- Visit the Ancient temples of Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram and GangaikondaCholapuram.
- Excursion to the historical town of Trichy, including a visit to Rock Fort that dominates the landscape.
- Sightseeing in the holy city of Madurai including a visit to the Menakshi-Sundareshwara Temple
- Enjoy an afternoon boat ride on Periyar Lake
- A night stay in Houseboat and cruising on the calm backwaters to explore the village life of
- Kerala
- Enjoy a performance of the local martial art of Kalaripatittu which originated in South India
- City tour of Kochi including Mattancherry Dutch Palace
- Evening witness the Kathakali Dance Show in Kochi.
Highlights
- Enjoy a city tour of Chennai, former base of the British East India Company including Fort St.George and the National Art Gallery.
- Marvel at the ‘Golden City’ of Kanchipuram which houses over 125 shrines
- Tour the coastal town of Mahabalipuram, sightseeing includes the Descent of the Ganga, the world’s largest bas-relief. The shore temple is a UNESCO World Heritage sight
- Tour the former French colonial town of Puducherry, including a visit to Raj Nivas, the residence of the Lt. Governor of Pondicherry and the Aurobindo Ashram.
Chennai
On arrival in Chennai, you’ll be met by our tour representative and transferred to your hotel. Chennai
(Formerly known as Madras), is the capital of Tamil Nadu, and is located on the coast of the Bay of
Bengal, and was established around 1639, when the British East India Company established it as a port.
It was developed around the fortress of St. George and today still shows signs of its colonial past with
many buildings reminiscent of the Colonial kingdom. The remainder of this day is free for you to relax atyour hotel or take a stroll around the city.Overnight stay.
Chennai -Mahabalipuram (60 Kms/1 hr)
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Chennai. Explore FortSt. George, completed in 1653 and today filled with reminders of the past, including St. Mary’s, the firstchurch consecrated on Indian soil. Next drive along the Marina, an elegant promenade and proceed tothe old Indian section of Mylapore. It is one of the oldest residential parts of the Chennai city. Visit San Thome Basilica- the culmination of theenduring legend of Thomas Didymus, the apostle who doubted and who is believed to have lived andpreached on Mylapore’s shores.
Later drive towards Mahabalipuram, en route visit the ‘Golden City’ of Kanchipuram, which contains
about 125 shrines dating back to the early Cholas of 200 BC. It was successively the capital of the Cholas,
thePallavas and the Rayas of Vijayanagara, and a testimony to this are its magnificent temples.
Kanchipuram’s other claim to fame is its silk, renowned for more than four centuries. A unique system
of weavers makes and sells Kanchi saris, the most sought-after saris in India.
Continue drive towardsMahabalipuram, upon arrival check in to the hotel.Overnight stay.
Mahabalipuram
This morning enjoy a tour of Mahabalipuram, which is located on a stunning rocky outcrop between the
beach and a lagoon.This is a dream world of Tamil art, an open-air museum of sculpture in living rock. The piece deresistance is Arjuna’s Penance or the Descent of the Ganga, the world’s largest bas-relief. It is a beautifulcomposition of hundreds of celestial beings, human and animals all hurrying to a natural rock cleft thatdivides the giant stone.
The best-known landmark of Mahabalipuram, is the Shore Temple which has stood by the sea for 12
centuries and was recently listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.Overnight stay.
Mahabalipuram-Puducherry (105 Kms/3 Hrs)
After breakfast drive towards Puducherry (previously known as Pondicherry) a spiritual
seaside location. Its ancient French flavour remains visible in the well-kept gardens, the magnificent
churches, the historical monuments, the palaces and the clean and wide streets that still retain their
French names.
Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Afternoon visit of Puducherry's landmarks, the Raj Nivas, the
residence of the Lt. Governor of Pondicherry, a 200-year-old building which faces Government Park with
its well-laid-out paths, lawns, fountains and sculptures; the Romain Rolland Library and the 60,000 plus
volumes on its shelves; the Puducherry Museum, with its outstanding collection of artefacts relating to
all aspects of the French Indian past; and the church of Notre Dame des Anges, built around 1865, which
has a rare oil painting of Our Lady of the Assumption, a gift from Napoleon III.
Later, visit the Aurobindo Ashram, the best-known landmark of Puducherry. Here followers come from
all over the world to practice yoga and practical activities like construction, farming, shoe-making and
laundering. Auroville, an extension of the Aurobindo Ashram, is a voluntary commune where around
800 people from 28 nations live. It looks like a city of the future as its architecture is the result of diverse
experiments in building materials, techniques and styles.Overnight stay.
Puducherry - Tanjore (200 Kms/5 Hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a drive to Thanjavur. En route, stop at Chidambaram, an important
pilgrimage centre for the followers of Shiva known for its famous Nataraja Temple, an excellent example
of the Dravidian architecture of Tamil Nadu.
We then continue our drive to GangaikondaCholapuram, a Hindu Temple dedicated to Shiva with an
imposinggopuram that can be seen from afar, followed by a stop at Swamimalai. We then proceed
onward for Tanjore, where you’ll check in upon arrival.
In the afternoon, visit the Brihadeeswara Temple. The corridors around the shrine have many sculptures
and frescoes from the period of the kingdom of Chola that were only recently discovered.
The palace and the remains of the fort surrounding temple number 6 are still visible. Members of the
former royal family of Thanjavur still occupy apartments on the inside, but the palace is now mainly
used as an art gallery. After the tour, return to your hotel.Overnight stay.
Tanjore - Madurai (200 Kms/5.5 Hrs.)
Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before you proceed for an excursion in the historical town of Trichy.
Your first stop of the tour is at Rock Fort, which dominates the landscape at an altitude of 90 metres,
followed by the ancient temples dedicated to Lord Ganapathi.
434 steps carved into rock interspersed with shrines lead to this temple, while yet another flight leads to
the temple of Lord Shiva. The ascent is rewarded with a magnificent view of the sacred Kaveri River.
We then visit the island of Srirangam, a massive temple dedicated to Vishnu, which contains a bazaar
within its walls. Its annual winter festival attracts thousands of devotees.
After the tour, proceed on your journey to Madurai and, upon arrival, check in at the hotel with the
remainder of the day free for you to enjoy on your own.Overnight stay.
Madurai
After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the holy city of Madurai, found in the heart of
Tamil Nadu. The whole life of this teeming city converges on the magnificent temple of Menakshi-
Sundareshwara, rebuilt in the 17th century by King Tirumalai-Nayak.It is a real masterpiece, where you can admire an astonishing proliferation of columns and corridorsembellished with countless statues in an atmosphere full of life and faith.
Afterwards, visit the TirumalaiNayak Palace, founded in 1636 and built in the style of Indo-Muslim art
with Italian influence. Yet another Nayakar legacy is the MariammamTeppakulam, a tank which was fed
from the waters of the river Vaigai, north of the city. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure or
explore this spell-binding location at your own pace.Overnight stay.
Madurai - Periyar (145 Kms/4.5 Hrs.)
In the evening, watch a Kerala martial arts performance called Kalaripayattu at a theatre in Periyar. Known as the mother of all martial arts, Kalaripayattu originated in South India and is one of the oldest fighting systems in existence. It includes strikes, kicks, grappling, weaponry and healing methods. Overnight stay.
Periyar -Alleppey (140 Kms/4Hrs.)
Your houseboat has bedrooms with attached toilet, a dining area cum sit out. There will be 3 accompanying staff in the boat. One driver, one helper and one cook. Lunch, Dinner & Breakfast will be cooked and served on board by the accompanying cook. Overnight stay in Houseboat.
Alleppey - Kochi (95 Kms/2 Hrs.)
Later proceed for city sightseeing tour of Kochi. The tour includes a visit to the Mattancherry Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguesein 1555 and renovated by the Dutch in 1663.
In these ancient rooms are 17th-century murals that relate in vibrant colour the story of the epic Ramayana. We may be able to catch a glimpse of the façade of a Jewish Synagogue in the Jewish quarter and Fort Cochin Area – legend dates Jewish trade with Kerala as far back as the times of King Solomon. Later, marvel at St. Francis Church, the oldest European Church in India. It contains several antiquities and a wealth of records that include a palm-leaf title deed the local Raja gave the Portuguese in 1503. End the tour with the Chinese Fishing Nets, unique to this part of Kerala and living symbols of the centuries-old Chinese influence on this coast.Overnight stay.
Kochi
After a leisurely breakfast in the hotel, step out into the vibrant streets of Kochi and enjoy your morning
exploring this fascinating location at your own pace.
Later transfer to the Kochi airport to connect flight for youronward destination.