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Grand Tour of South India
Destinations Covered: Chennai -
Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Periyar -
Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore - Hassan - Hospet
(Hampi) - Badami - Goa - Mumbai
Duration - 23 Nights / 24 days
Day 1: Arrive Chennai
Meeting and assistance on arrival at airport and transfer to hotel.
Chennai: At the southern tip of India in the state of Tamil Nadu,
Chennai - or Madras as it was known earlier - is its capital city of
the state of Tamil Nadu. It is also the third largest metropolis in
India. Chennai as the gateway will put you in touch with a different
face of India - classical, ancient, and gentle. Definitely touched
by colonialism but not ravaged by wars & intensely aware of its
roots & traditions.
Day 2: Chennai - Mahabalipuram (60 Kms, 01-02 Hrs Drive)
After breakfast, half day city tour of Chennai visiting Museum to
see the art and bronze gallery (Closed on public holidays). Drive
through the Flower & Fruit Market, High Court, Fort Museum, Marina
Beach, San Thome cathedral.
Afternoon, leave for Mahabalipuram en route visit Kanchipuram - (64
km from Madras) 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 in at your hotel.
Day 3: Mahabalipuram
After 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. Visit a very
interesting creation en route Dakshin Chitra, a museum that
preserves actual houses of different communities & village craftsmen
from the four southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka & Kerala.
Afternoon, free to relax on the beach.
Day 4: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (134 Kms, 03 Hrs Drive)
After 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 5: Pondicherry - Tanjore (183 Kms, 04-05 Hrs Drive)
After breakfast, leave for Tanjore. On arrival check in at hotel.
Afternoon, visit Tanjore (Thanjavur) which 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
constructed in 1550 and has huge corridors, spacious halls,
observation and arsenal towers.
Day 6: Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai (184 Kms, 04-05 Hrs Drive)
After breakfast, leave for Madurai en route visit Trichy. 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 astounding 73 meters.
Continue drive to Madurai. Arrive Madurai and check in at hotel.
Day 7: Madurai - Periyar (150 Kms, 03-04 Hrs Drive)
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 which
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.
Afternoon, leave for Periyar. Periyar has one of the world's most
fascinating Natural wildlife reserves noted for its geography,
diverse wildlife and scenic beauty.
Arrive at Periyar and check in at hotel.
Day 8: Periyar
After breakfast, leave for Jungle Walk The forest provides specially
trained guides who can be hired at the hotel for early morning treks
into the jungle. The treks are of duration of 03-04 hrs. These treks
are an ideal way to really feel the forest and to experience it
closely.
Afternoon, boat ride on the Lake Periyar where one can have a unique
experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of
a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar, however are
the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.
Day 9: Periyar - Kumarakom (140 Kms, 03-04 Hrs Drive) -
Overnight
Backwater Trip Till Alleppey
After breakfast, leave for Kumarakom in time to board houseboat for
overnight backwater trip till Alleppey.
On arrival in Kumarakom, commence an overnight houseboat cruise to
Alleppey, which gives one a fascinating insight into the life of a
Keralan Backwater Village. As the boat glides along the backwaters
one can see the daily life in the backwater villages. On the narrow
strips of land, fisherman fishing, children swimming and playing in
the water, women doing their daily chores, mobile shops in tiny
canoes, the cultivation of paddy and it's harvesting (during harvest
season), huge country barges ferrying the coconuts, rice, coir etc.
Note : The cruise commences at 1300 hrs with lunch served onboard
and continues till dusk. At dusk the boat will anchor in a wide
waterway or lake for the night. (The backwaters close to boat
traffic at dusk as the fisherman lay their nets in the backwaters.
Other boats are not allowed to ply in the backwaters after dusk.) On
the following day the cruise commences again after breakfast and you
will be dropped at Alleppey by 1000 hrs.
Day 10: Alleppey - Kochi (56 Kms, 01 Hr Drive)
Checkout from the houseboat and proceed to Kochi. Arrive Kochi and
check in at prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, half day sightseeing of Cochin including Asia's best
preserved Synagogue, the Dutch Palace and the oldest European Church
in India - the St. Francis Church where Vasco De Gama was originally
buried. A leisurely walk through the Fort Cochin area which gives
you a close look at the operation of the huge catileavered Chinese
fishing nets introduced by Chinese traders which is still used in
Kerala backwaters as a traditional way of fishing.
In the evening, witness Kathakali Dance Show
Day 11: Kochi - Bangalore (BY Flight, IT 2452, 0750-0910 Hrs)
Early morning, transfer to the airport to board flight for
Bangalore. Arrive Bangalore and transfer to prebooked hotel.
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.
Day 12: Bangalore - Mysore (130 Kms, 02-03 Hrs Drive)
After breakfast, leave for Mysore en route visit Srirangapatnam.
Arrive Mysore and check in at hotel.
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 - Hassan (161 Kms, 04 Hrs Drive)
After breakfast, leave for Hassan en route visit Sravanabelagola,
one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centers in
India, and the site of the 17m high statue of Gomateshvara, said to
the world's tallest monolithic statue - an important Jain religious
centre - a colossal Gomateshvara statue.
Continue drive to Hassan. Arrive Hassan and check in at hotel.
Day 14: Hassan
After breakfast, excursion to Hoysala Temples of Halebid & Belur.
Visit the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid which is the most
outstanding example if Hoysala art. At Belur, visit the
Channekeshava temple is the only one at the three Hoysala sites
still in daily use.
Day 15: Hassan - Hospet (362 Kms, 07-08 Hrs Drive)
After breakfast, leave for Hospet. Arrive Hospet and check in at
hotel.
Day 16: Hospet
After breakfast, excursion to Hampi: the once beautiful capital city
of Vijaynagar Empire was greater than Rome and had palaces; temple
and sculptures spread all over. The Sultanates of South razed the
city to the ground in the year 1565 AD. 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.
Day 17: Hospet - Badami (195 Kms, 05-06 Hrs Drive)
After breakfast, leave for Badami en route 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.
En route 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: Badami
After 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
connected by flights of steps. They display the full range of
religious sects which have grown up on Indian soil. Two of them are
dedicated to Vishnu, one to Siva and the fourth is a Jain temple.
There's also one natural cave which is a Buddhist temple.
Afternoon free for independent activities.
Day 19: Badami - Goa (345 Kms, 06-07 Hrs Drive)
After breakfast, leave for Goa. Arrive Goa and check in at hotel.
Day 20: Goa
Day free for independent activities.
Day 21: Goa
Day free for independent activities.
Day 22: Goa - Mumbai (By Flight, SG 264, 1725-1825 Hrs)
After breakfast, morning free. In the afternoon, transfer to the
airport to board flight for Mumbai. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Day 23: Mumbai
After breakfast, excursion to Elephanta caves. Afternoon, half day
city tour of Mumbai.
Day 24: Depart Mumbai
In time transfer to international airport to connect flight for
onward destination.
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