Duration : 15 Nights / 16 Days
Destinations : Chennai- Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram- Chennai - Madurai - Kanyakumari - Kovalam - Trivandrum - Thekkady - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore - Bangalore - Out
Day 01 : Chennai
Arrive Chennai meet and assist at the airport then transfer to hotel for
overnight stay.
Day 02 : Chennai – Excursion to Kanchipuram &
Mahabalipuram
After breakfast leave for full day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram.
Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas
famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. Temples of
Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest.
Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. The city of Mahabalipuram (58 kms
/ 1 hr drive from Kanchipuram) is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on the
seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are the
examples of Dravidian style of Architecture. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 03 :Chennai – Madurai
After breakfast, leave for city tour of Chennai. Visit the Museum to see
the Art and Bronze Gallery. Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High
court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Kapaleeswar Temple, Cathedral, and Snake
Park. Late evening transfer to Railway-station to connect Train # 2637
Pandian Express dep. 21:30 for Madurai. Overnight on train.
Day 04 : Madurai
Morning arrive Madurai 06:15 hrs. Later visit the great Meenakshi Temple
dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva. Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak
Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the
Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and
Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05 :Madurai – Kanyakumari
After breakfast morning free for leisure or you may explore the city by
own. Later drive to Kanyakumari 250 kms or 07 hrs drive. Upon arrival
transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 06 : Kanyakumari – Kovalam
Early morning watch sunrise. Later visit Kanyakumari Temple, Gandhi
Memorial, and Vivekananda Memorial in Kanyakumari. Evening watch spectacular
sunset from the Beach. Later drive to Kovalam (72 kms / 1/12 hrs drive).
Upon arrival transfer to hotel for overnight stay
Day 07 : Kovalam
Kovalam is well known for its beautiful beaches and palm fringed coconut
trees. After breakfast full day free to relax on the beach. Overnight at
hotel.
Day 08 : Kovalam – Trivandrum – Thekkady
(Periyar)
After breakfast drive to Thekkady (260 kms / 6 & 1/2 hrs. drive)
Day 09 : Thekkady
After breakfast visit the Periyar National park. It extends to 777 square
kms & forms part of the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghats. Wild
life can be seen while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motor boat. Elephants,
wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc. can be
seen easily. Afternoon visit spice plantations. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10 : Thekkady - Kumarakom
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom (120 kms / 3 hrs). Upon arrival transfer
to the hotel. Afternoon visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary which is well known
for large bird population including migratory birds from Siberia. Overnight
at hotel.
Day 11 : Kumarakom – Board Houseboat
Morning board houseboat from Kumarakom Jetty. House Boats (Kettuvallam) or
Rice Boats are best described as mobile cottages with all modern facilities
and offer excellent accommodation. The Backwaters are a unique web of lakes,
lagoons, canals and rivers. The Overnight cruise offers excellent
opportunity to see the lifestyles of local people living along the large
sections of the backwaters of Kerala. There are halts in between to stretch
your legs on the shore, visiting the ancient temples, churches, local
villages & people, plus try the floating markets, duck rearing or take
in a quick bottle of fresh sweet toddy from a local pub.
Day 12 : Alleppey – Cochin – Bangalore
Morning disembark at Alleppey and drive to Cochin (70 kms / 1 ½ hrs).
Later leave for city tour of Cochin. Main attractions are Jewish synagogue,
Portuguese Churches, Mosques and Hindu temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing
Nets. Evening transfer to Railway-station to connect Train # 6525 Bangalore
Express dep. at 18:05 hrs for overnight journey to Bangalore.
Day 13 : Bangalore
Morning arrive Bangalore at 06:10 hrs. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.
Afternoon tour of Bangalore city, visit the Lal Bagh with a variety of old
trees, fountains, lotus pools, terraces & an assortment of tropical and
sub-tropical herbs. Also see the Maharaja's Palace & Government
Buildings. Overnight at hotel.
Day 14 : Bangalore – Mysore
After breakfast drive to Mysore (140 kms / 3 hrs). Afternoon free for
leisure or to explore the city by own. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15 : Mysore
After breakfast visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 - 1912. The
palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and saracenic styles of
architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures which
are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto Chamundi hill to see
Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see
the Nandi Bull. Afternoon visit St. Philomina's Chrch and Brindavan Gardens.
Overnight in Hotel.
Day 16 : Mysore - Bangalore - Out
Transfer to Bangalore International airport in time to connect flight for onward destination.
