Duration: 23 nights/ 24 days
Destinations:
Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Tanjore, Trichy, Madurai, Periyar,
Cochin, Ooty, Mysore, Bangalore, Hassan, Hospet (Hampi), Badami, Goa, Mumbai
Day
01: Arrival ChennaiOn arrival meet and assist at the airport and
transfer to hotel, overnight at hotel.
Day 02:
Chennai - Kanchipuram - MahabalipuramAfter breakfast, sightseeing
of Chennai including of Fort Museum, Marina Beach, San Thome cathedral.
Afternoon, leave for Mahabalipuram. Enroute visit Kanchipuram - (64 km from
Chennai) ancient capital of the Pallavas, famous as a city of 1000 temples
that still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in
the 7th & 8th century & has painting on the walls. Temples of
Ekambaswara, Kailasnatha, Sri Kamakshi & Vardarajaewamy are of interest.
Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk. On arrival in Mahabalipuram check
into at your prebooked hotel.
Day 03:
MahabalipuramAfter breakfast, visit Mahabalipuram, which was the
main port of the Pallava dynasty & has exquisite Rock-cut monuments,
monolithic structures & Bas-reliefs. It is also a beach resort.
Day
04: Mahabalipuram - PondicherryAfter breakfast, leave for
Pondicherry. On arrival check in at hotel. Afternoon, sightseeing of
Pondicherry, which was formerly a French Colony. Settled early in the 18th
century Pondicherry became part of the Indian Union in the early 50s when
the French voluntarily relinquished control. The main attraction here is the
Aurobindo Ashram, which was founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926. The ashram is
one of the most popular in India with westerners, and is also one of the
most affluent. Also to be visited is the Pondicherry Museum, which has a
well, displayed variety of exhibits ranging from French furniture to this
history of bead making.
Day 05: Pondicherry -
TanjoreAfter breakfast, leave for Tanjore. On arrival check in at
hotel. Afternoon, visit Tanjore (Thanjavur) that was the ancient capital of
Chola kings. Visit the Brihadishwara temple, which was built by Raja and is
termed as the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture. This temple is
one of the monuments in India with World Heritage listing. Also visit the
Thanjavur Palace, which was contructed in 1550 and has huge corridors,
spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers.
Day
06: Tanjore - Trichy - Sri Rangam - Madurai After breakfast, leave
for Madurai. Enroute visit the Rock Fort Temple in Trichy (Tiruchirapalli)
and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam - This superb temple complex
is surrounded by seven concentric walls with 21 gopurams and is probably the
largest in India. Most of it dates back from 14th to 17th centuries. The
largest gopuram was completed as recently as 1987, and now measures an
astouning 73 metre. After visiting Srirangam, continue drive to Madurai.
Arrive Madurai and check in at hotel.
Day 07:
Madurai After breakfast, visit Madurai - one of the oldest cities
in South India and has been a centre of learning & pilgrimage for
centuries. Visit Madurai's main attraction - Sri Meenakshi temple that
attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India. The temple is named
after the daughter of a Pandyan King. Designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak,
the present temple was substantially built during the reign of Tirumalai
Nayak (1623-55 AD), but its history goes back 2000 years to the time when
Madurai was the capital of Pandya Kings.
Day
08: Madurai - PeriyarAfter breakfast, leave for Periyar (Thekkady).
On arrival in Periyar check in at your prebooked hotel. Afternoon, game
viewing at the wild life park.
Day 09: Periyar -
Kottayam - Alleppey - Cochin After breakfast, leave for Cochin.
Enroute disembark from the vehicle at Kottayam to do a very pleasant stretch
up to Alleppey in boats on the backwaters of Kerala. At Alleppey board our
car/coach, which awaits you to drive you to Cochin. On arrival in Cochin
check in at your prebooked hotel.
Day 10: Cochin
After breakfast, visit Cochin - the city of lagoons. Visit the St.
Francis Church, India's oldest European Church was contructed in 1503 by
Portuguese; Chinese Fishing Nets, strung out along the top of Fort Cochin;
Mattancherry Palace or The Dutch Palace, Afternoon, free for individual
activities. In the evening, witness Kathakali Dance Show.
Day
11. Cochin - OotyAfter breakfast, leave for Ooty a beautiful Hill
station on South India, afternoon reaching to hotel, full day leisure for
personal actives and boating at Lake overnight at hotel.
Day
12. Ooty - MysoreAfter breakfast drive to Mysore. Afternoon, visit
the magnificent city on the foothills of Mount Chamundi. Visit the Mysore
Palace; also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, this palace was the seat of the
Maharajas of Mysore. Burnt down in 1897, the present one was completed in
1912, at a cost of Rs. 4.2 million; Chamundi Hill - overlooking Mysore from
1062m summit of the hill is the Sri Chamuneswari temple and the Brindavan
Gardens.
Day 13: Mysore - Banglore After
breakfast, leave for Banglore, Afternoon, city tour of Bangalore - "city
of gardens". Visit, the Vidhan Sudha - It houses the State's
Legislature and Secretariat, Nandi Temple - One of the oldest temple,
popularly known as the Bull temple and overnight at hotel.
Day
14: Bangalore - HassanAfter breakfast, leave for Hassan, enroute
visiting Sravanabelagola, one of the oldest and most important Jain
pilgrimage centers in India, and the site of the 17m high statue of
Gomateshwara, said to the world's tallest monolithic statue - an important
Jain religious centre - a colossal Gomateshwara statue. Arrive Hassan &
check in at hotel. Afternoon, excursion to Hoysala Temples of Halebid &
Belur (16 Kms). Visit the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid, which is the most
outstanding example if Hoysala art built at 12th century. At Belur, visit
the Channekeshava temple is the only one at the three Hoysala sites still in
daily use.
Day 15: Hassan - Hospet (Hampi)After
breakfast, leave for Hospet, arrive at Hospet and check into hotel and
overnight at hotel.
Day 16: Hospet After
breakfast, excursion to Hampi. Hampi the once beautiful capital city of
Vijaynagar Empire. Some of the interesting ruins remaining are the
Virupaksha, Vittala and Hazara Rama Temples, huge Ganesha & Narasimha
images, the elephant stables, the queen's bath, and carvings on the
Ramachandra Temple & Lotus Mahal overnight at Hospet.
Day
17: Hospet - Badami After breakfast, leave for Badami only 150 kms
from Hampi. Enroute we stop at Aihole, which was the Chalukyan regional
capital between the 4th & 6th centuries. There are over 70 structures in
and around and the more important structures include the Ladkhan temple,
Kulinguidi & Durgigude Temples. Continue drive towards Badami. Enroute
stop at Pattadakal, the second capital of Badami Chalukyans, Pattadakal
reached the height of its glory during the 7th and 8th centuries. The most
important monument here is the Lokeshwara or Virupaksha temple that narrates
episodes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata. After the visit
continue drive to Badami. Arrive Badami and check in at hotel.
Day
18: BadamiAfter breakfast, visit Badami which was once the capital
city of the Chalukyan empire which ruled much of the Central Deccan between
the 4th and 8th centuries A.D. Badami is best known for its cave temples,
cut into the cliff face of the red sandstone hill and are dedicated to
Shiva, Vishnu, & Lord Buddha. There's one temple that will definitely
take your breath away for the serenity of its location, it is the Bhutana
temple on the tank's east bank. Afternoon is leisure & overnight stay at
hotel.
Day 19: Badami -GoaAfter
breakfast, leave for Goa. Arrive Goa and check in at hotel.
Day
20: GoaAfter breakfast, full day tour of North & South Goa &
overnight at hotel.
Day 21: GoaDay free
for individual activities & overnight at hotel.
Day
22: Goa - Mumbai (Train)After breakfast, free. In the afternoon,
transfer to the railway station to board train for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and
transfer to hotel.
Day 23: MumbaiAfter
breakfast, city tour of Mumbai - the capital city of the state Maharashtra
and is the economic powerhouse of India. Visit the Gateway of India, Price
of Wales Museum, Elephanta caves and Buddha images; Marine Drive, which runs
along the shoreline, starting at Nariman Point and up to Malabar Hill;
Hanging Gardens, evening departure to Airport for your further destination.
