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Treasure of South India |
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Tour Highlights |
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Visits to ancient temples of Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram, Tanjore, Madurai,
Wildlife Sanctuary ( Periyar), Fort Cochin (Cochin), Kerala’s Backwater, hill
station “Ooty”, Royal Palace at Mysore & Garden city “Bangalore”, World heritage
site Humpi, Pattadkal, Badami & Beaches of Goa
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Covered Places : Chennai – Kanchipuram- Mahabalimpuram- Pondicherry –
Tanjore¬- Madurai – Kovalam- Periyar – Alleppey – Cochin- Ooty – Mysore-
Bangalore- Hassan – Halebid- Belur- Hospet (Humpi) – Badami – Goa – Mumbai
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Duration : 24 Nights / 25 days
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Activities : Watch night ceremony at Meenakshi temple Madurai, Boat
safari at Periyar wildlife park, & watch Kerala traditional Kathakali dance show
at Cochin |
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Day 01: Arrival Chennai |
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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.
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Day 02: Chennai |
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Morning start 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. |
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Day 03: Chennai – Kanchipuram - Mahablipuram |
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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.
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Day 04 : Mahablipuram –Pondicherry (135Kms) |
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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. |
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Day 05 : Pondicherry –Chidambram –Tanjore (175kms)
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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.
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Day 06 : Tanjore – Trichy – Madurai (201Kms) |
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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 approx. 3,800
million years. Later drive to Madurai. on arrival check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 07: Madurai
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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.
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Day 08: Madurai – Thekkady (Periyar wild life sanctuary ) (160kms) |
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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. |
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Day 09 : Periyar –– Alleppey – Cochin (195Kms) |
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Morning drive to Cochin enroure enjoy Boat cruise at Backwater also enjoy lunch
on board. “Kettuvalam" Hose boat move towards interior backwaters. his cruise is
very exciting and sensational to watch the real traditional Kerlan life who
lives on the banks of backwaters. Further continue drive to Cochin. On arrival
check in at hotel.
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Day 10: Cochin
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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 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.
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 11: Cochin – Ooty ( 280Kms) |
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Morning drive to Ooty. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of day free. Overnight
at hotel. |
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Day 12 : Ooty
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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. |
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Day 13: Ooty – Mysore (150Kms) |
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Morning drive to Mysore. On arrival 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. |
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Day 14: Mysore – Srirangapatna - Bangalore (140kms) |
Morning drive to Bangalore enroute visiting Srirangapatna. Srirangapatna is a
rocky island formed by Cauvery River.That made it significant from a military as
well as religious point of view. Further continue drive to Bangalore.
After wash & change do sight seeing tour. 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.
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Day 15: Bangalore – Sravanbelgola- Hassan (172Kms) |
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Morning drive to Hassan enroute visit 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. Rest of day free. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 16: Hassan – Excursion to Belur & Halebid |
Full day tour of Belur and Halebid. Belur is famous
for its ancient exquisite temples. The Chennakeshava Temple being the finest
example of the Hoyasala architecture it took 103 years to complete. The
Veeranarayan Temple and the smaller shrines are well worth a visit. Halebid the
temples of Halebid like those of Belur, bear mute testimony to the rich,
cultural heritage of Karnataka. The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 12th
century, is astounding for its wealth of sculpture details. This magnificent
temple-guarded by a Nandi Bull-was never completed, despite 86 years of labour.
Evening return to hotel. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 17 : Hassan – Hospet by road (320 kms) |
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Morning travel north to Hospet, which will be the base from where you will visit
the Vijanagara City (Hampi) ruins near the village of Hampi. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 18: Hampi |
A full day tour of the Hampi ruins. Hampi holds many a delightful surprises. The
most famous is the Kings Balance and the Queen's Bath with its arched corridors,
projecting balconies and lotus shaped fountains, the two storied Lotus Mahal,
the huge Elephant stables, the splendid Vitthala Temple with its musical pillars
and the Stone Chariot, the Virupaksha Temple, Ugra Narashima, the 6.7 meters
tall monolith, the Pushkarini Tank, the Mahanavami Dibba, etc. Temples of this
city are noted for their dimensions, florid ornamation, bold and delicate
carvings, stately pillars & magnificient .Also present are some monolithic
statues of Lakshmi, Narashima and Gnash which are noted for their massiveness
and grace.
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 19: Hospet – Aihole – Pattadakal - Badami (180Kms) |
Morning leave for Badami enroute we will visit Aihole and Pattadakal, a world
heritage site. Aihole has over 125 temples, all intricately carved and rich in
detail. The oldest temple is perhaps the 5th century Lad Khan Temple.r temples
representing the early Chaulakya architecture the biggest temple dedicated to
Virupaksheshvara,has a huge gateway and several inscriptions. In front of the
temple is a majestic 2.6 m high Nandi.
On arrival check in at hotel. Later visit Badami. It has four rock cut cave
temples, the largest being the third cave dedicated to Vishnu. Overnight at
hotel.
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Day 20 : Badami – Goa (380Kms) |
Day 20 : Badami – Goa (380Kms)
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Morning proceed to Goa. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 21: Goa
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Morning sightseeing tour of Goa visit famous churches & beaches. Evening enjoy
boat cruise at Mandavi river (optional). Overnight at hotel.
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Day 22: Goa
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Day free. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 23: Goa – Mumbai (By Flight) |
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Morning transfer to airport to board on flight to Mumbai. On arrival check in at
hotel. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 24: Mumbai
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Morning visit Gateway of India & Elephanta caves by cruise. Located about 10
Kms. from the Gateway of India or 9 nautical miles into the sea. Later visit
Prince on Wales Museum- The museum was set up in the beginning of the 20th
century to honor the visit of King George V's to India, while he was still the
Prince of Wales. Mani Bhawan- Mani Bhavan is a veritable memoir of Mahatma
Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. Also known as Gandhi Museum, Mani Bhavan
served as the residence of the great freedom fighter of India between 1917 and
1934. Dhobi Ghat- Dhobi Ghat is among the exciting places to see in Mumbai. It
is 136-year old Dhobi Ghat and may be called the biggest human powered washing
machine.
Evening free. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 25: Departure from Mumbai bai |
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Morning transfer to airport to board on flight for onward destination.
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