CHENNAI – KANCHIRPURAM – MAHABALIPURAM – PONDICHERRY – TANJORE – TRICHY – MADURAI – MUNNAR – PERIYAR – KUMARAKOM – ALLEPPEY - COCHIN

Day 01:

Arrival assistance at Chennai airport

Arrival at Chennai and transfer to hotel.
The city of Chennai, formerly Madras and originally Madraspatnam, has its roots in a warehouse built by the British on the beachfront in 1639. In 1654, the Fort St. George was established and eventually, village after neighbouring village was added to the territory to form the modern city we know today. In the days of the British Raj, Madras served as the capital of all of South India.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 02:

Chennai sightseeing

Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Later, proceed for sightseeing around Chennai.

The Neo-Gothic Santhome Basilica is one of the only three basilicas in the world said to contain the relics of an apostle of Christ and is an important Christian pilgrimage. Built over the tomb of St. Thomas, the original building was said to have been established by the apostle himself.

Founded in 1644 by the British East India Company,Fort St George was the engine of trade and commerce that transformed a beachfront hamlet into a modern city. Fittingly, it is now the seat of the legislative assembly of the state of tamil Nadu. The Fort Museum located in the oldest surviving building of the fortress is of particular interest to tourists and has an impressive collection of exhibits spread over ten galleries.

The buzzing Kapaleeswarar Temple with its proud 120 feet tall exquisitelyengraved Gopuram is one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture. Inscriptions from the 13th century and highly ornate stucco work adorn its walls. It’s also the site for the spectacular annual Arubathimoovar Festival, during which a gigantic wooden chariot carrying the main deity is pulled along the roads by hundreds and thousands of frenzied devotees, followed by a procession of gods involving sixty three idols on palanquins. Students of cinema may recall this festival from French master Louis Malle’s Cinema Verite´ venture, Phantom India.

The grand century-old Ripon Building named after Governor Lord Rippon,is today the seat of the Chennai Municipal Corporation.

The Government Museum displays artifacts going back to the prehistoric times.Of particular note are Buddhist scriptures describing the life of The Buddha. The Connemara Library is well -stocked and the National Art Gallery boasts of a fine bronze collections.

The 13 kilometer Marina Beach is the second longest beach in the world.A lovely promenade stretches out into the horizon along the Bay of Bengal, and is the favorite haunt of the residents of Chennai who throng to the beach in the evenings and mornings, walking, running, biking or taking pony rides. Swimming is prohibited as waters off the coast are extremely rough.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 03:

Chennai – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram
By Surface 141Kms in 04hrs approx.

After breakfast, we shall drive to Mahabalipuram, stopping at Kanchipuram on the way.

Once a capital of the Pallava Kings, the thousand year old city of Kanchipuram was famous in the ancient world as a seat of learning. Temples and shrines dating back to the 7th century dot the city, making it an important pilgrimage for both the Shaivaite and Vaishnav sects of Hindusim. Today, Kanchipuram is known the world over for its gorgeous hand woven silk. These exquisite silk saris, or Kanjivarams, are the toast of the cocktail circuit from Kashmir to the Kanyakumari.

Check into hotel at Mahabalipuram.

Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) was once the main seaport of the Pallava Empire and is famous for its sculptures, in particular, a series of spectacular freestanding boulders on the beach, carved to resemble small temples and animals.

Don’t miss Lord Krishna’s Butter Ball, a spherical boulder placed on a 45 degree incline, seemingly teetering, but stable for centuries. Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO designated world heritage site and one of the highlights of your luxury holiday in exotic South India.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 04:

Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry
By Surface 96kms in 02hrs approx

Post breakfast drive to Pondicherry.

Reach and proceed for sightseeing

A French colony until 1950, Pondicherry (Puducherry) is markedly different from the rest of Tamil Nadu state in architecture and town planning.Modelled after towns in the French Mediterranean, Ville Blanche or White Town is dotted with colonial villas, while more Indian style buildings populate Ville Noir or Black Town. Today, unlike in the past, both halves of Pondicherry is open to all residents of the city. Use of French is still common in Pondicherry.

Founded by nationalist turned mystic Sri Aurobindo, Aurobindo Ashram is a commune housing followers from the world over. The ashram aims to disseminate the philosophy of Aurobindo’s “integral yoga”, a synthesis of ancient mystical thought and modern science.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 05:

Pondicherry – Day at Leisure

The day will be spend at leisure

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 06:

Pondicherry – Tanjore
By Surface 169kms in 04hrs approx

After breakfast, drive to Tanjore.

Tanjore or Thanjavur was the capital of the Chola empire from the 10th century to the 14th century A.D. and was for long periods the political and cultural nerve center of the region. The Great Living Chola Temples that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site are located around Thanjavur, also home to the distinctive Tanjore style of Painting.

You have a little time to relax after checking in at your hotel.

Later, proceed for sightseeing.

The magnificent Brihadisvara Temple is one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Vimana atop the temple is a 60.95m high 13-storey pyramidal tower, in turn crowned by a 70 tonne stone domed monolith.” The inner walls are adorned with murals of Shiva in the 108 mudras, or poses, of Bharatanatyam, the classical Indian dance form.The 16th century Palace of Thanjavur is spacious with large halls, shady courtyards, endless corridors, tall observation posts and a ornate bell tower. It is also home to the Royal Museum as well as the iconic Saraswati Mahal Library.

Saraswathi Mahal Library, established in the early 18th century houses a wealth of manuscripts dating back to the Nayak Kings of Tanjore and its subsequent Maratha rulers. Also of interest are rare European manuscripts like Lavoisier’s Traité Élémentaire de Chimie or Elements of Chemistry and Charles Le Brun’s pictorial charts depicting the evolution of man.

The Thanjavur Art Gallery is also worth a visit for its impressive collection of 250 Chola Bronze statues and 150 stone statues dating from the 9th to 12th century.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 07:

Tanjore – Trichy - Madurai
By Surface 190kms in 03hrs approx.

Drive to Madurai after breakfast, stopping en route at Trichy.

Situated on the banks of river Kaveri, Tiruchirapalli or Trichy is one of the largest cities in the state of Tamil Nadu. In the course of its long and checkered history, Trichy has changed hands many a time, starting off as the capital of the Chola Kings, falling later to the Pallavas and eventually to the Nayaks of Madurai, the Marathas, the Sultanate and finally the British.
Each successive ruling dynasty left their indelible mark on the city, and contributed towards its growth as the flourishing, eclectic urban center that it is today.

Highlights include the Rock Fort, with its “Hall of Hundred pillars” and the island of Srirangam with its giant seven-walled Vishnu Temple.

Rock Fort temple or Malaikottai is a temple carved out of an 80m high rock, the rock itself being of prehistoric vintage and older than the Himalayas.

Drive to Madurai and check into hotel.The ancient temple town of Madurai traces its history as far back as the 3rd century BC, and finds mention in the writings of Greek explorer Megasthenes.

The breathtaking Sri Meenakshi Amman temple, a mini-city in its own right, dominates the Madurai skyline. One of the finest living examples of Dravidian art and architecture, its towering gopurams loom over the city, every inch of its outer surface crowded with multicolored carvings of gods, goddesses and beasts of mythology. One of the highlights of your luxury holiday in exotic South India.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 08:

Madurai Sightseeing

Proceed for sightseeing after breakfast.

According to local lore, the foundations of the Sri Meenakshi Amman temple date back to well over two thousand years. Successive generations of rulers built over and added to the work of their predecessors until the compound grew to its current sprawling size of the 65000 square meters. The square-shaped temple grounds are surrounded by high walls with twelve stupendous Gopurams (temple towers) bidding entry to visitors.

Inside, defying description, lies the Hall of Thousand Pillars, each pillar adorned by exquisitely detailed sculptures of celestial beings. A marvel of ancient Indian design, the pillars align in perfect straight lines no matter which angle they are viewed from. Outside the hall, a corridor is lined by the temple’s famed musical pillars, each of which produces a unique musical note when tapped.

Don’t miss the Thousand Pillar Museum in the temple complex.

The spacious Gandhi Memorial Museum chronicles in loving detail the history of India’s independence movement. The museum organizes regular seminars on Gandhi and his principle of non-violence or ahimsa.

Located a few minutes from Madurai, the Vishnu Temple is one of the most important temples of South India and is unique in the layout of its three altars, arranged as they are one on top of one another. Each altar shows the Lord Vishnu in a different posture. The seated Vishnu on the middle altar, Koodal Azhagar, is the main deity of the temple. The temple’s exterior too, covered with beautiful carvings depicting celestial beings, is well worth the traveller’s time.

Built by King Thirumalai Nayak in 1636, the eponymous Thirumalai Nayak Palace fell to ruin after the king’s demise and was restored only partially by the British. Still, the present day structure gives the visitor a good idea of its grandeur in its heydays. Look out for the intricate stucco work on its arches and pillars and the astonishing Sorgavasal or Celestial Pavilion, a 1300 square meter free-standing structure, unsupported by any pillar or girder.

The giant Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam reservoir is fed by a Vaigai River through an invisible maze of underground channels.

During Teppam (tr.The Float Festival), hundreds of boats chockfull of devotees crowd the reservoir in a race to reach the temple at its center.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 09:

Madurai – Munnar
By Surface 154kms in 04hrs approx.

Post breakfast drive to Munnar. Reach and check in at the hotel.

Rest of the time will spend at leisure.

AT 1600 meters above the sea level and located at the confluence of three mountain rivers, Munnar is blessed with stunning panoramic views and temperate climate that made it a highly popular summer destination with British settlers in the days of the Raj. Munnar’s soil and climate is ideal for tea and the nearby slopes are dotted with plantations. Munnar serves as a trailhead for trekkers hiking to the 2695m Anamudi Peak, the highest point of South India. Munnar is at its stunning best when its hillsides burst in stunning blue with the blooming of the rare, fragile Blue Kurinji flowers every twelve years.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 10:

Munnar Sightseeing

Proceed for the sightseeing tour after breakfast.

Built by the British in 1910, Christ Church is known for its beautiful stained glass windows. On the church grounds, plaques erected in memory of British tea planters tell their own poignant story.

The tiny hill station of Devikulam, only seven kilometers from Munnar is a delight for birders, anglers and nature lovers. Its rolling green slopes, panoramic views and the crystal clear waters of the Sita Devi Lake make it among the most picturesque highlights of your exotic holiday in South India.

From the picking of leaves to the teacup, the Kundale Tea Plantation provides an in-depth insight, a fascinating insight into what goes into producing the world’s most popular drink. Sundays are a great time to visit as the local planters gather for their weekly get together and swap plantation tales. The plantation’s lake makes for idyllic picnic spot.

Neelakurunji flowers: No special tour will need to be taken to see this Munnar attraction. But if you are planning a trip solely to view the spectacular blue blooms, which cover the entire mountainside, you will have to wait until 2018 as the neelakurunju only blooms every 12 years.

A high vantage point that offers panoramic views of the plantations all around, Pothamedu is yet another popular hiking destination in the vicinity.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 11:

Munnar – Periyar
By Surface 86kms in 03hrs approx.

Post breakfast drive to Periyar National park.

Enjoy the scenic beauty & the marvelous waterfalls, high mountains with the low flying clouds passing by. Visit Tea Plantations and also see how tea is processed.

National Park, one of India’s major wildlife reserves. Look out for the Asian elephant, antelope, the Indian bison, the elusive Bengal tiger, the dhole or wild dog, and the extremely rare and endangered NilgiriTahr, a species of ibex native to the region.

Birdwatchers may be rewarded with sightings of greater hornbills, darters, herons, egrets, owls and brightly coloured kingfishers.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 12:

Periyar Sightseeing

Breakfast will be served at the resort.

Not to be missed, a bamboo rafting excursion down the river. The raft offers a great opportunity to watch animals, particularly elephants, as they come down to the waters to cool off in the daytime. You may also be able to spot sambars, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pigs, porcupines, lion-tailed macaques, the Malabar Squirrel and sloth bears. Tigers and Leopards are usually hard to come by on the banks during the day.

You could also try a jungle walk with a highly experienced guide. This is a unique programme where tourists get the chance to get deep into the forest the least obtrusive way - on foot, maximising the chances of wildlife sightings. These walks can be customised depending on how long the guest wishes to spend in the park.

The local spice market, reputed to be the largest in Asia is also worth a visit. Spices make for a unique and imaginative gift for friends and family back home.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 13:

Periyar – Kumarakom
By Surface 122Kms in 04hrs approx.

Post breakfast drive to Kumarakom. Reach and check in at the hotel

Rest of the time will spend at leisure.

Kumarakom is a village on Vembanad Lake in the backwaters of Kerala, southern India. It’s laced with canals, where houseboats ply the waters. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is home to many species including cuckoos and Siberian storks. Nearby, the Bay Island Driftwood Museum displays wooden sculptures. In the lake, Pathiramanal Island is a haven for rare migratory birds. Ancient Thazhathangady Mosque is east of Kumarakom

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 14:

Kumarakom- Alleppey
By Surface 33kms in 56mins approx

Embark Houseboat (Allepey to Alleppey round)

Alappuzha (or Alleppey) is a city on the Laccadive Sea in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It's best known for houseboat cruises along the rustic Kerala backwaters, a network of tranquil canals and lagoons. Alappuzha Beach is the site of the 19th-century Alappuzha Lighthouse. The city's Mullakkal Temple features a traditional design. Punnamada Lake's snake boat races are a well-known annual event.
Overnight stay at the houseboat

Day 15:

Disembark Houseboat at Alleppey

Alleppey – Cochin
By Surface 53kms in 01hrs approx

After breakfast, disembark the Houseboat at Alleppey. Drive to Cochin.

Reach and proceed for sightseeing –

Kochi’s famed Chinese fishing nets are perhaps one of the most iconic and oft photographed sights of . Mounted on teak and bamboo poles and supported by large stone counterweights, they hang gossamer-like all along the Fort Kochi seafront. Their origins are obscure with some claiming they were imported by the Portuguese from Macau while according to others, the credit goes to Chinese traders from the court of Kubla Khan himself.

The Old Cochin area is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, and the Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568 is a must-see treasure of this eclectic corner of South India. Known for its distinctive tiled roof and bell towers, the synagogue’s interiors feature intricately hand-painted blue and white Chinese willow tiles of which no two are alike. Elegant Belgian chandeliers adorn its central area. An exquisite oriental rug and gold crowns received as gifts from visitors are also on display.

Also of interest is the intriguing International Pepper Exchange that deals in the global trade of black pepper. Nearby are Vasco Da Gama Square, the Santa Cruz Basilica that counts among India’s oldest churches, St. Francis Church where Vasco Da Gama was originally interred, VOC Gate and Bastion Bungalow, all of which, according to local records, go back to between the mid fourteenth and early fifteenth century.

In the evening proceed for Kathakali dance presentation.

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 16:

Cochin Departure

Transfer to Cochin airport and take the flight to home country