DAY 01: ARRIVE CHENNAI
Morning arrive Chennai International airport, meet and assist and transfer to your hotel in the city. On arrival check into the Hotel and relax.
Afternoon you will proceed to visit St. Thomas Mount.
The St. Thomas Mount is an ancient Syrian Christian community of India trace the origin of their church to St. Thomas the Apostle, believed to have been martyred in St. Thomas Mount. From the 17th century, this part of Chennai was populated predominantly by Anglo-Indians. The St. Thomas Garrison Church is at the foot of St Thomas Mount. St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church is located east of the shrine at North Silver Street, foot holds of the mountain shrine.
Evening you will visit the famous Marina beach.
Overnight in Chennai.
Hotel: Radisson Blu
Room: Superior Room
Meals: Not applicable
DAY 02: CHENNAI / PONDICHERRY
Morning after breakfast, check out and drive to Pondicherry (around 03 hour’s drive). En-route you will visit Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram.
The Shore Temple is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. Marco Polo and the European merchants that came to Asia after him called the site Seven Pagodas. One of these is believed to be the Shore Temple. The temple probably acted as a landmark for navigation of their ships. As it appears like a Pagoda, the name became familiar to the seafarers.
Arrive Pondicherry and check into a hotel and relax.
Overnight in Pondicherry.
Hotel: Palais de Mahe
Room: Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 03: PONDICHERRY
Morning after breakfast, proceed for sightseeing.
Visit Sri. Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville. Afternoon visit the beach.
Auroville is an experimental community in southern India. It was founded in 1968 by the spiritual leader Mirra Alfassa as a town where people from all over the world could live in harmony. Its focal point is the Matrimandir, a futuristic, spherical temple covered in gold discs. Auroville Botanical Gardens protects the region’s tropical dry evergreen forest. Auroville Beach is a long sandy stretch with gentle surf.
Overnight in Pondicherry.
Hotel: Palais de Mahe
Room: Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 04: PONDICHERRY / KUMBAKONAM
Morning after breakfast, check out and drive to Kumbakonam (around 3 hrs. drive).
On arrival, check in to the hotel and relax. Afternoon, proceed for sightseeing. Visit the Ramaswamy temple, Ramanuja house ect. Ramaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India.
Overnight in Kumbakonam.
Hotel: Mantra Koodam
Room: Superior Room
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 05: KUMBAKONAM / KARAIKUDI
Morning after breakfast check out and drive to Karaikudi (around 04 Hrs drive). En-route you will visit The Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur.
Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of a fully realized Tamil architecture. It is called as Dhakshina Meru of south, Built by in between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Great Living Chola Temples”, along with the Chola dynasty era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple that are about 70 kilometres (43 mi) and 40 kilometres (25 mi) to its northeast respectively.
On arrival, check into a Chettinan Mansion and relax.
Overnight in Karaikudi.
Hotel: Visalam
Room: Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 06: KARAIKUDI
Morning after breakfast, proceed for sightseeing tour of Chettinad.
Visit the Atungal tile factory (handmade tiles), The Chettinad Mansion, village etc. A bullock cart ride through the village is an interesting experience.
Afternoon enjoy stay at this beautiful Mansion in Chettinad. Also enjoy the variety of Chettinad cuisine.
Overnight in Karaikudi.
Hotel: Visalam
Room: Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 07: KARAIKUDI / MADURAI
Morning after breakfast check out and drive to Madurai (around 02 Hrs drive).
On arrival, check in to the hotel and relax. Afternoon, proceed to visit Madurai temple.
Meenakshi Temple, also referred to as Meenakshi Amman or Minakshi-Sundareshwara Temple, is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai. It is dedicated to Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva. The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th century CE texts.
Overnight in Madurai.
Hotel: The Gateway hotel, Pasumalai
Room: Superior Room
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 08: MADURAI / THEKKADY
Morning after breakfast, check out and drive to Thekkady (around 3 hrs.drive).
Thekkady, one of India’s major wildlife sanctuaries, sprawled over an area of 777sq.kms is rich in varied flora and fauna. It is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations of tea, cardamom, pepper, cloves and cinnamon in the High Ranges and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.
On arrival, check in to the hotel and relax. Afternoon, proceed to visit the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary. Enjoy a boating through the lake in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to see the wildlife in close range. Elephants, wild boar, bison are the main attraction here.
Optional sightseeing – Plantation tour, Elephant ride, Kalaripayattu show, Jeep Safari etc.
Overnight stay at Thekkady.
Hotel: Spice Village
Room: Standard Villa
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 09: THEKKADY/KUMARAKOM (HOUSEBOAT)
Morning after breakfast, check out and drive to Kumarakom (around 3 hours’ drive). Around 1200 noon board a traditional Kerala houseboat and cruise along the serene backwaters.
During the cruise, the countryside offers a close look into an engaging rustic life. You can see skilled fishermen launching their cockshell boats, large flotillas of ducks waddling down to the water from thatched houses on the banks, women neck-deep in water, with their waist-length hair heaped in a crown, searching for fish with their feet and aimless cattle grazing in lush pastureland, where white lotuses lie here and there in small, low-lying pools.
The personal chef on the houseboat will prepare delicious Kerala style cuisine for you on board. Evening, cruise till 1700 hrs and the boat will be anchored in the lake for dinner and overnight stay. Overnight on Houseboat
Houseboat: Spice coast Cruise
Room: Standard Houseboat
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
DAY 10: KUMARAKOM (HOUSEBOAT) / MARARI BEACH
Morning after breakfast, around 09:00 AM disembark the houseboat in Alleppey and drive to Marari (around 1 hour drive).
Marari beach is a popular tourist attraction situated in Alappuzha district, Kerala. It is an ideal beach destination for swimming. Relax near the beach.
Overnight in Marari.
Resort: Marari Beach resort
Room: Beach Cottage
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 11: MARARI BEACH
Full day at leisure near the beach and relax.
Activities – Ayurveda, swimming pool, beach etc..
Overnight in Marari.
Resort: Marari Beach resort
Room: Beach Cottage
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 12: MARARI BEACH / COCHIN
Morning after breakfast, around 09:00 AM check out and drive to Fort Kochi (Around 60 KMS, 01 hour drive). On arrival check into your hotel.
Afternoon proceed for a heritage walking tour of Fort Cochin. You visit the heritage area in Fort Kochi visiting Chinese fishing nets, Beach, St. Francis church, Santa Cruz Basilica etc.
Also visit the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue and Jew Street which is located in Mattancherry.
Overnight in Fort Cochin
Hotel: Eighth Bastion
Room: Bastion Room
Meals: Breakfast only
DAY 13: DEPART COCHIN
Morning after breakfast check and transfer to Cochin International Airport to take your flight back to your onward destination.
Meals: Breakfast only
END OF THE TOUR
**Rooms not blocked and confirmation of package would subject to availability at the desired hotels / resorts. **
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