Day 1 Chennai
Arrive Chennai in the
morning. Afternoon tour of this bustling city, one of the
oldest and the fourth largest city of India which still
maintains the best of Indian tradition. Visit the Fort St
George, built by the East India Company in 1653, St Mary’s
Church, the first Anglican Church in India and the
Kapaleeshwara temple, which was destroyed by the Portuguese
in 1566 and rebuilt 300 years ago. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 2 Chennai to Bangalore
Morning train Shatabadi
Express to Bangalore, noted for its gardens, tree-line
avenues and Gothic churches. Afternoon tour of the city
visiting the Tipu Sultan’s Palace and Fort, Bull temple,
Botanical garden and impressive Vidhan Sabha. Overnight at
the Hotel.
Day 3 Bangalore to Mysore
Morning drive to
Srirangapatnam and visit the summer palace and museum of
Tipu Sultan who was defeated by the British in 1799. Also
visit Sriranganathswamy temple. Continue onto Mysore,
renowned for sandalwood, teak and incense. Overnight at the
Hotel.
Day 4 Mysore
Morning city tour of Mysore
visiting the City Palace of the Maharaja of Mysore built in
Indo-Saracenic style and the museum. Drive to visit Chamundi
hill where a huge statue of Nandi Bull overlooks the city.
Explore the colourful Devraja fruit and vegetable market.
Afternoon free.
Day 5 Mysore to Nagarhole
Morning drive to the
Nagarhole National Park, an excellent sanctuary with
tropical teak forests and the Kabini river running through.
The park is noted for herds of elephant, tiger, leopard,
samber deer and variety of birdlife. Afternoon safari by an
elephant, jeep or coracle. Overnight at the Jungle Lodge.
Day 6 Nagarhole to Ooty
Morning safari in the park.
After breakfast drive into the Nilgiri hills to Ooty (Queen
of Nilgiri hills), a popular hill station during the British
Raj, with its tea plantations, gardens and bungalows.
Remainder of the day at leisure in this picturesque area.
Overnight at the Hotel
Day 7 Ooty to Cochin
A long but picturesque drive to Cochin through
the Western Ghats on the Malabar Coast. Set amidst lagoons
and the backwaters, Cochin is also known as the ‘‘Venice of
the East’’. Over the centuries Europeans have been trading
here for ivory, spices and teak. The British, Dutch and the
Portuguese left their cultural influence on this great city.
Evening see the famous Kathakali dance performance, a
traditional folk dance of Kerala enacting stories from the
Hindu epics. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day
8 Cochin
Morning city tour visiting the Dutch Palace, with
its 17th Century murals of Ramayana, Jewish Synagogue, built
in 1568, housing Grand Scroll of the Old Testament. Also
visit Fort Cochin and St France’s Church, the oldest
European church in India. Vasco de Gama, who discovered
India, was first buried here. In the evening a sunset harbor
cruise to see the Bolgahtty Island and the Chinese fishing
nets.
Day 9 Cochin to Kumarakum
Drive to Allepy and take a
boat cruise to Kottayam. The cruise takes over 2 hours and
passes through tranquil palm fringed narrow canals and
waterways. Drive to Kumarakum on the shores o0f the Vembanad
Lake. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 10 Kumarakum to Madurai
After breakfast leave for the
ancient city of Madurai, with a recorded history going back
to 6th Century. It was well known to Greeks and Romans with
whom the city carried on active trade. Reminder of the day
at leisure. Overnight at the Hotel
Day 11 Madurai
Morning city tour visiting the Tirumalai Nayak Palace,
built in 17th Century on Indi-Saracenic style and the
spectacular Shree Meenakshi temple, a superb example of
Dravidian temple architecture. It has profusely carved
massive gopurams and a 1000-pillared hall. Afternoon at
leisure. In the evening return to Meenakshi temple and visit
the colourful temple market.
Day 12 Madurai to Tanjore
Drive to the temple town of Trichy, the citadel of Chola
dynasty in the medieval period. The city saw wars fought
between the British and French in 18th Century. Visit the
Srirangam Island, a living example of temple town where the
life centers around the temple with 22 magnificent gopurams
(gateway towers), the tallest being 236 feet high. Continue
onto Tanjore, the granary of Tamil Nadu and the Cultural
capital of the region.Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 13 Tanjore to Covelong
Morning tour of Tanjore
visiting the famous 10th Century Brihadeeshwara temple, an
engineering marvel and now preserved as a world heritage
monument. Tanjore is also famous for paintings.You will see
some of famous Frescos depicting myths and courtly pursuits.
Drive to Covelong Beach visiting en route the famous shore
temple in Mahabalipuram. Overnight at the Fisherman’s Cove.
Day
14 Covelong
At leisure by the beach.
Day 15 Depart Chennai
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. |
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Chennai |
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Bangalore - Tipu Palace |
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Mysore - Nandi Bull |
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Nagarhole National Park |
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Badami - Bhutnath Temple |
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Nilgiri hills to Ooty |
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Madurai |
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