram. Night stay in Madurai.Day 07 / Madurai - Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Morning drive on a scenic route dotted with plantations of rubber, cardamom, cocoa, green pepper and areca nut, to the wildlife reserve at Periyar. Arrive Periyar and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free for walk around in the peaceful town known for various Spice and coffee plantations. Night stay in Periyar.Day 08 / Periyar - Munnar
Early morning enjoy a boat ride on Lake Periyar to see wild elephants. Afternoon drive to Munnar, the famous hill station of Kerala. Arrive Munnar and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Munnar.Day 09 / Munnar
Day is free to relax and to walk around. Munnar is situated near the Anaimudi Peak, the highest peak in the Western Ghats.Also visit Rajamalai & Eravikulam National Park, 15Kms from Munnar, this is the natural habitat of the Nilgiri Thar, a rare mountain goat (Hermitragas Hylocres). 2. Marayoor, 40Kms from Munnar, the only place in Kerala that lays claim to the natural growth of Sandalwood. The Muniyara caves with murals and relics from the New Stone Age Civilization. A Children’s Park, spread across a hectare of land under the canopy of a Single Banyan Tree, are of great interest to tourists. Night stay in Munnar.Day 10 / Munnar - Kumarakom
Morning drive to Kumarakom near Kottayam and stay in one of the backwater resorts. The panoramic backwaters here offer an ideal retreat to enjoy nature at its best. Night stay at Kumarakom.Day 11 / Kumarakom - Alappuzha
Morning drive a short distance before switching over to a boat for a through many canals and waterways up to Alleppey. The backwater cruise in a country boat is the best way to explore the villages and rural life. In Alleppey you will be taken aboard your floating houseboat, a different boat with a bedroom and en-suite rest room for your comfort. Enjoy unlimited surfing on backwaters, sip a coconut, get disturbed by only the chirping of birds and occasional ripples in water and savor mouthwatering delicacies prepared in front of you by your Kitchen crew. Spend the night on board the houseboat. Enjoy a cruise on the backwater through a maze of canals and lagoons and enjoy freshly caught fresh water fish cooked to your taste on board. Night stay in Allapuzha.Day 12 / Allapuzha - Cochin
Morning drive to Cochin (225Kms drive). The Commercial Capital of Kerala, and the most cosmopolitan of Kerala’s cities, Cochin is a fascinating blend of cultures. Arrive & transfer to hotel. Later proceed for sightseeing in Cochin covering:- The Hill Palace Museum, a fully-fledged archeological museum and Kerala’s first ever Heritage Museum are the main attractions (closed on Mondays).
- Chinese Fishing Nets, this unique style of huge cantilevered fishing nets were erected between 1350 and 1450 AD by traders from the Court of Kubla Khan, a Chinese King.
- Santa Cruz Basilica, this historic church was built by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. Pope John Paul II proclaimed the Church a Basilica in 1984.
- The Jewish Synagogue, constructed in 1568, this is the oldest Synagogue in the Commonwealth (closed on Saturdays & Jewish Holidays). The area around the Synagogue, called Jew Town, is the centre for Spice & Handicraft shops.
- Mattanchery Palace (Dutch Palace), built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to the Regent of Kochi (closed on Fridays). Night stay in Cochin.
Day 13 / Cochin - Ooty
After breakfast drive to Ooty. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Evening free to explore the beautiful & ravishing beauty of Ooty. Also visit Zotanical Garden: A variety of exotic and ornamental plants adorn this garden which is the venue for the Flower show held in May every year. Night stay in Ooty.Day 14 / Ooty
Day free to relax and explore the surroundings. It is one of the most popular hill resorts in southern India at an elevation of 7216 ft. above sea-level. The Eastern Ghats are mighty and attractive while the Western ghats have wooded loveliness. Nature unfolds itself in and around Ooty in a myriad of profiles, each one with a distinctive grandeur and individuality. Night stay in Ooty.Day 15 / Ooty - Mysore
Morning drive to Mysore. The city got its name from Mahishasura, the buffalo headed demon king. Chamundeswari, an incarnation of Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva, killed the demon. It is also the capital of sandalwood, musk and rosewood. Mysore emerged as the capital of the Wodeyar kings, in 1399 AD. The original wooden palace was destroyed in a fire in 1897 during a marriage ceremony. Henry Erwin, a British architect, designed the new palace and handed it over to the king in 1911-12, at a cost of Rs. 4.2 million. Though royalty no longer exists in its accepted form, the descendants of the royal family still live here. The palace is a blend of Indo-Saracenic, Mogul and Hindu architecture styles. The entire effect is magnificent. Other attractions include the Lalit Mohan Palace, at the foot of the Chamundi Hill. E. W. Fritchley, a British architect, built it in 1931. Then there is the Jagan Mohan Palace, built by Krishnaraj Wodeyar IV in 1861 as a royal auditorium. Today, it is a famous art gallery, containing royal paintings. Night stay in Mysore.Day 16 / Mysore
After breakfast, visit the places you must have been longing to visit: Sir Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery – Housed in the Jag Mohan Palace, this gallery has a collection of exquisite paintings dating back to 1875. St. Phenomena's Church – Built in the Gothic style, one of the largest churches of the country. Chamundi Hills – Right on the top of the hill, Brindavan Gardens – Witness the exuberant beauty of Brindavan Gardens. Night stay in Mysore.
Arrive Chennai. Meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Night stay in Chennai.
Mahabalipuram - This is a small, quiet seaside resort with a unique 7th-century Shore Temple, a lovely beach and some of the most beautiful rock-cut temples in the world. Situated on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, Mahabalipuram was already a famous seaport in the 1st century AD. This town was a workshop for temple building. Visit the seven pagoda-style Shore temples, lashed by the waves of the sea and the seven rathas or temple chariots, a group of monolithic monuments & animal figures carved out of solid rock, the earliest known examples of Dravidian architecture. They were constructed in a single century-long burst of creative enthusiasm, starting in the reign of Narasimhavarman 1 (AD 630-68). End the visit by photography of the beautiful Shore temples at sunset. Afternoon drive to Pondicherry, which is 132 kms. & approx 04 hrs. drive. Transfer to hotel. Night stay in Pondicherry.
Arrive Chennai, meet assist at the airport and transfer to hotel. Later proceed on a half Day sightseeing tour of Chennai covering St.Thomas Church, Kapaleshwar Temple, Fort St. George and drive past the Marina Beach. Night stay in Chennai.
Temple, all built in the 7th and 8th centuries. With a weaving tradition dating back to the Pallava era (when silk was the royal cloth), Kanchipuram is justly famous for its particularly fine silk saris, embellished with stunning patterns. Visit the local homes of the weavers and watch them create magic out of silk thread into saris. Night stay in Kanchipuram.