| Day 01 :- |
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Arrive Chennai
Arrive in Chennai. After completing formalities with
customs and immigration, you will be received by our
representative with Traditional Indian Welcome (with
garlands).
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Madras is a fascinating city with its ancient temples
and unique culture, golden sandy beaches merging with
the breakers of the Bay of Bengal and a marvelous
tradition of music and dance.
Check In at Hotel
Overnight at Hotel. |
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| Day 02 :- |
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Chennai – Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
After breakfast embark upon the morning city tour of
Chennai
Sri Kapaleeswarar temple : this ancient siva
temple is a delightful introduction to dravidian temple
sculpture & architectture.
Fort St. george : the building of the nucleus of
this fort in 1640 was the first step towards the
founding of chennai and an empire,
The Marina Beach & Aquarium : 3 kms from chennai,
stretching two miles, from the coovum river’s mouth,
south of the fort, till the northern boundaries of the
16th century portuguese town sam thome, is this
magnificient beach drive & promenade.
Afterwards drive to Mahabalipuram enroute kanchipuram :
Kanchipuram: The golden city of a thousand
temples. it was the capital of many empires. one of the
seven sacred cities of india and once had 1000 temples.
now only 200 remain. it is also famed for its hand woven
cottons and kanjiwaram silks.on arrival check-in at
hotel.
Afternoon visit Mahabalipuram nature and man made
architecture come together at mahabalipuram. a seventh
century temple, mahabalipuram, is a rock temple carved
out of rocks. this singular feature enhances its
magnificence manifold. also known as the seven pagodas,
the temple has intricate carvings on each rock.
Return back to hotel & overnight stay. |
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| Day 03 :- |
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Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry (Approx
140 Kms / 03 Hours)
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry. On arrival
check-in at hotel.
Pondicherry : A former french colony, is now a
union territory. It also includes the other former
french enclaves of karaikkal (tamil nadu), mahe (kerala),
and yaman (andhra pradesh). On arrival check-in at
hotel.
Afternoon city tour visit :
Govt. palace, Raj Niwvas, the official residence of
the lt. governor of Pondicherry; botanical garden;
beach; ousteri lake (13km on the villupuram road); and
french institute.
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 04 :- |
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Pondicherry – Tanjore (Approx 200 Kms/
05 Hours)
After breakfast drive to Tanjore enroute visit
Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Gangakondaicholapuram.
Chidambaram : Chidambaram is also known as
thillai, since the place was originally a forest of
thillai(excecaria agallecha)shrubs. it is an important
pilgrim centre and a holy place for saivaites as the
famous nataraja temple is located here.
Kumbakonam: nestled along the cauvery rover is
noted for its many temples with their colourful
semi-erotic sculpture. according to legend, a kumbh
(pitcher), that contained the ‘seeds of creation’ was
brought here by flood waters.
Gangaikondancholapuram : the brahadeeswarar
temple at gangaikondancholapuram was conceived and
constructed by the chola king rajendra -i after his
victory over the kingdoms in the region of the river
ganges.
On arrival check-in at hotel.
Tanjore also known as thanjavur was the ancient
capital of the chola kings whose origins (like those of
the pallavas, pandyas and cheras with whom they shared
the tip of the indian peninsula) go back to the
beginning of the christian era.
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 05 :- |
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Tanjore – Trichy (Approx 55 Kms/ 02
Hours)
After breakfast embark upon the sightseeing of the city
and visit :
Brihadisvara Temple & Fort : built by raja raja
in 1010, the brihadishwara temple is the crowning glory
of chola temple architecture. this superb and
fascinating monument is one of only a handful in india
with world heritage listing and is worth a couple of
visit. constructed from a single piece of granite
weighing an estimated 80 tonnes.
Thanjavur Palace & Museums : the huge corridors,
spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers and shady
courtyards of this vast, labyrinthing building were
constructed partly by the nayaks of mandurai around 1550
and partly by the marathas.
Afterwards drive to Trichy. On arrival check-in at
hotel.
Trichy : Tiruchirappalli now called trichy is
situated on the banks of the cauvery river. trichy, the
fourth largest city in the state was a citadel of the
early cholas which later fell to the pallavas. but the
pallavas never really managed to retain control of this
strategic city and lost it to the pandyas several times.
Afternoon sightseeing of the city where you visit :
Rock Fort : The view from the fort is
spectacular. the vinayaka temple at the top is reached
by climbing a tunnel in rock. half way up is the sri
thayumanaswamy temple, dedicated to lord siva. it has a
100-pillar hall and a vimana covered with gold. On the
southern face of the rock are several beautifully carved
rock-cut cave temples of the pallava period.
Srirangam : the most important pilgrim center in
the district is located in an island just 5kms from
trichy. srirangam, surrounded by the waters of the
cauvery on one side and its tributary kollidam on the
other, is a 600 acre island-town enclosed within the
seven walls of the gigantic sri ranganatha temple.
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 06 :- |
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Trichy – Madurai (Approx 150 Kms/ 04
Hours)
After breakfast drive to Madurai :
A pilgrimage to south in incomplete without a visit to
Madurai. It is the second largest city in Tamilnadu and
is elaborated for the Meenakshi temple. Madurai is also
one of India's most ancient cities with a history dating
back to the 6th century b.c. It was the capital of the
pandyan empire till the 14th century a.d. on arrival
check-in at hotel. afternoon city tour. Evening visit
Meenakshi temple to witness
Puja ceremony : this in an exquisite example of
temples built by the pandyan rulers. there are as many
as 11 majestic towers with the main entrance from the
east. there are two shrines one dedicated to
sundareswarar (siva) and the other to his consort
meenakshi. The hall in front of the sundareswara shrines
is known as kampathadi mandapam. the different
manifestation of lord Siva are depicted on the pillars
of this hall. The hall of thousand pillars is the most
interesting feature. This remarkable structure was built
in the 16th century.
Upon arrival check in to the hotel. Rest of the day free
at leisure.
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 07 :- |
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Madurai - Kanyakumari (Approx 250 Kms/
06 Hours)
After breakfast drive to Kanyakumari. On arrival
check-in at hotel .
Kanyakumari, also known as cape comorin, is the
‘land's end’ of india. the three seas – the bay of
bengal, the indian ocean and the arabian sea meet here
and a dip in their confluence is considered holy. it has
a great spiritual significance for the hindus. it’s
dedicated to goddess devi kanya, a form of parvati, the
consort of shiva. kanya kumari is essentially a
pilgrimage town. chaitra purnima (tamil for the april
full moon) is one of the best times to experience the
sunset and moonrise over the ocean simultaneously.
afternoon visit
Kumari Amman Temple – is the shore temple
dedicated to the virgin goddess devi kanniyakumari (parvati),
who stands guard over the country. the legend of this
temple is as romantic as the place itself. The temple is
built at the spot where the goddess is believed to have
done penance and waited for her consort lord shiva to
come and claim her hand in marriage.
Gandhi Memorial – is raised at the spot where his
ashes were kept for public darshan (viewing) before they
were immersed in the sea. The memorial resembles an
orissan temple and was designed so that on gandhi’s
birthday (2nd october), the sun’s rays fall on the place
where his ashes were kept.
Vivekananda Memorial – is located on two rocky
islands about 400m offshore. Swami Vivekanda meditated
here in 1892 before setting out as one of India’s most
important religious crusaders. the mandapam (pillared
hall) built here in his memory in 1970 reflects
architectural styles from all over the country. close to
the vivekananda rock is another rock called ‘
Sripada Parai’ meaning “the rock that has been
blessed by the touch of the feet of the goddess”. both
these rocks are fine places from where one can have a
view of the land's end of India Vivekanada Puram – is a
museum that details the extensive journey across India
that was made by the Indian philosopher Swami
Vivekananda.
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 08 :- |
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Kanyakumari – Kovalam (Approx 110 Kms/
03 Hours)
After breakfast drive to Kovalam enroute visit
Trivandrum for your city tour –
Trivandrum : Is the capital of the state of
Kerala, the former name for kerala's capital city,
Trivandrum, may be easier to pronounce, but the present
official name Thiruvananthapuram, is closer to its
mythological origins. ‘thiru-anantha-puram' means the
place of the sacred serpent anantha or adisesha on which
lord padmanabha (vishnu), the presiding deity of the
town, reclines. it is a beautiful seaside city built on
seven hills and it still retains some of the ambience
characteristic of old kerala – the pagoda-shaped
buildings with red tiled roofs and narrow winding lanes.
visit
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple – Dedicated to Lord
Vishnu is an ancient temple that covers an area of 2400
sq. km. it believed to have been rebuilt by marthanda
varma in 1733 ad. the temple stands on an elevated part
of the city with its lofty eastern tower (gopuram), the
main entrance, rising seven storeys (30m) high over
gabled roofs and white walls with a curious pagoda
effect at its peak.
Puthe Maliga Palace Museum – is housed in the
wings of the 200-year-old palace of the maharajas of
travancore, located near the padmanabhaswamy temple.
notable for its keralan architecture, the palace took
almost 5000 workers four years to complete. the museum
displays paintings and various priceless collections of
the royal family and many of the exhibits reflect the
spice trade with china and europe.
Museum Complex – an 80-acre beautifully
landscaped park in the north of the city houses a
collection of museums and a zoo. the napier museum is
housed in a keralan style building dating from 1880 and
has an eclectic display of bronzes, temple carts, ivory
carvings ancient musical instruments and life size
figures of kathakali dancers.
The natural history museum has a rudimentary
ethnographic collection as well as an interesting
replica of a tharawad, the traditional wooden residence
of the nair family.
On arrival check-in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 09 :- |
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In Kovalam
Breakfast at hotel.
Kovalam – situated 16km south of Trivandrum, is a
sheltered bay endowed with unusual beauty. this
internationally renowned beach resort has been a
favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930s. This
natural bay is a safe sea-pool, free from high waves and
surge. kovalam consists of three adjacent crescent
beaches. The southernmost, known as the lighthouse
beach, is the most popular. the small palm fringed bays
separated by rocky headlands, pale sands, gentle surf
and lush green lawns compel the visitor to overstay in
Kovalam. The surf here is ideal for surf riding and the
water invites the visitors to ride the “catamaran” or
log with the fisherman or to take a cool swim. There are
many ayurvedic treatment centres and resorts in kovalam.
Relax at beach or can do some ayurvedic treatment.
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 10 :- |
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Kovalam - Kumarakom (Approx 250 Kms /
05 Hours)
After breakfast this morning drive to Kumarakom. On
arrival check-in at hotel.
Drive to kottayam jetty & from here transfer by boat to
hotel .
Kumarakom, which is a picturesque drive. Kumarkom
is bound by vembanad lake on two sides, the swaying
paddy fields on one side and the bird sanctuary on the
other. The place is home to a large variety of migratory
birds. Day at leisure & overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 11 :- |
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Kumarakom – Periyar (Approx 175 Kms
/04 Hours)
After breakfast drive to Periyar .On arrivals check in
at hotel.
Morning drive to alleppey jetty to board backwater till
chenganacherry jetty & from here drive to periyar.
Periyar : Is South India’s most popular wildlife
sanctuary. it covers an area of 777 sq. km with a 26 sq.
km artificial lake, created by the british in 1895. the
periyar lake was formed by a dam across the periyar
river. this tropical forest reserve has all the major
birds, animals as well as flora, it is home to bison,
antelopes, sambar, wild boar, monkeys, langur and a
variety of birds, elephants and of course the tiger.
periyar is also known for the best quality indian spices
and the whole atmosphere is full with the aroma of high
quality spices.
On arrival check-in at hotel.
Evening boat ride at Lake Periyar to view wildlife -
wildlife can be seen in its natural habitat by cruising
on the lake in motorboats. Two-hour boat trips on the
lake are the usual way of touring the sanctuary.
Elephant rides inside the park are also popular. The
best time to visit the sanctuary is from September to
May, although the hot season February to March may be
less comfortable, it offers more opportunities for
wildlife sightings because with other water resources
drying up, the animals are forced to the lakeside. there
are many picnic spots around the sanctuary that are
approachable by either motor launch or bridge path in
the forest, some of which are manakkavala (10km),
periyar dam (12kms), arubi creek (16kms), crusoe island
(19km) and pavarasu (19kms).
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 12 :- |
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Periyar – Munnar (Approx 165 Kms /04
Hours)
After breakfast drive to Munnar:
Munnar : Situated at an altitude of 1,524m and
set amid dramatic mountain scenery in what was once
known as the high range of travancore, the hill town of
munnar is the commercial centre of some of the world’s
highest tea growing estates. it has a cool bracing
climate exuding an old-world charm and the atmosphere is
fragrant with extensive tea and cardamom plantations.
the enchanting high ranges, craggy peaks, lakes and
streams and the crisp mountain air makes it an ideal
retreat. the highest peak of south india, anaimudi or
the elephant's head peak (2,695m) is only a short
distance from here and munnar serves as a good base for
treks to the peak. munnar offers good opportunities for
bird watchers as the green slopes of munnar and the
dense shola forests in the folds of the hills offer
varied, protected, habitats for feathered species.
On arrival check-in at hotel. Rest of the day free at
leisure.
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 13 :- |
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Munnar – Kochi (Approx 130 Kms / 03
Hours)
After breakfast drive to Kochi. On arrival check-in at
hotel.
Kochi- is one of India's most interesting cities. it is
endowed with a natural harbor and is claimed to be the "venice
of the orient" and the "queen of the arabian sea". it
has a maritime history that began in the remote past.
arabs, chinese, dutch, british & portuguese followed the
sea routes to cochin. it is one of the few places in
world where one can see a jewish synagogue, portuguese
churches, dutch architecture, mosques, temples and
chinese fishing nets - all in one city. Cochin consists
of mainland ernakulam, the island of wellingdon,
bolgatty and gundu, fort cochin and mattanchery on the
southern peninsula and vypeen island north of fort
cochin.
Afternoon city tour visit
Bolgatty Island: it is the most beautiful of the
islands forming cochin. it also has a golf course.
Dutch Palace, Mattanchery: built by the
portuguese in 1557 AD, and presented to the cochin raja,
veer kerala varma, as a gesture of goodwill. In the
coronation hall, there is a display of dresses and
palanquins used by the rulers of cochin. The palace
houses one of the finest groups of traditional indian
murals, depicting scenes from the ramayana and other
epics.
Fort Cochin: Cochin is a busy port round the
year. One can always see merchant ships anchored in the
sea off fort
 Cochin awaiting berth. A familiar sight
here is a fisherman using nets with Chinese
contraptions. These nets can be found at the entrance to
the harbor along the backwaters.
Jewish synagogue: this synagogue was built in
1567 ad the Jewish community in cochin has its roots
going back to st. thomas the apostle's voyage to India
in 52 AD. They first came to settle down in cranganore,
north of Cochin.
St. Francis Church: This protestant church built
originally by the Portuguese in 1510 ad. Is said to be
the first church built by Europeans in India. Vasco da
Gama, the first European to reach India by sailing
around Africa, died in Cochin in 1524 ad his body was
buried in this church. His gravestone is still there,
although his remains were taken back to Portugal in 1538
ad. Evening kathakali dance show.
Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day 14 :- |
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Kochi – Mumbai
After breakfast free till departure. Departure transfer
to airport to connect the flight for Mumbai . On arrival
in Mumbai, you are received at the domestic airport and
are transferred to International airport to connect your
flight back home. |
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