SOUTH INDIA TOUR

Day 01: Arrive Chennai

Day 02: Chennai

Day 03: Chennai - Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram (145kms / 4hrs)

Day 04: Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry (90 Kms / 1.5 hrs)

Day 05: Pondicherry – Chidambaram – Kumbakonam – Thanjavur (175 Kms / 4.5hrs)

Day 06: Thanjavur – Trichy - Madurai (190 Kms / 4 hrs)

Day 07: Madurai – Thekkady (140 Kms / 3.5 hrs)

Day 08: Thekkady – Munnar (90kms / 2hrs) – ENJOY MORNING BOAT SAFARI

Day 09: Munnar

Day 10: Munnar – Cochin (125 Kms / 2.5hrs)

Day 11: Cochin – Alleppey (60 kms / 1.5hrs) – OVERNIGHT AT HOUSEBOAT

Day 12: Alleppey - Kovalam (175 kms / 4 hrs drive)

Day 13 & 14: Kovalam

Day 15: Kovalam - Trivandrum / Departure

Arrive at Chennai International airport. Chennai or Madras as it was called before, on the Coromandel Coast, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, a State of the Indian Sub continent. It is a major industrial, commercial, cultural, economic and educational centre of the Southern India.

 

On arrival meeting, assistance at airport by our representative and transfer to hotel. Where our executive will explain the travel plan in detail and hand over the essential documents (Tour programme, hotel’s vouchers, feedback report etc) to you. Rest of the day free for leisure activities. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast at hotel visit The British east India Company’s St. George Fort is a famous landmark of Chennai. Another colonial structure in the city of Chennai worth visiting is the Santhome Cathedral & Marina Beach.  Evening free to explore local markets at your own. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast & checkout from the hotel, drive to Mahabalipuram. Enroute visit KanchipuramKamakshi Amman temple, Ekambareswarar temple Varadharaja Perumal tempe. A visit to a silk weaving factory gives you the opportunity to quality silk sarees buy.

 

Mahabalipuram - The religious centre of Mamallapuram (formerly Mahabalipuram) was founded by a 7th-century-CE Pallava king, Narasimhavarman, also called Mamalla ("great wrestler"), for whom the town was named.

 

On arrival, check-in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel visitshore temple &Pallava Cave - The standing testimonial to the rock cut art, also visit Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna Mandapam, Five Rathas and beach. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast & checkout from the hotel drive to Pondicherry. Pondicherry is the erstwhile French colony now a union territory India. Enroute visit Auroville -A real example of community living and gradually flourishing, Auroville is conceived as a ‘Universal Town’. This is a place where people with different nationalities; beliefs and culture live in harmony. This amazing city of community living was started in 1968 by the Maa, renowned disciple of Shri Aurobindo.

 

Upon arrival, check-in at hotel. After wash and change at hotel visit Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry Museum and sculpture gallery with an outstanding collection of artifacts. Evening free for leisure activities. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast & checkout from the hotel drive to Tanjore also known as Thanjavur.

 

Enroute visits- Chidambaram & Kumbakonam.

Continue your drive to Tanjore. Tanjore is the "Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu" and famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple was constructed more than thousand years ago by the King Rajarajan, is an architect's marvel. It is a flourishing centre for bronze sculpture and painting. Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and the Mahrattas. Thanjavur was at height of its glory during RajarajaCholan. The Big Temple and the other famous temples in the district are known all over the world.Thanjavur was the cultural capital of the country in 1790.

 

On arrival, check in at hotel. Rest of the evening free for leisure activities. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast & checkout from the hotel visit Brahadeeswara Temple - Sculpture of Nandi (Bull) &Royal Palace Complex.

 

Enroute visit - Trichy was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and the English. On arrival visit Lord Robert Clive's house, Srirangam Temple & Rock-Fort Temples.

 

Later continue drive to Madurai. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast & checkout from the hotel visit, Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a magnificent palace that was built by King Thirumalai Nayak with valuable assistance of an Italian architect in the year 1636.Gandhi Museum & Thirupparankunram famous for the Pandyan rock-cut shrines that date back to the 8th century that later came to be known as the Nayaka Hindu temple. You will find a wide range of Hindu deities carved on the walls on your visit to this temple.

 

 Later in time drive to Thekkady. Thekkady - (Idukki district) is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India. The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Herds of elephant and sambar, gaur and wild pigs wander down to the lake-side and can be observed from the launches that cruise the lake also considered a haven for natural spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, nut mace, ginger, and clove. On arrival, check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

 

Early morning enjoy boat ride to explore wild life inside the Park.

 

Periyar National Park - Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in Kerala, is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary.

 

En-route visit Spice Plantation - The spice plantation in Thekkady is one of the major spice plantations in Kerala. The spice plantations in Kerala are captivating farms to wander in, since different spices are cultivated in different sections of each plantation.

 

 Later continue drive to Munnar - Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Munnar was the favored summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Unending expanse of tea plantations - pristine valleys and mountains- exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests - aroma of spice scented cool air - Munnar has all these and more. It's the place you would love to visit - it's the place you would wish never to leave.

 

On arrival, check in at hotel. Rest of the evening is free for leisure activities. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast at hotel visit Munnar Tea Gardens &Tea Museum.

Optional tour: During the stayone can also visit Eravikulam National Park & can do some trekking.

Eravikulam National Park, an ideal place for seeing the biodiversity of high elevation shola-grassland ecosystem. Visitors are taken to Rajamalai in forest dept vehicles and given an opportunity to see all this. Private vehicles are not allowed here. The National Park is usually closed at the time of calving of NilgiriTahr which is usually during the early months of every year. A sanctuary for the endangered mountain goat of South India, the NilgiriTahr (Hemitragushylocrious), the Eravikulam National Park stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq km in the Kannan devan hills. Rest of the day is free at your own. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast & checkout from the hotel drive to Cochin.

Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.

 

On arrival, visit Mattancherry Palace -The Dutch Palace exhibits beautiful mural paintings that depict the scenes from Ramayana. Fort Kochi -Fort Kochi is inhabited by Anglo-Indian community. The whole of the region presents a different aura and ambience. The culture is quite unique and represents the Eurasian culture. St Francis Church -This church was built by the Portuguese in the year 1503 A.D. It is said that Portuguese explorer Vasco-da-Gama was originally buried here and his remains were later brought to Lisbon. Santa Cruz Basilica -Built by the Portuguese around 500 years back, the Santa Cruz Basilica is known for its Gothic exterior with soaring spires. Also visit Chinese fishing net. Later check-in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast & check out from the hotel drive to Alleppey. On arrival, board on houseboat to enjoy cruise in 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 House boat.

 

Morning after having a delicious breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and drive to Kovalam. Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. On arrival check-in at hotel. Rest of the day free to relax at hotel / beach. Overnight at hotel.

 

Morning breakfast at hotel. Rest of the day free to relax at beach/ visit at your own. Overnight at hotel.

 

After breakfast & check out from the hotel drive to Trivandrum.Trivandrum is famous for many tourist attractions,Trivandrum, now called Thiruvananthapuram, is the capital of Kerala and located at the south-western tip of India. It is bound by the Arabian Sea on the west and the state of Tamil Nadu on the east. On arrival, visit Padmanabha Swamy Temple (from outside), The Napier Museum, SreeChithra Art Gallery, Puthenmalika (Kuthiramalika) Palace & Kanakakunnu Palace.

 

Later in time transfer to Trivandrum International airport to board your homebound flight with the happy memory of our incredible nation.

 

 

Note: This is just a suggested itinerary indicative of what could be possible. We tailor holidays for your specific needs. Contact us if you want modifications so that we could tailor a holiday to suit your need for an unforgettable India tour.