Day 01 - Arrival Chennai By Flight

Arrival at International airport at Chennai

Chennai: is hailed to be the liveliest city in entire South India. The city has its own unique charm, which sets it aside from the rest of the big cities. The vibrancy of rich culture and traditions exuded by the city and its residents is simply moving. It is one such city in Tamil Nadu, which has been blessed with an extreme treasure of tourist attractions. The sightseeing tour around the ancient city of Madras, will completely sweep you off your feet. Besides, there is such wide diversity that you will be amazed at its existence. The tour includes beautifully carved temples, serene beaches, colonial monuments and much more. So, come and explore the magnificent city of Chennai, rightly called the 'Gateway to South India'.

Meet, Greet & Welcome at the international airport by our local representative & transfer to hotel

Overnight stay at the hotel

Day 02 - Chennai - Mahabalipuram

Breakfast at hotel.

Start your tour around 1100 Hrs, with Chennai city sightseeing including Marina Beach, Fort St. George & San Thomas Basilica

Marina Beach: its the second longest beach in the world with a stretch of 4.5 kms (2.5 miles). This strech is filled with statues of remembrance from our Tamil culture to our great leaders. A walk along the Marina in the evening creates elated feelings. The old buildings on side of Kamarajar Salai, a main road along the Marina, would remind you of the good old British days. People from all over the city gather here in the evenings to cool off and eat crispy "sundal and murukku.

Stop at Fort St. George

San Thomas Basilica: at the south end of Marina Beach was named after Saint Thomas "doubting apostle of Jesus Christ". It is belived he has come to Madras in 52 AD and kill at St. Thomas Mount just outside the city in 78 AD. Built in 16th Century by the Portuguese, in 1896 it was made a basilica. The beautiful stained glass window at the basilica portrays the story of St Thomas and the central hall has 14 wooden plaques depicting scenes from the last days of Christ.. In the cathedral is a 3ft. high statue of Virgin Mary which is believed to have been brought from Portugal in 1543.

Afternoon drive to Mahabalipuram Via Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram : (75 Kms from Chennai) is one of the seven holy cities in the country, and a visit is believed to bestow salvation. Ancient Kanchipuram is the city of thousand temples and is one of the seven most sacred pilgrim centres for the Hindus. Today, there are more than a hundred extant, and all are worth a visit. Kanchipuram also has some notable churches and mosques. This city is also known as Kanchi. The city was the capital of the early Cholas and it was the Pallava capital between the 6th and 8th centuries.

Kanchipuram is a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Saivite Hindus. Apart from its temples, this small town is also known for its thriving handloom industry. The weavers of Kanchi have settled in the temple town more than 400 years ago and have given it an enviable reputation as the producers of the best silk and cotton sarees in the country. Woven from pure mulberry silk, these sarees woven in dazzling colours are embellished with fine gold thread (zari) and are available in every imaginable design and variety. This makes the choice of selection quite challenging for the buyer.

Visit Varadaraja Temple ( Vishnu ) & Kailashnath Temple ( Shiva ) and time for Silk Gallery

Continue to Mahabalipuram

On arrival Check-in at Hotel

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 03 - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry Surface: 130 Km / 04 Hrs

Breakfast at hotel

Check-out from hotel around 0730 Hrs & drive to Pondicherry

En-route visit Mahabalipuram including visit of the Shore Temple, Pach Rathas and Cave Temples

Mahabalipuram: An Ancient Coastal Port South of Madras, here you will see many sculptures and temples of typical South India architectural design; the Five Radhas – a group of Monolithic Monuments and Animal Figures carved out of Solid Rock; the Shore Temple, Lashed by the Waves of the Sea; and the huge Frescoe; “The Penance of Bhagirath”.

Further drive to Pondicherry

Pondicherry – a quaint enclave in Tamil Nadu Upholds the French tradition to this day. The town which rose phoenix – like, after the British literally razed it to the ground in the 18th century, is home to the much acclaimed Aurobindo Ashram and is noted for its lovely French architecture and cuisine.

On arrival check-in at hotel

Afternoon sightseeing of Pondcherry

Visit the Ashram, which was, founded by Sri Aurobindo a onetime Bengal evolutionary who later took to the spiritual path. Auroville, the city of Dawn was started in Feb. 1968 as a unique experiment in international living, where people live and work in total harmony.

Followed by French colonies visit with Rickshaw Ride at Sea Shore Area.

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 4 - Pondicherry – Tanjore -Trichy Surface: 285 Km / 07 Hrs

Breakfast at the hotel

Check-out from hotel around 0730 Hrs & drive by surface to Tanjore

Enroute visit Chidambaram, Nataraja Temple

Thanjore : Rose to glory during the later Chola period between the 9th and 14th centuries A.D. It also flourished later during the rule of the Nayaks and Mahrattas. The headquarters of this district has the same name as the district. It has been the treasure house of art for centuries. It is called the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is well-known throughout the world for being the home of the Brahadeeswara temple, the magnificent palace, Rajah Serfoji's Saraswathi Mahal Library, Art Gallery and also for its exquisite handicrafts like the Art Plate, pithwork, bronze icons, Thanjavur paintings and the classical South Indian musical instruments.

Afternoon arrival and City sightseeing of Tanjore

Tanjore is famous for the classic Dravidian style temple of Brihadishwara (Shiva in his fearsome aspect), also noted for its art and crafts; pottery, silk, jewellery, beaten copper, bronzes & silver statuettes.

Late afternoon drive to Trichy (55 Km / 01 Hrs)

Trichy : Situated on the banks of river Kaveri, Tiruchirappalli, the fourth largest city in the state was a citadel of the Early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. But the Pallavas never really managed to retain control of this strategic city and lost it to the Pandyas several times. This tug of war finally ended when the Cholas reasserted themselves in the 10th century. Trichy continued to be in their possession until the decline of the empire after which it became a Vijayanagara stronghold.

On arrival check-in at hotel

Overnight stay in Trichy

Day 5 - Trichy

Breakfast at hotel

Morning visit SRIRANGAM temple.

The temple occupies an area of 156 acres (6,31,000 m?2;) with a perimeter of 1,116m (10,710 feet) making it the largest temple in India and one of the largest religious complexes in the world. In fact, Srirangam temple can be easily termed as the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world being the largest non-functioning temple). The temple is enclosed by 7 concentric walls with a total length of 32,592 feet or over six miles. These walls are enclosed by 21 Gopurams (Towers). Among the marvels of the temple is a "hall of 1000 pillars" (actually 953).

Afternoon visit Rock Fort

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 6 - Trichy -Madurai Surface: 170 Km / 04 Hrs

Breakfast at hotel

Departure Trichy 0800 Hrs

Arrive Madurai 1200 Hrs

Madurai’s history can be divided into roughly four periods, beginning over 2000 years ago when it was the capital of the Pandyan kings. Then, in the 4th century BC the city was known to the Greeks via Megasthenes, their ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya. In the 10th century AD, the Chola emperors took Madurai. It remained in their hands until the Pandyas briefly regained their independence in the 12th century, who established his own dynasty, which in turn, was overthrown by the Hindu Vijayanagar kings of Hampi. After the fall of Vijayanagar in 1565, the Nayaks ruled Madurai till 1781 AD, it was in this period when the bulk of Meenakshi temple was built. Madurai later passed into the hands of the British East India Company, which took over the revenues of the area after the earsof the Carnatic in 1781.

On arrival check-in at hotel

Afternoon sightseeing of Madurai including Meenakshi Temple & Thirumalai Nayak Mahal

Meenakshi Temple – built in the 17th century the iconography makes much use of the lotus, which in Indian symbolism is a representation of the female sex and at the same time an emblem of bliss and of the abode of the gods; palace of Nayak Tirumalai – depicting influence of mughal art on traditional hindu art – the beginning of the indo-saracenic or indo mauresque style.

Thirumalai Nayak Mahal About 1.5kms from the Meenakshi temple is this palace that was built in 1636 by the ruler whose named it bears. The imposing edifice is famous for the stuccowork on its domes and impressive arches. The Sorga Vilasam or the Celestial Pavilion, measuring 75mx52m, is constructed entirely of brick and mortar without the support of a single rafter or girder. It is a marvel of Indo Saracenic architectural style. Among the other striking features of the palace are the massive white pillars, several of which line the corridor that runs along the courtyard. Connected by well-decorated arches, these pillars measure 20m in height and have a circumference of 4m.

Elsewhere, there are polished black stone pillars of varying heights. It was King Thirumalai Nayak's grandson who demolished much of the fine structure and removed most of the jewels and woodcarvings in order to build his own palace in Thiruchirapalli. That his dream never came true is another story. Thanks to Lord Napier, the then Governor of Madras, who partially restored the palace in 1866-72, and the subsequent restoration works carried out several years ago, today, we get to see the Entrance Gate, the Main Hall and the Dance Hall. These are worth seeing too.

In the evening witness the closing ceremony at the Meenakshi temple

Dinner & Overnight stay at hotel

Day 7 - Madurai - Periyar Surface : 160 Km / 04 Hrs

Breakfast at hotel

Departure Madurai 0800 Hrs

Arrive Periyar 1200 Hrs

Periyar: Spread 300 Sq. mile Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary is one of the best in India, There is probably no sanctuary in the world where elephant behavior can be watched in such absolute comfort and safety. Apart from elephants, wild pig, sambar, barking deer and mouse dear are commonly seen.

Arrival & check-in at hotel.

Afternoon visit spice plantation & Jungle walk through Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary

Later stop for free walk in the bazaar / city

Overnight at the hotel

Day 08 - Periyar – Alleppey House Boat By Surface: 160 Km / 04 Hrs

Breakfast at hotel

Check-out & drive to Alleppey to board the Houseboat.

Leave Periyar 0800 Hrs.

Arrive Housboat 1200 Hrs.

On arrival check-in at House-boat OR Rice Boat

Hot Lunch on houseboat.

RICE/HOUSE BOAT- Long ago there were wooden barges in the backwater area to convey Rice Coir and Coconut from one village to another.

The rice boat takes you through the Back Waters where you can walk through the water logged villages and experience the breath taking beauty of Alappuzha, which has also earned the title of “Venice of the East”.

Overnight at the Houseboat

Day 09 - Alleppey - Kumarakom By Surface : 40 Km

Breakfast at houseboat

Late in the morning disembark from House-boat at Kumarakom

Kumarakom: The charming emerald peninsula jutting into the ever-effervescent Vembanad Lake takes you into the heart of the scenic lake where you'll come across plenty of traditional country crafts, boats and canoes. The fresh water of the lake runs into the mainland making a labyrinth of lagoons, brooks, canals and waterways. The backwater houses a variety of species of both fauna and flora. They are rich with marine life namely the exclusive 'Kumarakom Karimeen' (pearl spotted fish), Konju (tiger prawns), Njandu (crabs), Chemeen (prawns) and many more

On arrival check-in at hotel on Backwaters to enjoy relaxing atmosphere

Afternoon free

Overnight stay at hotel

Day 10 - Kumarakom - Cochin by Surface : 80 Km / 02 Hrs

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning free to explore nature

Afternoon drive by surface to Cochin

Check-out from Hotel 1300 Hrs

Arrive Cochin 1500 Hrs

Kochi (Cochin): With its wealth of historical associations and its beautiful setting on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas, the interesting city of Kochi reflects the eclecticism of Kerala perfectly. Here, you can see the oldest churches in India, winding streets crammed with 500 years-old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora, 1 16th century synagogue, a palace built by the Portuguese, (later renovated by the Dutch).

On arrival check-in at hotel

Evening witness Kathakali dance Show

Kathakali classical dance of Kerala owes its transnational fame to the nearly 300-year-old. Kathakali literally means story-play and is an elaborate dance depicting the victory of truth over falsehood. Themes revolve around the two great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
A Striking feature of Kathakali is the use of elaborate make-up and colorful costumes. This is to emphasize that the characters are super beings from another world. The spectators can feel his invisible presence when the heroine or her maid details dreams and ambitions through circular movements, delicate footsteps and subtle expressions. Through slow and medium tempos, the dancer is able to find adequate space for improvisations and suggestive bhavas or emotions. 
Costume is designed with lots of paint applied on the face of the artist. The pomp and magnificence of Kathakali is partly due to its decor, part of which include the 'Kireetam' or huge head gear, the 'Kanchukam' or the over sized jacket, and the long skirt worn over a thick padding of cushions.

Overnight at the hotel

Day 11 - In Cochin

Breakfast at hotel

Morning visit of Cochin City including Dutch Palace, Jew Town and Jewish Synagogue

Also enjoy a walk around Ernakumlam, the new and modern part of Cochin

Afternoon visit older parts of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry are an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast. Kochi is also one of India’s largest ports.

Visit of Chinese fishing nets & St. Francis Church. Also visit Bolgatty Island to admire the Bolgatty Palace and Vypin, the fishing village

Dinner at hotel

(All rooms will be given till departure)

Day 12 - Cochin – Onward Destination Flight :

Check-out from hotel & transfer to Cochin Airport to board your return flight