DAY 01: ARRIVE CHENNAI (NO MEALS)
Arrive at Chennai International Airport. Please clear immigration and visa formalities, collect your baggage and proceed to the arrival lounge through the green channel. Airport executive will wait at the arrival hall with a placard in your name to greet you. Thereafter you will be assisted with a transfer and check in at the hotel. Stay overnight at hotel in Chennai.
DAY 02: AT CHENNAI (B/L/D)
Morning after breakfast sightseeing tour of Chennai covering Sightseeing of Chennai covering Fort St. George: this fort is one of the finest representations of British Military's Construction in India. The fort was the center from where Robert Clive, the founder of British Empire began his empire building process. Government Museum: one of the great museums of India established in 1857. Exquisite carvings, authentic relics, sculptures and other interesting collections can be found here. National art Gallery: has a finest collection of old paintings. In the evening enjoy walking along the Marina beach. Stay overnight at hotel in Chennai.
DAY 03: CHENNAI – MAHABALIPURAM – PONDICHERRY (APPROX. 185 KMS / 04 HRS DRIVE) (B/L/D)
Morning after breakfast travel to Pondicherry. En-route visit of Mahabalipuram. Situated on rocky outcrop amidst the beach and a lagoon, it is famous for its scenic location and the series of majestic Pancha Rathas. The splendor of the place is majorly contributed by the huge casuarinas trees, the silver sandy seaside and the traditional handicrafts. Visitors get surprised and intoxicated with the sumptuousness. After visit continue to Pondicherry. On arrival check-in at hotel. Evening walk around the promenade beach. Stay overnight at hotel in Pondicherry.
DAY 04: AT PONDICHERRY (B/L/D)
Morning after breakfast excursion to visit the world city of Auroville &its famous Matri Mandir. Auroville, 'the City of Dawn', is a place that anyone with idealistic leanings will love: an international community dedicated to peace, sustainability and 'divine consciousness', where people from across the globe, ignoring creed, colour and nationality, work together to build a universal, cash-free, nonreligious township.
Matri Mandir "Temple of the Mother" in Sanskrit, this is the geographical and spiritual heart of Auroville. The outside is plated with gold, while the inside houses a space bathed in warm colored light, with white marble and geometric patterns. Following the paths in this space, you're led into the inner chamber, a stark white cylindrical hall centered around a gigantic crystal sphere. Later after visit return back to Pondicherry.
Afternoon visit of Shri Aurobindo Ashram was founded by great Indian philosopher Shri Aurbindo Ghosh. It also houses a library, study room and sales emporium, Botanical Garden, French town Also known as The French Riviera of the East, it mirrors the French influence through its architecture as the city’s plan was based on the French grid pattern. Some of the streets still retain their French names. Stay overnight at hotel in Pondicherry.
DAY 05: PONDICHERRY – CHIDAMBARAM – TANJORE (APPROX. 170 KMS / 04 HRS DRIVE) (B/L/D)
Morning after breakfast travel to Tanjore. En-route visit to famous Natraja temple in Chidambaramis a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the heart of the temple town of Chidambaram. The temple complex spread over 50 acres in the heart of the city. It is an ancient and historic temple dedicated to Lord Shiva Nataraja and Lord Govindaraja Perumal, one of the few temples where both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite deities are enshrined in one place.After visit continue to Tanjore. On arrival check-in at hotel.
Visit the Airavateshwara Temple and Tanjore Royal Palace. The palace near the temple is a vast building of masonry built partly by the Nayaks around 1550 AD and partly by the Marathas. Two of the Palace towers, the armoury and observation towers, are visible from all parts of the city. Stay overnight at hotel in Tanjore.
DAY 06: TANJORE – TRICHY – MADURAI (APPROX. 190 KMS / 04 HRS DRIVE) (B/L/D)
Morning after breakfast visit Brihadeeswara Temple or the Big Temple of God, built by the great Chola King Raja Raja(985 -1012) is an example of the magnificent achievements of the Cholas in the field of temple architecture. The tower over the inner sanctum sanctorum rises perpendicularly to a height of 15mts from a square of 28.8 mts and then tapers to make a total height of 64.8mts.An 81.3 tone monolithic stone slab adorned with winged niches on four sides caps the tower. Later after visit travel to Madurai. En-route visit Trichy Rock Fort Temple. It is also called as Ucchi Pillaiyar Kovil. It is in the heart of the city. This is a 275 ft tall Rock Structure. It is amazing to hear, this structure is one of the oldest and calculated close to million years old. There is a Cave temple cut out at the pinnacle is believed to have been built in 580 AD. After visit continue to Madurai. On arrival check-in at hotel. Stay overnight at hotel in Madurai.
DAY 07: AT MADURAI (B/L/D)
Early morning visit flower market, later after breakfast at hotel visit Meenakshi Temple, The Meenakshi Amman temple is the city’s most important landmark. It is one of thefiveSabhas [divine dance stages]. Apart from the face of Pilgrim and Education center, Madurai is a modern Commercial and industrial city. It is also famous for its trade mark Chungudicottonsarees, color dyeing, motifs, Handicrafts, Brassware. Wooden Toys of Madurai is the favorite of the Young and Old as well. Visit the Gandhi Memorial museum&Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal.It was built by King Thirumalai Nayakar and it is 1 ½ km from the temple. This Palace is a classic fusion of Dravidian and Islamic architecture. Stucco work on the domes and arches are very attractive. It faced huge damages during the days of its existence. Lord Napier, the then Governor of Madras, had partially restored the palace in 1866-72. After independence, Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal was declared as a national monument and is now under the protection of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department. Evening enjoy walking tour of old Madurai. Stay overnight at hotel in Madurai.
DAY 08: MADURAI – PERIYAR (APPROX. 160 KMS / 04 HRS DRIVE) (B/L/D)
Morning after breakfast travel to Periyar.Periyar with its cool chimes and agreeable greenery has a wide zone for travellers to chill out. This pride destination in southern India is boosted with serene surroundings and startling sights and the reason to visit Periyar are for its wildlife scene. Periyar National Park is set high in the mountains and sprawls over the Western Ghats. This National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border and here, you can feel the presence of serenity and excitement amidst the wilderness. On arrival check-in at hotel. Afternoon enjoy the Spice Plantation Tour. The winding pathways among the plantations, the thing that strikes you first is the lingering aroma in the air. The scent may be of cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon or cardamom and sometimes a fragrance that combines the scents of two or more spices. The geographical and climatic peculiarities of Kumily such as the cool climate and its elevation from the sea level make it ideal for spice cultivation.Stay overnight at hotel in Periyar.
DAY 09: PERIYAR – ALLEPPEY (HOUSEBOAT) (APPROX. 140 KMS / 04 HRS DRIVE) (B/L/D)
Early morning enjoys the shared boat ride at Periyar Lake, clubbed inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Two-hour boating trips at the artificial lake formed near the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary. One can see herds of elephants grazing near the edges of the shoreline. Deer, sambar, gaur and wild boars can be seen flocking around the place at regular intervals. A majority of the wildlife activity in the area can be viewed during the summer months of March and April. Darters, egrets and kingfishers can be seen flocking around the withered trees that rise out of the lake.
After visit return back to hotel for breakfast. Later travel to Alleppey or Alappuzha, is often referred to as the Venice of the East by travelers, and rightly so. It is the hub of Kerala's backwaters, home to a vast network of waterways and more than a thousand houseboats. On arrival board your houseboat to explore the backwaters of Kerala. Kerala Houseboat Cruising along the backwaters of Kerala is an unforgettable experience. If you have not experienced it, here is a golden opportunity to do it at a fraction of its original cost. You could get in any House Boat of your liking, saunter down the cool placid waters of our world-famous backwaters, have a merry time and get back home either the same day or after spending a night as well out floating around. Overnight stay on Houseboat. (All melas on board)
DAY 10: ALLEPPEY – MARARI (APPROX. 20 KMS / 30 MINUTES’ DRIVE) (B/L/D)
Morning after breakfast de-board from houseboat and travel to Marari. Marari originates from 'Mararikulum', a local fishing village on the Arabian Sea coast. Marari Beach is a perfect location to enjoy the sandy beaches & sun. This beach in Kerala is eternal with coconut palm trees and golden sands. Rest of the day at your leisure. Stay overnight at hotel in Marari.
DAY 11: AT MARARI (B/L/D)
Morning after breakfast day at your leisure. Stay overnight at hotel in Marari.
DAY 12: AT MARARI (B/L/D)
Morning after breakfast day at your leisure. Stay overnight at hotel in Marari.
DAY 13: MARARI – COCHIN DEPARTURE (APPROX. 50 KMS / 01 HOUR DRIVE) (BRTEAKFAST ONLY)
Morning after breakfast travel to Cochin. On arrival orientation tour of Fort Kochi area.
In time transfer to Cochin airport to board your schedule flight to back home.
Hotels in each location or similar, subject to availability
3 Star
• CHENNAI: Park Avenue; Royal Plaza; La Woods; Similar
• PONDICHERRY: Ginger; The Sunway Manor; Similar
• TANJORE: Tanjore Hi; Laxmi; Similar
• MADURAI: Madurai Regency; Star Regency; Similar
• PERIYAR: Grand Thekkady; Treetop; Pepper Vine; Similar
• ALLEPPEY: AC Deluxe Houseboat
• MARARI: Abad Turtle Beach Resort; La Plage Marari; Similar
