South India,South India Tour Packages,Tours in South India,South India Travel,Travelling in South India,South India Tour Travel,Travel Trip to South India

Kerala with South India Tours
Places to visit - Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondichrry - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Periyar - Kumarakom - Cochin - Alleppey - Trvaindrum - Kovalam - Trivandruam
Duration - 14 Nights / 15 Days
Madras Beach

Day 01 - Arrive Chennai
Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel Check-in time is 12:00 Noon

Day 02 - Chennai - Mahabalipuram
Morning sightseeing tour.
Chennai, the capital city, popularly regarded as the ‘Gateway to the South’ represents a culture that is distinctly different from that of northern India. Visit Fort St. George built in 1653 during British reign in India, - now houses the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu; St. Mary’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church in India with its premises; Sri Parthasarathy Temple built by Pallavas in the 8th century AD; Kapaliswara Temple, Mylapore also an eighth century Pallava Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva; San Thomas Cathedral Basilica rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral and in 1896 it was made a basilica; and Theosophical Society - the world headquarters of the Theosophical Society formed to encourage the study of comparative religion philosophy and science.
Afternoon transfer to Mahabalipuram, 65 km south on coast.

Day 03 - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram, 150 km
A Full day visit of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram Kanchipuram, 70 kms west of Mahabalipuram, this city of thousand temples lies. One of the seven sacred cities of Hindus, it was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC. Kanchi was a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Apart from temples, the city is also famous for its silk weavers, settled here some 400 years ago and have given it an enviable reputation.
Mahabalipuram, the ancient port of Pallavas. The Pallavas have created many marvelous monuments with sculptural panels, caves, Monolithic Rathas and Temples. Krishna Mandapam, has a big bas relief, notable for its realistic representation. The world’s largest bas relief measuring 27m x 9m, whale back shaped rock contains figures of gods, demi-gods, men .beasts, birds and representation of the entire creation. Shore Temple, one of the oldest in south dating back to 8th century AD is a good example of the first phase of structural temples constructed in Dravidian style. The Five Rathas, a group of five monolithic temples, each created in different style.

Pondicherry Temple

Day 04 - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry, 155 km
Drive to Pondicherry and on arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour PONDICHERRY – Although the French influence is gradually fading, Pondicherry retains a few Gallic accents. Pondicherry’s main sights are the Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church and the Drive to Pondicherry and on arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour PONDICHERRY – Although the French influence is gradually fading, Pondicherry retains a few Gallic accents. Pondicherry’s main sights are the Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram retreat was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual authority passed to one of his disciples, a French woman known as the Mother. The Mother was also instrumental in founding the city of Dawn Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry. Its original charter aimed at creating a city of the future where people from India and abroad could live and work together in a spiritual environment.
The ashram retreat was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual authority passed to one of his disciples, a French woman known as the Mother. The Mother was also instrumental in founding the city of Dawn Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry. Its original charter aimed at creating a city of the future where people from India and abroad could live and work together in a spiritual environment.

Day 05 - Pondicherry - Tanjore, 175 km
Drive to Tanjore visiting en-route famous Nataraja Temple at Chidambram dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Arrive Tanjore and check-in at the hotel Afternoon sightseeing tour of Tanjore. Tanjore - The home of Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance and traditional handicrafts, Tanjore (Thanjavur) is famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect’s marvel. The Art Gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal Library are also well known places of interest.

Day 06 - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai, 201 km
Drive to Trichy, 56 km and on arrival, visit Srirangam.
5 kms from Trichy, located in an island is Srirangam. Surrounded by the Kaveri water is a 600 acre island town Madurai Temple

enclosed within the seven walls on the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple. There are no less than 22 gopurams, one of which is the tallest in India. The 72 m high 13 tiered gopuram dominates the landscape for miles around.
Afterwards visit Rock Fort Temple. The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the Kaveri river, Trichy’s most famed land mark is an 84 m high rock, one of the oldest in the world aprox.3,800 million years. The attraction is not for fort itself but the temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where are the inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C.
Later drive to Madurai and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 07 - Madurai
Morning sightseeing tour of Madurai Madurai, known as Athens of the East, it is the second largest city on the banks of the River Vigai. The city believed to be more than 2500 years old. The city got its name from the drops of nectar (Mathuram) that fell from Shiva’s locs when he came to bless its people for constructing a temple for him. Madurai where the people wake up at the chant of hymns is proud of magnificent ‘The Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple. Of its 12 gopurams, four of the tallest stand at the outer walls of the temple. The 48.8 m high southern gopuram is the most spectacular and have over 1500 sculptures. In the Ashta Shakti Mandapam inside the Meenakshi temple, the sculputed pillars tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 08 - Madurai - Periyar, 180 km
Morning drive to Periyar and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Periyar, spread over an area of 777 sq km, this sanctuary has about 35 tigers and leopards. However, sighting a tiger in Periyar is a fortune for one out of thousand. The park encompasses a 26 sq km artificial lake and is the home of sambars, wild boars, elephants and antelopes which can be occasionally seen on the banks of the river during a boat cruise. Periyar, otherwise, blessed by Nature has enormous tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations and is lush green. .
Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Periyar to view wildlife. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09 - Periyar - Kumarakom, 176 km (via Kottayam)
Elephants Periyar

Drive to Kumarakom via Kottayam. Kottayam, 64 kms from Cochin, it is another commercial centre of Kerala. Dotted with churches and covered with rubber plantations, Kottayam is just 16 km away from Kumarakom and Vembanand Lake. To the city’s west are delightful backwaters and to its east is the most fertile and scenic part of the Western Ghats having rubber, tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations.
On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Kumarakom is a beautiful backwater village on the shores of the enchanting Vembanad Lake. Coconut Lagoon is set on an abandoned coconut plantation in the heart of idyllic backwaters. Rest of the day free.

Day 10 - Kumarakom - Cochin drive, 176 km
Drive to Cochin and on arrival, check-in at the hotel Aternoon sightseeing tour of Cochin. Cochin, Kerala’s commercial centre, it has a fine natural harbour. Cochin(Kochi) gateway for Kerala is famous for Mattanchery Palace, St. Francis Church, Wellington Island, Bolghatty Island, Chinese Fishing nets and Jewish Synagogue. Cruising on the back-waters provides glimpses of the rural life, fine view of the harbour and three islands.

Kerala Kumarkaon

Day 11 - Cochin - Alleppey - Houseboat
Transfer to Alleppey Jetty and board “Kettuvalom” Kerala Houseboat for backwater cruise.
A leisure Cruise through the southerly direction to Pallathuruthy river, Pukaitha river, Pullangady till Champakulam and visit The Champakulam church, which is more than 200 years old, the Kottaram temple and the famous snake boat – the Champakulam Chundan. This is an unique opportunity to leisurely explore the beauty and tranquility of the Kerala backwaters on a private Rice Barge (House Boat or Kettuvallam) which has been converted into a comfortable but simple house boat whilst retaining the local style. Witness local life with children swimming and playing in the water, women attending to their daily chores and men fishing from their canoes. En-route, can stop at Nedumudy to visit the local market. Proceed to Munnattumugham village -Overnight stay at Rice Barge

Day 12 - Alleppey - Trvaindrum - Kovalam, 170 km
Cruise starts after breakfast and passes through Chennamkery, Kainary, Pallathuruthy and Kuppapuram- all small backwater villages, to reach and Disemabrk at Alleppey Finishing point jetty and transfer by car to Kovalam Beach. Overnight at the hotel

Kerala Boats

Day 13 - Kovalam
Day at leisure – Optional trip to Kanya Kumari The southernmost end of Tamil Nadu, the land’s end of India or the point where the three seas meet – the Bay of Bengal, The Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Visit the Kumariamman temple dedicated to the virgin goddess Kanyakumari(Parvati) who stands guard over the country. Gandhi Memorial, constructed at the spot where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were kept for public view in an urn before a portion was immersed into the three seas. Vivekanand Memorial built on the Vivekananda Rock where the great Philospher guide Swami Vivekananda went into meditation that transformed him into one of the most charismatic spiritual leader of this century. After a spectacular sun-set view, return to Kovalam for overnight stay.

Day 14 - Kovalam
Day at leisure.

Day 15 - Kovalam - Trivandrum - Dep
Transfer to the airport for flight to onward destination

Arts, Culture & History Tours in India

Kerala Tours