When one hears the world South India, It immediately brings to mind wonderful cuisine which comprises of Idli, Sambhar, Dosa, Vadai, filter coffee, refreshing buttermilk, temples which are architectural wonders, soulful music, varied classical dance forms, incense sticks, sandalwood, silk sarees, luscious palm trees and banana leafs, pleasant weather and the list goes on and on. South India is rich in religion, culture, traditions and folklore. There is a history attached to everything.
Arrival – Chennai
Day 01
Arrival at International Airport, on arrival welcome garland at the Airport by representative of Everbright India, later transfer to respective hotel for overnight stay.
Chennai
Day 02
Breakfast at the Hotel, after breakfast sightseeing of Kapaleeswarar Temple, Fort St. George, Santhome Cathedral, Marina Beach Dinner and overnight.
Chennai – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram
Day 03
Breakfast at the Hotel, after breakfast drive to Kanchipuram 75Kms/2Hrs, on arrival visit to the Kanchi Kailasanathar temple. This is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram. Located in Tamil Nadu, India, it is a hindu temple in the Tamil architectural style. It is dedicated to the lord Shiva, and is known for its historical importance. The temple was built from 685-705 AD by a Rajasimha ruler of the Pallava Dynasty.
Lunch at hotel, after lunch drive to Mahabalipuram also known as Mamallapuram 70Kms/2Hrs, on arrival sightseeing of The Shore Temple. This is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is located near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD.
Later sightseeing Descent of the Ganges. This is a monument at Mamallapuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the Chengalpattu district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Measuring 96 by 43 feet, it is a giant open-air rock relief carved on two monolithic rock boulders.
Later sightseeing of Krishna’s Butterball. This is a gigantic granite boulder resting on a short incline in the historical coastal resort town of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu state of India. Being part of the Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built during 7th- and 8th-century CE as Hindu religious monuments by the Pallava dynasty
Dinner and overnight at Hotel
Mahabalipuram – Pondichery
Day 04
Breakfast at Hotel, after breakfast drive to Pondichery 115kms/2.5Hrs, on arrival lunch at hotel, after lunch sightseeing of The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a spiritual community located in Pondicherry, in the Indian territory of Puducherry. The ashram grew out of a small community of disciples who had gathered around Sri Aurobindo after he retired from politics and settled in Pondicherry in 1910.
Rock Beach is the popular stretch of beachfront in the city of Puducherry, India, along the Bay of Bengal. It is a 1.2-kilometre-long stretch in Pondicherry, starts from War Memorial and end at Dupleix Park on the Goubert Avenue.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, situated on the south boulevard of Pondicherry in Puducherry, India, is an oriental specimen of Gothic architecture. It contains rare stained glass panels depicting events from the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Church
Dinner and overnight at Hotel
Pondicherry – Thanjavur – Trichy
Day 05
Breakfast at Hotel, after breakfast drive to Thanjavur 215kms/4hrs Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyār Kōvil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in South bank of Kaveri river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of a fully realized Dravidian architecture. It is called as Dhakshina Meru. Built by Tamil king Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Great Living Chola Temples”, Lunch at Hotel, after lunch drive to Trichy 60kms/1.25hrs.
After lunch visit The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Ranganatha, a form of the Supreme God, Maha Vishnu, located in Srirangam Trichy. Constructed in the Dravidian architectural style the temple is glorified by Alvars in their Divya Prabhanda and has the unique distinction of being not only the foremost among the 108 Divya Desamas dedicated to Vishnu, but also the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, this is also proposed in UNESCO world heritage site tentative list
Dinner and overnight at Hotel
Trichy – Madurai
Day 06
Breakfast at Hotel, after breakfast drive to Madurai 140kms/2.5hrs, on arrival transfer to Hotel. Lunch at Hotel, after lunch sightseeing in Madurai
After lunch sightseeing of The Gandhi Memorial Museum, it serves as a remembrance and tribute to the efforts of our very own father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Established in 1959 in his cherished memory, eleven years after his demise, it is one of the few Gandhi Museums in the country.
Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Thirukamakottam udaya aaludaiya nachiyar, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva.
Dinner and overnight
Madurai – Thekkady
Day 07
Breakfast at Hotel, after breakfast drive to Thekkady 140kms/3.25Hrs. On arrival transfer to Hotel, Lunch at Hotel, after lunch visit Ramakalmedu the one of the best view point.
Ramakalmedu is a historic site with a Monument to Kuravan and Kurathi – a large statue that depicts the Sangam Period and Sangam Landscape of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The monument provides a panoramic view of Tamilnadu villages and towns, including Cumbum, Theni, Kombai, Thevaram, Uthamapalayam, Bodinaykannor and Vaiga. Rolling green hills and the fresh mountain air make Ramakalmedu an enchanting retreat. The view is striking at dusk when all these towns in Tamilnadu, are lighted. Rama – kal – medu literally means “Land of Rama’s Stone” or “Land where Lord Ram set his holy foot” (Lord Ram is a Hindu God in the epic Ramayana). One story says that Lord Ram along with Lakshman (younger brother of Lord Ram who was accompanying him during his 14 years exile in the forest) kept his foot at the top of Ramakkalmedu in search of his wife Lady Sita, who was abducted by the Ravan the King of Lanka.
Dinner and overnight
Thekkady – Kumarakom
Day 08
Breakfast at Hotel, then prepare for morning boat ride at Periyar Wild life sanctuary. After sightseeing will arrange spice plantation tour. Later drive to Kumarakom 122kms/3hrs.
Check into the House Boat. Dinner and overnight
Kumarakom – Alleppey – Cochin
Day 09
Breakfast at Hotel, than visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary by Boat, after lunch alight at Alleppey and drive to Cochin 55kms/1.5hrs. In the evening attend Kathakali Dance Show
Dinner and overnight
Cochin – Fort Cochin – Cochin
Day 10
Breakfast at Hotel, after breakfast sightseeing at Fort Cochin Area, Jew Town, Mattancherry, Chinese Fishing Net, St. Francis Church, Evening free for leisure.
Dinner and overnight
Cochin – Departure
Day 11
Breakfast at Hotel, after breakfast full day on leisure, After Dinner transfer to Airport.
Experience India like never before!
Sequence of Itinerary, number of days and meal arrangement can be changed as per final discussed program as few monuments are closed on Mondays and a few on Fridays in India.
