South India Explored

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Duration :- 16 Days / 15 Nights
Destinations :- Chennai - Mysore - Belur & Halebid - Hassan - Mysore - Wayanad - Kochi - Kovalam - Capecomorin - Kovalam - Thekkady - Madurai - Tiruchirapally - Thanjavur - Pondicherry -Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Chennai

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Palm fringed beaches, lush green fields swaying in the gentle breeze, forests and rivers, boats and back waters ,tiled roofs, Royal splendour & Pageantry ,Palaces and Museums ,temple towns echoing with evening prayers, fishermen coming home at sunset....and providing the background music to these visual delights is the distant roar of the Arabian sea. Come, experience the charm of South India !

Day 01 Chennai
Arrive and transfer to Hotel for overnight stay .

Day 02 Chennai - Mysore
Transfer to Railway Station to leave by Shatabdi Express at 0600 hrs. ( EXCEPT TUE ) for Mysore Arrive at 1310 hrs. transfer to Hotel. Afternoon visit Maharaja's Palace and Museum-built in the Indo-Saracenic style is an imposing structure standing at the heart of the city and is one of the largest of its kind in India. It was formerly the residence of Wodeyar family. The Palace is a breathtaking sight particularly on Sundays & public holidays when it is illuminated. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 03 Mysore - Hassan - Mysore
Full day trip to Belur & Halebid-the famous Hoysala temple in Belur & Halebid has intricately carved
sculptures and friezes, interior, pillars and exquisite panels. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 04 Mysore - Wayanad
Morning leave by road for Wayanad Arrive and stay at Hotel Vythiri Resort. The Vythiri resort is located in the forested highlands of Kerala on the Nilgiri hills in South India. 2600 ft above sea level. This lust green and damp forests capture two monsoons in a year. Miles away from the dust, grim and din. A magical, romantic getaway tucked away in a lush tropical rain forest.

Break into a song with tunes set by a chorus of chirping, multihued birds. Let a rainbow of butterflies and dragonflies play hide-and-seek with you. Vythiri Resort is parked bang amidst a 150-acre coffee and cardamom plantation. Replete with traditional planter's cottages that transport you back to a laid-back era. Is that a thunderous roar of a stream crashing down a ravine that you hear?

Vythiri Resort. For the incurably romantic, the terribly adventurous or the complete workaholic who needs to recharge his batteries with ayurvedic rejuvenation. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 05 Wayanad - Cochin
Morning visit Pakshi Pathalam (translated as "bird hell"!) through the forest and the opportunity to experience the sheer thrill of spotting elephants, bison, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar and if you're really lucky, the rare "barking" deer. Serious bird watchers will marvel at the sheer number of rare birds that fill this bird heaven. A must for all nature lovers. Afternoon leave by road for Cochin Arrive and overnight stay at Hotel

Day 06 Cochin - Kovalam
Morning Sightseeing of Cochin city visiting Jewish Synagogue , built in 1568 AD and decorated with copper plates bearing the Hebrew script and hand painted chinese tiles. Also visit the Mattan-Cherry Palace also called the Dutch Palace built by the Portugese and presented to the King of Cochin in 1555 AD. The Chinese fishing nets at the entrance of the harbour, along the backwaters are a fascinating sight. These nets that line the sea front exhibit a mechanical method of catching traders to the coast of Malabar. Afternoon leave by road for Kovalam the world famous beach village Arrive and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 07 Kovalam
Relax on the beach. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 08 Kovalam - Capecomorin
Full day visit to Cape Comorin also known as Kanya Kumari (75 kms) at the Southern most tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, Cape Comorin is famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days. Enroute visit Mattan Cherry Palace. Visit Vivekananda rock Memorial, Suchindram Temple by ferry. Its situated on a huge rock where the great philosopher had meditated in 1892. There is a light house from where one can gets a panoramic view.

Day 09 Kovalam
Relax on the beach or enjoy Ayurvedic message. Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 10 Kovalam - Thekkady
Morning leave by road for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Enroute back waters cruise from Alleppey to Changnacherry .Periyar sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and photographing wildlife. Arrive and stay at Hotel.

Day 11 Thekkady - Madurai
Early morning visit sanctuary to view wildlife. Shoot, of-course with your camera. Afternoon proceed by road to Madurai Arrive and stay at Hotel.

Day 12 Madurai - Tiruchirapalli
Morning half day city tour visiting the Meenakshi Temple-the huge temple complex with its immense mortals is quite overwhelming. The complex with its magniflcient stone carvings was built in the 17th century by the Nayaks of Madurai. See the thousand pillar hall. Also see the Thirumalai Nayak Palace built in the Indo Saracenic style in 1636. Afternoon leave by road for Tiruchirapalli Arrive and check-in at Hotel for overnight stay.

Day 13 Tiruchirapalli - Pondicherry
Morning half day city tour visiting Rock Fort, with the Vinayaka temple at the top reached by climbing 437 steps, Government Museum and Tiruvanaikkaval. Afternoon leave by road for Pondicherry. Enroute visit Thanjavur to visit the magnificent Brahadeeswarar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which bears witness to the glory of Chola architecture, sculpture and painting. The Thanjavur Art Gallery has a priceless collection of bronze icons and granite sculptures dating from the 9th century AD. Arrive and overnight stay at Hotel

Day 14 Pondicherry-Mahabalipuram
The history of Pondicherry goes back to the Roman times but actually started with the arrival of the French in 1693, who founded the town and built it in its present form, during the two and a half century they occupied it.

Morning half day city tour visiting the impressive French colonial buildings still charm the streets and recall memories of a bygone era; the Tamil streets, each named after a community, vibrate with cultural traditions. Also visit the famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram .Quiet beaches and peaceful resorts to the north and south balance the town's bustling, yet easy going life. Afternoon leave by road for Mahabalipuram. Arrive and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 15 Mahabalipuram
Morning half day visit the shore temple on the beach, five rathas and see the rock carvings. Afternoon at leisure on the beach. Overnight stay at Hotel. Day 16 Mahabalipuram - Kancheepuram - Chennai Afternoon leave by road for Chennai.

Enroute visit Kanchippuram- THE CITY OF THOUSAND TEMPLES. Once the capital of the Pallavas, Cholas and Vijayanagar rulers, it is consiered the second holiest place in India, next
only to Varanasi. Visit the Kailasanatha temple, Ekambaranatha temple, Sri Kamakshi temple. Arrive Chennai and transfer to International Airport to fly back home\onward destination

South India Tour Packages

Laccadives Island Tour - South India Explored - Temples of South India - Tropical Island Tour

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