08 Nights/09 Days

Day 01: Arrive Chennai by flight

Meet and garland upon arrival in Chennai. Transfer to Hotel. The gateway to the south and the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, Madras or Chennai is a vibrant metropolis and a combination of old world charm and modern day efficiency. After lunch city tour of Chennai visiting Fort St. George, the seat of the state government and the legislative assembly. The fort was built in 1652 by the British East India Company. The fort contains the fort museum with its collection of memorabilia of the East India co, also visit Government Museum and San Thomas Cathederal.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02 Chennai-Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram

Morning after breakfast, depart for Kanchipuram (Approx 1 hr drive), Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.

After lunch drive to Mahabalipuram. Upon arrival visit the magnificent rock temples and carvings in Mahabalipuram. Five Rathas (chariots), ceremonial chariots, rock-cut monoliths, named after the 5 Pandavas. The Shore Temple by the sea surrounded by gardens designed according to descriptions of the original layout from ancient times. Bhagiratha’s Penance is a bas- relief (27 to 9m) sculptured on the face of two enormous adjacent rocks, depicts, the penance of Arjuna, myraid characters from the Mahabharata, realistic life-size figures of animals , gods and saints watching the descent of the river goddess Ganga to earth.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03 Mahabalipuram – Puducherry (95 Kms/02 Hrs)

Morning after breakfast, depart for Puducherry and transfer to Hotel. Puducherry was a French settlement that comprised Pondy, Yanam, Karaikal, and Mahe. There is a strong influence of French culture on Puducherry town, especially on its architecture, a result of the centuries-old relations this place maintained with France. Later visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram - The ashram was founded in 1920 when Sri Aurobindo reached Pondicherry, a French colony and put in place his ideas of peaceful community. Pondicherry Museum Situated in the Government Park - Museum has a very good sculpture gallery and a section of archaeological finds from the Roman settlement at Arikamedu. There is also a superb collection of the snail shells from the Pondicherry Region. Later visit Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - built in the Gothic style, this massive church is one of the most beautiful churches in Puducherry.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04: Puducherry – Chidambram – Tanjore - Trichy

Morning after breakfast, depart for Trichy en route visit Chidambaram and Tanjavur (Tanjore).

Thanjavur - was the ancient capital of the Chola kings whose origins, go back to the beginning of the Christian era. Probably the greatest chola emperors were Raja Raja who was responsible for building the Brihadishwara Temple. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Tanjore - was the capital of the Chola Empire from the tenth to the fourteenth centuries. A Chola king, Raja Raja Chola, who held the throne from 985 to 1016, built the greatest of the empire's 74 temples, the Brahadeeswarar, with its soaring tower over the inner sanctum. This tower rises more than 62 meters (200 feet). On its dome rests a single block of granite weighing 80 tons. After sightseeing of Thanjavur, continue to drive towards Trichy. Tiruchirapalli, called Tiruchi or Trichy in Short, was built by the Nayak rulers of Madurai around a rock fort. Tiruchi is on the banks of the Kaveri river and is famous for the Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam, 10 km away.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05: Trichy-Madurai (158 Kms/ 04 Hrs)

After breakfast, you will go for sightseeing of Trichy. Visit the 'Rock Fort Temple’ which rises abruptly to a height of 273 ft. A steep staircase cut into the rock leads upto the Fort. At the first level are the remnants of a huge hall blasted into ruins in 1772. After sightseeing leave for Madurai - situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai is more than 2,500 years old and has a rich cultural heritage and history. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. Madurai was the capital city for the great Pandya kings. Later visit Tirrumalai Nayak Palace and Thirumohur (1O km). This place has its legendary origin in the distant past when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the ocean to get Amritham (nectar).

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06: Madurai – Cochin (284 Kms/06 Hrs)

Morning after breakfast, drive to Cochin. Arrive Cochin and check – in at hotel.

After lunch visit Visit Dutch Palace - The Dutch palace at Mattanc herry was actually built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin Raja in AD 1555. Later visit Jewish Synagogue - at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town lies the synagogue of the white Jews near Mattancherry palace. The synagogue is now a fascinating mixture of shops, warehouses and spice auction rooms. ST. Francis Church - The oldest European church in India, St. Francis Church was built in the early 16th century. Also visit Chinese fishing nets - a very popular tourist attraction. Evening enjoy Kathakali Dance show.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07: Cochin/Alleppey (62 Kms/1.5 Hrs)

Morning after breakfast, drive to Alleppey. Transfer to boat jetty to board houseboat. The backwater cruise through the narrow canals that criss-cross a typical Kerala Village, rich with green paddy fields and verdant coconut trees and is a thrilling experience. The boat cruise takes you to small islets tucked away amidst those waters where you get glimpses of village at the best of its serenity and innocence. Watch village belles picking mussels, while their men folk collect sand from the bottom of the canal. Watch the village folk make the golden fiber called coir from coconut husk and transform it into various coir products. Rustling coconut groves abound. So stop over to drink calm fresh coconut water and watch the toddy-tapper tap at work. Watch birds like kingfishers; crow pheasants, cormorants, drongos, woodpecker, Bee-eater, kite etc. Parrot green paddy fields sway like a chorus. Lunch and dinner will be served on board.

Overnight onboard houseboat.

Day 08: Alleppey – Thiruvananthapuram (130 Kms/03 Hrs)

Morning de-board houseboat and drive to Thiruvananthapuram. Arrive and check- in at hotel. Later visit Padmanabhaswami Temple - A shrine sacred to the Vaishnavites. The main attractions of the temple are its 400 beautifully carved pillars of granite and a 100-feet-high gopuram. The Observatory and Museum - The Museum at Trivandrum may be regarded as a rich repository of our ancient culture and heritage. Tourists make a great rush to see the ancient temple models and jewellery kept here.

Later visit Sri Chitra Art Gallery - which displays the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, the Indian painter whose paintwork attracted the attention of world community towards India. The Indian section of the gallery also displays the paintings of Rabindranath Tagore, K. K. Hebar, Jamimi Roy and a few others.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08: Thiruvananthapuram – Mumbai By Flight

Morning after breakfast, transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai.

After lunch explore the city starting with Victoria terminus, Prince of Wales museum crowned by a sparkling white dome. It boasts a good collection of ancient Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 BC, plus some priceless Tibetan and Nepali Art. Evening visit Marine drive and enjoy on Juhu beach.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 09: Mumbai/Depart

Morning after breakfast, visiting Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves - The island was the capital of powerful coastal kingdom and the excavation of the caves from the 6th century hints at the glory of the kingdom. Centuries later, when the Portuguese took possession of the island, they named it after a monolith of an elephant, which they had found there. After lunch visit Dhobi Ghat. Evening free for shopping. Later transfer to international airport to board flight for onward destination.