Itenary Details

DAY01 Arrive Chennai

Arrive Chennai-Meet and greet on arrival and transfer to hotel. On arrival check in hotel-Rest of the day free Chennai (formerly Madras is the capital city of the Indian state Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, it is the biggest industrial and commercial centre in South India, and a major cultural, economic and educational centre. Chennai architecture is a confluence of many architectural styles. From ancient Dravidian temples built by the Pallavas, to the Indo-Saracenic style of the colonial era, to 20th-century steel and chrome of skyscrapers. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY02 Chennai-Mahabalipuram

After breakfast enjoy a sightseeing tour, visiting Fort St George, San Thome Cathedral, the National Art Gallery and the Government Museum. Next, travel to Dakshinachitra - a unique heritage centre for the living traditions of art, craft and architecture of India.Afterwards journey to Mahabalipuram, once the main port of the Pallava Kingdom and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, this ancient city showcases some of India's finest rock-cut art and architecture.Mahabalipuram lies on the Coromandel Coast which faces the Bay of Bengal. This is an elegant place to watch which a well established sea port was during the 7th and 10th centuries of the Pallava dynasty. This was the second capital of the Pallavas who ruled Kanchipuram. Formerly, mahabalipuram was known and called as Mahabalipuram. The former name of this place ‘Mahabalipuram’ has a history.

On arrival check in Hotel Afternoon proceed for a sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram which includes, Arjuna Penance,Shore temple and Five Rathas.Mahabalipuram was the earlier name of Mamallapuram because the demon king Mahabali was killed by Lord Vishnu. The name was changed later by the king of Pallava Narashima Varman who has got the title of Mamalla; the great wrestler.Mahabalipuram lies on the Coromandel Coast which faces the Bay of Bengal. This is an elegant place to watch which a well established sea port was during the 7th and 10th centuries of the Pallava dynasty. This was the second capital of the Pallavas who ruled Kanchipuram. Formerly, mahabalipuram was known and called as Mahabalipuram. The former name of this place ‘Mahabalipuram’ has a history.Evening visiting to an Artisan village to witness the engraving of sculptures in rock.Return to hotel for overnight stay

DAY03 Mahabalipuram-Kancheepuram-Mahabalipuram

After breakfast proceed for a Day return excursion to KancheepuramKanchipuram is known as the "city of a thousand temples". The 192 feet high temple tower of Ekamabaranadhar temple and the 100-pillar mandabam (building) in Varadaraja Perumal temple in this town are famous, and are considered marvels of the architectural techniques of the Vijayanagara dynasty. The British Viceroy Robert Clive, who is responsible for the British rule in India, had exclaimed the architectural techniques of Varadharaja perumal temple and presented a fabulous jewelry to this temple. Today, apart from its temples, this city is famous for Silk sarees. Return to Mahablipuram.Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY04 Mahablipuram-Pondicherry

After breakfast drive to Pondicherry and on arrival check in Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Pondicherry. A French colony until 1954, this coastal town retains a number of colonial buildings, churches, statues, and systematic town planning, as well as urban architecture of the local Tamil style. As such the town has been dubbed "The Europe of India". The town struggles to preserve what little remains of the ambiance once created by this unique mix of cultural heritage.The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a well known and wealthy ashram in India, with devotees from India and all over the world flocking to it for spiritual salvation. Its spiritual tenets represent a synthesis of yoga and modern science. The Ashram was founded in 1926 bySri Aurobindo Ghose, an Indian freedom fighter, poet, philosopher, and yogi. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY05 Pondicherry-Chidambaram-Gangaikondacholapuram-Tanjore

After breakfast drive Tanjore en route visiting Chidambaram. The town is believed to be of significant antiquity and has been ruled, at different times, The town is known for the Thillai Nataraja Temple, and the annual chariot festival held in the month of April.

As per Hindu legend, god Shiva was strolling in Thillai Vanam,where resided a group of sages who believed in the supremacy of magic and that god can be controlled by rituals and mantras. Shiva wanted to test the sages and strolled in the forest with assuming the form of Bhikshatana The sages gathered all their spiritual strength and invoked a powerful demon a symbol of complete arrogance and ignorance. Shiva wore a gentle smile, stepped on the demon's back, immobilized him and performed the Ánanda Tandava (the dance of eternal bliss) and disclosed his true form. The sages surrendered and understood the ultimate realization that god cannot be controlled by the rituals.

GangaikondaCholapuram was erected as the capital of the Cholas by Rajendra Chola Iwho conquered a large area in South India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Sumatra, Kadaram (Kedah in Malaysia) at the beginning of the 11th century A.D. It occupies an important place in the history of India. As the capital of the Cholas from about 1025 A.D. for about 250 years, the city controlled the affairs of entire southern India, The Gangaikondaan temple is an architectural and engineering marvel because the shadow of the main tower never falls on the ground throughout the year.Proceed to Tanjore visiting Kumbakonam and Dharasuram Temples.on arrival check in.

DAY06 TANJORE - KARAIKUDI

After breakfast proceed for a sightseeing tour of Tanjore.Thanjavur is an important centre of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Great Living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, are located in and around Thanjavur. The foremost among these, the Brihadeeswara Temple, is located in the centre of the city. Thanjavur is also home to Tanjore painting, a painting style unique to the region. The city is an important agricultural centre located in the Cauvery Delta and is known as the "Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. Afternoon drive to Karaikudi and on arrival check in a Palace Hotel. Evening local village visits at karaikudi.

Karaikudi is the biggest city in Chettinad and is famous for its Ganesha Temple, Saris. This small town is known for its magnificent mansions constructed by the Chettiars - a caste known as much for their prosperity as well as their hospitality. Though the owners of these palatial wonders have long scattered, having left for distant shore, the beautifully carved wood work as well as the stone and mortar work of these houses can still be appreciated. Comprising about 72 villages of which many of them were once the homes of wealthy merchant families known as the Chettiars. Today, it is an area of mostly deserted splendid mansions. The place derives its name from the famous plant “Karai” which abounds in the area. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

DAY07 Karaikudi-Madurai

After breakfast proceed to Madurai and on arrival check in Hotel.Afternoon sightseeing tour of Madurai: Thirumalai Naicker Palace: Builder of this magnificent palace ruled as the seventh ruler of the Madurai Naick dynasty. He ruled Madurai from 1623 to 1659 A.D. He was the master builder of this age and he made magnificent contributions artarchitecture. Pudumantapam (vasantha mandapam) opposite to easter gate of Meenakshi Amman Temple was constructed by Thirumalai Naick. He also dug out the Vandiyur Teppakkulam, one of the worth seeing places in Madurai city. Traditions says that when the soil was excavated to make bricks for the construction of this palace, naturally a big pit was formed. Thirumalai Naick converted this pit in to a beautiful tank and constructed a small mantapam at the centre.

Meenakshi Ammana Temple,is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai It is dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her consort, Shiva, here named Sundareswarar. The temple forms the heart and lifeline of the 2500 year old cityof Madurai and is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature though the present structure was built between 1623 and 1655 It houses 14 gopurams (gateway towers), ranging from 45-50m in height. The tallest is the southern tower, 51.9 metres (170 ft) high,and two golden sculptured vimanas, the shrines over the garbhagrihas (sanctums) of the main deities. The temple attracts 15,000 visitors a day, around 25,000 on Fridays. There are an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple.It was on the list of top 30 nominees for the "New Seven Wonders of the World".Evening witness Bed Chamber Ceremony at Meenakshi temple.Return to hotel for overnight stay.

DAY08 Madurai-Periyar

After breakfast drive to Periyar and on arrival check in Hotel. Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, south India. It is notable as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve. The protected area covers an area of 925 km2 (357 sq mi). 350 km2 (140 sq mi) of the core zone was declared as the Periyar National Park in 1982.The park is often called the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary or Thekkady. It is located high in theCardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the southern Western Ghats along the border with Tamil Nadu. It is 4 km (2.5 mi) from Kumily, approximately 100 km (62 mi) east of Kottayam, 110 km (68 mi) west of Madurai and 120 km (75 mi) southeast of Kochi.After noon Spice Plantation tour at Thekkady followed by boat cruise on Lake Periyar.Retrun to hotel for overngith stay.

DAY09 Periyar - Alleppey

After early morning boat ride on Lake Periyar and b/fast depart from Thekkady and arrive Alleppey by noon. And check in House Boat For cruise and overnight stayThe popularity of Kettuvallams has returned in the function as major tourist attractions. Such a houseboat is about 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m) long and about 15 feet (4.6 m) wide at the middle. The hull is made of wooden planks that are held together by ropes of coconut fiber; the usual wood is 'Anjili'. The roof is made of bamboo poles and palm leaves. Dinner And Overnight Stay In House Boat.

DAY10 Alleppey - Mararikulam

Morning after breakfast disembark from House boat and drive to a beautiful beach destination MARARIKULAM- On arrival check in a beach resort rest of the day free at leisure. overnight stay at hotel

DAY11 Mararikulam Day At Leisure For  Ayurveda

Free at leisure/beach activities or an ayurvedic massage at the centre. Overnight stay at hotel.

Mararikulam

After breakfast drive to KOCHI and on arrival check in to hotel.Kochi, or more familiarly, Cochin is a city of many parts. Around for a long, long time, Kochi played a pivotal role in the development of shipping and trade in the region. Kochi's prime location on the west coast, its fine bay and protected harbor made it popular with seafarers and merchant ships who made frequent stops to stock up on spices, coffee and wood en route to the rich markets of Europe and West Asia. And so down the ages, Kochi prospered as a busy port city and commercial centre. Its seafront is still extremely relevant to Cochin and to India: In the evening,

Afternoon proceed for the sightseeing tour by visiting Mattancherry and visit the oldest Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Fridays Saturdays & All the Jewish holidays) in India, built in 1568; it was destroyed by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Dutch a century later. You will also visit The DutchPalace (Closed on Fridays) ‐ which was built in 1555 Continue your drive to Chinese fishing nets. The cantilevered fishing nets line the entrance to the harbour mouth. Your next stop will be St. Francis Church, originally named after Santo Antonio and dedicated to him as the Patron Saint of Portugal; St. Francis Church is the first church to have been in the new European influenced tradition. Originally a wooden building was replaced by the present stone building. Vasco De Gamma died on the site in 1524.Evening you have a special culture programme in a local ac theatre. Kathakali. (Famous folk dance show of Kerala).Return to hotel for overnight stay.

DAY12 Departure Cochin

After breakfast and in time transfer to Cochin International Airpport to connect Flight  for youor onward Journey.