Duration of Tour : 18 Nights / 19 Days
Destinations Covered : Chennai (Madras)- Mahabalipuram/Kanchipuram - Trichy - Madurai - Periyar - Kumarakom - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore -Hassan - Hospet - Badami - Goa
Day 1 : Chennai.
On arrival you will be met by our Tour Executive and driver and be transferred to your Hotel in Chennai/Madras.
Day 2 : Chennai
Chennai Sightseeing tour in the morning. Visit Museum, Art Gallery, St. George Fort etc. Overnight stay at Chennai (Madras).
Day 3 : Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram
Full day tour of Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram. Kanchipuram (70 kms from Chennai (Madras) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas, famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. Temples of Ekambareswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadaraja Swamy are of tourist interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the 7th Century monolithic temples and also the ancient rock hewn temples depicting the Dravidian style of Architecture. Stay overnight at Mahabalipuram at a beach resort.
Day 4 : Trichy
Morning drive 300kms/6hrs to Trichy/Tiruchirapalli and transfer to hotel. Afternoon city tour. Trichy/Tiruchirapalli was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century, it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and the English. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top. From here you will get a good view of SriRangam Temple and the Cauvery River. Overnight stay at Trichy.
Day 5 : Trichy - Tanjore
Drive to Madurai (250Kms) visiting Tanjore enroute. At Tanjore, a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons caps the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeshwara. Tanjore is also famous for its bronzes and handicrafts. Overnight stay at Madurai.
Day 06 : Madurai
Morning visit to the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering Gopurams. Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stuccowork on its domes and arches. There is also an extensive museum dedicated to the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi. Afternoon is free for your independent activities. Overnight stay at Madurai.
Day 07 : Madurai - Periyar
Morning drive to Periyar(150Kms/4hrs). The earliest sanctuary to be set up in 1934, it extends to 777 square kms and forms part of the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghats. Wild life can be seen while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motorboat. The animals easily seen on the way are elephants, wild boar, sambhar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, languor monkeys, etc. Overnight stay at Periyar.
Day 08 : Periyar - Kumarakom
Morning drive to Kumarakom (125Kms). On arrival transfer to Backwater resort. The noon is free to visit the nearby Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Overnight stay at Kumarakom.
Day 09 : Kumarakom
In the morning relax in the houseboat. Your Houseboat will pick you up at the resort jetty at noon. The rest of the day you will cruise slowly through the palm fringed backwaters. Your crew will pamper your taste buds with excellent Keralan food and show you various places of interest along the way. Overnight on board your Houseboat.
Day 10 : Alleppey - Cochin
After breakfast, disembark your Houseboat at Alleppey and drive 65kms/1.5hrs to Cochin. On arrival at Cochin check into your hotel. Afternoon tour of Cochin. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks. Vasco-de-Gama placed it on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, mosques & Hindu temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Evening watch a performance of Kathakali Dance. Overnight stay at Cochin.
Day 11 : Cochin - Bangalore
Morning transfer to Cochin airport to take the morning flight to Bangalore. Arrive at Bangalore and drive to Mysore (150Kms). Enroute visit Srirangapatanam, a wooden palace where Tipu Sultan hosted his afternoon tea parties. Overnight stay at Mysore.
Day 12 : Mysore
Morning tour of Mysore. Visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 with a harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and saracenic styles of architecture. Drive up to Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Afternoon free for exploring the colourful vegetable and flower market and bazaars. Overnight stay at Mysore.
Day 13 : Mysore - Hassan
Morning Drive to Hassan (140Kms)and full day tour of Belur and Halebid. The Chennakesava temple of Belur built 900 years ago is an exquisite example of Hoysala art. Halebid's 12th century Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples are master pieces of Hindu art. On the way also visit Sravanbelagola housing the statue of Lord Gomteshwara, making it one of the most important Jain pilgrimage in India. Overnight stay at Hassan.
Day 14 : Hassan - Hospet
Morning drive to Hospet (325Kms). Visit Hampi, once the beautiful capital city of Vijayanagar Empire erected in 1565. Some of the interesting ruins that have survived the ravages of time are the Virupaksha, Vittala and Hazara Rama temples huge Ganesha and Narasimha images, the elephant stables, the Queen's Bath, carvings on the Ramachandra temple and Lotus Mahal. Overnight stay at Hospet
Day 15 : Hospet - Badami
Morning drive to Badami(200Kms) stopping at Aihole and Pattadakal enroute. Aihole is the cradle of stone temple architecture of the southern Dravidian School. The oldest temple, Lad Khan goes back to the 5th century A.D. There are 70 temples in this group. The Durga temple is noted for its sculptures.The Meguti temple is built of 630 small stone blocks. The Ravanaphadi Cave has some beautiful carvings. Pattadakal, referred to as Petrigal, reached its pinnacle of glory under the Chalukya kings from 7th to 9th centuries. The oldest in this group is the Sanghameswara Temple. The Mallikarjuna Temple has pillars depicting life of Krishna. Virupaksha temple has sculptures and panel scenes from the epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Papanatha Temple has impressive carvings on pillars and ceiling. Overnight stay at Badami.
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Day 16 : Badami
Morning tour of Badami. Badami also known as Vatapi is rich with Hindu and Jain temples carved out of sand stone hills that date back to the 6th century. Of these, three are Hindu temples and one is Jain temple. Sculptured out of solid rock they are adorned with carvings. The Fort, on top of a hill encloses large granaries, treasury & a watch tower. The Malegitti Shivalaya temple set on the summit of a hill is built of stones without mortar. Overnight stay at Badami
Day 17 : Goa
A full day drive takes you to Goa (350Kms) the queen of beaches having more than forty beaches. On arrival at Goa transfer to Hotel. The afternoon is free for relaxing on the Beach. Overnight stay at Goa.
Day 18 : Goa
Relaxing on the beach and short sight seeing of Goa covering the temples, antique buildings, churches and other French structures along with the popular markets. Overnight stay at Goa.
Day 19 : Goa - Mumbai
Departure from the Goa Airport to catch a connecting flight to Mumbai. On arrival In Mumbai transfer to International Airport to catch a connecting flight for an onward destination or back home.
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