Day
1: Chennai - MammallapuramOn arrival at Chennai airport/
railway station you will be met by our representative and will drive you
to Mammallapuram (60kms, 1.5hr.). Check in to the hotel & Overnight
stay at Mammallapuram where you'll find a kaleidoscope of history,
culture, tradition, religion and piety.
Day
2: MammallapuramAM 0900 Hrs After breakfast we take you for a
full day sightseeing in Mahabalipuram, the world heritage site which is
famous for its monolith temples that are centuries old, the shore
temple, Arjuna's Penance (i.e. it consists of two large boulders with a
natural fissure that has a serpent god and a serpent goddess engaged in
the act of worship), Krishna Mandapam (ages old temple dedicated to lord
Krishna), the Five Rathas (the famous rock cut temples) and the surf
lapping beach .There over hundred images of Gods, holy sages, divine and
semi divine gods and numerous other images of animals of mythological
importance. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 3: Mamallapuram -
Kanchipuram - Vellore - ThiruvannamalaiAM 0900 Hrs after
breakfast we take you to Kanchipuram (58 kms/1.5 hr) (one of the most
sacred sites famous for its temples) to visit the Kailasanath Temple
(dedicated to lord Shiva), the Ekambaranatha temple, Vaikuntha Perumal
temple, Varadaraja temple, the Kamakshi Amman temple and the many
'gopurams' (pyramid shaped tower gateways to the Dravidian age temples).
Then we take you to Vellore (61 kms/1.5 hr) to see the forts of Tipu
Sultan and the Jalakendeswara temple. Later in the day we drive you to
Thiruvannamalai (76 kms/2.5 hrs) to visit the holy mountain Arunachala
(important pilgrimage center of Tamil Nadu). The Karthigai Deepam
festival has a big flame lit atop the Thiruvannamalai hills, which
attracts a huge crowd of devotees. There are beautiful sculptures on the
pillars and idol lingam. Take part in enjoying the ashram life at
Ramanna Maharishi's ashram at the base of the mountain. Overnight stay
in Thiruvannamalai.
Day 4: Thiruvannamalai - Gingee -
Pondicherry (89 kms/2 hrs)AM 0900 Hrs soon after breakfast
check out from the hotel & drive down to Pondicherry. On arrival
check into the hotel. Later we drive you to Gingee Fort and on to
Pondicherry where we take you to a sightseeing tour of the Sri Aurobindo
Ashram founded by the philosopher in 1920 and later led by Mirra Alfassa
his French companion; the Pondicherry museum, Promenade beach, Bharti &
Bhartisadan memorial museum, Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and
Auroville (, the city of dawn), the botanical garden, Villaiayanur
temple and the Mansion of Ananda.Overnight stay in hotel. Pondicherry.
Day
5: Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Gangaikonda Cholapuram - Darasuram -
Tanjore (175 kms/5 hrs)AM 0900 Hrs check out from the hotel
after breakfast and we drive to Chidambaram to see the Nataraja temple,
the 9th century Shiva temple and the exquisite emerald lingam statue. In
Gangaikondacholapuram visit the Gangaikondacholapuram imperial chola
temple and at Darasuram you can see the Airavatesvara temple built in
typical chola style in dedication of lord Shiva. On arrival in Tanjore
check in at the hotel. Overnight in stay in hotel. Tanjore.
Day
6 : Tanjore-Trichy (60 kms/2 hrs)AM 0900 Hrs after breakfast we
take you for a full day sightseeing in Tanjore where we take you to view
the beautiful Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple, The Palace, the Art Gallery,
Saraswathi Mahal Library ,Hall of Music, Schwartz Church, Sivaganga
Tank, Thirukandiyur, Thiruvaiyaru and in the evening drive to Trichy. On
arrival check into the hotel. In Trichy visit the Ranganathaswamy temple
(the biggest temple complex in India and has the tallest temple tower)
also view the Rock fort temple overlooking the Cauvery Delta. Overnight
stay inTrichy.
Day 7: Trichy-Madurai (21 kms/35 mins)AM
0900 Hrs after breakfast we take you to Madurai to see the beautiful Sri
Meenakshi temple, Tirumalai Nayak Palace, the Mari Amman Tepakkulam
Tank, Gandhi museum and the Temple art museum. Overnight stay in hotel.
Madurai.
Day 8: Madurai to Periyar (85 miles/4 hrs)AM
0900 Hrs Check out from the hotel for a drive to Periyar. Go for a spice
plantation Tour (Optional) & later for boating in the Periyar lake
to view the wildlife at the Periyar tiger reserve (Optional). Overnight
stay in Hotel, Thekkady.
Day 9: Periyar-Alleppey (175
kms/4.5 hrs)AM 0900 Hrs after breakfast we take you to Alleppey
(175 Kms / 4.5 Hrs). On arrival board on to the houseboat from the
jetty. Rest of the day at leisure on the House Boat. Sit back and relax
while the boat cruises through the narrow serene backwater canals of
Kumarakom & Alleppey. Lunch, Evening Tea/Coffee with snacks, dinner
and Overnight stay on House Boat.
Day 10: Alleppey-Cochin
(95 kms/2 hrs)AM 0900 Hrs after breakfast we take you for a
half day sightseeing of Cochin, Visit: The Dutch Palace, Jewish
Synagogue, Jews Street, St.Francis church, Chinese fishing net & The
indo-Portuguese Museum. Later transfer you back to Hotel. Evening we
take to show Kathakali dance (ancient dance of kerala - Optional).
Overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 11: DepartureAM At
leisure, later we will pick up from Hotel and transfer you to / Railway
station. End of Tour / services.
Happy Tour Ending.
Heritage
Tour to South India
