The places you are going to enjoy in this tour package.
Chennai
Mahabalipuram
Pondicherry
Tanjore
Kumarakom
Day 1
Arrive in Chennai
After meeting your driver, you can proceed for Chennai sightseeing, famous Lord Kapaleeswar Temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva) Gopuram, Mandapam are interesting points to see, later visit St. George Fort Museum (closed on Friday) – important place to visit to get acquainted with old Chennai.
It has great historical importance and the place is worth visiting. (St. George's Fort now houses Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly and Tamilnadu Secretariat office), later visit Government Museum (closed on Fridays) and in the evening you can have free time at Elliot beach, then go back to the hotel.
Overnight in Chennai.
Day 2
Chennai / Kanchipuram / Mahabalipuram
After having breakfast you will proceed to Mahabalipuram which is one of the famous coastal regions of Tamilnadu. On the way you can visit Kanchipuram, visit Kailasanathar Temple, built in the 8th century AD It is built in the typical Pallava style, with a pyramid tower, pillared hall and vestibule, surrounded by a wall. The temple is famous for its exquisite carvings and attracts devotees and tourists.
There are 58 small shrines located around the main shrine, as well as an enclosure wall. Fresco-style paintings adorn the inner walls of the temple. Then we visit Ekambareswarar Temple; The ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 57m high Raj Gopuram is one of the tallest keep in South India. The 3,000-year- old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches, each producing different types of mangoes. Then visit Vaikunda Perumal temple (dedicated to Lord Vishnu) which is also one of the 108 Divyadesams, after visiting the temples you can visit weaving mills, where you can see silk sarees being produced in traditional style, then continue your journey to Mahabalipuram.
Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Mahabalipur
Day 3
Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry
After breakfast, you can proceed for Mahabalipuram sightseeing, visit the famous Arjuna Penance which is the largest bas-relief in the world. This huge whale-shaped rock contains figures of gods, demi-gods, men, beasts, birds. Next we visit the Rathas, monolithic temples shaped like chariots. They remain an architectural mystery, as each is apparently a faithful reproduction of a wooden-built structure.
In fact, even the grain of the timber beams and beams has been simulated in stone. Of the eight Rathas, five have been named for the Pandava brothers, the heroes of the epic Mahabharata, then we visit the beach temple. After the sightseeing you will proceed to Pondicherry which is commonly said to be the French territory of South India.
Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure. In the afternoon you can walk along the coast and spend the night in Pondicherry.
Day 4
Pondicherry
Today after breakfast you can proceed for Pondicherry sightseeing, visit famous Aurobindo Ashram which is a combination of Yoga and Modern Science, Auroville one of the most famous meditation centers in the world to do meditation, with people from different parts of the world coming to this place.
Afterward, return to the hotel. In the evening you can visit Manakula Vinayagar Temple and stay overnight in Pondicherry.
Day 5
Pondicherry / Chidambaram / Darasuram / Tanjore
After breakfast, the journey to Tanjore begins, with a visit to Chidambaram, where the famous temple of Lord Natarajar (dedicated to Lord Shiva) is located, which represents one of the five elements (heaven) and which is the only temple where You can see Lord Shiva in dance pose.
Then continue your journey to Darasuram where the famous Airavateeswarar temple is situated near Kumbakonam. This temple is a veritable “house of arts and architecture” built by Raja Raja Chola II in the 12th century AD and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage monument.
Then continue the journey to Tanjore and, upon your arrival, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Stay in Tanjore.
Day 6
Tanjore / Trichy / Madurai
Today, after breakfast, leave for Tanjore. Once you arrive in Tanjore, you will be able to visit the famous 1000 year old Brahadeeswarar temple built by the famous king Raja Raja Chola. After that, you will be able to visit Maratha palace where you can visit King Saroboji Saraswathy Mahal library, art gallery and Sangeetha Mahal. After the sightseeing, continue towards Madurai, making a stop at Trichy.
You will be able to visit the famous Rock Fort temple, which is the main landmark of the city and which stands at 83m high, the only relief in an otherwise flat area. The most surprising fact is that this rock is one of the oldest in the world, with an age of about 3,800 million years, equal to that of the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas.
Then visit the Srirangam temple, surrounded by the waters of the Kaveri River on one side and its tributary Kollidam on the other, it is a 600-acre city-island enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Renganathaswamy temple. This temple has no less than 21 gopurams, one of which is the tallest in South India. After visiting the tourist places proceed to Madurai, upon arrival check-in at the hotel and rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Madurai. upon arrival you check into the hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 7
Madurai
After breakfast, you will take a city tour of Madurai, visiting the famous Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. Next, you will visit Thirumalainayak Palace which was built by King Thirumalai Nayak, one of the Nayak governors.
Later, you will be able to visit the Gandhi Museum, which was built to honor the Father of the Nation, Gandhi JI. He will give you a detailed story about his fight for freedom. After the visit, you will return to the hotel. In the evening you can participate in the Meenakshiamman temple night ceremony.
Then you will drive back to the hotel to spend the night in Madurai.
Day 8
Madurai / Thekkady
After finishing your breakfast, you can leave for Ooty, the popular wild life region of Kerala. Periyar is a place to take a lake cruise and give an opportunity to see the wild life. It is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, bison, antelopes, sambhars, wild boars, monkeys and a vast variety of birds.
Upon your arrival, check in to your hotel and after a short break, you can join the Spice Plantation Visit (optional), where you can see the variety of spices grown in Periyar. In the evening, you can watch Kalaripayattu show (optional), the traditional brave show of Kerala.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 9
Thekkady / Kumarakom
After breakfast you can proceed to Kumarakom which is one of the famous backwater regions of Kerala. Upon your arrival, check in to the hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure to relax at the hotel, gazing at the beauty of the backwaters.
Overnight in Kumarakom.
Day 10
Kumarakom / Alleppey
After having breakfast you will head to Alleppey which is the most popular backwater destination in Kerala. After check-in you will board the houseboat called Kettuvallam and sail around the beautiful Vembanad lake. This lake offers an enchanting experience to tourists, a perfect place to relax your mind and body.
The lake has a cooling effect while the trees and bushes offer relief to your tired eyes. During the journey you will see ancient temples, churches, rice fields and observe the daily activities of local people living around.
Your crew will serve you delicious Kerala food on board and take good care of you. In the late afternoon, the houseboat will be anchored in a secure area of the village and there will be no overnight cruise.
Overnight on board the houseboat.
Day 11
Alleppey / Cochin
Today you will get off the boat and head to Cochin. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and after a short break, start your Cochin tour by visiting the famous St. Francis Church, built by the Portuguese in 1510.
It is believed to be the oldest European church built in India. Vasco da Gama was buried here, but his mortal remains were brought to Portugal 14 years later. Next, visit the Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays), built by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Cochin in 1555. Although it was built by the Portuguese, it is known as the "Dutch Palace" because it was renovated during their short reign.
The glory of the palace lies in the murals which are in the best tradition of Hindu temple art. Afterwards, visit the Jewish synagogue (closed on Friday noon and Saturday), built in 1568. Old Testament scrolls and a number of copper tablets engraved in the Hebrew script are kept in this synagogue. The Jewish synagogue in Kochi bears witness to the communal harmony of the state for centuries.
Then, visit the Chinese fishing boats at the harbor entrance, a fascinating display of a mechanical method of fishing used by local fishermen in Fort Kochi. In the evening you can watch Kerala's famous traditional dance performance, Kathakali (optional) and then drive back to the hotel and stay overnight in Cochin. a fascinating display of a mechanical method of fishing used by local fishermen in Fort Kochi.
In the evening you can watch Kerala's famous traditional dance performance, Kathakali (optional) and then drive back to the hotel and stay overnight in Cochin. a fascinating display of a mechanical method of fishing used by local fishermen in Fort Kochi. In the evening you can watch Kerala's famous traditional dance performance, Kathakali (optional) and then drive back to the hotel and stay overnight in Cochin.
Day 12-13
Cochin to Mumbai
Flying straight from cochin to Mumbai “city of dreams” Feel the energy of this impressive city and live the Elephanta Caves.
Experience as well Dharavi, the area where Bollywood movie and Oscar Winner, “Slumdog Millionaire” has been shot , gateway of india, dhobi ghat.
Return back to hotel.
Day 14
DEPARTURE
Relaxed and ready for travelling back home, your driver will take you to the airport as per your flight schedule.
