PROGRAMME NO. 11
12 Nights and 13 Days

South Indian Magic

Chennai(1) - Mahabalipuram(1) - Pondicherry(1) - Thanjavur(1) - TIRUCHIRAPALLI(1) - Madurai(2) - Periyar(1) - Kumarakom(1) - KOCHI(1) - Kovalam(2)

Day 01     Arrive Chennai (Madras)

• Arrive Chennai by international flight.

• Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.

• Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Chennai.

  • City tour of Chennai, visiting museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery. (Closed on Fridays and Public holidays). Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort Museum, Marina Beach, San Thome Cathedral and Snake Park.

• Overnight stay at the hotel.  

Day 02     Chennai - Mahabalipuram (58 kms / 36 miles)

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Morning drive to Mahabalipuram en route visiting Kanchipuram.

  • Kanchipuram, the Golden City was one of the seven sacred cities of India and once had 1000 temples. Now only 200 remains. It is also famed for it's hand-woven cottons and Kanjivaram silk.

• On arrival at Mahabalipuram, check-in at the hotel.

• Rest of the day at leisure or you may explore the area on your own.

• Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 03     Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (138 kms / 86 miles)

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Morning drive to Pondicherry.

• On arrival at Pondicherry, check-in at the hotel.

• Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Pondicherry.

  • City tour of Pondicherry, whose association traces its origin to Saint Agasthya, the revered sage of the south. Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram - the final resting place of Sri Aurobindo, a saint-cum-yogi who synthesized yoga and modern science. It is also the final resting place of the Mother. Also visit the Museum which has rooms furnished with period furniture of French India; Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

• Overnight stay at the hotel.  

Day 04     Pondicherry - Thanjavur (Tanjore) (177 kms / 111 miles)

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Morning drive to Thanjavur en route visiting Gangai Konda Cholapuram & Darasuram.

• On arrival at Thanjavur, check-in at the hotel.

• Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Thanjavur.

  • City tour of Thanjavur, visiting the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara. The temple is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 km long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India. 

• Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 05     Thanjavur - Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) (55 kms / 34 miles)

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Morning drive to Tiruchirapalli en route visiting Srirangampatnam.

• On arrival at Trichy, check-in at the hotel.

• Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Tiruchirapalli including Rock Fort Temple.

  • City tour of Tiruchirapalli, visiting the ancient temples dedicated to Lord Ganapathi 434 steps cut out into the rock side and interspersed with shrines, lead to the temple, yet another flight leads to the temple of Lord Shiva. The ascend is climaxed by magnificent view of the sacred Kaveri river. Visit Srirangam a massive temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu which contains within its walls a bazaar as well.  

• Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 06     Tiruchirapalli - Madurai (142 kms / 89 miles)

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Morning leave Tiruchirapalli by car for Madurai.

• On arrival at Madurai, check-in at the hotel.

• Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Madurai.

  • City tour of Madurai, visiting the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side). Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes and arches.

• Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 07     Madurai

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Full day excursion to Rameswaram.

  • Rameswaram is an island hallowed by the Ramayana. A devotee who visits Varanasi is also expected to visit this place to gain the full frit of his prayers. This place is sacred to Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Rameswaram is also one of the major marine food centres in the south, with much of its fish and prawn catch being exported. 

• Overnight stay at the hotel.  

Day 08     Madurai - Periyar (142 kms / 89 miles)

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Morning leave Madurai by car for Periyar.

• On arrival at Periyar. check-in at the hotel.

• Evening boat cruise on lake Periyar to view wildlife.

  • Boat cruise on Lake Periyar to watch animals in their natural habitat. The earliest sanctuary, it was set up in 1934 and forms part of the mountain ranges, the Western Ghats. Cruising on Lake Periyar, you are likely to see animals like wild boars, sambars, wild dogs, langur monkeys and wild elephants.

• Overnight stay at the hotel.  

Day 09     Periyar - Kumarakom (127 kms / 79 miles)

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Morning boat cruise on lake Periyar to view wildlife.

• Later leave Periyar by car for Kumarakom.

• On arrival at Kumarakom, check-in at the hotel.

• Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 10     Kumarakom - Kochi (Cochin) (90 kms / 56 miles)

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Morning leave Kumarakom by car for Kochi.

• On arrival at Kochi, check-in at the hotel.

• Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Kochi.

  • City tour of Kochi, visiting the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing Nets, St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Church.

• Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 11     Kochi - Kovalam

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Morning boat cruise on backwater.

  • Boat cruise on backwaters which gives an opportunity to behold the great charm of this city that nature has endowed upon it. 

• Afternoon leave Kochi by car for Kovalam.

• On arrival at Kovalam, check-in at the hotel.

• Overnight stay at the hotel.  

Day 12     Kovalam

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• Full day excursion to Kanyakumari (Cape Comerin).

  • Kanyakumari, The main attraction in the town is the land's end, Cape Comerin, the confluence of the three seas, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, and the rock memorials located some 300 metres into the sea. There is a small though crowded and dirty, beach on the mainland used mostly for viewing the sunrise and sunset.

• Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 13     Kovalam - Thiruvananthapuram (13 kms / 8 miles)
              Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) - Chennai

• Buffet breakfast at hotel.

• In time transfer to airport to connect flight for Chennai.

• Assistance on arrival at Chennai to connect international flight for onward destination.

For further information and reservation please contact