Best of South India ( Twenty two days )


Duration : 21 Nights / 22 Days

Day -1 - Chennai
Your exploration in Tamil Nadu will start from Chennai (formerly known as Madras) owes its origins to the British Empire, which established a fort-Fort St.George-and trading post here in the 17th century. Chennai is today the 4th largest city in the country.

Arrival at Chennai meet and assistance at the airport by our representative and transfer to your hotel. Later in the evening enjoy the drive through Marina Beach-considered one of the longest beaches in the world, the Marina is about 12 Kms long and is the favorite place for evening promenades. Overnight at the hotel in Chennai.

Day - 2 - Chennai
Today after breakfast proceed to visit:
Fort St.George: The fort, built in the 17th century by the British East India Company is one of the finest example of British military construction in India.
High Court & Light House: Built in 1892,it is said to be the largest judicial building in the world after the courts of London.
St.Andrews Church: The Kirk as it’s popularly referred to, with a 55m steeple was completed in 1821 in the classical style.
St.Thomas Mount: Situated between the airport and the city, this tiny cave is where St.Thomas lived and preached when he came to India in 58 AD.

Day - 3 - Chennai – Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
After breakfast visit Kanchipuram – this is one of India’s seven sacred cities and one of its loveliest temple towns also known for its handloom silks. Visit Kailasnathar, Vaikuntaperumal, Ekambareshwara, Kamakshiamma and Sakiswarar Temples. Later in the day visit Mahabalipuram known for its Pallava Art and its beautiful long beach, visit Cave Temples, Rathas Arjuna’s Penace and Shore Temples. Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram.

Day - 4 - Mahabalipuram – Kovalam- Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram itself, or Mammallapuram as it was originally called, is ancient sea port named after Mammala or Narasimha Varman 1,the Pallava ruler who set up his capital here and established a center of sculpture and art in the seventh century AD. Visit Kovalam Beach.
One very good reason for driving down to Mahabs is the drive itself. There are more than 40 carved monuments here but the must-see are Shore Temple, the great open -air bas relief called Arjunna's Penance and the Five Ratha.
Crocodile Bank -A unique wildlife park created by famous conservationist Romulus Whitaker, it saves several crocodile and Alligator species from extinction.

Day - 5 - Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry
After breakfast check out and travel by road to Pondicherry.A former French colony settle in the 18th century. Pondicherry is indeed is a beautiful Indian town with traces of French culture still intact and an ashram by the sea.
Walking is the best way to see Pondicherry.A walk around the white Town-begin at the southern end of Goubert Salai, also known as Beach Road-will take you past most of Pondicherry's sights: the palace de la Republique, the Light house, the French War Memorial, the statue of Joan of Arc, the church of Our Lady of the Angels, the Pondicherry Museum and the Government Garden.

Day - 6 - Pondicherry
Day free for explore Pondicherry.We will visit:
(1) The Aurobindo Ashram: This ashram is now one of the most popular and affluent in India today.
(2) The Pondicherry Museum: This building with its huge rooms, wide windows and high ceilings is itself worth a visit.
(3) Shopping: Pondicherry is excellent for pottery, handmade paper products, candles, incense sticks and other new age accoutrements.

Day - 7 - Pondicherry –Trichy
Travel by road to Trichy, on arrival transfer to hotel. Evening free to relax, overnight in Trichy.

Day - 8 - Trichy
After breakfast take a sight seeing tour of Trichy. Trichy the most famous landmark of this bustling town - the Rock Fort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky outcrop, which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. It is reached by a flight of steep steps cut into the rock and from its summit you get a fantastic view of the town plus its other main landmark, the Sri Ranganathanswami Temple. This temple is one of the largest and most interesting temple complexes in India, built on an island in the middle of the Cauvery River and covering a staggering 2.5 sq km and Jambukeshwara Temples. Evening drive back to hotel or take a walk through old city particularly big bazaar street and China bazaar. Overnight in Trichy.

Day - 9 - Trichy – Thanjavur
Later travel by road to Tanjore, (Thanjavur) which was the ancient capital of Chola kings. Visit the Brihadeshwara temple, which was built by Raja and is termed as the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture. This temple is one of the monuments in India with World Heritage listing. Also visit the Thanjavur Palace, which was constructed in 1550 and has huge corridors, spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers. Overnight at Thanjavur.

Day - 10 - Thanjavur – Swamimali – Thanjavur
Travel by road to Swamimalai, 8km west of Kumbakonam, is reversed as one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan, Shiva’s son, whom Hindu mythology records become his father’s religious teacher on a hill here. But of more interest to non-Hindu are the hereditary bronze-casters workshops dotted around the bazaar and outlying hamlets. Drive back to Thanjavur and overnight stay at hotel in Thanjavur.

Day - 11 - Thanjavur – Madurai
After breakfast checkout and travel by road to Madurai, on arrival transfer to hotel. Later in the afternoon visit Meenakshi Temple and Tirumalai Nayak Palace and Vandiyur Mariamman Teepakulam where annual float festival takes place. Evening free to relax, overnight in Madurai.

Day - 12 - Madurai - Kanniyakumari
Early morning travel by road to Kanyakurari.Watching the sun rise and sun set from here is the big attraction,especially on the full moon day in April,when it's possible to see both the setting sun and rising moon on the same horizon.Other attractions are Kumari Amman Temple,Gandhi Mandapam and Vivekananda Memorial.Overnight stay at Kanniyakumari.

Day - 13 - Kanniyakumari - Kovalam
Travel by road to Kovalam through green coastal belt and cashew rubber plantations. Check into the hotel. Day free to relax with the option of herbal oil massage. Overnight at Kovalam.

Day - 14 - Kovalam
After breakfast travel by road to Trivandrum, on arrival visit Padmanabhaswamy Temple & Palace, also visit Chaitra Art Gallery. The half-day is free for leisure at beach and resort.

Day - 15 - Kovalam – Alappuzha
After breakfast check out the hotel and travel by road to Alappuzha. Check into the houseboat at 12 noon for 1 Night / 2 Days riding in the backwaters & small canals.
A glide in a houseboat through the enchanting backwaters is sure to rob your heart. Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expense of panoramic sight one can never forget. Inl ess than 15 minutes, the low hums of the motor and the dazzling afternoon light have tuned out the noises in your head, the deadlines, the telephone, and the unfinished chapters. Watch the white tyre-tread clouds turn into wisps of animal fur and then disappear. The isolation on a luxury houseboat is total. Overnight in houseboat.

Day - 16 - Alappuzha – Periyar
Breakfast on board. Disembark at Alappuzha.70 Kms from Cochin), this unique backwater destination situated on the banks of the Vembanad lake is considered as gateway to the backwater of Kuttanad, the granary of Kerala.Travel by road to Periyar.
Early evening at 1500 hrs take a boat ride in Periyar Lake to see wild animals especially Wild Elephants which come on the bank of the lake with their siblings for playing & quenching thirst. Later in the evening visit Spice Plantations & market. Overnight in Periyar.

Day - 17 - Periyar – Cochin
After breakfast travel by road to Cochin. Cochin, the Queen of the Arabian Sea-one of the finest natural harbors on the Arabian Coast of India. Cochin has been a port of call for foreign traders from very early times. Arabs, Dutch, Chinese, British, and Portuguese sea sailors followed the sea route to Cochin and left their imprint on the town.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Cochin including The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry is renowned for its wall murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana. The Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town. The St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. The Santa Cruz Basilica originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese. The Chinese fishing nets are huge cantilevered fishing nets believed to have brought to Kochi by Chinese traders. Finally, the Willingdon Island, named after Lord Willingdon, is the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command of India.
In the evening visit Kalari center to witness Kalaripayattu.Kalarippayattu is one of the oldest living tradition of martial training and physical culture in the world. Overnight at the hotel in Cochin.

Day - 17 - Cochin – Ooty
Early morning travel by road to Ooty. Ooty was the first established hill station in India and considered the ‘Queen of Blue Mountains’. Overnight stay at Ooty.

Day - 18 - Ooty
After breakfast take a sight seeing of Botanical Garden, Ooty Lake, Raj Bhavan and St, Stephen’s Church. Overnight stay at Ooty.

Day - 19 - Ooty – Mysore
After breakfast checkout the hotel and travel by road to Mysore.A center of sandalwood carving, silk and incense production, 159 Km southwest of Bangalore, Mysore, the erstwhile capital of the Wadiyar Rajas, is one of South India's most -visited places. Mysore is a charming, old fashioned and undaunting town, dominated by the spectacular Maharaja's Palace.

A after lunch and relaxation, we will visit Maharaja's Palace. Designed in the hybrid Indo-Saracenic style by Henry Irwin, the British consultant architect of Madras state. Overnight at Mysore.

Day - 20 - Mysore
Day for sightseeing in and around Mysore, Jaganmohan Palace & Art Gallery, St.Philomena’s Cathedral, Chamundi Hill, Brindavan Gardens.


Day - 21 - Mysore – Bangalore
After breakfast checkout the hotel and travel by road to Bangalore. After relaxation take a sightseeing trip to Lalbagh Botanical Garden and Vidhana Soudha.
The Garden City ' for its numerous parks and avenues of jacaranda, gulmohar and cassia is the sixth largest and one of the cleanest cities in India. Hiring a car is the ideal way to visit some of the attractions listed below.
(1) Cubbon Park & Museum (2) Bull Temple (3) City Market (4) Fort & Tipu Sultan's Palace and (5) Ulsoor Lake.
Overnight at Bangalore.

Day - 22 - Bangalore
Day for sightseeing in and around Bangalore.

Day - 22 - Bangalore – Airport
In time transfer to Bangalore airport. Tour End.