Classic South India Tour with Extension Option Kovalam

Duration : 11 Nights / 12 Days
Destination : Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Pondicherry - Thanjavur via Chidambaram - Madurai via Trichy - Periyar - Allepppey - Cochin - Allepppey
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Tour Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrive Chennai
Arrival at Chennai Airport. Meet our representative at Chennai airport who would assist you at the airport and accompany you till the hotel.
If you already staying in Chennai, We will arrange your Hotel transfer. Check-in into the hotel & rest of the day free for relaxation after your long flight .
Overnight stay at Chennai.

Day 02: Chennai
Morning after breakfast and a little relaxation, proceed for a full day of sightseeing in Chennai, visiting:
Marina Beach: This 12 km long beach stretch is a mesmerizing juncture of sand and sea which provides breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset.
Fort St. George: The first bastion of British power in India, built in the year 1640 AD by the British East India Company. Within the Fort, visit St. Mary's Church, built in the year 1680 & the oldest Protestant Church in the East. The Fort Museum has 10 galleries & displays armoury, old uniforms, crockery & silverware, coins, palanquins, paintings, letters, old prints, etc.
Santhome Cathedral: Built in 1504, it is said to house the remains of St. Thomas the Apostle, who is believed to have visited Madras (Chennai) sometime during 52 AD.
National Art Gallery: Established in the year 1857, it is undoubtedly one of the country's finest museums. It has sections devoted to geology, archaeology,
anthropology, botany, zoology, sculpture & numismatics.
Kapaleshwar Temple: Located in Mylapore, the arresting architecture of the Kapaleshwar temple is of the Dravidian style. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva.
Overnight stay at Chennai.

Day 03: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (150 Kms - 4 hours by road)
Morning drive towards Kanchipuram, one of the seven holy cities in the country. It was a city of learning for both Tamil & Sanskrit and was believed to be visited by Hsuan Tsang. In ancient times it was called Kachi. Once upon a time it had over 1,000 temples, but today there are around a hundred left. It is also known for its silk sarees.
We visit Kailasanatha Temple, built in 8th Century AD. It is built in the typical Pallava style, with a pyramidal tower, a pillared hall & vestibule, enclosed by a wall. The temple is famous for exquisite carvings & attracts devotees & tourists alike. There are 58 small shrines situated around the main shrine, as a compound wall. Fresco style paintings adorn the inner walls of the temple.
Next we visit Ekambaranatha, ancient temple is dedicated to lord Shiva. The 57 metres high Raj Gopuram is one of the tallest towers in South India. The 3000 year old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yielding different variety of mangoes.
Later a drive to Mahabalipuram and check in the hotel. Rest of the day is free for leisure.
Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram.

Day 04: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100 Kms - 3 hours by road)
Morning after breakfast proceed for a guided tour of Mahabalipuram, visiting Shore Temple, one of the oldest temples in South India. It belongs to the 7th Century AD & is a good example of the first phase of the structure of temples constructed in the Dravidian style. Designed to catch the first rays of the rising sun & to illuminate the waters after dark, the temple ended up with an unusual lay-out.
Beach Temples - The most renowned tourist attractions of the town of Mahabalipuram are its beautiful beach temples. The five rathas (chariots) are architectural precursors of the temples of south Indian. The smallest and the simplest is the Draupadi ratha and the largest is the multi-storeyed Dharmaraja ratha scopped from a monolithic rock. These small unfinished shrines ravaged by war and weather are things of undiminished beauty. The Kailasanatha temple, Sri Varadaraja temple, Sri Vaikuntaperumal temple, etc are all amamzing instances of patience, skill and labour.
Varaha Cave - The Varaha Cave is a small rock-cut mandapam (hall), that is a faceted and finished gem with four panels of the famous Pallava doorkeepers.
Arjuna's Penance - Arjuna's Penance, perhaps the world's largest bas-relief, is an incredible work of art. According to the legend, King Bhagiratha had to bring down to earth the celestial Ganga to purify and redeem the cursed souls of his ancestors. But the torrential river would flood the earth, and so he had to undergo a penance to propitiate Shiva who finally received the flood in his matted locks and let it trickle down. The world's creatures gathered around to watch. The cleft in the rock depicts the descent of Ganga, a theory supported by the ruins of a stone water tank on the hill.
Shore Temple - However, it is the Shore Temple that evokes the spell of Mahabalipuram. A three-in-one abode of god-a Vishnu temple sandwiched between two Shiva temples-it is a visual delight, its precincts abounding in architectural masterpieces.
Later take a drive to Pondecherry
Overnight stay in Pondecherry

Day 05: Pondicherry
After breakfast proceed for full day excursion in and around Visit Auroville City, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Promedade beach, The Pondicherry Museum, Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Manakula Vinayagar Koil Temple.
Overnight stay in Pondicherry.

Day 06: Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Tanjore (180 Kms - 4 hours by road)
On this day of your trip, after having a delicious breakfast, you will be driving from Pondicherry to Tanjore.
En-route, visit the divine land of Chidambaram. Chidambaram is dedicated to Lord Nataraja - (Lord Shiva in the form of a Cosmic Dancer - known as Shiva tandava)). It is one of the few temples where Shiva and Vishnu are enshrined under one roof. This ancient temple was built by the Cholas. It is devoted solely to the art of Bharatanatyam and is one of the rare temples where Shiva is represented by an idol rather than the customary Lingam. Spread over an area of 40 acres with a gopuram on each side, the temple is distinguished by five sabhas or courts. Apart from this, the sacred land of Chidambaram, has many exquisite temples and attractions.
Later, we drive to Tanjore, which is known as the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. Check in at the hotel and proceed for the sightseeing of the city of Tanjore, also known as Thanjavur. See the beautiful Chola temple of Brihadeeshwara. The temple is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 km long ramp- an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. You will also visit the Palace and its Art Gallery, which contains several granite and bronze statues of the Chola period. Relax in the evening.
Overnight stay in Thanjavur.

Day 07: Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai (195 Kms - 4 hours by road)
After breakfast, drive to Madurai. En route, visit Trichy, short for Tiruchirappalli.
Explore Trichy by visiting Srirangam - 5 kms from Trichy, located on an island of Srirangam. Surrounded by the Kaveri water, it is a 600-acre island town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswamy temple. There are no less than 22 gopurams, one of which is the tallest in India. The 72 m high, 13-tiered Gopuram dominates the landscape for miles around.
Also, visit the Rock Fort: Tirchy's most famous landmark is an 83 mt high rock which is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat inland of the city. The most amazing fact about the rock is that it is one of the oldest in the world. The sheer abruptness of its rise is an attention grabber. But the actual centre of attraction is not the fort itself, of which very little remains, but the temple at the summit.
After sightseeing in Trichy, continue your drive to Madurai. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. Overnight stay in Madurai.

Day 08: Madurai - Periyar (160 Kms - 4 hours by road)
Morning after breakfast proceed to visit the famous Madurai Meenakshi temple, Also known as Meenakshi Amman Temple. It is an ancient and one amongst the most important temples of India. Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is dedicated to Sundareswar (form of Lord Shiva) and Meenakshi (form of Goddess Parvati). The term "Sundareswar" suggests "the beautiful lord" and "Meenakshi" means "the fish-eyed goddess". As per the Hindu folklore, Madurai is the same city where Lord Sundareswar (Shiva) appeared to marry Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati). Meenakshi Temple is regarded as one of the most sacred places of Parvati, other being Kamakshi at Kanchipuram, Akilandeswari at Thiruvanaikaval and Vishalakshi at Varanasi.
Later drive to Periyar & checkin at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Periyar

Day 09: Periyar
Today we proceed towards Periyar Wildlife Reserve. Set on an attractive lakeside, it is South India's most popular Wildlife Sanctuary. Periyar is a place to cruise on the lake & gives an opportunity to see wildlife. It is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, bison, antelopes, sambhar, wild boar, monkey, a wide variety of birds. Later enjoy boat ride at periyar lake, followed by Spice Plantation tour & Boat ride on "Periyar Lake.
Overnight stay in Periyar.

Day 10: Periyar - Alleppey (120 Kms/ 3 hrs by road)
Today morning after breakfast drive to Alappuzha board the houseboat
Alleppey Also known as Alappuzha, Alleppey is a great favorite with those wanting to relax in the lap of nature and revive their spirits. An enamoring combination of peaceful quietude and bustling activity, Alleppey in Kerala, South India is a repository of tourist attractions, natural and architectural that allure you with their typical Alleppey appeal on your travel to Alleppey in Kerala, South India.
Overnight stay in Houseboat.

Day 11: Alleppey - Cochin (80km 2hrs)
Morning checkout form hotel & proceed towards Cochin. Cochin always had a very popular & historical sea trade connection with the Middle East, Mediterranean Europe & the Dutch. It has one of the finest natural harbours on the Arabian coastline. Its cosmopolitan character is reflected in the buildings & structures representing different regions of the world.
Later proceed to explore Cochin city. Visit the Fort Kochi that reveals the European heritage of Kochi. Santa Cruz Basilica happens to be a landmark of Kochi and a major tourist attraction too. Visit St. Francis Church, which is the oldest European Church in India. Visit the Jewish Synagogue, built in the year 1568 and magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles & Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. Also visit the spice market, where the air is filled with the pungent smell of spices & history that brought the world to its doorstep. Chinese fishing nets, (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. In the evening enjoy Kerala's most popular classical dance, Kathakali.
Overnight stay in Cochin.

Day 12: Cochin - Depart
Today we visit the Botanical Gardens, known for its exotic plants and colourfully laid out ornamental gardens. Further, we visit the Doddabetta Peak the highest point in the Nilgiri Mountains and the beautiful Ooty Lake where you can enjoy an optional boat ride. Overnight hotel - Ooty

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