14 Days to / fro
chennai / mahabalipuram / pondichery / tanjore (2nts) / MADURAI (2 nts) / periyar / kochi (2 nts) / kovolam (2nts)
| This journey takes you from the Coromandel to the Malabar Coasts. Southern India is the country’s Dravidian heartland where great civilizations, from the ancient Chola Dynasty to the British Raj, have left a legacy of temples, palaces and graceful cities. The tranquil beauty of the Kerala backwaters, the peaceful Hoysala temples, and the bustling bazaars of Madurai and Cochin are just some of the highlights of this journey. |
 Day 1: Europe / Chennai
Leave for Chennai. Arrive Chennai in the night. Transfer to hotel & Overnight.
Day 2: Chennai / Mahabalipuram
Morning breakfast. Visit the Kaplaeeswarar temple, dedicated to Lord Siva. Later visit the Fort St. George, and the Museum, which has an astounding collection of early Chennai. Afternoon continue towards the wonderful ethnic beach resort at Mahabalipuram. Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Visit the Group of five Rathas Temples, rock-cut monoliths named after the heroes of the Epic - Mahabharata. The rock carving depicting the penance of Shiva is one of the finest pieces of stone carving and at the end visit the Shore Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Later in the evening stroll in the beach. Return to hotel. Overnight.
Day 3: Mahabalipuram / Kanchipuram / Pondicherry
Morning breakfast. Leave for Kanchipuram which has over 150 active temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses. The various temples we can visit are Kailashnatha, Vaikun Thaperumal, Vishnu Temple, Shiva Natraja, Vardaraja Vishnu Temple, Ekambeshwara Shiva Temple and Ekambeshwara Shiva temple. Continue towards Pondicherry. Arrive & check-in at hotel. Afternoon visit to Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Maitri Mandir in Auroville. Auroville is the newer ashram initiated by the Mother, where the largest cut crystal in the world is on display in their magnificent domed hall. Return to hotel. Overnight.
Day 4: Pondicherry / Chidambaram / Tanjore
Morning breakfast. Drive to Tanjore via Gangai konda Cholapuram and Darasuram. Enroute stop at Chidambaram to visit the beautiful temple, dedicated to Lord Nataraja- God Siva in the form of a Cosmic Dancer. Later stop at Gangakondacholapuram, to visit the temple. The Airavatesvara Temple built mainly of granite, has pillars with beautifully carved apsaras and friezes of lively dancing figures and musicians. Each of the pillars within the temple illustrates mythological stories showing the penance of Parvati, Shiva's consort. Continue towards Tanjore. Arrive & check-in at hotel. Overnight.
Day 5: Tanjore / Trichy / Tanjore
Morning breakfast. Visit the Brihadisvara Temple, built mainly of granite; it has s a magnificent structure with a 14 storey high vimana, a towered sanctuary that houses the main deity. Afternoon leave for Trichy to visit the Sri Ranganathasvami Temple, famous for its superb sculpture, the 21 impressive gopurams and its rich collection of temple jewelry. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top and a further climb to a Shiva temple. Return back to Tanjore. Overnight
Day 6:
Tanjore / Chettinad / Madurai
Morning breakfast. Leave for Chettinad, the land of Chettiars. The enchantingly beautiful mansions and houses of the Chettinad are known for their unique architectural styles, which makes Chettinad a place of rare charm and a tourist destination with a difference Visit the palace the interior which are decorated enormous columns out of teak of Burma. Visit visits of villages and temples. Later in the afternoon continue drive towards Madurai. Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Overnight.
 Day 7: Madurai
Morning breakfast. Visit the world famous Meenakshi Sundereshwara Temple dedicated to Minakshi, the fish eyed goddess and consort of Shiva. The temple has massive gopurams or gateways profusely covered in very colorful carvings, which are believed to be an encyclopaedia of Indian dance poses. Afternoon visit the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, built in 1636 in the Indo Mughal style. Later in the evening attend the Puja ceremony in the Meenakshi Temple, a ritual when Shiva or Sundeswrar as he is known here, is taken to Minakshis sanctuary for the night. Overnight.
Day 8: Madurai / Periyar
Morning after breakfast, drive through the winding mountain roads to Periyar. Cradled in mist shrouded mountains, Periyar nestles close to the dense rain forests of the High Ranges. Arrive and check-in at hotel. Afternoon explore the Periyar National Park by a private boat. Later stroll in the local market to witness the trading of best of the spices. Return back to hotel. Later in the evening enjoy the martial Arts show. Overnight.
Day 9: Periyar / Backwaters / Kochi
Morning breakfast. Drive towards Kottayam. Enroute visit the spice gardens. Upon arrival, board on private traditional rice boat for a cruise of the backwaters. A series of canals which thread their way through the state to the sea, allows you a glimpse of life in Kerala which is impossible to get from road. Along the way you will pass rice fields, tiny villages, boats transporting children to school and farmers transporting their produce to the market, and women completing household tasks such as laundry, and washing utensils. After about 2 to 3 hrs of navigation, disembark boat at Allepey called “the rice bowl of Kerala” because of its wealth & culture of paddy fields in the heart of the backwaters. Drive to Cochin. Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Overnight
Day 10: Kochi
Morning breakfast. Leave for the visit of Kochi, with a fine natural harbour, which has been Kerala’s center of trade for innumerable centuries. Visit the St. Francis Church, built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, The Jewish synagogue, one of the oldest in India. Afternoon visit the Mattancherry Palace or "Dutch Palace built in 1557 AD. Evening, stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the Chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background. Return back to hotel. Later in the evening enjoy the spectacle of Kathakali dance. Overnight.
Day 11: Kochi / Trivandrum / Kovalam
Morning breakfast. Drive towards Kovolam. En route stop at Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. Visit the Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, built in the Dravidian style. Continue towards Kovalam. Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Time free for realx. Overnight
Day 12: Kovalam
Morning breakfast. Leave for full day sightseeing of Kanyakumari and Vivekenanda Memorial Rock. Cape Comorin, Land's End mainland India's southernmost point, where three seas meet and where the shore temple to the virgin goddess Kanyakumari stands. There are two significant memorials here. One is the Gandhi Mandapam, built to commemorate the immersion of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi in the waters by the temple. The other memorial, dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, is built on the rock 656 ft. from the shore where he meditated in 1892 before taking the message of the Hindu philosophy to the west. Swami Vivekananda was the foremost disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Return to hotel. Overnight
 Day 13: Kovolam / Trivandrum / Chennai (Flight)
Morning breakfast. Day at leisure on the private beach, swimming pool, hammocks under the coconut trees or the Ayurveda (the life Science) is practiced on the site…..! Also there are many sports possibilities like tennis, badminton, billiard and table tennis. Afternoon transfer to Airport to connect flight to Chennai. Arrive Chennai and time free for walk around Mount Road, the shopping area of the city. Later in the evening transfer to International Airport.
Day 14: Chennai / Europe
Board on you flight to connect for onward destination .
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