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Best of South India & Goa
19 Nights / 20 Days |
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Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Trichy - Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore - Hampi - Badami - Goa
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Day 01: Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai, Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Chennai.
Day 02: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Proceed for a City tour of Chennai visiting Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Church, Santhome Basilica, Marina Beach, Mylapore Temple. After lunch proceed to Kancheepuram, visit to Ekambareswar temple, Kailasanathar temple, Sri Kamakshi temple and Varadarajaswamy temple and also visit the silk weaving factory, later drive to Mamallapuram. Overnight at Mahabalipuram.
Day 03: Mahabalaipuram - Pondicherry
After breakfast a brief tour of Mahabalipuram. Later drive to Pondicherry a scenic drive on the east cost road. On arrival check-in to your hotel. Later in the afternoon sightseeing of Pondicherry. visit Aurbindo Ashram, the city of dawn, which is 10 kms north of Pondicherry. This ashram promotes Aurbindo's ideas in bringing about a synthesis of Yoga and modern science, so as to unite the spirit and matter. After lunch visit Auroville - a unique experiment in international living and in creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities live together in harmony. Overnight at hotel in Pondicherry.
Day 04: Pondicherry - Trichy
After breakfast. Drive to Trichy ( 255 / 5 hrs) on arrival check into hotel and relax. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 05: Trichy
After breakfast, City tour. Trichy was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and the English. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top and a further climb to a Shiva temple. Overnight at Trichy.
Day 06 : Trichy - Madurai Enroute Tanjore
Breakfast at hotel and later drive to Madurai enroute visiting Tanjavur. Tanjore, your will be visiting the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara which 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. Later after lunch proceed on to Madurai. On arrival check in to your hotel. Overnight at Madurai.
Day 07: Madurai
Breakfast. Today visit the great Meenakshi Amman Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering Gopurams. Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo Saracen style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tiruparam Kundram Rock temple. Afternoon free for independent activities or for shopping. Overnight at Madurai.
Day 08: Madurai - Periyar
After an early breakfast, drive to Periyar. The earliest sanctuary to be set up in 1934, it extends to 777sq.kms and forms part of the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghats. Wild life can be seen while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motor boat. Overnight at Periyar.
Day 09: Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey
After Breakfast, drive to Kumarakom. Arrive and embark on to the houseboat. Cruise in the backwaters, traversing the narrow canals, witnessing the village life of Kerala. Overnight in Houseboat.
Day 10: Arrive Alleppey
After breakfast, Morning you will disembark from the houseboat and proceed to Cochin. On arrival tour of Cochin city. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks. Vasco-de-Gama placed it on the world map. Visit the Fort Cochin, Mattancherry Palace, Jewish synagogue, St. Francis Church and view the operation of the Chinese fishing nets. Evening visit to Cochin cultural centre for viewing the Kathakalli. Overnight at Cochin.
Day 11: Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore
Morning transfer to airport for Bangalore flight. Arrive & drive directly to Mysore. Enroute visit to Srirangapatinam, the city established by King Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. The city fell after three repeated wars fought against the British forces. Arrive Mysore and check-in Hotel. Overnight stay at Mysore.
Day 12: Mysore
Morning tour of Mysore. Visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911-12. The palace is of harmonious syntheses of the hindu and Saracen styles of architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple & a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Overnight stay at Mysore.
Day 13: Mysore - Belur - Halabid - Hassan
Full day tour of Belur and Halebid. The Chenna Kesava temple of Belur built 900 years ago is an exquisite example of Hoysala art. Halebid's 12th century Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples are master pieces of Hindu art. On the way also visit Sravanabelgola. At Sravanbelgola, hewn out of a single rock and visible from a distance of 25kms is the statue of Lord Gomteshwara which is bathed with milk and honey once every 12 years. Overnight stay at Hassan.
Day 14: Hampi
Morning drive to Hospet. Visit Hampi. The once beautiful capital city of Vijayanagar Empire - greater than Rome, had palaces, temples & sculptures, spread all over. The city was razed to the ground by the Sultanates of South in 1565.
Day 15: Hampi
After breakfast, visit Some of the interesting ruins remaining are the Virupaksha, Vittala and Hazara Rama temples huge Ganesha and Narasimha images, the elephant stables, the Queen's Bath, carvings on the Ramachandra temple & Lotus Mahal. Overnight Stay at Hotel.
Day 16: Badami - Hampi - Aihole & Pattadakal
Morning drive to Badami stopping at Aihole & Pattadakal on the way. Aihole is the cradle of stone temple architecture of the southern Dravida School. The oldest temple, Lad Khan goes back to the 5th century A.D. There are 70 temples in this group. The Durga temple is noted for its sculptures. The Meguti temple is built of 630 small stone blocks. The Ravanaphadi Cave has some beautiful carvings. Pattadakal, referred to as Petrigal, reached its pinnacle of glory under the Chalukya kings from 7th to 9th centuries. The oldest in this group is the Sanghameswara Temple. The Mallikarjuna Temple has pillars depicting life of Krishna. Virupaksha temple has sculptures and panel scenes from the epics, the Ramayana & Mahabharata. The Papanatha Temple has impressive carvings on pillars and ceiling. Overnight at Badami.
Day 17: Badami tour
Morning tour of Badami. Badami also known as Vatapi is rich with Hindu and Jain temples carved out of sand stone hills. The carved temples date back to the 6th century. Of these, three are Hindu and one Jain. Sculptured out of solid rock they are adorned with carvings. The Fort, on top of a hill encloses large granaries, treasury & a watch tower. The Malegitti Shivalaya temple set on the summit of a hill is built of stones without mortar. Overnight at Badami.
Day 18: Goa
Morning drive to Goa. Arrive and check-in Hotel. Evening free at the beaches. Overnight at hotel.
Day 19: Goa
Tour around Old Goa, visit the Churches of the Portuguese era. Also visit the Church of Bom Jesus where the uncorrupt body of St. Francis Xavier is kept. Evening boat cruise. Overnight at hotel.
Day 20: Goa - Bombay or Onward destination
Today you are free till departure. Transfer to the airport for your departure back .
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