Detailed Itinerary |
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This Tour
Code : ITT-06
Duration : 14 DAYS/13 NIGHTS
Destination Covered :Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram -
Pondicherry -Tanjore -Trichy - Madurai - Periyar- Kumarakom - Cochin- Ooty-
Mysore -Bangalore - Chennai
South
India has much to offer.It is a fascinating blend of ancient
traditions,spectacular temple architecture and distinctive art and dance
forms
Best Season
South India is best visited during October-March But it is an experience in
itself to visit the areas during early and late monsoons(April and
September) when the skies are washed blue and landscape is at its greenest
best.
Day 1 : Chennai
After arriving at the International airport, our representative will meet
you and escort you to the hotel. A welcome party will be organized and our
tour guide will discuss the plan with you. Rest at hotel and enjoy the
lunch. In the evening stroll around Chennai city. South and central Chennai
are the best place to roam around. We will take you Alsa Mall and Fountain
Plaza in Egmore and Spencer's Plaza on Mount Road where you can find
different clothes and other accessories. It is a best place to buy
comfortable cotton fabric, which is appropriate for blistering climate.
Return back and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 2 :Chennai
After breakfast you'll be guided to different places of interest. Chennai
is known as a
Gateway of South has a culture and lifestyle,which are
absolutely different from rest of India. First we will visit kalakshetra,
the pioneering institute of classical music, dance and art. It is delighting
to watch students practicing eloquent movements. The School is set in a vast
99acre campus, where classical music and dance are taught according to
traditional methods by which a guru imparts knowledge to a small group of
students. Stroll into the Basilica of St Thomas in Mylapore, with its
beautiful stained glasses depicting the story of 'Doubting Thomas'. It is
the place to catch up with the beginning of Christianity. From there we will
take you to Kapaleeswarar temple. This finely crafted temple is worth a see.
We will take a walk on the roads around temple. It is a unique encounter
with commerce, religion, food and tradition. After having some south Indian
cuisines, we will rush at Fort St. George, which emanates resounds with
echoes of old wars and sieges. If you are a bookworm you can crawl along
Nungambakkam high road and Anna Salai.Return back to hotel and overnight
stay.
Day
3 : Chennai- Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
After breakfast morning drive to Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, the
Golden
City of a thousand temples, but it is also
famous for handwoven silk
fabrics. First we will take you to Kamakshi Amman Temple, it is a center
of religious activities. This temple also features an Art Gallery with
pictures depicting the history of Sri Adishankaracharya and the Shankara
Mutt. After that we will visit Ekambareswar temple, one of the largest in
Kanchipuram. From Kanchipuram we will drive to near by Mahabalipuram. First
we visit shore temple, it is roosted on a rocky outcrop, designed to catch
the first rays of the rising sun and to illuminate the waters after dark. As
the main shrine faces the sea on the east, the gateway and the assembly hall
of the Shore Temple all lie behind the sanctum. Then we will visit the
famous eight rathas(chariot). The chariots are remain architectural mystery
for long time back. After much of sigtseeing return to your hotel at
Covelong. Covelong has an excellent beach renowned for its infrastructure
and placid environment. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 4 : Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry
After breakfast early morning drive to Pondicherry that is about 3 km
drive. Pondicherry was a French colony and relics of past is still visible
in this small city. The houses are architetural beauty of French colonial
style. Some of the old buildings have turned into guest houses and hotels.
Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry is famous for its vibrant center of life in
an urban setting. Pondicherry's museum is
renowned for its rare antiques.
The museum have dedicated sections to Archaeology, Geology, Sculpture,
Bronzes, Arms, Print, Handicraft and Art. From there we will guide you to
most pleasing part of the city, the Pondicherry beach. If you wish you can
have long sun bath, swimming or mere strolling. Lunch at some cozy resturant
near beach after that we will travel to to some more sightseeing. There are
350 temples in and around Pondicherry but we will take you to legendary
churches, legacy left by French. The churches are huge and a sought after
tourist destination. Late evening return to your hotel and enjoy the
traditional food. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day
5 : Pondicherry - Tanjore-Trichy
Early drive to Tanjore,the home of Carnatic music, musical instruments,
dance and traditional handicrafts, Tanjore (Thanjavur) is famous for the
Brahadeswarar Temple. We will guide you to the temple and later on to the
Art Gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal Library, which are also good
tourist destination. we will not stay in Tanjore for long and move to
Trichy, one of the important city in Tamil Nadu located on the bank of river
Cauvery. It has finely decorated temples and many historical monuments.
first we will visit age old 'Nadrisha Darga', an important worship place for
muslims. From there we will take you to 'Oomiyan Kottai' , the place was
used as jail by Britshers. A shiva temple is here ,which has some
interesting information about music. Also there is a vishnu shrine on which
beautiful paintings are depicted. If you wish we will take you to
Sai
Baba meditation center where different kind of people come and to
meditate and stress free in an absolutly calm ambiance. From there we will
drive you to Pachamalai, which is 65 km from Trichy.
Beautiful green
forest with a mountain and many small waterfalls. This is favorite
picnic spot. In the evening we will come back to town and make you some
shopping. There are number of shopping places like khadi craft, heritage art
emporium, sri lakshmi carving store from where you can browse different
clothes, artifacts and paintings. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 6 : Trichy- Madurai
After breakfast we will drive you to 2500 years old Madurai city. Its known
as 'Temple city' but the main attraction of Madurai is
Meenakshi temple,
first we will take you to the temple. Most of the people are suprised to see
the enormous temple complex, given the fort-like walls pierced with lofty
Gopurams (Towers), over an area of 640,000 square feet. Various figures of
deities, mythical animals and monsters embellished the towers. After
spending some time at the temple we will move to
Madurai
town for some shopping. There are plenty of alluring items like fabrics,
cottons, handicraft to catch attention. Shopping can be fun. Here you can
spend some time looking around the market and enjoy the color and chaos of
the marketplace. Evening at your leisure, if you wish we can take you to
have some glimpse of
cultural program at Lakshmi Sundram hall.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 7 : Madurai - Periyar
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will drive you to to Periyar, which
is 160 km from Madurai.On arrival, check-in at the hotel rest for a while.
Then we will guide you exotic
Periyar sanctuary spread over an area of 777 sq km, it is an absolutly
scenic beauty with
sprawling rich bio diversity.It has varieties of
animals, birds, butterflies and medicinal plants.You have plenty of options
like
nature walk, bamboo rafting, border hiking, jungle patrol etc.
we will book any of the activity for you. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day
8 : Periyar-Kumarakom
Early morning we will drive to Kumarakom via Kottayam. We will stop at
Kottayam for a short duration. It is another commercial centre of Kerala
spotted with churches and covered with rubber plantations. To the city's
west are delightful backwaters and to its east is the most fertile and
scenic part of the Western Ghats having rubber, tea, coffee, pepper and
cardamom plantations. On arrival at Kumarakom check-in at the hotel and rest
for a while. Kumarakom has a scenic beauty. It has a beautiful backwater
village on the shores of the enchanting Vembanad Lake. Coconut Lagoon is set
on an abandoned coconut plantation in the heart of pleasant backwaters.
Afternoon at your leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 9 : Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin
Early morning after breakfast we will take you to Alleppey through
morning
backwater cruise. The place is famous for
snake boat races. One
of the most fascinating experience is traveling by boat on the
backwaters in Kerala.The boats cross
shallow, palm-fringed lakes and travel along narrow shady canals providing
glimpses of small settlements on the narrow land, shops, schools and trading
on boat, lush green rice fields. These canals are well connected between
Kottayam-Alleppey-Changancherry-Quilon and Kumarakom. On arrival, you'll
transfer to
Cochin.After arrival in Cochin
take rest for the day.
Day 10 : Cochin
After breakfast wander around the small and beautiful capital of Kerala.
First we will take you to the chief landmark of Cochin that is
Fort
Cochin. It is the oldest existing European church in India and
undoubtedly a fascinating place to visit. The place is temporial burial
ground of the traveler Vasco da Gama before being shifted to Portugal.
Cochin is the place where still obsolete Chinese fishing in use, the stalls
surrounding it find the opportunity of fresh delicious seafood and coconut
water. Next destination will be the Jewish Synagogue,
The oldest
synagogue in India. The interior offers more beautiful surprises: a
Belgian chandelier, the great scrolls of the Old Testament, and the copper
plates on which were recorded the grants of privilege made by the Cochin
rulers to the Jewish community in the 4th century. There are also five
finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various
patrons. After that we will take you to
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary,
which is 2 hours drive from the port city of Kochi. Although much of the
forest has now been converted to agricultural and plantation areas, but the
surviving areas certainly give glimpses of the rich bird diversity of the
once widespread lowland forests of Kerala. In the evening we will take you
to witness some eloquent kathakali dance show in an auditorium. Overnight
stay at the resort.
Day 11 : Cochin - Ooty
Early morning we will drive you to beautiful hill station located in the
Nilgiri hills(blue mountains). After arriving you will check-in a
resort. This is an ideal place for rest, nature has shown its full contour
in this green valley. The beauty of nature, green hills, waterfalls and
sparkling water,
all scenery will refresh your eyes. Ooty is an
ideal hill station since it offers all this and much more. There are many
places you can tour, such as the Botanical Gardens, Lamb's rock and
Dodabetta Peak. We will reserve full day at your leisure.Overnight stay at
hotel.
Day 12 : Mysore
After breakfast, we will drive you to Mysore, the imperial city of palaces.
It has rich heritage, magnificent palaces,beautifully laid-out gardens, and
sacred temples. Around the year, tourists are pouring in this city,
famous
for exotic sandalwood and silk. After check you in the hotel, we will
take you to Mysore palace, the Golden Royal Elephant Throne, the Durbar
Hall, the Kalyana Mantap and the Gallery are the main attractions here. A
row of souvenir shops leads to the Residential Museum, which houses musical
instruments, Tanjore and Mysore paintings and an array of personal effects
belonging to the Maharaja’s family. From there we will take you to
famous landmark,
Chamundi Hill, it is 335 meters high, the hill can
be reached by a 13 km road or by climbing up the 1000 steps. After having
lunch,we will take you to Brindavan garden, which is known as one of the
best garden in whole south India. Evening you will witness beautiful dancing
fountain. It is a good place to sit around and watch diverse crowd. Evening
we will take you to some shopping destination. Mysore is famous for its
sandalwood
products and handicrafts. Also you will find some ethnic product like
stone carving and traditional paintings. Return to hotel and overnight stay.
Day 13 : Mysore- Bangalore
Early morning we will drive you to Bangalore, check in the hotel , after
some rest we will take you for sightseeing. Bangalore is known as a silicon
valley as it is hub of information technology but it has rich historical
evidence, which entralls many outsiders. Morning sioghtseeing including
Vidhan Soudha, Cubbon Park, government museum and Lal Bagh. Bangalore also
have a second largest aquarium of India. This aquarium embodies a huge
collection of aquatic life and is simply amazing. We will take you to
Tipu
Sultan's fort, which has a rich architectural relics. After much of
sightseeing we will take you to commercial center, which is the busiest and
crowded shopping area in Bangalore. The
shops are filled with
jeweleries, art decors, novelties, and many more. In the evening we will
got to MG road, which is a popular hangout of young crowd but it still
retains the colonial charm. Later on the evening return to hotel and
overnight stay.
Day 14:Bangalore- Chennai
Morning flight to Chennai. Arrive at international airport of Chennai. Our
reperesntative will recieve you and escort you to the hotel. A lunch will be
arranged and after that bid farewell to you.
