Duration : 20 Nights / 21 Days
Places Covered : Chennai - Bangalore- Hassan - Mysore- Ooty - Cochin-: Kumarakom - Munnar- Periyar - Madurai- Trichy - Tanjore- Pondicherry- Mahabalipuram - Chennai
DAY 01: ARRIVE CHENNAI
Upon arrival, traditional welcome and transfer to Hotel. This morning we set out to explore the city of madras. Visit the National Art Gallery Fort St. George, St. Mary's Church and the St. Thomas Cathedral and drive along the marina. Walk with our guide though some colourful market areas. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 02: CHENNAI - BANGALORE (BY SHATABDI TRAIN DEP. 06:00 HRS ARR. 10:50 HRS )
Today morning we take a Train to Bangalore. Upon arrival in Bangalore most popularly known as the Garden City of India we take a city tour . The city is full of well laid out gardens. Wide tree lined avenues, imposing buildings and lively bazaars. Visit the Bull Temple, situated on a hill is one of Bangalore's oldest attractions . overnight at Hotel .
DAY 03: BANGALORE - HASSAN ( BY SURFACE)
Morning depart for Hassan. Hassan is the base of visiting the famous temples of Belur and Halebid. The temples which remained incomplete despite 80 years of labour, offers the finest workmanship in stone to the God.It is said that the temples here are even better than the famous Konark and the Khajuraho temples . Enroute visiting Halebid, Belur, Sravanabelagola, Halebid is the sister temple of Belur, Built in the 12th Century from soft soapstone and depicts the entire Hindu Pantheon, Sravanabalagola is the shine to the jain Saint Gaomateswara, carved in 983 AD out of solid rock , 500 rock hewn steps lead up to it. Religious rituals involve bathing the statue in milk and rose petals.Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 04 :HASSAN - MYSORE( BY SURFACE)
After breakfast we leave for Mysore. Upon arrival check in at your pre-booked Hotel . Rest of the day free. Overnight at Hotel .
DAY 05: MYSORE
After a relaxed breakfast we drive for a morning sightseeing of the city of Mysore. Mysore a city of 17 Palaces - the Maharaja's CityPalace being one of the largest in the country. Today's city tour include the zoological gardens, the Chamundi Temple, handicraft Centre and 22 kms away - the Brindavan Gardens, which are a sight by day and night. Evening visit to the gardens where there are many illuminated fountains. Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 06: MYSORE - OOTY ( BY SURFACE)
Morning after breakfast we start our drive towards Ootacamund most popularly known as Ooty. It is mostly referred to as the Queen of the Southern Hills stations.It drives its name from the Niligiri or the Blue Mountains - the name to the Hills by the inhabitants for more than 850 years because of the blue haze of clouds which envelope the hill slopes. Upon arrival we check into our pre-booked Hotel.
DAY 07: OOTY
Today we drive around Ooty to visit the Botanical Gardens , Lake Doddabetta , Mukurti Peak the Pykara Dam and the sprawling Tea Plantation. Overnight at the Hotel.
DAY 08: OOTY - COCHIN ( BY SURFACE)
After a relaxed morning breakfast we are now set to start long journey towards the famous town of Kerela - COCHIN. Upon arrival inCochin we check into our pre-booked hotel. Evening is relaxed and free for individual activities. Overnight at the Hotel.
DAY 09: COCHIN - KUMARAKOM (BY SURFACE)
After an early breakfast you are transfered for sightseeing tour of cochin visiting Jewish synagogue , Mattancherry palace, Chinese nets and backwaters etc.after the tour we continue our drive towards Kumarakom . Upon arrival check in at Hotel.
DAY 10: KUMARAKOM
The day is for relaxing by the pool or taking a sunset cruise on a man - powered nice-boat. You may wish to visit the Ayurvedic centre for a herbal massage. In the Evening attend a demonstration of Kerala cuisine cooking. Overnight at Hotel
DAY 11: KUMARAKOM - MUNNAR (BY SURFACE)
After breakfast morning drive to Munnar. Upon arrival check in at your pre-booked hotel. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 12: MUNNAR - PERIYAR (BY SURFACE)
Morning sightseeing tour of Munnar Visiting the Tea gardens and spice plantations etc .Later drive towards Thekkady. The drive up to this hilltop wildlife sanctuary is one of the most beautiful . Starting with cocount groves at the lower lever you then see rubber, tea and the spice plantation as you gain height. Upon arrival check into the Resort. Rest of the day Free
DAY 13: PERIYAR
Today we take a jeep ride to a nearby spice plantation. Late afternoon take a boat ride on Lake Periyar to look for wild animals drinking or taking a dip in this 100 year old lake. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 14: PERIYAR - MADURAI( BY SURAFCE)
Today we start our drive towards Madurai. Upon arrival at Madurai we checkinto out our prebooked Hotel. Afternoon we visit Madurai whose history goes back to six centuries before Christ . The Pandyan rulers made this their capital until the 14th Century and the city flowered with the genius of its writers, builders, poets and academics.Then the Nayaks ruled Maduraifrom the middle of the 16th Century to 1743. The ten tall Gopurams of the Meenakshi Temple were raised during their dynasty. This is a huge compled of Temples. A thousand - pillared hall and a tank.A full day tour visiting the Meenakashi Temple, Palace ofKing Triumalay, the great tank, Gandhi Museum and Temple at Alaghat Koli enroute visiting Elephant Rock. Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 15: MADURAI
After an early breakfast take a full days tour to Rameshwaram, a major center for Hindu piligrimage. Here the God Rama offered prayers to Lord Shiva. One of the most scared towns of India, it is well known for its temple corridor - the longest in India, the Bathing Ghat , Ganthamathana Parvatham , Kothandaramar temple , Kurusadai and other nearby islands - abundant with coral reefs and other Marine wonders. Return to the hotel for overnight.
DAY 16: MADURAI - TRICHY ( BY SURFACE)
after Breakfast we continue our drive towards Trichy. Upon arrival checkin at your prebooked Hotel. Trichy's historic associations stretch from chola times to the 18th Century karnataka Wars, When Britain and France espoused the aspirations of rival princes. Afternoon we go for a city tour of Trichy visiting Rock Fort, Sirangam and Jambukeshwar Temples.
DAY 17: TRICHY - TANJORE ( BY SURFACE)
Depart for Tanjore by road . Upon arrival Check in at your pre- booked Hotel . Thanjaur was the seat of the Chola Empire from the 10th to the 14th Centuries and it was a Chola King, Rajah Chola who built the greatest of its 74 temples, the Birhadeswara temple which is more than 200 feet tall in the Dravidian truncated pyramid form, and has a huge lingam in its sanctorium. In the inner shrine of the temple, one sees India's second largest statue of Nandi the bull, the mount of the God Shiva. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 18: TANJORE - PONDICHERRY( BY SURFACE)
After breakfast we continue our drive towards Pondcherry, Formarly a French colony which has settled in the early part of the 18th century. Places of interest are Sri Aurobindo Ashram Auroville - the brain child of the mother and designed by French Architect roger Anger, AuroVille was meant to be an experiment in international living where man and women could live in peace and progress harmony with each other above all creeds. Overnight at Hotel .
DAY 19: PONDICHERRY- MAHABALIPURAM
Today we depart for Mahabalipuram. Upon arrival check in at your Hotel. Rest of the day free. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 20: MAHABALIPURAM
Morning we undertake a full day city tour of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. Mahabalipuram, once the principal port of the Pallavas who ruled between the 06th and 09th Centuries AD. "The City of Seven pagodas". Is nothing less than a breathtaking display masterful sculpture carved out of solid rocks of granite, the Shore Temple - a plendid example of early temple construction in the south. Penance of Bhagirata the worlds largest bas - relief also known as "Argon's Penance'.
Kanchipuram, city of a thousand temples, Once the capital of Pallava, Kanchipuram still contains no less than 124 shrines. The temples were built mainly by two rulers, Mahendray and Mamalla Narashimha Parman. Typical of their architecture is the KailasnathaTemple dedicated to Siva, believed to be 1200 years Old . Other important ones include the 16th Century Ekambasreshwar Temple,Kamakshi Temple, and Vaikunta Perumal. Kanchipuram is the centre of Silk weaving and is famous for its saris and materials. Return to the Hotel for an Overnight.
DAY 21: MAHABALIPRAM - CHENNAI ( BY SURFACE) ARRIVE LEAVE CHENNAI
After breakfast,transferred to Chennai Airport to board flight for your onward Journey.
