Day 01 : Arrive Chennai
& Transfer to Mahabalipuram (55 Kms, 01 Hr)
Arrive in Chennai. After completing formalities with
customs and immigration, you will be received by our
representative with Traditional Indian Welcome (with
garlands).
On arrival drive to Mahabalipuram .
Madras is a fascinating city with its ancient temples
and unique culture, golden sandy beaches merging with
the breakers of the Bay of Bengal and a marvelous
tradition of music and dance.
On arrival check in at Hotel
Overnight at hotel
Day 02 :
Mahabalipuram
After breakfast this morning, visit
Mahabalipuram
which was the main port of the Pallava dynasty & has
exquisite rock-cut monuments, monolithic structures &
Bas-reliefs. Thereafter visit
Museum, Dakshin Chitra that preserves actual houses of
different communities & village craftsmen from the four
southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
& Kerala.
By noon make an excursion to
Kanchipuram (about
26 kms), the ancient capital of the Pallavas, famous as
a city of 1000 temples that still has 124 shrines. The
first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th &
8th century & has painting on the walls. Temples of
Ekambaswara, Kailasnatha, Sri Kamakshi & Vardarajaewamy
are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its
silk.
Return back to hotel.
Overnight at hotel
Day 03 :
Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry (140 Kms, 03 Hrs)
After breakfast this morning drive to
Pondicherry, a
charming coastal town that was formerly a French colony
and still got few touches of French culture.
Upon arrival check-in at hotel.
Afternoon visit the
French Tamil quarter
and the world famous
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
a spiritual center founded on modern science and yoga.
Also visit the world-famous
Auroville International Community.
This is an experiment in international living where
people live in peace and progressive harmony above all
creeds, politics and nationalities.
Overnight at hotel)
Day 04 Pondicherry-Trichy
(240 Kms, 05 Hrs)
Morning after breakfast drive to Trichy, visiting
Tanjore enroute.
Tanjore also known
as thanjavur was the ancient capital of the chola kings
whose origins (like those of the pallavas, pandyas and
cheras with whom they shared the tip of the indian
peninsula) go back to the beginning of the christian
era.
At Tanjore, we explore the Chola architecture with the
Bridhdiswara Temple
built in 1010. With a
dome carved from a single piece of granite weight over
80 tonnes, this magnificent temple is now a World
Heritage Monument. Along the way also visit the temple
of Airavatesvara at Darasuram whose decorative friezes
portray mythological stories.
Continue your drive to Trichy and upon arrival check-in
at hotel.
Overnight at hotel
Day 05 Trichy-Madurai (150
kms, 03 Hrs)
After Breakfast this morning visit Trichy & its’
spectacular temple architecture at
Srirangam. Set on
an island in the Cauvery River within seven concentric
walled Courtyards, the Sri Ranganathaswami Temple is one
of the largest complexes in India.
Afterwards continue drive to Madurai. Upon arrival
check-in at the hotel.
Madurai : A
pilgrimage to south in incomplete without a visit to
Madurai. It is the second largest city in Tamilnadu and
is elaborated for the Meenakshi temple. Madurai is also
one of India's most ancient cities with a history dating
back to the 6th century b.c. It was the capital of the
pandyan empire till the 14th century a.d.
Afternoon visit
Madurai, one of the oldest cities in South India and has
been a centre of learning & pilgrimage for centuries.
Sri Meenakshi temple
which attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over
India. The temple is named after the daughter of a
Pandyan King. Designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak, the
present temple was substantially built during the reign
of Tirumalai Nayak (1623-55 AD), but its history goes
back 2000 years to the time when Madurai was the capital
of Pandya Kings.
Overnight at hotel
Day 06 Madurai-Periyar (140
Kms, 03 Hrs)
Morning after breakfast drive to Periyar (Thekkady)
famous for elephants, tigers and spices. Upon arrival
check-in at hotel.
Afternoon motor boat cruise in the Periyar wildlife
lake, where one can have a unique experience of viewing
wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on
the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar however are
the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in
the lake.
Overnight at hotel
Day 07 Periyar-Kumarakom
backwaters (200 Kms, 05 Hrs)
Morning visit to the spice plantations like cardamom,
cinnamon, pepper, coffee, tea estates etc. and on your
way to Kumarakom jetty you could stop at the local
market to pick up some fragrant spices.
At Kumarakom Jetty we embark on a traditionally thatched
houseboat of Kerala Style and go on a leisurely
backwater cruise along the lake. The houseboat with all
modern comforts lets you discover the countryside at
your own pace. You will have lunch, dinner and breakfast
in the Houseboat. A ride on the houseboat is a fabulous
way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters.
Overnight at Houseboat.
Day 08 Alleppey Jetty
-Cochin (70 Kms, 01½ hrs)
Morning we arrive at Alleppey jetty at 1000 hrs and
after breakfast disembark the houseboat to drive to our
next destination Kochi. Upon arrival check-in at the
hotel.
Rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight at hotel
Day 09 Cochin
Morning after breakfast,visit Cochin the city of
lagoons. Visit the
St. Francis Church
- India's oldest European Church, was constructed in
1503 by Portuguese; Chinese Fishing Nets, strung out
along the top of Fort Cochin; Mattancherry Palace or The
Dutch Palace built by Portuguese in 1557, this palace
was presented to the Raja of Cochin, Veera Kerala Verma.
The palace's alternative name, the Dutch Palace,
resulted from substantial renovations by the Dutch after
1663.
In the evening, you visit the Kalari Center where you
will get to witness and observe the very skillful and
amazing Kalaripayattu. This is a famous martial art of
Kerala.
Overnight at hotel
Day 10 Cochin-Bangalore
(Flight)-Transfer to Mysore (134 Kms, 03 Hrs)
Morning, transfer to the airport to board flight for
Bangalore. As you arrive you will be met, assisted and
transferred to Mysore.
Enroute visit
Sravanabelagola, one of the oldest and most important
Jain pilgrimage centres in India and the site of the 17m
high statue of Gomateshvara said to be the world's
tallest monolithic statue and important Jain religious
centre.
Continue drive to Mysore. On arrival check-in at the
hotel.
Overnight at hotel
Day 11 Mysore
After Breakfast visit the magnificent city on the
foothills of Mount Chamundi. Visit the
Mysore Palace also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, this
palace was the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore. Burnt
down in 1897, the present one was completed in 1912 at a
cost of Rs. 4.2 million; Also visit
Chamundi Hill - overlooking Mysore from 1062m summit of
the hill is the Sri Chamuneswari temple and the
Brindavan Gardens.
Afternoon, make an excursion to
Srirangapatnam an island town encircled by river Cauvery.
The temple of Lord Sriranganatha is said to have been
built by the Chieftain Thirumalaiah in 894 AD. This was
once the capital of Hyder Ali & his son Tippu Sultan,
"The Tiger of Mysore". In the 18th century, Marathas
attacked Srirangapatna & forced heavy payments. Hyder
drew back the Marathas & saved the Kingdom. In 1799
Tippu fought a fierce Battle (Battle of Mysore) against
the British & fell bravely defending his capital.
Srirangapatna remains in a ruined state recalling the
Battles fought & the past glory.
Overnight at hotel
Day 12 Mysore-Bangalore
airport
After this morning drive straight to Bangalore airport.
On arrival in Bangalore transfer to Airport to connect
your flight back home.
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