Activities

Day 01: Arrive Cochin on arrival meet & greet with our Company representative afterwards transfer to your pre-booked hotel, relax overnight stay at Cochin.

Day 02: Cochin

After breakfast Full day city tour of Cochin visiting - ‘The Jewish Synagogue’ at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town, ‘The Dutch Palace, Spice market at the narrow streets, The St. Francis Church’, the oldest European Church in India, ‘The Santa Cruz Basilica’ originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese and the cochin boast “Chinese fishing nets”. At 5.30pm visit to the famous dance drama of Kerala, the “Kathakali”. This dance can be characterized by grotesque gesticulations, amazing costumes and very extensive make-up. The stories are mostly taken from the epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Later return to hotel.

(Overnight at hotel in Cochin)

Day 03: Cochin – Kumarakom (By surface 85 kms / 2 hours drive)

After breakfast drive to Kumarakom, Upon arrival check-in to your pre-booked hotel

Kumarakom is located along the shores of Vembanad Lake, in the heart of the back waters. This beautiful paradise stocked with mangrove forests, beryl green paddy fields and coconut groves comprises with water ways and canals adorned with while lilies. Kumarakom charms the tourist from all over the world. It offers a wide variety of flora, beautiful sightseeing, boating and fishing experiences. It has top-notch resorts and bird sanctuary nearby. Ayurvedic therapies here is rated the best in India. There are many small activities that you can do around in Kumarakom on your own. You can also visit to Kottayam town where in situated is the famous Churches of Valiyapalli & Cheriyapalli. In a nearby proximity if interested you can also visit Vaikom Shiva temple.

(Overnight at hotel in Kumarakom)

Day 04: Kumarakom - Periyar (By surface 200 kms / 4 hours drive)

After breakfast drive to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in God’s Own Country, Kerala, is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Periyar wildlife sanctuary has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Though its a Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the Indian elephants in the act of ablution and playfulness by the Periyar lake.

Day at your own leisure

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05: Periyar

To experience the incredible sanctuary, early morning you will be picked up for a boat ride on the Periyar Lake. Most of the tourist activities are focused around the Lake. There are roughly 700 elephants roaming in the forest, and they are generally seen on the banks of the Periyar Lake. Later, in the evening the guide will pick you up from the hotel for a guided tour to the nearby spice plantation. Cinnamon and ginger, pepper and cardamom, and various other spices grown on the Periyar hill made it nature’s taste factory in the 14th century, as Cochin became nature’s harbor, the shipping port for a spice hungry world. Later, the area came under the kingdom of Travancore, and many of its plantations, orchards and hunting lodges date from that time. The British Raj also left its mark on the Cardamom hills.

Overnight stay in Hotel

Day 06: Periyar – Madurai (160 kms, 03 Hours Drive)

After breakfast we drive to Maduari, Upon arrival check In to hotel.

Madurai is known as the soul of Tamil Nadu. This city has a rich heritage, culture and historical background in the sense that Lord Shiva himself performed 64 wonders called "Thiruvilaiyadals" here many centuries ago. Madurai was the capital of Pandya kingdom and is located on the bank of Vaigai River. Madurai is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. It is famous for the Meenakshi Temple, with its elaborate example of the Dravidian architecture and the four tall gopurams (pillars) with its multicolored Gods, Goddesses, demons and deities. The 1000 pillared hall has stone figures engraved on it, some of which sounds like metal when it hits a thing. You can also visit the Tirumalai Nayaka Temple and the Temple Art Museum.

Evening  rickshaw ride to witness Aarti (Fire Ceremony) at Meenakshi Temple.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 07: Madurai – Trichy   (140 kms, 03 Hours Drive)

After breakfast, Guided city tour of Madurai visiting The Meenakshi temple is located at the heart of the city and is a major Hindu pilgrim spot and an international tourist attraction. This temple reflects the cultural and religious life of the people of the city. It is also said that the people of the city start their daily chores with the chanting of hymns at the temple.

Tirumalai Nayakar Mahal: This palace is about 1 km away from the Meenakshi temple. This Indo-Saracenic building was constructed in 1523, and was initially four times larger than its present size. The most amazing thing about this building is the audience hall, Swarga Vilasam. The Swarga Vilasam has a roof that is 20m high, without any kind of support and this is a true engineering wonder. Gandhi Museum -The old city palace in Madurai has been dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

Afterwards we drive to Trichy, Trichy is a perfect combination of the culture and modernity constructed around the Rock Fort. During the British-French struggle for supremacy in India in the 18th century , Trichy was one of the major centers around which the wars of the Carnatic was fought. Trichy may have been the capital of the early Cholas, but it was passed through the hands of the Pallavas. Trichy is a flourishing trade center in Tamil Nadu. This city is also famous for artificial diamonds, handloom, cigars, cloth, glass bangles, wooden and clay toys. Many famous scholars from this city have contributed a lot to the Tamil literature.

Upon arrival Check-In to hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08: Trichy – Pondicherry (255 kms, 05 hours drive)

After breakfast guided city tour of Trichy visiting, Rock Fort Temple - The Rock Fort Temple stands on an 84 m tall rock in the center of the town. In the 18th century, for the possession of the Fort the British fought and defeated the French at Trichy. The cave-shrines and temples are constructed on the rock. The Hall of a Thousand Pillars and the shrine of Shiva are something worth seeing.

Ranganathswamy Temple - The Ranganathswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and was well known as the religious seat of learning as far back as the 11th century. Presently the temple includes a series of walled courts with 21 towers, and the tallest of these towers reaches up to 72 meters.

Afterwards drive to Pondicherry, Upon arrival check-In to Hotel.

Pondicherry: Pondicherry is a former French colony settled in the 18th century and is now a union territory and an attractive seaside town, still with a Anglo–French flavor. What attracts most of the travelers, apart from the beautiful atmosphere, exceptional restaurants and the cheap beer, is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 09: Pondicherry – Mahabalipuram (95 Kms, 02 hours drive)

After breakfast guided city tour of Pondicherry visiting Sri Aurobindo Ashram - Sri Aurobindo Ashram was established in 1926, and has grown under the Mother’s direction, from a small group of two dozen disciples into a large branched out community. The Ashram is not a quiet place of retreat secluded from the world but a vibrant center of life in an urban setting.

Aurobindo Hand Made Paper Factory - With the paper produced here being exported to other countries, Aurobindo Hand Made Paper factory is one of the most successful commercial enterprises of the Ashram. You could actually see the process of developing quality handmade papers, as you roam around the factory. The Pondicherry Museum - The Pondicherry Museum is famous for the various stone statues and a fossilized tree trunk.

Afterwards we drive to Mahabalipuram, Upon arrival check-in to hotel.

Mahabalipuram: Mahabalipuram also known as Mamallapuram, a small town with vibrant history dates back to the Tamil Pallava dynasty in the 7th and the 9th century in South India. This town is famous for its rock carved temples, sculptures and the world’s largest stone bas relief. The extravagant shore temples are the most famous spots in Mahabalipuram for photography in the country. The structures here are mostly carved out of granite and are one of the oldest existing examples of the Dravidian architecture. There are nine rock-cut cave temples in the area. These temples have interesting carvings on them portraying the Hindu Gods and Goddesses in various postures, some mythological relating incidents.

Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 10: Mahabalipuram

After breakfast Full day guided city tour of Mahabalipuram visiting Shore Temple, Five Rathas, Ganesha Ratha, Mandapams, Sculpture Museum & Sea Shell Museum.

Evening relax at your won.

Overnight at Hotel

Day 11: Mahabalipuram – Chennai (60 Kms, 1½ Hours drive)

After breakfast late morning we drive to Chennai, Half day guided city tour of Chennai visiting Fort St. George: Fort St. George was constructed in 1640 A.D. by the British East India Company, under the direction of Francis Day and Andrew Cogon. Fort St. George occupies a place of pride and status in Chennai. The Fort was named after the patron saint of England, St. George. The Fort has a Museum and a St. Mary’s church.

Marina Beach: Marina Beach is the second largest beach in the world and is one of the main tourist attractions of the city. The experience of viewing the sun rise and set is very enchanting. Close to Marina beach, is the Aquarium, and also there are several attractive historical buildings including the University of Madras, Senate-House, Chepauk Palace etc.

The Fort Museum: The Fort Museum, dating back to the British period, was a vault of the rare display to a number of weapons, uniforms, coins, costumes, medals and other artifacts. The tallest flag staff in India is the flag staff at the

St. George Fort. In the South of the Fort, a war memorial was constructed in 1939, in the memory of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the First World War. The biggest lung space in the city is situated on an island formed by the river Cooum. This space is the venue for the Trade and the tourist fairs help periodically which are seasonal attractions.

Santhome Cathedral Basilica: Santhome Cathedral Basilica at the southern end of the Marina Beach derives its name from St. Thomas, the apostle of Christ, who is believed to have come to Madras sometime during 52 A.D. He was killed on the St. Thomas mount just outside the city in 78 A.D. and was interned in the San Thome beach, where a church was built. After many years, a different church was constructed and his mortal remains were transferred to the new church from the old one. This church was rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral and in 1896 it was made a basilica. The beautiful tainted glass window at the basilica reveals the story of St. Thomas. The central hall has 14 wooden memorials portraying the scenes from the last days of Christ. The Cathedral has a 3 ft. high statue of Virgin Mary, which is believed to have been brought from Portugal in 1543.

Late evening you are transferred to Chennai Airport for your onward Flight.