Temples, Backwaters & Beaches

Arrival in Chennai

You will be received by our representative at the airport who will accompany you to the hotel. The first day will be about visiting the hotspot locations such as the Santhome Cathedral, Kapaleeswarar temple, and Fort St. George. Etc. The Santhome Cathedral was built by Portuguese and is a major pilgrimage destination for Christians.

In the evening you can go shopping in the streets in Chennai where the Nalli Sarees are the best garments you can buy.

The day ends with an overnight stay in the hotel.

Travel to Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram

After having breakfast, you will leave for Kanchipuram which is the ancient capital of Pallavas. In Kanchipuram you have an option to visit numerous temples like temples of Ekambareswarar, Kaliasanathara, and much more. With around thousands of temples and a hundred shrines it is considered as a holy place.

From Kanchipuram you will drive to Mahabalipuram which sticks to the sandy shores of Bay of Bengal. You will get to experience the seventeenth-century carvings, rock cuts, and much more in Mahabalipuram temple that hints back to the Pallava Dynasty. The second day concludes with a stay at Mahabalipuram.

Day out in Mahabalipuram

The third day of the trip is meant to explore the nooks of Mahabalipuram along with the main highlight which is the Mahabalipuram temple. Your day will begin with breakfast at the hotel in the morning and then traveling around to explore more in Mahabalipuram. The first destination in the queue is Caves that are rock-cut in the Mahabalipuram temple. The best of all is the Mahishasura Mardini cave here. After that you will be taken to Krishna Mandapam which is a bas-relief and purely dedicated to Lord Krishna. Next, you get to visit the Arjuna’s penance, five rathas, and shore Mahabalipuram temple as the last hotspots in Mahabalipuram. By dawn, you will be back to your hotel to rest.

Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry

The next day after having breakfast, you will be driving to Pondicherry via Auroville. While being in Pondicherry you will have a chance to visit the renowned paper factory and fishermen village in the afternoon. Also, you get to experience the peaceful environment at Conception Cathedral and Sacred Heart Church.

Next a short trip has been planned to Aurobindo Ashram that gives insights of Aurobindo’s time. End your day with a splendid experience at Promenade that is a fifteen kilometer stretch along the beach.

Travel to Trichy

The fifth day is directed for a visit to Trichy which is one of the renowned temple towns in Southern India. It is all about a high degree of development such as colleges, institutes, labs, industries, and much more. Hence, it is best to explore Trichy if you wish to explore Southern India.

Exploring Thanjavur

The day six of the trip will begin with sightseeing in Trichy after having your breakfast. You will be visiting the temples nearby like Srirangam which is an enormous temple for Lord Vishnu devotees. A special bazaar for the guests is also set up every year where you can go shop for the specialties of Tamil Nadu. In the afternoon, a road trip to Tanjore temple (Thanjavur) is planned which is popularly known among guests. The day will end after the visit to Tanjore temple and with a trip to Trichy.

Reaching Madurai

Day seven of the trip includes a short trip to Madurai, one of the most significant places in Tamil Nadu which is situated on the banks of the Vaigai river. Your day will include a visit to Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple, Gandhi Museum, and Thirumalai Nayak Palace. It has a vibrant environment with different regional festivals celebrated throughout the year such as Masi, Float, Scepter, and so on.

Madurai to Periyar

A four-hour drive to Periyar is how your day will begin. Periyar is well known for its wildlife and biodiversity along with coffee plantations, sloth bears, Indian elephants, tigers, leopards, and lion-tailed monkeys. You will get the chance to visit Periyar Wildlife sanctuary and in the evening you will be able to enjoy a boat ride at Periyar Lake.

A day out in Periyar

The next day you get to explore the entire area of Periyar. You will experience one of the best spice plantations here. Plantations of cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and tea spices. Later in the afternoon, an Elephant ride will surely be the best expedition of the trip.

Drive to Munnar

Day ten begins with an early morning drive to Munnar which is at the confluence of three mountain streams and provides the best experience of the pleasant atmosphere of Southern India. Here you will have the opportunity to see sprawling plantations and grasslands along with exotic wildlife and fauna which can’t be seen elsewhere.

As you reach Munnar, an early afternoon boat ride at Mattupetty Dam will be waiting for you. The tranquil view of the humongous dam will leave you awestruck and the endless view of the water will be cherry on top. It is a must to be added to the to-do list when traveling to Munnar. The rest of the day can be spent in the hotel.

Exploring Munnar

After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to explore Munnar for the entire day. The first stop will be the Elephant Lake which is the perfect picnic location where you can enjoy the early hours of the day. The lake is close to the tea plantations so a short detour can be added to the day as well. Another close location you can visit later in the day is the Tata tea museum which was opened by Tata tea as a tribute to the pioneers.

Short trip to Cochin

This day will start with a drive to Cochin where you will check in to another hotel. Kochi is known for its natural harbors and is considered as true heaven for sea-lovers from across the world. The vibrant British culture can also be experienced during your visit to the Fort Kochi which was a prime commercial center back in the day. You can relax in the evening and later proceed for the Kathakali dance show which is a classical dance form of Kerala. It will be a one-hour show post which you can move back to the hotel.

Exploring the nooks of Cochin

This entire day will be dedicated to exploring Cochin in ways that will help you understand the culture and traditions. A walking tour to the old towns and the fort is how you can begin the day. It will be filled with seeing endless rain trees, colonial buildings, and food options that you will cherish. Seeing the Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles will be a major part of the day. The Vasco Da Gama square is the best spot to watch them being lowered into the water and working.

Later in the evening, you will be proceeding for the harbor sunset cruise to see the lovely sunset and the endless sea. It is a popular tourist hangout and this scenic view will leave you feeling extremely peaceful.

Cochin to Kumarakom

Post breakfast you will be proceeding to Kumarakom where you will be exploring the little islands of Vembanad lake. It is almost like a small water world with exquisite species of birds to watch. Thousands of migratory birds can be seen coming to the village every year. After check-in in the resort, you can explore the bird sanctuary where you will witness indigenous and migratory birds both. It is the most serene experience for any tourist.

Cruise ride at Kumarakom

If you are visiting Southern India, you just can’t afford to miss the traditional houseboat ride. This is why your day will begin with a backwater cruise along the lake on a houseboat. You can have food as per your liking in the boat itself and spend the entire day just cruising around. Later the day will end when you are ready to move back to the hotel in the evening.

Drive to Kovalam

This day will begin with another houseboat ride through which you will be reaching Alleppey. From that spot you will be driving to Kovalam. It is a fishing village and one of the best holiday destinations for guests from across the world. After check-in into the hotel, you can explore the beautiful Kovalam beach which is popular for its glowing beauty and peaceful views. Take a walk around the beach as per your leisure and later you can relax in the hotel.

Visit to Trivandrum and Kanyakumari

This entire day will be spent exploring Trivandrum and Kanyakumari while covering the major tourist attractions. Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple is one of those places you would not like to miss out on which is a Hindu temple built in the 16th century in Chera and Dravidian style. Next you get to visit the Padmanabhaswamy palace which has certain attractive structures such as Mantrasala, Kottaram, and Natakshala. Your day ends with a trip to Kanyakumari where you can visit beaches, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, and exploring the Thiruvalluvar state.

Explore more about Kovalam

The last destination on your trip is a lighthouse beach where water sports and activities await you. Varkala beach will be one of the delightful experiences on your trip as it will glorify your evening. Ponnumthuruthu Island is located nearby where you could board a ferry. Kovalam district has astonishing scenes to offer as you can enjoy the weather and the activities on the beach. Papanasam beach is another delightful experience in Kovalam and is dedicated to Hindu devotees. Hawa Beach is another place in the south to enjoy the sunset in the evening with a lighthouse adding charm in the background.

Travel back to home

You will be taken back to the airport along with the hotel representative where you will board a flight back.

With the end of this trip, you will have ample memories of Indian to cherish upon.