CLASSICAL SOUTH INDIA
Exotic Flora and Fauna, Lush Vegetation, Miles of beautiful beaches, the delicate
scent of spices and the sound of Temple Bells all characterise the South of
India. Following the Old European trade routes, this tour takes you from the
cosmopolitan city of Chennai, home to some of the country's oldest British
Monuments to Mahabalipuram, known for its Coromandel coast. Experience the
French colony - Pondichery, on the way you can visit one of India's most famous
temples in Kancheepuram, Tanjore, Trichy & Madurai known for its Musical
Pillars, Stone dancers, Elephant stables, Monuments, Temples, Mosques, Forts,
Ruins…
Feel them. Re-live them. Be touched by their magic. And their mystery. Their
splendour and their glory. From the middle of the journey we enter to the
historical land of pure bliss that can never base its emerald virginity. Kerala.
Her beauty pampers you into an eternal trance. Her exeberate subjects you
to a sublime catharsis. Travel through the Western Ghats of Kerala - Munnar
& Thekkady, drink from her being and you float through a kaleidoscope
of emotions.
From here you travel towards Kumarakom, a picturesque village located on the
banks of Vembanadu Lake and from there for a cruise in traditional 'Rice Boat
' through inland backwaters and lagoons of Kerala gives us a true sense of
the sheer natural beauty of this magical country. After that we explore the
natural shelter bay of Kovalam and from there to the 'Queen of Arabian Sea'
- Cochin. Travel towards the cultural capital of Kerala - Shornur and to the
old dynasty of Zamorins of Calicut, explore the rich traditions, culture &
art.
Our last part of the tour starts from aroma of sandalwood carvings of Mysore
and the temple town of Belur & Halebid and then to Garden city -Bangalore.
Route : Chennai (Madras) - Kancheepuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondichery
- Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Munnar - Thekkady - Kumarakom - Alleppey -
Kovalam - Cochin - Shornur - Calicut - Mysore - Hassan - Bangalore.
DAY 01 CHENNAI
Arrive Chennai from your home country. Garland welcome, assistance and transfer
to the pre - booked hotel. You are at the southern tip of India in the state
of Tamil Nadu, and Chennai - or Madras as it was known earlier - is its capital
city. Starting with Chennai as the gateway will put you in touch with a different
face of India - classical, ancient, and gentle. Definitely touched by colonialism
but not ravaged by wars and intensely aware of its roots and traditions. Afternoon
sightseeing of Chennai city, visit the Fort St. George, Fort Museum and the
Santhome Cathedral Basilica. O/n Hotel.
DAY 02 CHENNAI TO MAHABALIPURAM
Morning after breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram via Kancheepuram. Visit the
Kailasanad Temple and EkambaraNadh Temple. Proceed to Mahabalipuram - The
ancient 7th century port famous for its magnificent rock temples & carvings.
Check into the hotel. The rest of the day enjoy in the beautiful beach. O/n
Hotel.
DAY 03 MAHABALIPURAM
Morning after breakfast we make a short trip to visit the ARJUNA'S PENANCE,
is a bas relief sculpted on the face of two enormous adjacent rocks, 29 metres
long and seven metres high, the Mandapas - are fairly shallow pillared halls
or porticos excavated out of the rocky hillside, THE RATHAS - these mid seventh
century monolithic temples were influenced by Buddhist architecture as they
resemble the monastery, THE SHORE TEMPLE by the sea is surrounded by gardens
designed according to descriptions of the original layout from ancient texts.
The temple was built at the end of the seventh century by King Rajasimha,
is unusual for its shrines to both Siva and Vishnu. Evening enjoy the beautiful
sunset. O/n Hotel.
DAY 04 MAHABALIPURAM TO PONDICHERRY
Morning drive to Pondicherry, (about 134kms/ 03hrs) with its distinct French
colonial atmosphere. With well-laid out streets and avenues, the city is amongst
the easiest to move around in. The city presents an unusual combination of
European culture and the Indian traditions. An added attraction here is the
township of Auroville, an oasis of peace and enlightenment. Another hallowed
spot is Aurobindo Ashram which draws devotees from all over the world.
Check into the hotel. Afternoon we make a short walk to Auroville - the Aurobindo
Nagari and the Aurobindo Ashram. O/n Hotel.
DAY 05 PONDICHERRY TO TANJAVUR
Morning after breakfast drive to Tanjavur - the ancient capital of the great
Chola Empire (about 185kms/ 05hrs).Enroute visit Chidambaram, the Nataraj
temple dedicated to the dancing God and the temples in Gangaikondacholapuram.
Proceed and check into the hotel.
Afternoon visit the magnificent BRIHADISVARA TEMPLE, known as the 'Big Temple'.
The main temple has a 62 metres high vimana (the tallest in India), topped
by a dome carved from an 80 ton block of granite. We can see an enormous Nandi,
carved out of a single block of granite six metres long. O/n Hotel.
DAY 06 TANJAVUR TO TRICHY TO TANJAVUR
Morning we drive to Trichy (about 56kms/ 02hrs), to visit the Rock Fort, Tiruchi's
most famed landmark is 83 m high rock which is the only outcrop in the otherwise
flat land of the city. The most amazing fact about the rock is that it is
one of the oldest in the world - approximately 3.800 million years. After
that a short drive to Srirangam, the district's most important pilgrim centre
is located in an island. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river Kaveri
on one side and its tributary Kollidam on the other, is a 600 acre island
- town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami
Temple. There are 21 gopurams, among which the Rajagopuram is the largest
in South India. O/n Hotel.
DAY 07 TANJAVUR TO MADURAI
Morning drive to the 6th century built temple town of Madurai (about 150kms/
04hrs), check into the hotel.
A/n visit the Meenakshi temple - an outstanding example of the 14th century
Vijaynagar architecture The temple dedicated to Minakshi, the 'fish-eyed goddess'.
The temple's nine towering stucco images of gods, goddesses and animals are
superb. Evening once again visit the temple to attend the evening ceremony
in the temple. O/n Hotel.
DAY 08 MADURAI TO MUNNAR
Morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (about 120kms/03hrs) - beautiful hill
station surrounded by tea estates, some of them the highest in the world.
Arrive and transfer to the hotel amidst tea gardens. Afternoon visit the RAJAMALAI
NATIONAL PARK - famous for Nilgiri Thar, the endangered species. Explore the
park by foot. The rest of the day stroll over Munnar to see the natural beauties
over there. O/n Hotel.
DAY 09 MUNNAR After breakfast
we drive the short distance to the Periavurai Hills. The walk will takes you
through beautiful valleys where we can see all the beautiful areas of
Munnar. We make our way back to hotel in the afternoon. Afternoon free to
relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY
10 MUNNAR TO THEKKADY Morning before drive to Thekkady (about
110kms/ 04hrs). The journey takes you through cardamom hills enriched with
all kinds of spice plantations. Check into the hotel. The rest of the day
free to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 11 THEKKADY
Thekkady is famous for the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, the place for
watching the animals in the natural habitat. The forest here slopes into the
manmade lake at the bottom of the hill. This lake serves as the waterhole
for the animals and they come here to drink or take a dip. Elephants, Gaur,
Sambhar deer and even tigers can be spotted here.
Morning after
breakfast we make a 02 hrs cruise through the lake to watch the rich flora
and fauna. Evening relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 12
THEKKADY TO KUMARAKOM Morning we drive to Kumarakom (about
135kms/03hrs), the roads which winds on the Western Ghats takes you through
the plantation of rubber, tea, coffee and pepper.
Check into the hotel
located on the banks of Vembaadu Lake. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n
Hotel.
DAY 13 KUMARAKOM Morning after
breakfast we make a 01 hr drive to Aranmula, the hertage village in India,
is also famous for its metal mirrors and the only ritual snake boat race of
Kerala, which take place every year during Onam season. Visit the Vijnana
Kala Vedi, a cultural centre has been introducing foreign visitors into
Indian arts since 1977, when it was created by Ms. Louba Schid, an European
artist living in Kerala since 1968, studying and performing Kathakali. The
objective of the Centre has been throughout to contribute to the
preservation of traditional arts, not in creating a museum of the past, but
in keeping alive the atmosphere which gave birth and maintained their
vitality. Aranmula is world famous for its mirrors, "Aranmula Kannady",
unique for its alloy and its ancient method "lost wax" and
polishing techniques. The proportion of the alloy is a secret, known only to
the manufacturers, ie only to the members of a family who had been passing
on this secret from generation to generations. Vijnana Kala Vedi will
arrange for visits to the metal mirror workshops and the school for
traditional architecture and mural painting. Back to the hotel. O/n Hotel.
DAY 14 KUMARAKOM TO ALEPPEY Morning
after breakfast drive to Alleppey (about 50kms/02hrs)- is also called the
Venice of East, interlocked with a large number of canals and bridges.
Board a houseboat from Aleppey and enjoy the cruise through the enchanting
backwaters. O/n House boat.
DAY 15 ALEPPEY TO
KOVALAM Morning after breakfast disembark from the Houseboat and
drive towards the famous beaches of Kovalam (about 160kms/04hrs) - a beach
paradise, with boundless blue of the Arabian Sea and unwinding miles of fine
and hisses at the feet of coconuts palms, Kovalam is a sheltered natural
bay. Check into the hotel. The rest of the day spends on beautiful beaches.
O/n Hotel
DAY 16 KOVALAM Day at leisure.
O/n Hotel.
DAY 17 KOVALAM Day at
leisure. O/n Hotel.
DAY 18 KOVALAM TO COCHIN
Morning after breakfast drive to the commercial hub of Kerala - Cochin
(about 220kms/06hrs). Kochi has long been eulogised in tourist literature as
the 'Queen of Arabian Sea". It has a fascinating blend of cultures. The
rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 19
COCHIN Morning after breakfast we visit the Mattancherry Palace -
also called the Dutch Palace, The Clock Tower, The Synagogue built in the
18th century and the St.Francis Church, where Vasco da Gama was buried in
1524. Evening move to Fort Kochi Beach, spend the hours to explore the huge
Chinese Fishing Nets, enjoy watching sunset. Also watch the dance drama of
Kerala - Kathakali. O/n Hotel.
DAY 20 COCHIN TO
SHORNUR Morning after breakfast drive to Shornur (about 100
kms/03hrs), check into the Hotel River Retreat, a heritage hotel that
situated on the banks of river Barathapuzha.
Home of the renowned
repository of the tradition of the Kathakali dance form. It is in this
academy that the best of Kerala's Kathakali performers get their rigorous
training. The institution also offers training in music, drama, and other
dance form including Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam and Ottam Thullal.
Evening we visit this institution (Kerala Kala Mandalam) on the riverbank.
You can watch training session from 0830 - 1200hrs and 1530 - 1730hrs. O/n
Hotel.
DAY 21 SHORNUR TO CALICUT Morning
after breakfast drive to Calicut (about 115kms/04hrs), enroute visit the
Punnathur Kotta (Elephant Camp) where you can see around 30 - 40 temple
elephants at a time. Proceed to Calicut, check into hotel. Evening stroll
around the old traditional streets of Calicut. O/n Hotel.
DAY
22 CALICUT TO MYSORE After an early breakfast, today we will start
our interesting drive towards Mysore. The journey offers an enchanting views
over Western Ghats. Check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax or
evening experience the big vegetable market and the silk avenues. O/n Hotel.
DAY 23 MYSORE Morning after breakfast we
will drive to nearby Chamundi Hills and lateron visit the Mysore Palace,
built in 1912 in the Indo-Saracenic style, the main attraction in the palace
are the Golden Royal Throne, the Durbar hall, the Kalyana Mandapam, the
Gallery and the Ambavillas. Evening free to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY
24 MYSORE TO HASSAN Morning after breakfast drive to Hassan (about
135kms/04hrs), check into the hotel. Visit the CHENNAKESAVA TEMPLE at Belur,
the exquisite sculptors cover the exterior with the friezes. The line of 650
elephants surrounds the base, with of rows of figures and foliage above. The
detail of 38 female figures is perfect. Later on proceed to Halebid to visit
the HOYSALESVARA TEMPLE, set in lawns, has two shrines dedicated to Siva
with a Nandi Bull facing each. The largest of the Hoysala temples, it was
started in 1121 but remained unfinished 86 years later, also visit the Jain
bastis. O/n Hotel.
DAY 25 HASSAN TO BANGALORE
Morning after breakfast drive to Bangalore (about 190kms/05hrs), via
Sravanabelagola, visit the Statue of Gommatheshwara, sacred of Jains, stands
on Vindhyagiri. The 17 metres high statue is nude. Arrive Bangalore and
transfer to the hotel for wash & change. Late night transfer to
International airport to board flight to your home country.
DAY
26 BANGALORE TO USA Fly to your home country.
India