Journey to the south of India (13 Days / 12 Nights)
India is vast. The monsoon takes nearly 2 months to reach the capital city of Delhi in the north after it arrives on the southern tip of India in Kerala. This is to mean that not only India is a big country but has a varied heritage and many diverse cultures and traditions merged into one.
Come and join this journey to the south of India where the difference from the regular Delhi - Agra - Jaipur is more than evident.
Day 1: Mumbai
Sunday, May 19, 2024 - Monday, May 20, 2024
Arrive at the Mumbai International Airport. The office representative will be present to recieve you at the airport. The rep will assist you to check in at the hotel of your choice. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: Mumbai - Bengaluru
Monday, May 20, 2024 - Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Depart early in the morning to visit tourist attractions like
Gateway of India,
Elephanta caves,
Prince Wales Museum, Marine Drive, Nariman Point, Chowpatty Beach and Malabar Hill.Afternoon transfer to the domestic airport and take a flight to Bangalore.After reaching Bangalore our representative will welcome and transfer to the hotel.Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 3: Bengaluru - Chikmaglur
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 - Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Post breakfast in the morning visit the summer palace of Tipu sultan and the Maharajs's palace. Visit the famous gardens like the Lal bagh and the Cubbon park. Post lunch check out of the hotel and transfer to Chikmagalur.
Chikmagalur is a small town and has many spots of tourists interest in and around the city.
En-route to Chikmagalur, visit the famous Shravanbelagola temple. Shravanbelagola, is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centres of India. The Statue of the Jain saint Gomateshwara (AD 981)carved out of a mountain, said to be one of the tallest and most graceful statues in the world, is situated in this small town atop the Indragiri hills. The colossal monolithic statue is 58 ft high, startlingly simple, the beautifully chiseled features of this statue embody serenity.
Chikmagalur is famous for its coffee growing fields, the cashew nuts of Chikmagalur are also famous. The highest peak of the state, the Mullayanagiri is near Chikmagalur.
Upon arrival check in at hotel and rest.
Day 4: Chikmaglur - Hassan - Mysore
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - Thursday, May 23, 2024
Post breakfast at the hotel in the morning, visit the coffee plantations to taste the most delicious coffee, later check out of the hotel and transfer to Mysore.
The road to Mysore will take you first to the beautiful temples of the Hoysala rulers in the small hamlet of
Belur and Halebidu. These two twin cities have the best of the remainants of the temples built by the Hoysala rulers.
After visiting the temples continue to the journey to Mysore. Upon arrival check-in at hotel for overnight stay.
Day 5: Mysore
Thursday, May 23, 2024 - Friday, May 24, 2024
Post breakfast in the morning, its time for Mysore sightseeing. visit the palace of the wodeyars and the Chamundi hill. Later in the afternoon visit the splendid Vrindavan Gardens which are beautifully maintained. Blossomed with various flowers throughout the year, the Vrindavan Gardens are undoubtedly the stress relievers. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 6: Mysore - Bengaluru - Kochi
Friday, May 24, 2024 - Saturday, May 25, 2024
After an early breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to Bangalore to take the flight to Kochi, the commecial capital of the state of Kerala.
Upon arrival at Kochi, transfer to the hotel and rest. Later in the afternoon visit the sea beach to witness the sunsetting on the Arabian Sea. The setting sun gives a vibrant colours to the
Chinese Fishing Nets which are there on the shore. These fishing nets were the gift by the Chinese travelers years ago. later visit the
Jewish Synagogue, one of the oldest in India. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 7: Kochi - Kumarakom
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Sunday, May 26, 2024
Post breakfast take a short tour of the city visiting the matacherry palace. Later drive to the small village called the Alleppey.
From here board the rice boat to ride through the back waters of Kerala to Kumarakom. The back waters of Kerala are sort of life lines for those who stay on the banks of the waters. The experience is once in a life time when the outside world is totally cut off and tranqility remians with you. Enjoy the ride and reach kumarakom in the evening.
Check in at hotel and overnights stay at the hotel.
Day 8: Kumarakom
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Monday, May 27, 2024
There is nothing much you can do in Kumarakom, other than spending time with yourself! relax looking at the lake, take a massage to rejuvenate.
In afternoon take the boat ride to visit the famous bird sanctuary of Kumarakom. This place has many rare visitors and it is a luxury to watch the birds.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 9: Kumarakom - Thekkady
Monday, May 27, 2024 - Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Post breakfast in the morning, transfer to Thekkady. The road journey unwinds the beauty that nature has showered upon this place on the earth. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Later, take the boat cruise to the one of the most famous wild life sanctuaries in India, the Periyar wild life sanctuary. Here you can see the Asian elephant in its most natural habitat. Evening free to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds this place.
Dinner and overnight's stay at the hotel.
Day 10: Thekkady - Madurai
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 - Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Post an early breakfast in the morning, visit the spice plantations which the area is so famous for. You may see the spices like the pepper, the cardamom and the cinnamon. Later drive on to Madurai, the famous temple town of the south.
Upon arrival check in at the hotel. Later visit the famous temple complex of Meenakshi temple. But if you are a non - Hindu you have to be satisfied by admiring the temple complex and the architecture of the building, as non - hindus are not granted the permission to visit the sanctorium of the deity. Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, it is one of the largest temple complexes in India. Evening free to visit the city. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 11: Madurai - Chennai
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - Thursday, May 30, 2024
Post breakfast in the morning, check out of the hotel. Later visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace,
Gandhi Museum and
Mariamman Teppakulam Tank. Later, take the scheduled flight to Chennai.
Chennai, formerly known as Madras) is the gateway to Southern India and the largest city in southern India located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, developed after 1639 when the British East India Company established a fort and trading post at the small fishing village of Chennai. It is the capital city of Tamil Nadu state. This coastal center of trade has drawn traffic from all over the world for centuries and maintains a cosmopolitan quality as well as a Tamil air. The center of South India's film industry, its skyline is ablaze with bright movie billboards advertising the latest celluloid fantasies.
Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Later in the evening walk down the famous
Marina beach which faces the bay of Bengal. Overnight stay at the hotel.
This morning post breakfast, experience the rich historical and religious legacy of South India with excursions to Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram.
Kanchipuram is one of the most sacred towns of India and known as the city of thousand temples. It is also the seat of Shankaracharya, the highest position in the Hindu priest heirarchy. It is said that this place used to have almost thousand temples which are built down the ages by different dynasties and their rulers. Today almost all of them have been whithered away with time and just a few remain, which too, are a whooping 125 temples in number!
The city today is famous for its beautiful silk sarees. One of the many items which were traded between China and Kanchipuram was Silk.
The history of Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) dates back to two thousand years, it contains nearly forty monuments of different types including an "open air bas relief" which is the largest in the world.
Visit the temples and overnight stay at Mahabalipuram.
Day 13: Mamallapuram - Chennai
Friday, May 31, 2024 - Saturday, June 1, 2024
Morning after breakfast back to Chennai. Visit the Victoria Art Gallery, Bronze Gallery and Chennai Museum,
Fort St. George, San Thome Cathedral and Kapaleeswarar Temple.
Later in the evening transfer to the International airport of Chennai for onward destination.
