Sunny
coast lines, Dravidian architecture and culture, towering temples, old churches,
gardens, palaces, palm fringed beaches, alluring backwaters and lush tropical
scenery are just some of the attractions of the paradise that is the south of
India. Home to the ancient Dravidians who were the original inhabitants of the
subcontinent, Southern India was never subjected to the domination of the invaders
who ruled the North, thus leaving the South with a truly Hindu flavour. The
tour includes a boat ride in the backwaters and an invigorating ayruvedic massage.
Day
1
Arrive Chennai, the fourth largest metropolis in India. Transfer to hotel. In
the afternoon visit Fort St. George, San Thome Cathedral, St. Thomas Mount.
Day
2
Chennai – Mamallapuram: Drive 2 hours (61 kms) to Mamallapuram, the historic
coastal temple town. Visit the Shore Temples, Arjuna’s Penace and the
beach. Overnight in hotel.
Day
3
Visit to Tiger Cave and Mandapans or cave temples. Overnight in hotel
Day
4
Mamallapuram-Pondicherry: Drive 3 hours (132 kms) to the former French colony
of Pondicherry, settled in the early 18th century. Afternoon visit to Sri Aurobindo
Ashram and the museum. Overnight in hotel.
Day
5
Pondicherry – Tanjore: Drive 5 hours to Tanjore, the ancient Chola capital.
In the afternoon we will visit the Brihadisvara Temple (a world heritage monument),
and Tanjore Art Gallery. The Gallery has a large collection of Chola sculptures
and bronze. Overnight in hotel.
Day
6
Tanjore-Trichy: Drive 1 hour (55 kms) to Trichy. Visit Rock Fort Temple atop
the 84 metre high rock and Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy temple). Overnight
in hotel
Day
7
Trichy - Madurai, - Drive 3 hours (128 kms) to Madurai, a temple town. In the
afternoon see the Shree Meenakshi Temple (an outstanding example of Vijaynagar
temple architecture), and visit Tirumalai Nayak Palace and Gandhi Museum, located
in the 300 year old Ram Mangammal Palace. Overnight in hotel.
Day
8
Madurai – Periyar (Thekkady): Drive 4 hours (160 kms) to Periyar. Here
the road rises from the plains, through tropical evergreen forests, rubber and
spice plantation, pepper, cardamom and tea. In the afternoon visit the Mangladevi
temple and spice market. Overnight in hotel.
Day
9
Periyar: Visit to wildlife-park of game viewing. The Park is well known for
its tusplen elephants. Overnight in hotel.
Day
10
Periyar – Kottayam: A 2 hour drive (65 kms), from here we take a boat
cruise through the back waters to Allepey for 3 hours. From Alleyey we drive
to Cochin. The trip will take about three hours. Overnight in hotel.
Day
11
Cochin: Visit the old church of St. Francis. See the Chinese fishing nets and
the Fort. Overnight in hotel. Kerala is also famous for its Kathakali dance.
A performance can be arranged by prior booking.
Day
12
Cochin: Visit the Basilica of Santa Cruz, the Dutch Palace and the Jewish Synagogue,
as well as the Clock Tower. Also visit the spice and flower bazaar. Overnight
in hotel.
Day
13
Cochin – Trichur: Drive 3 hours (75 kms) to richur – famous for
its Pooram festival. In the afternoon visit to the village. We overnight in
a beautiful health resort famous for ayurvedic massage and herbal treatment.
Day
14
Trichur – Calicut: Drive 3 hours (110 kms) to Calicut. Calicut was the
capital of the Zamorin Raja’s and is famous for its calico textile industry.
The Portuguese sailor Vasco De Gama landed in Calicut in 1498 becoming the first
European to reach India via the sea route around the Southern cape of Africa.
Overnight in hotel.
Day
15
Calicut- Mysore: Drive 6 hours (265 kms) to Mysore and the Ghat road with its
breathtaking view. In the afternoon visit the market famous for sandlewood,
incense, perfumes and flowers. Overnight in hotel.
Day
16
Mysore: Visit the City Palace, Amber Vilas, built in 1897, St. Philomena’s
Cathdral, one of the tallest in India, and Chamarjendra Art Gallery. Overnight
in hotel.
Day
17
Mysore – Hassan: Drive 4 hours (115 kms) to Hassan. In the afternoon visit
the District museum that houses, sculpture, paintings, weapons, coins and inscriptions.
Overnight in hotel.
Day
18
Hasssan: Vist to Belur and Halebid, the temples of Belur and Halebid are the
cream of what remains of one of the most artistically exuberant periods of Hindu
cultural development. The Chennakesava temple at Belur, on the banks of the
Yagachi River, took a century to complete. The Hoysalas, who ruled this part
of the Deccan between the 11th and 13th centuries, had their origins in the
hill tribes of the Western Ghats and were for a long time feudatories of the
Chalukyas. Overnight in hotel.
Day
19
Hassan – Bangalore: Drive 4 hours (172 kms) to Bangalore, the garden city.
Afternoon free. Overnight in hotel.
Day
20
Bangalore: Visit to Vidhana Soudha Fort, Tipu Sultan’s Palace and the
Bull Temple.
Overnight in hotel.
Day
21
Bangalore – Chennai (Madras): Morning flight to Chennai. Day free. Evening
transfer to the International Airport for return flight home.
