 |
INCREDIBLE SOUTH INDIA TOUR |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tour Highlights |
|
|
Visits to ancient temples of Mahabalipuram,Kanchipuram, Tanjore, Madurai,
Wildlife Sanctuary ( Periyar), Fort Cochin (Cochin), Kovalam Beach, Backwater,
hill station “Ooty”, Royal Palace at Mysore & Garden city Bangalore |
|
|
Covered Places : Kanchipuram- Mahabalimpuram- Pondicherry – Tanjore –
Madurai – Kovalam- Periyar – Kumarakom- Alleppey – Cochin- Ooty – Mysore-
Bangalore- Chennai |
|
|
Duration : 17 Nights / 18 days |
|
|
Activities : Watch night ceremony at Meenakshi temple, Madurai, Boat
safari at Periyar wildlife park, watch Kerala traditional Kathakali dance show
at Cochin & overnight stay in a Houseboat at Backwater. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 01 : Arrival Chennai |
|
|
Arrive Chennai, Gateway of South India, where you are greeted with a traditional
Indian welcome on arrival at the airport and escorted to the hotel. After check
in at hotel our representative will explain you the travel plan and hand over
the essential travel documents to you. Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 02 : Chennai |
|
Morning start guided city tour of Chennai. Visit Kalakshetra, a school of art
and music that encourages exponents of Bharatnatyam, Carnatic music, traditional
weaving and designing; Fort St. George built in 1653 during British reign in
India, now houses the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu.
St. Mary's Church, the oldest Anglican Church in India with its premises. Sri
Parthasarathy Temple built by the Pallavas in the 8th century AD; Kapaliswara
Temple, Mylapore also an eighth century Pallava Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
San Thomas Cathedral Basilica rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral and in 1896 it was
made a basilica and Theosophical Society - the world headquarters of the
Theosophical Society formed to encourage the study of comparative religion
philosophy and science.
Overnight at hotel. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Day 03 : Chennai – Kanchipuram - Mahablipuram |
|
|
Morning drive to Kanchipuram, 70 kms west of Mahabalipuram which is a city of
thousand temples. The city is also famous for its silk weavers. Later proceed to
Mahablipuram. The pallavas have created many marvellous monuments with
sculptural panels, caves, Monolithic Rathas and Temples. Krishna Mandapam has a
big bas relief i.e. the world's largest bas relief. Shore Temple & Five Rathas
are a group of five monolithic temples, each created in different style.
Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 04 : Mahablipuram –Pondicherry (135Kms) |
|
Morning drive to Pondicherry. Later you will visit Pondicherry city. Although
the French influence is gradually fading, Pondicherry retains a few Gallic
accents. Pondicherry's main sights are the Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church
and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram retreat was founded in 1926 by Sri
Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual authority passed to one of his
disciples, a French woman known as the Mother. The Mother was also instrumental
in founding the city of Dawn Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry.
Its original charter aimed at creating a city of the future where people from
India and abroad could live and work together in a spiritual environment.
Overnight at hotel. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Day 05 : Pondicherry –Chidambram –Tanjore (175kms) |
|
|
Morning drive to Tanjore on the way you will visit the temple or Lord Natraja at
Chidambram. On arrival, check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, city tour of
Tanjore. Tanjore (Thanjavur) is famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple
constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an
architect's marvel. Evening free. Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 06 : Tanjore – Trichy – Madurai (201Kms) |
|
|
Morning drive to Madurai on the way visit Trichy. Visit Srirangam, which is an
island, 5 kms from Trichy. Surrounded by the Kaveri water is a 600 acres island
town enclosed within the seven walls on the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple.
The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the Kaveri River, Trichy's most famed
land mark is an 84 m high rock, one of the oldest in the world aprox. 3,800
million years. Later drive to Madurai and on arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at hotel. |
 |
|
|
|
Day 07 : Madurai |
|
|
Morning city tour of Madurai. Madurai where the people wake up at the chant of
hymns is proud of the magnificent Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple. |
|
|
|
Of its 12 gopurams, four of the tallest stand at the outer walls of the temple.
Also visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Evening watch night ceremony at the temple.
Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 08 : Madurai – Thekkady (Periyar wild life sanctuary ) (160kms) |
|
Morning drive to Thekkady ( Periyar wild life sanctuary). Periyar, spread over
an area of 777 sq km, has about 35 tigers and leopards. The park encompasses a
26 sq km artificial lake and is the home of sambars, wild boars, elephants and
antelopes which can be occasionally seen on the banks of the river during a boat
cruise. In the afternoon we shall take a boat safari on Lake Periyar to view
wildlife. Evening free. Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 09 : Periyar – Kumarakom (128kms) – Alleppey ( Overnight at Houseboat) |
|
|
Morning drive to Kumarakom and embark on deluxe Houseboat for backwater cruise.
“Kettuvalam" Hoseboat move towards Alleppey through interior backwaters. We
shall continue to Champakulam, earlier named as Kalloorkad, the ancient trade
centre of backwaters. This cruise is very exciting and sensational to watch the
real traditional Kerlan life who lives on the banks of backwaters. Enjoy lunch,
Dinner at Houseboat. Overnight at houseboat. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 10 : Arrive Alleppey – Kovalam (158Kms) |
|
|
After breakfast, we shall take a leisurely cruise towards Alleppey finishing
point jetty. Disembark and drive to Kovalam. Rest of day free. Overnight at
hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 11 : Kovalam |
|
|
Day free at leisure. Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 12 : Kovalam – Cochin (235Kms) |
|
Morning drive to Cochin. On arrival check in at hotel. Cochin, has a fine
natural harbour. In the afternoon visit Fort Cochin. The true character of the
city is to be found in the older parts of the Fort Cochin area. This part of the
city reflects an unusual blend of medieval Portugal, Dutch and English country
life grafted on to the tropical Malabar Coast Also visit Chinese Fishing nets .
Evening show witness the Kathakali Dance Show in an auditorium. as it enacts
episodes from great Indian epics. The extremely stylized gestures, the elaborate
make-up, the masks and the splendid costumes of these all-male dancers,
recreates an incomparable sense of pageantry.
Overnight at hotel. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Day 13 : Cochin – Ooty ( 280Kms) |
|
Morning visit the 16th century Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch
Palace. We would visit 'Jew Town', in the Mattancherry section.The area around
the Synagogue, known, as Jew Town is one of the main centres of spice trade. St.
Francis Church, and Jewish Synagogue. Later drive to Ooty. on arrival check in
at hotel. Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 14 : Ooty |
|
Morning sightseeing tour of Ooty. Located at 2240 m above sea level. The places
of interest in Ooty include Botanical Gardens where "summer Festival" is held
each during the month of May. The artificial lake and Dodabetta Peak which is
the highest point in the district at a height of 2623m.Rest of day free.
Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 15 : Ooty – Mysore (150Kms) |
|
Morning drive to Mysore, arrive and check in at hotel. Later sightseeing tour of
Mysore. Mysore as we see today is most famous for the imposing Royal Palace with
a magnificent Durbar Hall, particularly splendid during the Dussehra Festival
when the Maharaja's jewelry, studded gold throne (weighing 200 kgs) is on
display. Chamundeshwari temple perched on a hilltop is 2000 years old, Nandi
Bull half way to the hill is a 4.8 meter monolith. 19 km north-west of Mysore is
the KRS Dam and the ornamental Brindavan Gardens. The musical fountains and
colourful lights transform this place into a fairly land in the evenings.
Evening transfer to hotel.
Overnight at hotel. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Day 16 : Mysore – Sravanbelgola- Bangalore (140kms) |
|
Morning drive to Bangalore visiting en route Sravanbelgola which is said to be
the world's tallest monolithic statue raises 17 meter high of Bahubali
(Gomateshvara).The statue was built in 981 AD and is most sacred to the Jain
Community. On arrival check in at hotel. After wash & change do sight seeing
tour. Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka is one of the most important
metropolises of India. Visit Lalbagh, one of the finest botanical Gardens
ofIndia, Cubbon Park laid in 1864 sprawling across 300 acres, Vidhana Soudha
built in 1956 housing The State Legislature and Secretariat are the main
attractions.
Overnight at hotel. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Day 17 : Bangalore – Chennai (330Kms) |
|
|
Morning drive to Chennai. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of day free.
Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 18 : Chennai –Departure |
|
|
Morning transfer to airport to board on flight for onward destination. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Tour Price |
|
|
INR 68200 per person on double occupancy. |
|
|
For more details please contact our tour planner.
|
*Conditions Apply
|
|