South India TOURS
South India Cultural Tour
Day 01 Arrive CHENNAI
Arrive Chennai. You are met outside the International Arrivals Hall and transferred
to Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02 Fly CHENNAI to BANGALORE
Early morning transfer to the airport to board flight for Bangalore. Assistance
on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
After freshening up, spend the day exploring Bangalore, the capital of the
state of Karnataka, which offers the graceful charms of a well laid out garden
city with parks and beautiful buildings. The 'Garden City' has several fine
parks; Lal Bagh, the botanical gardens laid out by Haider Ali and his son
Tipu Sultan in the 18th century, is the loveliest spot in Bangalore. Cubbon
Park is an extensive stretch of green sprawling over an area of 300 acres.
overnight at Hotel.
Day 03 Drive BANGALORE to HASSAN
After breakfast depart on the drive to Hassan. En route visit Sravanabelagola.
Its serenity emanates from the simplicity of its ascetic inspiration and the
grandeur of its scale. It is said to be the world's tallest monolithic statue.
The translation of Sravanabelagola is "the white pond of the ascetic".
Dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Day 04 HASSAN to MYSORE
After breakfast visit Belur which was a flourishing city under the Hoysala
kings some 800 yeas ago.
Continue on to Helibid which is situated some 16 km from Belur. The main temple,
also built in a star-shaped plan is a magnificent example of Hoysala architecture.
Continue on to Mysore. En route visit Srirangapatnam, the capital of Haider
Ali and his son Tipu Sultan till 1799, when the British captured it. The tomb
of Tipu Sultan and his parents marks the end of the glorious history of this
town. On arrival in Mysore check in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 05 IN MYSORE
After breakfast explore Mysore the capital of the erstwhile princely state
of that name. It is famous for its silk and sandalwood, as well as its numerous
palaces, well laid out boulevards and beautiful parks. Visit the Maharaja's
Palace, St. Phelomena's Church is a magnificent cathedral, the largest in
South India.
In the afternoon visit Somnathpur, the site of the Prasanna Chennakasava temple,
built in 1268 AD, Return to Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 06 Drive MYSORE to NAGARHOLE
After breakfast depart on the 2-hour drive to Nagarhole National Park. On
arrival check in at hotel.
After lunch depart on a jeep safari into the park which was established in
1955 and extended to its present size of 573 sq. km in 1975. The park has
over 250 species of birds recorded. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 07 NAGARHOLE to OOTY
Early morning game viewing is by jeep or coracle - excellent for bird-watching
as well as viewing animals on the banks of the river.
After breakfast depart on the 3-hour drive to Ootacamund, popularly known
as Ooty, the leading hill station in South India. On arrival check in at The
Monarch. Situated in the heart of the beautiful Nilgiris (Blue mountains)
at an altitude of 2,286 m, Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 08 Drive OOTY to COCHIN
After an early breakfast depart on the drive to Cochin. On arrival check in
at Hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 IN COCHIN
After breakfast explore Cochin, which comprises of a cluster of islands and
towns.
In the afternoon take a leisurely cruise on the beautiful backwaters of Cochin.
In the evening witness a Kathakali dance performance. This is the most developed
dance drama art of India. Dinner and overnight at.
Day 10 Drive COCHIN to ALLEPPEY to KOTTAYAM
After breakfast drive to Alleppey, known as the "Venice of the East",
situated on the Vembabad Lake, the longest lake in India. Alleppey is known
for its coir, the retted fiber of the coconut husk and for black pepper. Dinner
and overnight on the Rice Boats.
Day 11 KOTTAYAM to PERIYAR
The journey ends at the prosperous town of Kottayam, an important trading
centre. Nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats, it has beautiful backwaters
to its west and scenic fertile mountains to its east.
Drive to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and National Park. On arrival check in
at Hotel.
In the afternoon explore the park. Established in 1934 as the Nelliampatty
Sanctuary, the park was enlarged in 1950 and is India's southernmost tiger
reserve. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Day 12 IN PERIYAR
Early morning and late afternoon game viewing by boat. Breakfast, dinner and
overnight at Hotel.
Day 13 PERIYAR to MADURAI
After breakfast depart on the drive to Madurai, known as the City of Festivals.
On arrival check in at Hotel.
In the afternoon explore Madurai, which is the most ancient home of culture,
with the first Tamil Academy being founded here by scholars and pious kings.
The town has developed around the famous Meenakshi temple, built in the Dravidian
style, dedicated to Lord Shiva and his spouse Meenakshi. Dinner and overnight
at Hotel.
Day 14 Drive MADURAI to TRICHY
After breakfast drive to Tiruchirapalli, also known as Trichy. On arrival
check in at Hotel.
In the afternoon explore this historic town which was held by the Chola and
Pallava dynasties. On the island of Srirangam is a massive Vishnu temple with
seven walls. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Day 15 Excursion to TANJORE
After breakfast depart on a day trip to Tanjore or Tanjavur as it was earlier
called. Tanjore was the capital of the Chola empire from the 10th to the 14th
centuries. Later it became part of the Vijayanagar kingdom, then passed into
the hands of the Marathas and later still went to the British return to Trichy
for dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 16 Drive TRICHY to PONDICHERRY
After breakfast depart for Pondicherry. En route visit Chidambaram, where
the celebrated Nataraja temple - the temple of the Dancing Shiva - is situated.
The god Shiva performed his cosmic dance after humbling several conceited
rishis (sagas) who believed they had acquired extraordinary powers through
their rigorous austerities. On arrival in Pondicherry check in at Hotel for
dinner and overnight stay.
Day 17 Drive PONDICHERRY to MAHABALIPURAM
In the morning explore Pondicherry. Spend some time at the Aurobindo Ashram
which is the best known landmark of Pondicherry. Other places of interest
include the Raj Nivas, The Romain Rolland Library has over 60,000 volumes
of rate French and English books, The Pondicherry Museum.
Continue on to Mahabalipuram, the port city of the Pallavas in the 7th century.
In this picturesque setting of sandy beaches and the sea can be seen some
70 monuments that influenced temple architecture in Tamil Nadu for centuries
to come. On arrival check in at hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 18 Excursion to KANCHIPURAM
In the morning explore Mahabalipuram. The first important group is formed
by the five rathas - rock-cut monoliths named after the heroes of the Mahabharata
which simulate ceremonial chariots. The other cave temples of Mahishasuramardini
and Olalkkannesware
Continue on to Kanchipuram which was the erstwhile capital of the Pallavas
and Cholas who reigned between the 7th and 13th centuries. These two powerful
dynasties gave the city its numerous temples and tanks. Return to Mahabalipuram
in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 19 IN MAHABALIPURAM
Day at leisure. Breakfast, dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 20 Drive MAHABALIPURAM to CHENNAI
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon drive to Chennai for a tour of the city.
The gateway to the sunny south, Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, is also
a seat of ancient civilization, with a rich heritage of fine arts, sculpture
and architecture. It has withstood the pressure of modernization to some extent
and even today retains an old-world charm which has an instant appeal for
the visitor. Overnight at hotel.
Day 21 Departure CHENNAI
Day at leisure. Evening after dinner transfer to the airport for your final
departure back to home.
