DAY-09 COCHIN - MUNNAR( BY SURFACE)
After an early breakfast you are transfered for sightseeing tour of cochin
visiting Jewish synagogue , Mattancherry palace, Chinese nets and backwaters
etc. Later we continue our Drive towards Munnar . Upon arrival check in at
Hotel.
DAY-10 MUNNAR - KUMARAKOM ( BY SURFACE)
Morning sightseeing tour of Munnar Visiting the Tea gardens and spice
plantations etc . after the tour we continue our drive towards Kumara kom .
Upon arrival checkin at Hotel.
DAY-11 KUMARAKOM
The day is for relaxing by the pool or taking a sunset cruise on a man -
powered nice-boat. You may wish to visit the Ayurvedic centre for a herbal
massage. In the Evening attend a demonstration of Kerala cuisine cooking.
Overnight at Hotel .
DAY-12 KUMARAKOM - PERIYAR( BY SURFACE)
After early morning breakfast depart by car for a 5 hour drive to Thekkady.
The drive up to this hilltop wildlife sanctuary is one of the most beautiful
. Starting with cocount groves at the lower lever you then see rubber, tea
and the spice plantation as you gain height. Upon arrival check into the
Resort. Rest of the day Free
DAY-13 PERIYAR
Today we take a jeep ride to a nearby spice plantation. Late afternoon take
a boat ride on Lake Periyar to look for wild animals drinking or taking a
dip in this 100 year old lake. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY-14 PERIYAR - MADURAI( BY SURAFCE)
Today we start our drive towards Madurai. Upon arrival at Madurai we
checkinto out our prebooked Hotel.
Afternoon we visit Madurai whose history goes back to six centuries before
Christ. The Pandyan rulers made this their capital until the 14th Century
and the city flowered with the genius of its writers, builders, poets and
academics. Then the Nayaks ruled Madurai from the middle of the 16th Century
to 1743. The ten tall Gopurams of the Meenakshi Temple were raised during
their dynasty. This is a huge compled of Temples. A thousand - pillared hall
and a tank. A full day tour visiting the Meenakashi Temple, Palace of King
Triumalay, the great tank, Gandhi Museum and Temple at Alaghat Koli enroute
visiting Elephant Rock.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY-15 MADURAI
After an early breakfast take a full days tour to Rameshwaram, a major
center for Hindu piligrimage. Here the God Rama offered prayers to Lord
Shiva. One of the most scared towns of India, it is well known for its
temple corridor - the longest in India, the Bathing Ghat , Ganthamathana
Parvatham , Kothandaramar temple , Kurusadai and other nearby islands -
abundant with coral reefs and other Marine wonders. Return to the hotel for
overnight.
DAY-16 MADURAI - TANJORE ( BY SURFACE)
Depart for Tanjore by road . Upon arrival Check in at your pre- booked
Hotel . Thanjaur was the seat of the Chola Empire from the 10th to the 14th
Centuries and it was a Chola King, Rajah Chola who built the greatest of its
74 temples, the Birhadeswara Temple which is more than 200 feet tall in the
Dravidian truncated pyramid form, and has a huge lingam in its sanctorium.
In the inner shrine of the temple, one sees India's second largest statue of
Nandi the bull, the mount of the God Shiva. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY-17 TANJORE - TRICHY ( BY SURFACE)
after Breakfast we continue our drive towards Trichy. Upon arrival checkin
at your prebooked Hotel. Trichy's historic associations stretch from chola
times to the 18th Century karnataka Wars, When Britain and France espoused
the aspirations of rival princes. Afternoon we go for a city tour of Trichy
visiting Rock Fort, Sirangam and Jambukeshwar Temples.
DAY-18 TRICHY - PONDICHERRY( BY SURFACE)
after Breakfast we continue our drive towards Pondcherry, Formarly a French
colony which has settled in the early part of the 18th century. Places of
interest are Sri Aurobindo Ashram Auroville - the brain child of the mother
and designed by French Architect roger Anger, AuroVille was meant to be an
experiment in international living where man and women could live in peace
and progress harmony with each other above all creeds. Overnight at Hotel .
DAY-19 PONDICHERRY- MAHABALIPURAM
Today we depart for Mahabalipuram. Upon arrival check in at your Hotel.
Rest of the day free. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY-20 MAHABALIPURAM
Morning we undertake a full day city tour of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram.
Mahabalipuram, once the principal port of the Pallavas who ruled between the
06th and 09th Centuries AD. "The City of Seven pagodas". Is
nothing less than a breathtaking display masterful sculpture carved out of
solid rocks of granite, the Shore Temple - a plendid example of early temple
construction in the south. Penance of Bhagirata the worlds largest bas -
relief also known as "Argon's Penance'.
Kanchipuram, city of a thousand temples, Once the capital of Pallava,
Kanchipuram still contains no less than 124 shrines. The temples were built
mainly by two rulers, Mahendray and Mamalla Narashimha Parman. Typical of
their architecture is the Kailasnatha Temple dedicated to Siva, believed to
be 1200 years Old . Other important ones include the 16th Century
Ekambasreshwar Temple, Kamakshi Temple, and Vaikunta Perumal. Kanchipuram is
the centre of Silk weaving and is famous for its saris and materials.
Return to the Hotel for an Overnight.
DAY-21 MAHABALIPRAM - CHENNAI ( BY SURFACE) ARRIVE LEAVE CHENNAI
After breakfast we are transferred to Chennai Airport to board flight for
your onward Journey .
