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>>Enchanting South India
Enchanting South India Tour
Bombay
- Bangalore - Mysore - Chennai - Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram
- Kovalam / Cochin (Duration : 14 days) |
Delightful South! Nearly untouched by invasions throughout its history, The Indian heritage is more intact here than in any other region of the country. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, home of famed Bharat Natyam dance, towering temples and towns of
Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. Kerala with it verdant greenery and breathtaking landscapes is the spice coast of India, with a thread of unbroken beach line, a unique network of rivers and lagoons |
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| Day 1- ARRIVE Mumbai |
| Arrive Mumbai late in the evening Welcome with flower Garlands on arrival at the airport. Transfer to hotel and Overnight. |
| Day 2- Mumbai |
| After breakfast take a cruise in the Arabian Sea to vist the famous Elephanta Caves- Hewn out of solid rock, the Elephanta Caves date back to 600 AD, The cave complex is a collection of shrines, courtyards, inner cells, grand halls and porticos arranged in the splendid symmetry of Indian rock-cut architecture, and filled with exquisite stone sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses represented in many reincarnations. In the afternoon, depart for the city tour : visiting Gateway of India - The imposing stone archway in Indo-Saracenic architecture built in 1911, Hanging Gardens, the Aquarium and Marine Drive (also known) as "Queens Necklace", the street lights shinning like jewels at night Then visit the Museum of Wales, then walk towards the Victoria station and the market of Colaba. Return to hotel and overnight. |
| Day 3- Mumbai - Bangalore (flight) |
| Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to airport to connect flight for Bangalore - the Capital city of Karnataka, founded in the early 16th century and is also refereed to as the Garden City. It is India's one of the cosmopolitan city and has become landmark for IT industry. City tour of Bangalore visiting : Lal Bagh - the rich and beautiful Lal Bagh Garden spread over 240 acres of greens located up till southern suburbs of Bangalore. Among the many other gardens in the city, Lal Bagh is the most famous garden in Bangalore. It derives its name from the profusion of Red roses, which bloom here. Rulers of Mysore laid this garden. Haider Ali started building this garden in 1760, but his son Tipu Sultan completed it. Continue visiting the National Museum that was established in 1896, the Museum has significant collections of ancient weapons, stone carvings, pottery, painting and relics of the 5000-year-old Mohan- jo-Daro civilization. Vidhan Saudha, a magnificent post independence structure incorporating the traditional feature of architecture. The time free for souvenir shopping. Return to hotel and overnight. |
| Day 4- Bangalore / Mysore |
Morning leave for Mysore - the capital of the erstwhile princely state, this quaint charming city of Mysore has a profusion of palaces and museums. around which the boulevards of the city radiate.
Enroute, we stop at Srirangapattanam the summer Palace of Tipu Sultan, located on an island of Cauvery. In the South India under the British Rule TIPU SULTAN was a unique hero because he was the first one to dare take up arms against the British. In the afternoon, we visit the Mysore Palace one of the grand and magnificient palaces in India . It's a kaleidoscope of stained glass, beautiful carved wooden doors, mosaic floors, and exquisite paintings. Mysore is famous for its silk, sandalwood and incense sticks.
Evening visit Chamundi Hills - the temple of patron Goddess of Wodeyars, Chamundeshwari. Located on a hill 335 m high, the temple can be approached by 1000 steps built by the Maharaja of Mysore in the 17th century. Overnight.
Arrive and check in to hotel. |
| Day 5- Mysore - Chennai(By Train) |
Morning, visit Mysore Palace - Build in Indo-Saracenic style with domes turrets, arches and colonnades, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. The tastefully decorated and intricately carved doors open into luxuriously decorated rooms. The palace has now been converted into a museum, which treasures the souvenirs, paintings, jewellery, royal costumes of the rulers.
Afternoon transfer to railway station to board train for Chennai - one of India's four metropolis city located on the Coromandel Coast, it is the gateway to south India and also an important harbour. Chennai has a blend of Dravidian and Gothic architecture in its buildings. It was the first citadel of the British. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, whose past endures into the present. Overnight |
| Day 6- Chennai - Pondicherry |
| Morning Visit St. George Fort built in 1640 A.D which now houses the Tamil Nadu State Legislature and Secretariat, San Thome Cathedral, which is said to contain the remains of St Thomas and the famous bronze Museum. Afternoon proceed for Pondicherry - the erstwhile capital of French India is located on the edge of Coromandal coast with Palm-fringed beaches, fishing villages and harbour. A part of India since, 1954, it still retains its French character with neat neatly laid roads, handsome churches and public buildings of a bygone era , French colonial history, the eventful life of Duplex- who established Pondicherry as the bastion for the French. Overnight. |
| Day 7- Pondicherry - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram |
After breakfast depart for of Kanchipuram, one of India's seven sacred Hindu cities. Historic capital of the Pallavas and thereafter the Cholas Also called as the city of thousand temples, it has magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty that bear eloquent testimony to its glorious Dravidian heritage. Notable being the Kailasnatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, finest example of Pallava architecture. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk saris.
Thereafter proceed to Mahabalipuram, the ancient seaport city of Pallavas, known for its rock hewn temples with statues of gods and goddesses, monsters and angels, snakes, water nymphs and animals that crowd the rock to watch the descent of Ganges flow through Shiva's hair. Overnight |
| Day 8- Mahabalipuram - Chennai - Madurai( Flight) |
| In time proceed for Chennai to connect flight for Madurai - is the cultural capital of the South India. It has been a centre of learning and pilgrimage, for centuries. Visit the Meenakshi temple, which is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture, with gopurams covered from top to bottom, in a profusion of multi coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. It is the most alive temple of India Overnight |
| Day 9- Madurai - Thekkady |
Morning visit the Meenakshi -Sundareswarar temple temple which is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture, with gopurams covered from top to bottom, in a profusion of multi coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. It has many beautiful mandapms, the most outstanding being the hall of thousand pillars with images of gods, goddesses and men represented in this exuberant display of Dravidian sculpture. It is the most alive temple of India. In the evening, we will attend a special ceremony with melodious music when lord Sundarasvehvara, goes to rest beside goddess Meenakshi.
Later proceed for Thekkady or Periyar National Park set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats in Kerala. Arrive and check in to the hotel. In the afternoon we set out to discover the park. Animals found here include elephant, sambar, gaur and wild Animals found here include elephant, sambar, gaur and wild boars and birds like ibis and grey heron. The visit is done in a boat to view animals with a bit of extra luck we may be able to see the rare tiger as well. Overnight at the hotel. |
| Day 10- Thekkady - Trivandrum - Kovalam |
Morning proceed to Trivandrum, the capital of the state of Kerala, is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. the capital of the state of Kerala is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. The famous Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple is dedicated to Vishnu and is a landmark in the city.
Later in the afternoon visit Zoological Gardens : One among the best designed in Asia - set among woodland, lakes, and well maintained lawns - but some of the animals enclosures. Padmanabhapuram Palace : The palace is superbly constructed of local teak and granite, and stands within massive stone town walls. The architecture is exquisite, with rosewood ceilings carved in floral patterns, windows laid with jewel floral patterns, windows laid with jewel coloured mica, and floors finished to a high polish with a special compound of crushed shells, coconuts egg white an the juices of local plants. Continue your journey to Kovalam - sand beaches, the cool breeze that silently ruffles the coconut lagoons, the lush waves that extend an embracing welcome and the silence that magnifies the zenith of a cool wave - the beach sands of Kovalam, the exotic beach resort down Kerala that has its history blended into the warm sands of time. There are stories of valour, love and suffering wanting to be told in the backyards of history. Overnight |
| Day 11- Kovalam |
| Full day relax by the beach. Overnight |
| Day 12- Kovalam / Cochin |
| Morning depart for Cochin - a city with a fine natural harbour, has been Kerala's center of trade for innumerable centuries. With its beautiful setting on a cluster of islands, narrow peninsulas and a long history, Cochin boasts of one of the oldest churches in India, 500 year old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the historical Palace built by the Portuguese, Jewtown, complete with an immaculately preserved synagogues. In the afternoon, proceed for the sightseeing of Cochin - visiting the Fort area including the Dutch Palace, the Church of St. Frances and the Jewish synagogue. Overnight |
| Day 13- Cochin |
| Breakfast in the hotel. Boat Cruise on backwater. Depart to take the " backwaters trip in the rice boats called Kettuvalam ",. This trip will take us through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters to Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets, typical villages and regattas (boats snakes) for which Kerala is very famous. Overnight. |
| Day 14- Cochin / Mumbai ( Depart Mumbai ) |
| In time transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai , upon arrival proceed to airport to connect flight for onward destination. |
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