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Best of South India
Chennai - Mahabalipuram -
Kanchipuram - Pondicherry - Tanjore (Thanjavur) - Trichy
(Tiruchirapally) - Madurai - Periyar - Cochin - Mumbai Duration : 11 days.
The delightful South Inida; nearly untouched by invasions throughout its history, the Indian heritage is more intact here than in other regions of the country. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, home of famed Bharatnatyam dance, towering temples and towns of
Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram and Tanjore. 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 Chennai |
| Assistance on arrival at Chennai International
Airport, transfer to hotel, relax & overnight in Chennai. |
| Day 2- Chennai |
| Chennai is one India’s four metropolises 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. Visit the 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. |
| Day 3- Chennai / MAHABALIPURAM |
| Depart for of Kanchipuram, one of India's seven sacred Hinducities. 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 Mahaballipuram, 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. |
| Day 4- MAHABALIPURAM / PONDICHERRY (130 km) |
| Depart 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. Check in at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the famous Aurobindo Ashram, the International city of Auroville. |
| Day 5- PONDICHERRY / TANJORE |
| In the morning, depart for ChIdambram. Visit the beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Nataraja – dancing Shiva in the enthralling form of a Cosmic Dancer representing the constant process of creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. Continue towards Tanjore, synonymous with the architecturally famed, Brihadeshwara temple, finest example of Dravidian art.. Pyramidal in form, the Brihadeshwara temple combines the best in the tradition of temple building - architecture, sculpture, painting and other allied arts. It is now a UNESCO heritage site |
| Day 6- TANJORE/TRICHY/MADURAI (195 km) |
| In the morning, road towards Trichy where you will visit the imposing town of Srirangam, located on a small island of the Cavery River; the temple of Ranganath Swami with its 21 gopurams is extraordinary, and it is dedicated to Vishnu. Then, short walk in located at the foot of the Fort of Rock. Depart for Madurai. And proceed to the hotel. Rest of the day is at free for rest Overnight |
| Day 7- MADURAI |
| Madurai is the cultural capital of the South India. It has been a centre of learning and pilgrimage, for centuries. The Meenakshi temple 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. Afternoon, visit of the city: Tirumalai Nayak Palace, which was built in 1636. In the evening, we will attend the night ceremony with melodious music when lord Sundarasvehvara, goes to rest beside Meenakshi. Overnight. |
| Day 8- MADURAI / PERIYAR |
| In the morning take the road towards 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 |
| Day 9- Periyar / Cochin |
| In the morning, depart for Kottayam from where we will begin the " backwaters water trip ", which will take us through the the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters of Alleppey 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 arrive Alleppey, lunch and proceed to Cochin. Cochin, 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. Check in at hotel. Witness Spectacle of the Kathakali dances. Overnight |
| Day 10- COCHIN / BOMBAY (FLIGHT) |
| The Morning is free for rest etc. before going to airport to take a flight to Bombay. Arrive Bombay and depart foe sighseeing of Bombay 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. Overnight |
| Day 11- BOMBAY / Back Home |
| Depart for airport to take flight to your destination. |
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