BEST OF SOUTH INDIA TOUR
Tour Highlights
- Excurison of Kanchipuram Temples
- Full Day Guided Tour of Mahabalipuram
- Kathakali dance at Cochin
- Spice Plantation at Periyar
- Boat ride at Periyar
- Elephant ride at Periyar
- Toy train ride in Ooty
- Visinting Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple, Rock Fort
- Visiting Meenakshi Amman Temple
- Visiting Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple
DAY WISE TOUR ITINERARY
- Your Best of Best of South India Tour begins with your arrival at the Chennai International Airport. At the airport, you will be received by an India Incoming representative and he will escort you to the hotel and help you with the check-in formalities.
- Vibrant, vivacious and vivid - Chennai's amazing amalgamation of the classical Tamil aestheticism with a new layer of cosmopolitan culture is definitely a treat for every traveller who decides to explore this coastal metropolitan city.
- Evening enjoy leisure or shopping.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : No Meal
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel & proceed for full day sightseeing tour:
- You will visit famous Fort St. George it was built in 1640 by the British East India Company. It also encompasses other historic monuments such as St Mary's Church & St George Fort Museum.
- Santhome Church where the Basilica was built over the tomb of St. Thomas, one among the three in the World. St. Mary’s Church was designed by Edward Fowle and built by William Dixon.
- The church started as Government congregation and later the monument became as one of the protected areas of the Archaeological Survey of India.
- Also visit the Kapaleeswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Overnight stay at hotel
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, you will be completed the check-out formalities and you will then start your trail to Mahabalipuram, the next stop on your Best of South India Tour.
- Enroute visit Kanchipuram Ekambaranathar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kailasanathar Temple is one amongst the oldest structures in the city and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Silk Weaving Centers.
- Later continue drive to Mahabalipuram.
- Mahabalipuram, also called Mamallapuram is a historic town that finds mention in ancient Hindu mythology and legends. It was a bustling port city from the 1st century BC till the time of the Pallavas in 9th century BC. Present day Mahabalipuram is a modern town replete with the glorious vestiges of its heritage.
- On your arrival at the hotel in Mahabalipuram, you will be again completed the check-in formalities.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel & proceed for full day sightseeing tour:
- You will visit Sea Shore Temple, Five Chariots, Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna’s Butter Ball, Varaha Cave, etc. These are the monuments included in UNESCO’s heritage site lists.
- Relax in the hotel.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, you will be completed the check-out formalities and you will then start your trail to Tanjore, the next stop on your Best of South India Tour.
- Thanjavur is well-known throughout the world for its exquisite handicrafts like the Art Plate, pithwork, bronze icons, Thanjavur paintings & the classical South Indian musical instruments.
- On your arrival at the hotel in Tanjore, you will be again completed the check-in formalities.
- You will visit Brihadeshwara temple, also known as Big Temple, built by Rajaraja Chola I was completed around 1010 CE. This 10th century CE temple, one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a brilliant example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture.
- The beautiful Chola Fresco paintings on the inner walls of the temple are no way less than Ajanta paintings.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, you will be completed the check-out formalities and you will drive takes a twirl to Madurai, the destination that forms India’s Best of South India Tour.
- Madurai, rich cultural heritage passed for more than 2500 years old & has been an important commercial center as early as 550 AD. It is the oldest city in Tamilnadu & was originally known as Kadambavanam or the forest of Kadamba.
- En route Trichy
- En route you stop at Trichy, which has very historic temples, monuments & churches. It was an important town in the days of the later Cholas, Nayaks as well as during the early days of the British East India Company. You start with Srirangam Temple, surrounded by the waters of the River Kaveri on one side & its tributary Kollidam on the other is a 600-acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. There are not less than 21 Gopuram here in this temple, one of which is the tallest in South India.
- Later you visit Rock fort most famed landmark is an 83 m high rock which is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. The most amazing fact about the rock is that it is one of the oldest in the world approximately 3,800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland & older than the Himalayas.
- On arrival at the Madurai hotel, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel & proceed for full day sightseeing tour:
- Today you visit to Meenakshi Sundareshwar was first built 2000 years ago & was substantially expanded between the years (1623-55 AD). Initially there was only the Shiva temple. A striking feature of the temple is the astonishing structure known as Ayiramkaal mandapam or the Hall of a thousand pillars in the outermost corridor.
- Overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, you will be complete check-out formalities and drive to Periyar.
- Today you drive to Periyar, Set on an attractive lakeside, it is South India's most popular Wildlife Sanctuary. Periyar is a place to cruise on the lake & gives an opportunity to see wildlife. It is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, bison, antelopes, sambhar, wild boar, monkey, a wide variety of birds.
- Evening game viewing at the sanctuary by boat on Lake Periyar
- On arrival at the Periyar hotel, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- At sun rise we take a boat ride to view wildlife in the sanctuary on Lake Periyar.
- After two hours of wildlife viewing you will get back to the hotel for breakfast.
- You will be complete check-out formalities and drive to Kumarakom.
- On arrival at the Kumarakom hotel, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- Kumarakom, known for backwaters, huge Vembanad Lake & famous Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.
- Kumarkom Sanctuary Today we visit Kumarakom Bird sanctuary. There are two seasons for birds: between October & February there are cormorants, teals, & other ducks & from February to July there are darters (snake birds), night herons, egrets, & Siberian storks. It also has golden backed woodpecker, crow pheasant, white-breasted water hen, tree pie etc.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, you will be complete check-out formalities and drive to Alleppey.
- Alleppey floating on serene backwaters, passing through bent mangroves and beautiful sceneries, with wafting aroma of coconuts beautiful sceneries is nothing short of a dream escape.
- On arrival at the Alleppey houseboat, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- Later you board the houseboat, locally called Kettuvallam, cruise around beautiful backwaters of Alleppey to Alleppey to observe & experience the daily life of the villagers along the backwaters.
- Overnight stay at houseboat.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- After a relaxed breakfast at the houseboat, you will be complete check-out formalities and drive to Cochin.
- Cochin, a very popular & historical sea trade connection with Middle East, Mediterranean Europe, and Dutch & British. It has one of the finest natural harbours on the Arabian coastline. Its cosmopolitan character is reflected in the buildings & structures representing different regions of the world.
- On arrival at the Cochin hotel, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- Half Day Tour
- Today you visit Jew Town, synagogue, built in the year 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles & Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here.
- Also visit the spice market, where the air is filled with the pungent smell of spices & history that brought the world to its doorstep. Chinese fishing nets, (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin.
- It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here.
- In the evening see Kerala's most popular classical dance, Kathakali.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, you will be complete check-out formalities and drive to Munnar.
- Munnar basically means three rivers” referring to confluence of 3 rivers – Madhurapuza, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers. One of the best hill stations of Kerala; it was established long back in the Western Ghats.
- Munnar is a bounty of beauty; here you will see nature at its best! And in this natural cradle, there live hundreds of animal and plant species!
- On arrival at the Munnar hotel, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- You will begin with the sightseeing of Tea Plantations which are the heart of Munnar. In the year 1976, these plantations were taken over by TATA’S – one of the biggest manufacturers of tea in India. Here we will take you around to see a factory (closed on Sundays), where the entire process of picking, segregating, drying, threshing and aroma packing is done.
- In the evening, you can take a walk down the Photo Echo Point. A picturesque place to see, explore and settle down – here you can take snaps and explore the natural beauty.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel & proceed for full day sightseeing tour:
- You will visit you to ,Rajamalai Wildlife Sanctuary or Eravikulam National Park (closed in February & March).
- Here you can see various Indian Species including Panther, tigers, Gaur, Elephant, Sambar, Giant squirrel, champak squirrel, spotted deer and so on. A number of birds too can be seen!
- In the afternoon, you will visit Mattupetty Lake, a man – made lake formed by hydro – electricity dam (Mattupetty Dam).
- Overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, you will be complete check-out formalities and drive to Ooty.
- Ooty (Udagamandalam), Queen of hill stations & the capital of Nilgiri district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiri means Blue Mountains. It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. It was a very popular summer & weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. An added attraction for the tourists is the mountain train journey on a ratchet & pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam & wends its way through many hair-raising curves & fearful tunnels & chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams & tea gardens.
- On arrival at the Ooty hotel, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- Evening free for leisure.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, you will be complete check-out formalities and drive to Ooty.
- Ooty (Udagamandalam), Queen of hill stations & the capital of Nilgiri district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiri means Blue Mountains. It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. It was a very popular summer & weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. An added attraction for the tourists is the mountain train journey on a ratchet & pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam & wends its way through many hair-raising curves & fearful tunnels & chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams & tea gardens.
- On arrival at the Ooty hotel, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- Evening free for leisure.
- Overnight stay at hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After breakfast at hotel, you will be complete check-out formalities and drive to Mysore.
- Mysore, capital city of the Wodeyars kingdom. It has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad avenues & sacred temples. There's an old world charm about the city that reaches out to everyone.
- En-route you visit the Srirangapatna, the historic capital of Tipu Sultan known for his struggle against British rule. Several monuments relating to his rule are sprinkled across the island.
- Later you visit Darya Daulat, commonly known as Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan is situated amidst scenic surroundings on an island formed by two branches of the River Cauvery.
- On arrival at the Mysore hotel, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- Overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel & proceed for full day sightseeing tour:
- You will visit Maharaja Palace, designed by British architect Henry Irwin, the Amba Villas Palace as it is also known, was completed in 1912. Chamundi Hill, which is topped with a 12th century temple of Durga with the magnificent 5m tall Nandi, Carved from single piece of granite in 1659, its one of largest in India.
- In the evening we visit Brindavan Gardens, dancing musical fountains on the terraces of Krishnarajasagar Dam, is a vast stretch of the most delicately planned symphony in architecture, horticulture, engineering & aesthetics.
- Overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After breakfast at hotel, you will be complete check-out formalities and drive to Bangalore.
- Bangalore, the garden city. The spacious city has many imposing structures full of historic & modern architecture. The majestic Vidhana Soudha, a magnificent post-independence structure housing the State legislature & Secretariat, stands in the center of the city with its attractive dome & galleries
- On arrival at the Bangalore hotel, you will complete check in check-in formalities.
- Half Day Tour
- Later you take a guided tour of Bangalore, visiting Tipu Sultan Palace; the layout of the palace gives the idea of the ethnic Mughal lifestyle. The fort & its remains present the history of the era in which it was built. The construction of the Tipu palace was started by Haider Ali & completed by Tipu Sultan, it is now a museum. Also visit ISKCON Temple, harmonious blend of the Dravidian & modern architecture. The building has some of the modern facilities along with Vedic preaching library.
- You will visit the Lal Bagh Garden, name Lal Bagh has been given to it for the wonderfully bloomed red roses that remain blooming all through the year. Haider Ali started building this garden in 1760
- Overnight stay at the hotel.
Meals : Breakfast
- After a relaxing breakfast at the hotel, you will be met by our representative and will be assisted with the check-out formalities. You will then start your drive to Bangalore International Airport in time for your flight back home.
Meals : Breakfast
- 18 Nights’ accommodation as per the Itinerary
- Daily Breakfasts at all the Hotels
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at Alleppey houseboat
- Kathakali dance at Cochin
- Spice Plantation at Periyar
- Boat ride at Periyar
- Elephant ride at Periyar
- Toy train ride in Ooty
- Entrances for all monuments
- Services of English-Speaking Guide during Sightseeing in (Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Tanjore, Madurai & Cochin, Mysore & Bangalore)
- All transfers & sightseeing by chauffeur driven Private car
- All applicable presently taxes.
- Visa Charges
- Anything not mentioned in Package Inclusions
- Porterage at hotels and airports, tips, insurance, laundry, telephone charges
- All items of personal nature.
- Any Flights
Starting from : On Request Per Person
Duration : 18 Nights/19 Days
Destinations
Covered
:
Chennai, Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram, Tanjore – Madurai Via Tirchy, Periyar, Kumarakom, Alleppey, Cochin, Munnar, Ooty, Mysore, Bangalore
