South India In Detail

Arrive at the international airport of Chennai. Assistance on arrival at the airport and drive to Mamallapuram – an UNESCO World Heritage site (1 – 2hrs drive) famous for its edifices of Dravidian art and architecture. Upon arrival we check in to hotel.
(Meals: Nil)

After breakfast explore group of monuments at Mamallapuram – a collection of 7th and 8th century religious monuments. The site consists of several categories of monuments like Ratha temples with an architecture of monolith processional chariots built between 630 and 668 CE; Mandapa Viharas – also called cave temples with narratives from the Mahabharata, Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism; Rock reliefs particularly the bas-reliefs, famous being the Arjuna’s Penace; and stone cut structural temples built between 695 and 722 CE. Rest of the day one can relax at the beach along the Bay of Bengal.
(Meals: Breakfast)

Today morning we drive to Pondicherry – an erstwhile French settlement in India (1.5 – 2.5hrs drive) which is a confluence of rich culture and grand architecture. Upon arrival we check in to hotel. Late morning explore the town of Pondicherry. We will visit Aurobindo Ashram – founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and ‘the Mother’, this famous spiritual community has about 2000 members in its many departments. Later we will take a walking tour of the French Quarter, where you will walk cobblestoned and tree-lined streets passing by mustard-yellow French colonial-era buildings. We will then proceed to explore Aurovile – founded in 1968 by ‘The Mother’ as a town where people from all over the world could live in harmony.
(Meals: Breakfast)

After breakfast we drive to Thanjavur (3 – 4hrs drive) and upon arrival we check in to hotel. Thanjavur is the most important site for South Indian religion, art and architecture where most of the Great Living Chola Temples are located. Afternoon we will visit the Brihadeeswarar Temple – also called the Big Temple, this is a beautiful exponent of Chola architecture built by king Raja I.
(Meals: Breakfast)

Morning we will drive to Athangudi (1.5 – 2.5hrs drive), a small town in the Chettinadu area of Tamil Nadu famous for mansions and handmade ceramic tiles. Visit the beautiful mansion of Athangudi Palace – a palatial mansion of the 1930s which still preserves the Chettinadu heritage. Explore the beautiful art work and architectural brilliance of the palace. Also visit one of the workshop of renowned handmade Athangudi ceramic tiles and see how traditional way of making beautiful tiles still persisting in the present industrial world. After the visit we will continue with our drive to Madurai (1.5 – 2.5hrs drive) and upon arrival we check in to hotel. Madurai is one of the oldest and most fascinating cities in South India. The great Sri Meenakshi Temple, most of which was built during the Nayak period between the 16th and 18th centuries, is at the heart of the city and the life of the town revolves around it.
(Meals: Breakfast)

Today morning we start our day with a heritage walk of Madurai which will take us through the main streets and by-lanes as the vendors set up shop for their working day and devotees line up for worship. As we pass through the crowded vegetable and fruit markets, the guide will reveal the history and stories behind each road, market and temple as you experience the life and culture of Madurai and its people. Hear stories of fickle kings & towering monuments and that of whimsical Gods & extraordinary mortals. Later on the day we will visit Tirumala Nayakar Palace – a 17th century palace which is a classic fusion of Dravidian & Rajput styles. We then visit Meenakshi Temple – a historic Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, a form of Goddess Parvati, and her consort, Lord Sundareswar, a form of Lord Shiva.
(Meals: Breakfast)

After breakfast leaving Madurai, we drive to Thekkady (4-5hrs drive). Thekkady is famous for the Periyar National Park – one of the famous national parks of South India and home to nature’s bounty filled with evergreen forest, grasslands and good variety of faunal collection. Upon arrival we will check in to hotel. Later we have a short walk through a spice garden, where we can see many different spices growing and also learn about their usage. Kumily is known as the heartland of spices due to the large number of plantations spread across the region. Feel nature’s power while walking between the cardamon leaves, pepper vines, turmeric roots and many more, smelling the aromatic air. To finish the day, we will be welcomed into a family home for a special cooking demonstration and dinner.
(Meals: Breakfast & Dinner)

The Periyar National Park extends over an area of 777 Sq km and is one of the best sanctuaries in India for watching and photographing elephants at close quarters. In the early morning we will have a short trek for 2 – 3 through the evergreen and moist deciduous forests, which are interspersed with marshy grasslands. In the afternoon we will have boat cruise on the Periyar lake for 1 ½ hours. These jungle activities will help us to come across many different species of birds and butterflies, while looking for some of the rarer wildlife here, including elephants, sloth bears and elusive leopards and tigers.
(Meals: Breakfast)

Morning we will drive to Alleppey (2.5 – 3.5hrs drive), stopping en route we visit the Coir Museum, learning how coconut husks were historically manufactured and how so many products we use daily are created. We reach Alleppey jetty & board the Houseboat. We will start our cruise through the backwaters of Kerala. Explore the rural life of Kerala and daily activities of people surrounding the backwaters while relaxing on the sun deck of the Houseboat. The Houseboat will cruise till sunset.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

After breakfast we will disembark the houseboat and will drive to Kochi (1.5 – 2hrs drive). Kochi, also known as the “Queen of Arabian Sea”, is one of the finest natural and major harbor cities and has a cosmopolitan culture highly influenced by historical trading partners. Upon arrival we will check in to the hotel. Afternoon tour of Kochi to visit Dutch Palace – built by the Portuguese and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the Palace was later renovated by the Dutch (closed on Friday), Jewish Synagogue – the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations (closed on Friday & Saturday) & St. Francis Church – one of the oldest churches in India built by Europeans. Walk through Fort Kochi and see Chinese Fishing Nets – a unique cantilever fishing technique.
(Meals: Breakfast)

After breakfast, we will have a departure transfer to Kochi airport for our flight to onward destination.
(Meals: Breakfast)