Kerala with Kanya Kumari Tour
19 Nights / 20 Days
Chennai - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Kanya Kumari - Kovalam
- Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Ooty - Mysore - Hassan --
Bangalore - Mumbai
Day 01 - Arrive Chennai
Arrive
Chennai by international flight. Meeting & Greeting at Airport and
transfer to the prebooked hotel. Chennai, the capital city, popularly
regarded as the 'Gateway to the South' represents a culture that is
distinctly different from that of northern India. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02: Chennai
After breakfast sightseeing tour to Chennai. The places of interest are
Kalakshetra, a school of art and music that encourages exponents of
Bharatnatyam, Carnatic music, traditional weaving and designing; Fort St.
George built in 1653 during British reign in India, - now houses the
Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu; St. Mary's Church, the
oldest Anglican Church in India with its premises; Sri Parthasarathy Temple
built by Pallavas in the 8th century AD; Kapaliswara Temple, Mylapore also
an eighth century Pallava Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva; San Thomas
Cathedral Basilica rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral and in 1896 it was made a
basilica; and Theosophical Society - the world headquarters of the
Theosophical Society formed to encourage the study of comparative religion
philosophy and science. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03 - Chennai-Kanchipuram-Mahabalipuram-Chennai, 225 km
After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram, 70 kms west of
Mahabalipuram, this city of thousand temples lies. One of the seven sacred
cities of Hindus, it was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the
2nd century BC. Kanchi was a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an
important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Apart from
temples, the city is also famous for its silk weavers, settled here some 400
years ago and have given it an enviable reputation.
Later proceed to Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram, the ancient port of
Pallavas. The pallavas have created many marvelous monuments with sculptural
panels, caves, Monolithic Rathas and Temples. Krishna Mandapam, has a big
bas relief, notable for its realistic representation. The world's largest
bas relief measuring 27m x 9m, whale back shaped rock contains figures of
gods, demi-gods, men .beasts, birds and representation of the entire
creation. Shore Temple, one of the oldest in south dating back to 8th
century AD is a good example of the first phase of structural temples
constructed in Dravidian style. The Five Rathas, a group of five monolithic
temples, each created in different style.
Return to Chennai for overnight at the hotel.
Day 04 : Chennai - Pondicherry (approx 170 km)
After
breakfast drive to Pondicherry. On arrival transfer to hotel. Later in the
afternoon sightseeing tour of Pondicherry. Pondicherry's main sights are the
Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram
retreat was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual
authority passed to one of his disciples, a French woman known as the
Mother. The Mother was also instrumental in founding the city of Dawn
Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry. Its original charter aimed at creating a
city of the future where people from India and abroad could live and work
together in a spiritual environment.
Day 05 : Pondicherry - Tanjore (approx 175 km)
After breakfast drive to Tanjore visiting en-route temple or Lord Natraja
at Chidambram.
On arrival, check-in at the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Tanjore.
Tanjore (Thanjavur) is famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple
constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is
an architect’s marvel. The Art Gallery and the Saraswathi Mahal Library
are also well known places of interest. Overnight at hotel.
Day 06 : Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai (approx 201 km)
After breakfast drive to Trichy. On arrival, visit Srirangam. 5 kms from
Trichy, located in an island is Srirangam. Surrounded by the Kaveri water is
a 600 acre island town enclosed within the seven walls on the gigantic Sri
Ranganathaswami temple. There are no less than 22 gopurams, one of which is
the tallest in India. The 72 m high 13 tiered gopuram dominates the
landscape for miles around.
The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the Kaveri river, Trichy’s most
famed land mark is an 84 m high rock, one of the oldest in the world
aprox.3,800 million years. The attraction is not for fort itself but the
temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where are
the inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C.
Later drive to Madurai and on arrival, check-in at the hotel for overnight
stay.
Day 07 - Madurai
After breakfast sightseeing tour of Madurai. Visit 'The
Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple. Of its 12 gopurams, four of the tallest stand
at the outer walls of the temple. The 48.8 m high southern gopuram is the
most spectacular and have over 1500 sculptures. In the Ashta Shakti Mandapam
inside the Meenakshi temple, the sculpted pillars tell the story of the
beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva. Evening is at
leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 : Madurai - Kanya Kumari - Kovalam (approx 352 kms. 5 hrs. drive)
After
breakfast drive to Kanya Kumari. On arrival transfer to hotel. Afternoon
visit Kanya Kumari - the land's end of India or the point where the three
seas meet - the Bay of Bengal, The Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Visit
the Kumariamman temple, Gandhi Memorial, Vivekanand Memorial
Later drive to Kovalam visiting en-route visit Padmanabhapuram. It is known
for its fort which encloses, among other buildings, a palace and a temple.
The palace has some important art relics while the Ramaswamy temple has
exquisitely carved panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana. On arrival,
check-in at the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 09 : Kovalam
Day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10 : Kovalam - Periyar (approx 250 km)
After breakfast drive to Periyar and on arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Periyar, The park encompasses a 26 sq km artificial lake and is the home of
sambars, wild boars, elephants and antelopes which can be occasionally seen
on the banks of the river during a boat cruise. Periyar, otherwise, blessed
by Nature has enormous tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations and is
lush green. Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Periyar to view wildlife.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 : Periyar - Kumarakom (approx 136 kms.)
After breakfast at hotel drive to Kumarakom. On arrival at Kumarakom embark
Kerala Houseboat "Kettuvalam" at Kumarakom jetty. Staying in this
moving palace is breathtakingly stimulating experience. While sailing down a
maze of canals one sees different scenes from the villages, paddy fields,
coconut palms, fisherman and local life. Lunch, dinner next day breakfast
and tea snacks will be provided in the boat. Overnight at houseboat.
Day 12 : Arrive Alleppey - Cochin
After breakfast, at houseboat disembark at 0930 hours and drive to Cochin.
On arrival transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13 - Cochin
After breakfast sightseeing tour of Cochin. Cochin(Kochi) gateway for
Kerala is famous for Mattanchery Palace, St. Francis Church, Wellington
Island, Bolghatty Island, Chinese Fishing nets and Jewish Synagogue.
Afternoon at leisure. Evening witness Kathakali Dance Show in an auditorium.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 14 : Cochin - Ooty (approx 280 km)
After breakfast drive towards Ooty. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Rest
of the day free. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15 - Ooty
After breakfast sightseeing tour of Ooty and Conoor.
Ooty, an integral part of the great plateau occupying the junction of the
Eastern and Western Ghats. Ooty is the headquarters of the Nilgris district.
Apart from coffee and tea plantations, trees like confiers, eucalyptus, pine
and the wattle dot the hillside in Ooty and its environ. Visit Botanical
Gardens where "summer Festival" is held each during the month of
May: the artificial lake and Dodabetta Peak which is the highest point in
the district at a height of 2623m.
17 km from Ooty is the first of these hills stations. Coonoor is a small
town with an equable climate that has made it popular as hill resort. Tea
and Tourism Festival is held here during Dec-Jan. visit the Sim's Park, a
small well maintained botanical garden that has several varieties of plants
not to be found in other hill stations.
Day 16 : Ooty - Mysore (approx 155 km)
After
breakfast drive to Mysore. On arrival, check-in at the hotel. Later in the
afternoon sightseeing tour of Mysore. Mysore as we see today is most famous
for the imposing Royal Palace with a magnificent Durbar Hall, Chamundeshwari
temple perched on a hilltop is 2000 years old, Nandi Bull half way to the
hill is a 4.8 metre monolith, KRS Dam and the ornamental Brindavan Gardens.
The musical fountains and colourful lights transform this place into a
fairly land in the evenings. Overnight at hotel.
Day 17 : Mysore
After breakfast visit Somnathpur temple. 45 km from Mysore, the temple, the
temple built in 1268 AD is known for its Hoysala architecture. The temple is
seated on a star shaped base, The temple wall depicts scenes from Ramayana,
Mahabharta and Bhagvata.
Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 18 : Mysore - Hassan (approx 150 km)
After breakfast drive to Hassan. On arrival, check-in at the hotel. Later
in the afternoon visit of Belur and Halebid. Belur temple took over 103
years to build and is a classic example of the Hoysala style of
architecture. It rises like a wedding cake in stone, from a star shaped
plinth, one of the hallmarks of Hoysala building design. From the base
upwards, there is an extraordinary wealth of decorative detail.
Halebid - 16 km east of Belur and 27 km from Hassan, the Hoysaleswara
Temple dating back to 12th century, is astounding for its wealth of
sculptural detail. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless
variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two
facets of the temple are the same. The magnificent temple -dedicated to Lord
Shiva guarded by a Nandi Bull was never completed despite 86 years of
labour. In the inner sanctum, the star black lingam, the symbol of Shiva, is
still worshipped. The carving at the door is ornate with small details.
Day 19 : Hassan - Bangalore - Mumbai (2045/2220 hours)
After breakfast drive to Bangalore visiting en-route Sravanbelgola. Said to
be the world's tallest monolithic statue rises 17 metre high of Bahubali
(Gomateshvara). The statue was built in 981 AD by the sculptor Aristanmi and
is most sacred to the Jain Community.
Arrive Bangalore, city sightseeing tour. The Lalbagh, one of the finest
botanical Gardens of India, Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha built in 1956
housing The State Legislature and Secretariat are the main attractions.
Late evening transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai. On arrival, transfer
to the hotel.
Day 20 : Mumbai - Onward Destination
After breakfast city sightseeing tour to Mumbai. Gateway of India built to
commemorate the royal visit of George V and Queen Mary in 1911, the Prince
of Wales Museum, St. Thomas Cathedral, Crawford Market, Malabar Hill and the
Hanging Gardens and Dhobi Ghat (Washermen's village) later in the evening
transfer to airport to connect onward flight
