12 Days South India Tour

Destination Covered: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Tanjore - Madurai - Thekkady - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin

Day 01: Arrive in Chennai
Welcome to India ! On arrival a warm welcome at the Chennai airport with Garland and transfer to your preferred hotel. Chennai previously known as Madras a capital city of Tamil Nadu State and is the fourth largest metro city of our country India. The city grew up around the English settlement of Fort Saint George and steadily absorbed the surrounding villages & towns etc. However, despite the strong British influence, Chennai has hold on to its traditional Tamil Hindu culture and effectively blend it with the foreign influence.
Overnight stay at hotel

Day 02: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (120 kms / 4 hrs)
Morning after breakfast head to a guided city tour of Chennai visiting Fort St. George, Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral etc. Later leave for Mahabalipuram via visiting Kanchipuram - One of the seven sacred cities of India, Kanchipuram is appropriately called the golden city of thousand temples, the place served as the capital of the Pallavas the powerful dynasty of south India. On arrival check into the hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel

Day 03: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (138 kms / 3 ½ hrs)
Morning after breakfast proceed for sightseeing of Mahabalipuram - a beautiful place lies on the Coromandel coast which faces the Bay of Bengal known for its Shore Temple and Arjune's Penance is thepride of not only Mahabalipuram and Tamilnadu visiting Shore Temples - One of the earliest structural temples in South India dedicated to lord Shiva and Vishnu. Later in the afternoon drive to Pondicherry - on arrival check into the hotel.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 04: Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Tanjore (177 kms / 4 hrs)
Morning after breakfast visit Pondicherry the beautiful city visiting Sri Aurobindo Ashram located on rue de la Marine, is one of the most well known and wealthiest ashrams in India, with devotees from across the world flocking to it for spiritual salvation. Auroville - or the 'City of Dawn ' - was conceived as a lay of research into the ideal of human unity by the Mother, the spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo also visit the heritage buildings etc. Later drive to Tanjore via visiting Chidambaram - one of the most ancient and most celebrated of shrines in India. It is a great religious as well as historic and cultural significance, on arrival check into the hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel

Day 05: Tanjore - Madurai (163 Kms / 4 hrs)
Morning after breakfast have a city tour of Tanjore - Tanjore is the "Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu" and famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva). The temple was constructed more than thousand years ago by the King Rajarajan Cholan, an architect's marvel. Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and the Marathas. Later drive to Madurai - one of the ancient city of India with a history take you back to the MAJESTIC SOUTH INDIA TOURSangam period of the pre Christian period. On arrival check into the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 06: Madurai
Morning after breakfast proceed have a city tour of this beautiful city of Temples Madurai visiting the exquisite Meenakshi Temple, Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam Temple that you shall to visit if you are in south India also visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace and Thirupurak Kundram Temple etc. Overnight at hotel.
Overnight stay at the Hotel

Day 07: Madurai - Thekkady (160 kms / 4 hrs)
Morning after breakfast leave for Thekkady (Periyar) - sprawled over an area of 777 sq. Kms, Periyar tiger reserve is an example of nature's bounty with great scenic attraction and rich bio-diversity. On arrival check into your hotel. Later in the afternoon have a boat ride at the Periyar lake to view the wild life activities of Periyar sanctuary famous for wild elephant and other wild animals.
Overnight stay at the Hotel

Day 08: Thekkady - Kumarakom (127 kms / 4 hrs)
Morning after breakfast walk thru the spice plantation, later drive to Kumarakom - popularly known as the rice bowl of Kerala. A cluster of tiny islets on the Vembanad Lake a famous back water of Kerala, Kumarakom is a picturesque unsoiled village. An extremely eye-catching ecstasy of mangrove forests, pea green paddy meadows and coconut coppices intermingled with enthralling waterways and canals. On arrival check into your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure for leisure activities at the resort.
Overnight stay at the Hotel

Day 09: Kumarakom
Morning after breakfast visit to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (optional) - the bird sanctuary is spread across 14 acres. An ornithologist's paradise is a favorite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron, teal etc. OR You can walk through the country side of Kerala or may have day at leisure for your own activities like the message and Ayurveda etc. Overnight at hotel.
Overnight stay at the Hotel

Day 10: Kumarakom - Alleppey (by Houseboat)
Morning after your breakfast embark of the Kettuvallam - a typical Kerala's houseboat towards to Alleppey - thru the Vembanadu Lake (famous backwaters of Kerala and various narrow canals, as you cruise along the calm backwaters capture the glimpses of local lifestyle of the people resident by the backwater, fishing etc. Overnight on houseboat.
Overnight stay at the Hotel

Day 11: Alleppey / Cochin
After breakfast disembark from the houseboat and Drive to Cochin. Cochin - Cochin is the natural harbour formed by the famous underwater Malabar mud-banks whose eminence ensures that the rougher the seas are outside the calmer the waters are within the harbour. Vasco-de-Gama placed it on the world map. Evening enjoy Katthakali cultural dance performance at nearby theatre(Optinol).
Overnight stay at the Hotel

Day 12: Cochin Departure
Morning after your breakfast have a city tour of Cochin visiting Jewish synagogue, Portuguese Churches, Chinese fishing nets etc. Later assistance on departure and transfer to Cochin airport to board flight to back home.