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Fascinating South India Holidays

Duration : 15 Days - 14 Nights
Places Covered : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondichery - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Periyar - Cochin - Bangalore - Hassan - Mysore - Chennai

Day 01 : Arrive Chennai
On arrival meet and assist at the 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, gentle. Definitely touched by colonialism but not ravaged by wars & intensely aware of its roots & traditions.

Day 02 : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
After breakfast , 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. Enroute 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. Templs of Ekambaswara, Kailasnatha, Sri Kamakshi & Vardarajaewamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk. On arrival in Mahabalipuram checkin at your prebooked hotel.

Day 03 : 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 enroute 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.

Day 04 : Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry
After breakfast, leave for Pondicherry. On arrival checkin 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 05 : Pondicherry - Tanjore
After breakfast, leave for Tanjore. On arrival checkin at hotel. Afternoon, visit Tanjore (Thanjavur) which was the ancient capital of Chola kings. Visit the Brihadishwara temple which was built by Raja 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 contructed in 1550 and has huge corridors, spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers.

Day 06 : Tanjore - Trichy - Srirangam - Madurai
After breakfast, leave for Madurai. Enroute 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 astouning 73 metres. After visiting Srirangam, continue drive to Madurai. Arrive Madurai and arrival checkin at hotel.

Day 07 : Madurai
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.

Day 08 : Madurai - Periyar
After breakfast, leave for Periyar (Thekkady). On arrival in Periyar checkin at your prebooked hotel. Afternoon, game viewing at the wild life park.

Day 09 : Periyar - Kottayam - Allepey - Cochin
After breakfast, leave for Cochin. Enroute disembark from the vehicle at Kottayam to do a very pleasant stretch upto Allepey in boats on the backwaters of Kerala. At Allepey board our car/coach which awaits you to drive you to Cochin. On arrival in Cochin checkin at your prebooked hotel.

Day 10 : Cochin
After breakfast, visit Cochin - the city of lagoons. Visit the St. Francis Church, India's oldest European Church was contructed in 1503 by Portuguese; Chinese Fishing Nets, strung out along the top of Fort Cochin; Mattancherry Palace or The Dutch Palace, built by Portugese in 1557, this palace was presented to the Raja of Cochin, Veera Kerala Verma. The palace's alternative name, the Dutch Palace, resulted from substantial renovations by the Dutch after 1663Palace. Afternoon, free for individual actitivities. In the evening, witness Kathakali Dance Show.

Day 11 : Cochin - Bangalore (By Flight)
Transfer to airport to board flight for Bangalore. On arrival in Bangalore, transfer to prebooked hotel. Afternoon, city tour of Bangalore - "city of gardens". Visit, theo 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 - Hassan
After breakfast, leave for Hassan, enroute visiting Sravanabelagola, one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centres 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 Gomateshwara statue. Arrive Hassan & checkin at hotel.

Afternoon, 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 13 : Hassan - Mysore
After breakfast, leave for Mysore. On arrival in Mysore checkin 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 14 : Mysore - Chennai (By Train)
Morning, free. In the afternoon, transfer to the railway station to board train for Chennai Arrive Chennai and transfer to prebooked hotel.

Day 15 : Depart Chennai
Transfer to the international airport to board flight back home/onward destination