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Southern Splendour

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Destinations

Chennai - Pondichery - Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin

Duration

11 Nights / 12 Days

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This Itinerary Is Customizable According To Your Need

Hotels
Meals
Sightseeing
Tea
Monuments
Transfers

Detail Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrive Chennai
Assistance on arrival at the airport and transfer to HotelOvernight at the Hotel.
Day 02 : In Chennai
Morning sightseeing tour of Chennai, the Capital city of Tamil Nadu state, Chennai is India's Southern Gateway city and one of the biggest centres of trade, and communications. Santhome Cathedral Church - Santhome Cathedral Basilica is situated on the southern tip of Marina in Chennai. It is a towering basilica built on the spot where St. Thomas (an apostle of Jesus Christ) was buried. It is the church of the Archbishop of Chennai - pastoral head of the Catholic community in the region. St. Thomas Mount - St. Thomas Mount church is located near Meenambakkam airport in Chennai. The Portuguese built it in 1523. It is a small relic-filled church, which stands at the summit of the 300 foot high St. Thomas Mount. Fort St. George Fort St. George is located on the Rajaji Salai road in Chennai. The fort was one among the first few bastions that were built by the East India Company in 1640 to protect its interests in India from rival companies. This fortification also marks the making of Madras (Chennai) as a modern city.Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 03 : Chennai - Pondichery
Morning excursion to Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram. Mahabalipuram - a quite seaside resort with a unique and glorious 7th century Shore Temple and some of the most beautiful rock-cut caves in the world. Visit the Krishna, Varaha and Mahishasura Mardhini Mandapas besides the famous stone bas-relief, Arjuna's Penance. Kanchipuram was under the Pallavas from the 6th to 8th century AD and later became the citadel of the Cholas, Vijayanagar Kings, the Muslim and the British. It has been a centre of Tamil learning, cultural and religious background for centuries. Kanchipuram has magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty bearing eloquent testimony to its glorious Dravidian heritage. All the religious cities in India support one of the two sects in Hinduism - Vaishnavism and Shaivism, but Kanchipuram has blended itself equally to both the sects, dividing itself into Vishnu Kanchi, surrounding the Varadaraja Temple, and Shiva Kanchi, surrounding the Ekambareshwar (also spelt as Ekambareshwa) Temple, while the Kamakshi Amman Temple stands in between as a place of Shakti worship. Later drive to Pondichery (160 kms/4 hrs approx) and upon arrival check-in at the hotel.Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 04 : Pondichery - Tanjore
Morning sightseeing tour of Pondichery. Pondichery - a former French colony oozes tanjvura Mediterranean aura with classy streets, stylish houses and ornamental gardens, is famous for pleasant weather and easy paced life. Visit the serene atmosphere of Aurobindo Ashram, which was founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926 and has attained international reputation for its spiritual tenets including yoga and modern science of living. The Botanical Gardens, conceived in 1826, boast a variety of rare and exotic plants from India and abroad, and take a stroll on the beaches of Pondichery. Afternoon depart by surface to Tanjore en route visiting Chidambaram & Kumbakonam. Chidambaram - situated between two rivers in a 40 acre temple - complex, lies the temples of Chidambaram, one of the oldest, most venerated and magnificent temples of South India. Shiva Natraja or the Dancing Shiva stand in his cosmic dance pose in the golden rooted sanctum sanctorum. Flanking the temple are 108 sculptured illustrations of Bharat Natya Shastra. In Akash Lingam hidden by a veil, lies the real secret of Chidambaram. Kumbakonam is a very important Temple City of South India. Kumbakonam is one of the Oldest Towns in Tamil nadu and is famous for its Mahamaham festival. In the 7th Century it was the Capital of Chol
Day 05 : In Tanjore
Morning sightseeing tour of famous Tanjore city, visit the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara. The temple is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons, which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 kms long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India. Afternoon excursion to visit Velankanni - It is the site of the famous Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Good Health. People of all religions flock to this Church. The Velankanni Shrine was elevated to a Basilica on November 3, 1962 by Pope John XXIII. Until 1964, it was under the protection of Portuguese missionaries. We do not know where the statue was made, but it is draped in a sari to make it appear uniquely Indian. The original chapel no longer exists, but the original altar and the mosaic pieces on porcelain tiles from China have been retained. In its place, a modern and spacious church was consecrated in 1933 and renovated in 1975.Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 06 : Tanjore - Madurai
Morning after breakfast, depart by surface to Madurai (201 kms/4 hrs approx) and Maduraiupon arrival check-in at the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Madurai city. Visit the great Meenakshi Temple, an excellent example of Dravidian Architecture, dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering Gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side). Also Visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo Saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes and arches. Evening witness the night ceremony at the Meenakshi Temple.Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 07 : Madurai - Periyar
Morning depart by surface to Periyar (137 kms/4 hrs) crossing over the Tamil Nadu-Kerala boarder to enter into the Gods own Country. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel.Periyar Thekkady, located in central Kerala, is a popular hill station and a wildlife centre. This town, which is an important plantation centre, conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. Periyar Forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves of India and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold immense opportunities for treks and mountain walks. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary offers a fairly good chance of seeing the great Indian tiger in its natural habitat. Afternoon take game viewing boat-ride on the Artificial Periyar Lake. Amongst the animals spotted here are wild elephants, which can be seen and photographed at close quarters, wild boar, sambar, tier, leopard, wild dog and languor monkeys. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 08 : Periyar - Kumarakom
Morning after breakfast, depart by surface to Kumarakom en route visiting Valiyapally and Cheriyapally (St. Mary's Churches), which is built in 1515 and is famous for its Persian cross and Phalavi inscriptions. This also has some exquisite murals paintings on biblical and non-biblical themes. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Kumarkom Kumarakom an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields, and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with white lilies. Situated on the Vembanad Lake, in this small water world, you will come across plenty of traditional country crafts, boats and canoes. Kumarakom has also a Bird Sanctuary, which is ornithologist's paradise, with favourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. Other common varieties like woodp0ecker, skylark, crane, water hen and parrots can also be spotted here. Evening take an Optional sunset Cruise - there can be few better ways to adjust to the pace of backwater life than to spend the waning hours of the afternoon just watching the sun go down. Overnight at the Resort.
Day 09 : In Kumarakom
Day free at leisure or get an Ayurveda Rejuvenation massage at the resorts Ayurveda centre. Kerala is the originating place for Ayurveda, which is the ultimate natural way of treating and rejuvenating soul and body. Optional visit to Mannanam, which is an important Christian pilgrimage centre, situated 10 kms west of Kottayam city. The St. Joseph's monastery here is an old institution and is associated with Fr. Kuriakose Elias of Chavara (1805-71), who has been recently pronounced blessed. The mortal remains of Fr. Kuriakose are preserved in this monastery.Overnight at the Resort.
Day 10 : Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin
Morning after breakfast, board a country boat to cruise through on the Vembanad Lake (backwaters of Kerala) to the beautiful Island destination - Kumarakom (approx 3 hours) to Alleppey. Upon arrival at Alleppey drive to Cochin en route exploring the rustic ways of rural Kerala. You glide past coir processing villages, waterfront shrines and paddy fields.Kumarkom Afternoon half day sightseeing tour of Kochi (Cochin) - an important port city with a famous Jewish settlement and Synagogue, the Dutch Palace, the Chinese Nets, the Church of St Francis and the Tomb of Vasco da Gama. We will also include a visit to a School in Cochin during your sightseeing tour to show you and explain how the education system prevails in India. Evening witness a Kathakali Dance drama performance at one of the auditoriums. This is an age old traditional art form of Kerala, where the artists paint their faces with colours and narrate the story of the Indian epics such as Ramayana or Mahabarat by way of their actions. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 11 : In Cochin
Morning after breakfast full day excursion to Kodungallore, where St. Thomas has landed first. Later visit the Church at Mylattur, where there are two churches - the one on top of the hill was where he meditated and his footsteps are there on the rock over there. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 12 : Depart Cochin
In time departure transfer to the Cochin airport to board flight to back home END OF THE TOUR

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