South India Sojourn

Chennai Arrival

Our REPRESENTATIVE will receive you on arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Chennai is worth visiting for its temples steeped in South Indian history, British-era museums and landmarks, culinary delights, and Marina Beach (the second largest urban beach in the world) among its congestion of traffic and sweltering humid atmosphere. The skyline of Chennai is renowned for its soaring skyscrapers but Chennai's heart has an old-world charm that refuses to be overshadowed.

Overnight will be in Chennai.

Chennai

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed for sightseeing.

Santhome Cathedral is a Christian pilgrimage site which was built by the Portuguese is named after St. Thomas.

Fort St. George, one the first few bastions marks the beginning of Chennai as a modern city. It houses the St. Mary's church, the oldest Anglican Church in India. The Fort Museum, once a building that housed Chennai's first lighthouse, first commercial bank and first 'club', is now a well-kept repository of tangible memories of early Madras.

Kapaleeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, it has inscriptions from the 13th century A.D. The temple 'Gopuram' (tower) is in the characteristic Dravidian style of architecture.

Visit the beach and the museum. In the evening enjoy shopping at NALLI SAREES.

Overnight will be in Chennai.

Chennai – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram

By Road 70kms/02hrs

After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram - is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. First visit Shiva temples and temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi, and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.

Drive to Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) and check-in at the hotel.

A few miles south of Chennai, at Mahabalipuram, on the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal, a beautiful group of rock-cut monuments evokes the past.

The 'Penance of Arjuna' relief, cut on two huge rocks, shows scores of figures of deities, people and animals including, according to one interpretation, the emaciated figure of Arjuna, the great warrior of the Mahabharata, standing on one leg and doing penance, praying to Lord Shiva for the strength to destroy his enemies.

Overnight it will be at Mahabalipuram.

Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry

By Road 112kms/03hrs

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Enjoy a visit to the following places:

CAVES: There are nine rock-cut temples. The Mahishasuramardhini cave, depicting the goddess fighting a demon on one side and Lord Vishnu's cosmic sleep on the other, is a particularly remarkable one.

KRISHNA MANDAPAM: A bas-relief, notable for its realistic representation. The panel relates to one of the stories of Lord Krishna.

ARJUNA’S PENANCE: This is the world's largest bas relief measuring 27m X 9m. This huge whale-backed rock contains figures of gods, demigods, men, beasts, birds, and almost all of the entire creation.

THE FIVE RATHAS: There are five monolithic temples, each created in a different style. They are also known as the Pancha Pandava Rathas.

THE SHORE TEMPLE: This is one of the oldest temples. Unique about this temple is the fact that it houses shrines for both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

Proceed to Pondicherry. Reach and check into the hotel.

PONDICHERRY - This busy coastal town is divided roughly into two: the old White Town of elegant French houses, restaurants & administrative buildings, and the Black Town west of the canal where India takes over again.

Enjoy the evening at the PROMENADE which stretches for 1.5 km along the beach.

Overnight will be at Pondicherry.

Pondicherry

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

Start sightseeing of the place with your guide who would even have deep French roots. Visit the Immaculate Conception Cathedral that dates back to 1692 and also the Sacred Heart Church on the Southern boulevard.

Visit the paper factory and the fishermen village.

Drive to visit Aurbindo Ashram, the city of dawn, 10 km north of Pondicherry. It is an international community of 1800 people from over 30 countries.

Enjoy a walk in the city.

Overnight will be at the hotel.

Pondicherry – Trichy

By Road

204 km / 3,5 hr

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Drive to Trichy a famous temple town in South India tour packages.

Situated on the banks of river Kaveri, Tiruchirappalli, the fourth largest city in the state was a citadel of the early Cholas, which later fell to the Pallavas.

Afternoon Visit the ancient temples dedicated to Lord Ganapathi, 434 steps cut out into the rock side and interspersed with shrines, lead to the temple. Visit SRIRANGAM, a massive temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu sprawled on an Island in CAUVERY RIVER which contains within its walls a Bazaar (TRADITIONAL MARKET OF INDIA) as well. Gaze up at the twenty-one magnificent towers of the temple surrounded by seven walls.

Overnight will be in Trichy.

Trichy - Tanjore– Chettinad

By Road 158 kms/03hrs

After breakfast proceed to Chettinad en route visiting Tanjore.

Tanjore also is known as Thanjavur (The rice bowl of TAMIL NADU). Proceed for sightseeing of Tanjore. Visit the famous Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara – A WORLD HERITAGE MONUMENT. The majesty of the palaces and art gallery attached to the temple is awe-inspiring. It is also famous for silk.

Drive further to Chettinad. Reach and check into the hotel.

The traditional CHETTINAD houses are made on an area of 2500 sq ft having around 60 to 70 rooms. They were built almost 100 years back. The chandeliers and teak came from Burma, crockery from Indonesia, marble from Italy, wall-to-wall mirrors from Belgium, and crystals from Europe. French and other European destinations inspired the woodwork and stonework.

Overnight will be at Chettinad.

Chettinad

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Enjoy sightseeing.

The 100 years old Chettinad Palace is a special tourist attraction at this place and one can hardly deny the splendor of the artifact. It has been constructed with materials brought from Italy and Burma, Indonesia and Belgium.

Lord Ganesh Temple at PILLAYARPATTI – This image of Ganesha is bound to be familiar to anyone of Tamil origin; however, little is known to many about the fact that this is an image of the rock-cut Karpaka Vinayakar Shrine at Pillayarpatti near Karaikkudi at one of the oldest Cave Temples (Rock Cut) temples of Tamilnadu

Overnight will be at Chettinad.

Chettinad – Madurai

By Road 120kms/03hrs

After breakfast proceeds to Madurai. Reach and check into the itinerary.

One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple.

Relax and enjoy sightseeing.

Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple: Dating back to 2000 years, the Temple occupies an area of six hectares. There are 12 temple towers (Gopurams). The outer towers are the landmarks of Madurai.

Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam: It is a huge temple tank about 5 km east of the Meenakshi temple. The mandapam in the center has an idol of Vigneshwara (Vinayaka). It is said to have been found when the earth was being dug out from here to build the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. King Thirumalai Nayak was born in 'Poosa' Star.

Gandhi Museum: This Museum is one of the rare living memorials of "The Father of India".

Thirumalai Nayak Palace: This Palace was built in 1636 by King Thirumalai Nayak with the help of an Italian Architect. The building we see today was the main Palace where the King lived.

Overnight will be at Madurai.

Madurai – Periyar

By Road 160kms/04hrs

Morning– drive to Periyar.

Four hours drive southwards over rolling hills and coffee plantations to the PERIYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, one of the major wildlife reserves in India. Indian elephants, wild boars, lion-tailed monkeys, ibex, tigers, leopards and sloth bears are on the list. The sanctuary is rich in birdlife. Surrounding the reserve are many small spice plantations and we spend an absorbing afternoon searching for pepper, cardamom, turmeric, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and betel.

Reach and check in to the hotel.

Afternoon, Enjoy Boat ride at Periyar Lake.

One of the best ways to explore the Periyar Tiger Reserve is to take a boat ride across Lake Periyar. It allows travelers to see the forest's natural appeal, with its tall trees and resident wildlife. Such trees include some of the resident avian species unique to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. If one is fortunate he can catch glimpses of uncommon bird species such as the Malabar Grey Hornbill and the Nilgiri Wood Pigeon. One can also hear the lion's tailed monkey's greeting as it heralds your presence from the tops of the forest. During this period common sights of a herd of elephants and deers are seen.

Relax and overnight will be at the hotel.

Periyar

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed for the visit to Spice Plantations.

Kerala is famous for spices like cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, tea estates, etc. and a visit to a spice plantation is an experience that you will never forget. Take a stroll in a spice farm and see how the spices are grown in different sections of the farm. Your guide will tell you more about the spices, their medicinal value, and how different combinations yield different flavors.

Enjoy lunch at the plantation.

Afternoon we allow you to try a new and unforgettable experience, off the beaten tracks of the very traditional elephant walk offered by the Periyar National Park.

Five elephants live on this farm, under the attentive care of their Mahouts. A very particular relationship is here created between these wonderful pachyderms and you.

During this 1.30 hours, you will get the chance to feed your new friend, do a walk within the plantations, and then give him his bath.

Overnight will be at Periyar.

Periyar - Kumarakom

By Road 180kms/04hrs

After breakfast proceeds to Kumarakom. Reach and check into the hotel.

The bird sanctuary here, which is spread across 14 acres, is a favorite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise. Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live there in flocks are a fascination for visitors. This is an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with white lilies.

Check-in at the resort and relax. In the afternoon visit the BIRD SANCTUARY.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: It might be more accurate to refer to this location as a nature sanctuary since this protected area is home to a huge selection of different species of flora and fauna. A boat trip around the sanctuary is the ideal opportunity to see not only birds but the plant and marine life also.

Enjoy the serenity of the place in the evening.

Overnight will be in the backwater resort.

Kumarakom: Day houseboat cruise

Today enjoy the half-day houseboat cruise.

Check into a traditional houseboat of Kerala Style and go on a leisurely backwater cruise along the lake on a thatched houseboat. The houseboat with all modern comforts lets you discover the countryside at your own pace. You will have lunch, dinner, and breakfast in the houseboat.

Cruise through the backwaters towards Alleppey. The cook (chef) of the boat prepares the lunch from fresh materials and you can even have a peek at the recipe.

Tea and snacks would be served in the evening.

Disembark from the houseboat and return to your resort.

Evening at leisure.

Alleppey - Cochin

By Road 50kms/02hrs

Breakfast will be on the boat.

Start cruising through the backwaters and arrive at Alleppey enjoying the beauty of the lakes and lagoons.

Disembark the boat at the finishing point where your driver will be waiting for you to drive to Cochin. Reach and check into the hotel.

Kochi is a rich trade center, a major military base, a vibrant cultural hub, a great shipbuilding center, a center for Christianity, and so on.

In the evening, experience your first touch with the culture of Kerala by watching the majestic dance form Kathakali. The dance depicts an act, a story that is conveyed through body movements and facial expressions. With each section, you will experience the story unfold with the perfect amalgamation of music and dance.

Overnight will be at Cochin.

Cochin

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Later – enjoy the walking tour of Cochin: exploring the Old Towns of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry.

This walking tour is an eye-opener to the minute details of Old towns. It pulls you back to the 14th century. Fort Cochin is the natural gateway to the Kochi harbor, and grew in importance as travelers from far and wide came to Kochi.

The large rain trees, beautiful colonial buildings, streets lined with many shops, dining options, the Chinese fishing nets, the beach area, different community in Mattanchery, local activities, fruit street to name a few make this a very attractive place to be in.

Chinese fishing nets – The Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles work on the principle of balance. Learn the operation of the interesting Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles which work on the principle of balance.

In the evening proceed for the Harbour Sunset Cruise. Panoramic sunsets, glorious sea air, and probably a dolphin or two! Enjoy a 1.5-hour boat cruise during sunset in the Cochin Harbor with spectacular views of the Marine Drive, Chinese fishing nets, and Bolgatty Island. See the sunset from the boat where the Kochi Lagoon opens out into the Arabian Sea.

Overnight will be at Cochin.

Cochin - Ooty

By Road 281kms/06hrs

After breakfast proceed to Ooty. Reach and check into the hotel.

Ooty or more recently Udhagamandalam, call it what you like, still translates to a little town set on the stepped slopes of the Nilgiris, the oldest mountain range in India. The soothing clime and rustic setting gift Ooty a charm of its own. The verdant tea gardens and the rolling hills exude pleasantness that will calm the high-strung city dweller and soothe his senses with the fragrance of eucalyptus and sandalwood that hangs in the air.

Overnight will be at Ooty.

Ooty – Excursion to Coonoor

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Enjoy the sightseeing of Ooty and then proceed for an excursion to Coonoor.

Botanical Gardens: The gardens consist of 22 hectares of beautifully maintained gardens which include numerous mature species as well as an Italian and a Japanese garden. A major attraction is the fossil tree trunk believed to be 20 million years old.

St Stephen’s Church: This is the oldest church in Ooty and was consecrated in 1830. The mortal remains of John Sullivan, the pioneer of Ooty, lie in the cemetery behind.

Proceed for TOY TRAIN ride.

If I would like to summarize in one sentence about the ride, it's a natural, raw, and fresh experience. The Nilgiri toy train is hugely popular among tourists coming to Ooty and Coonoor. The entire Nilgiri range of mountains can be viewed which gives delight to your eyes.

Coonoor is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris. Its climate is milder than Ooty. Surrounding the town are many picnic spots. In the heart of Coonoor is "Sims Park". It is a park cum botanical garden.

Return to Ooty. Evening at leisure.

Overnight will be at Ooty.

Ooty – Coorg

By Road 225kms/05hrs

Drive to Coorg after breakfast also known as the Scotland of India, where you would visit a coffee plantation. The Coorgies are known to be the descendants of Greek soldiers.

Enjoy your south India tour package and watch the elephant bathing.

Overnight will be at Coorg.

Coorg – Excursion to Nagarhole

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed for an excursion to Nagarhole.

Established in 1955 as a wildlife sanctuary, Nagarhole has designated a national park twenty years later.

Nagarhole's vegetation is refreshingly different from Bandipur's dry scrub – moist deciduous forests, including bamboo, teak, eucalyptus, and cassia. Nagarhole has Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri langur, bison, leopard, Asian elephant, wild boar, deer, dhole, and porcupine, besides tigers.

Enjoy AFTERNOON SAFARI.

Overnight will be at Nagarhole.

Coorg – Mysore

By Road 120kms/03hrs

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed to Mysore. Reach Mysore and check into the hotel.

The picturesque railway station of Mysore has repeatedly won awards by the Indian Railways for its extremely courteous and excellent service by the staff at the counters.

To the people of India, the word Mysore is synonymous with Sandalwood, silk, and fine inlay-work using ivory. It is the home of incense sticks dipped in sandalwood oil perfume base and has two well-known incense factories. Nearby are several places of interest to visitors, some of these are Brindavan Gardens, Srirangapattana, Rangana Tittu bird sanctuary, Chamundi Hills, Nanjanagudu, Bandipur forest reserve, Shivanasamudra falls, and Talakaadu.

Relax and then enjoy the sightseeing.

Mysore Palace: The Maharaja's Palace is one of the important sights in Mysore. Intricately carved doors open on to luxuriously furnished rooms. The magnificent jewel studded golden throne of the Wodeyars is displayed here during the Dasera festival. Illuminated on Sundays and public holidays, the palace presents a spectacle of breathtaking beauty.

Chamundi Hills: It can be reached by a 13 km road or by climbing up the 1,000 steps laid out by the Mysore Maharaja in the 17th century. Half-way up along the stone steps is Nandi, Lord Shiva's Bull, a majestic 4.8-meter monolith. At the top is the 12th-century temple of Chamundeshwari, the patron goddess of the Wodeyars. Close to the temple is the gigantic statue of the demon Mahishasura. The summit offers a panoramic view of Mysore's lakes, parks, and palaces.

Brindavan Gardens: Spread over an acre, Brindavan Gardens has since the 1960s provided the backdrop for many Indian films. Special attractions include the 'Dancing Fountains'.

Overnight will be at Mysore.

Mysore – Shravanabelagola - Hassan

By Road 120kms/04hrs

After breakfast proceeds to Hassan visiting Shravanabelagola en route.

Shravanabelagola in Hassan District is an important Jaina center. There is a pond and two stony hills, called Chandragiri and Indragiri. The town below the hill has the Jaina matha whose walls have very old paintings. Indragiri has the Gommata monolith, 58' tall, installed by a Ganga general and scholar Chavundaraya.

Reach Hassan and check into the hotel.

The Hassan City is more fully and meaningfully known as the Simhasana Nagari originally, before the mutation of names made by foreign rulers. This district is rich with natural sceneries and too with cultural wealth. The very first written document of the Kannada Language has been exposed to the world by this district, in the form of Halmidi Shasana (Halmidi Inscription).

It was the Gangas and the Hoysalas who have contributed the immense treasure of sculptural artwork. Empires and Kingdoms have come and gone, but the sovereign state of the Art of Sculpture erected by them has remained immortal unto this day.

Overnight will be at Hassan.

Hassan – Excursion to Belur & Halebid

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed for an excursion to Belur & Halebid.

BELUR: This quaint hamlet - 38 km from Hassan - is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. It was once the capital of the Hoysala Empire today made unforgettable for its exquisite temples. The Chennakeshava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It took 103 years to complete and you can see why. The Veera Narayana Temple and the smaller shrines are well worth a visit.

HALEBID: The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 12th century, is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi Bull - was never completed, despite 86 years of labor.

Overnight will be at Hassan.

Hassan – Bangalore

By Road 187kms/04hrs

After breakfast proceeds to Bangalore. Reach and check into the hotel.

Capital of the Southern state of Karnataka, Bangalore today is Asia's fast-growing cosmopolitan city. It is home to some of the highest tech industries in India. Bangalore is also home to some of India's premier scientific establishments. Blessed with a salubrious climate, gardens & parks, natural lakes, architectural landmarks, shopping malls, the best restaurants and pubs in this part of the globe, business opportunities,

Relax and proceed for sightseeing.

Vidhana Soudha: This splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon Park, is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat.

Lal Bagh: Hyder Ali laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added horticultural wealth to them by importing plants and trees from several countries. The garden today houses over 1000 species of flora which include a rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees, and herbs. The Glass House, modeled along with London’s CRYSTAL PALACE, is the center of attraction in this 2400 acre park. Bi-annual flower shows attracting participants from all over India are held in the Glass House.

The Bangalore Palace was inspired by the Windsor Castle, this palace was built in the Tudor style, complete with Gothic windows, the foiled windows, battlements, and turrets resembling the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatanam, this summer palace has been constructed largely of wood and is famous for it's carving and paintings.

End early and enjoy shopping.

Overnight will be in Bangalore.

Bangalore – Home

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

As per the flight timings, you will be transferred to the airport to take a flight back home with sweet memories of the SOUTH INDIA TOUR PACKAGES