Met upon arrival with flowers. Transfer to Mahabalipuram Check into hotel for overnight stay.
Breakfast at hotel. Later sightseeing in and around Mahabalipuram’s Shore Temples and Crocodile Bank. Overnight at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Tranquebar. Lunch enroute. Possibly a short drive through Pondicherry streets for brief idea of the French quarter and continue drive to Chidambaram. Lunch at local restaurant. Sightseeing of famous Natraj Temple, depicting the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva at Chidambaram. Chidambaram Temple is one of the oldest and loveliest temples of the Chola period. Later drive to Tranquebar. Tranquebar (Tarangambadi) known as Danish Port also visit its fascinating Fort Dansborg. Dinner and overnight hotel.
Early morning one may like to walk on the beach of Tranquebar. After breakfast depart for Tanjore. Later sightseeing Tanjore (Thanjavur) which was the ancient capital of Chola kings. Visit the Brihadishwara temple which was built by Raja and is termed as the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture. It is one of the most elegant of temple with imposing proportions and permeated with a sense of peace and space this temple is one of the monuments in India with World Heritage listing. Also visit the Thanjavur Palace which was constructed in 1550 and has huge corridors, spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers.
Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch drive to Trichy. Sightseeing of Trichy temple. Visit the Rock Fort Temple in Trichy (Tiruchirapalli) and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam – This superb temple complex is surrounded by seven concentric walls with 21 gopurams and is probably the largest in India. Most of it dates back from 14th to 17th centuries. The largest gopuram was completed as recently as 1987, and now measures an astouning 73 meters. Check into hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Madurai a pleasant 3 hours drives. Arrive Madurai and check into hotel for lunch. After lunch sightseeing of Madurai Temple. Madurai – one of the oldest cities in South India and has been a centre of learning & pilgrimage for centuries. Visit Madurai’s main attraction – Sri Meenakshi temple which attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India. The temple is named after the daughter of a Pandyan King. Designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak, the present temple was substantially built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak (1623-55 AD), but its history goes back 2000 years to the time when Madurai was the capital of Pandya Kings. Sightseeing of Meenakshi Temple. Back to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Breakfast at hotel. Later drive to Alleppey. Lunch enroute.
Arrive Alleppey in the evening and embark to the Houseboats. A short and very pleasant cruise the Vembanad Lake while enjoying tea/coffee and snack. Overnight we anchor at some quite place. Group members come together for dinner. Overnight House Boats.
BACKWATERS OF KERALA : Backwaters are one of the unique attractions of Kerala, a chain of canals extending about 1500 kms, with a network of 44 rivers, lagoons and lakes. Most of it is naturally formed. Canals are remade for continuous traffic of men and materials. Backwaters form an inherent part of life in Kerala. Newspaper, mail and milk are delivered by boats, members of political party with red flags and Christian missionaries spreading the words of God, share the same boats along with fully made up Brides and wedding party. These house boats are known for its unique design use of local material like bamboo poles, coconut finer ropes, bamboo mats, carpets etc. These house boats invite you to enjoy in a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauties of backwaters.
With their languid grace and quaint design adds another dimension to your cruise in the shimmering blue waters. These boats have single room, double room, triple room configuration with, sun deck and private balcony with comfortable chairs. The rooms are fully furnished with attached bathrooms with shower, wash basin and flushing WC with tiled floor. Each boat has a fully equipped kitchen and an experienced cook to prepare authentic Kerala cuisine with sea food specialties and fresh vegetables. Here man and nature strike up a balance of co-existing harmoniously beyond the temptations of modernization.
Hotel : House Boat
Breakfast in the Houseboat. After breakfast we will head for the narrow channel around Alleppey to see the daily life of local people living on Vembnand Lake. Later we disembark from the boat and check into hotel for lunch. Afternoon free. One may like to enjoy Ayurveda Massage here. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Cochin. Cochin – the city of lagoons. Visit the St. Francis Church, India’s oldest European Church was constructed in 1503 by Portuguese; Chinese Fishing Nets, strung out along the top of Fort Cochin; Mattancherry Palace or The Dutch Palace, built by Portuguese in 1557, this palace was presented to the Raja of Cochin, Veera Kerala Verma. The palace’s alternative name, the Dutch Palace, resulted from substantial renovations by the Dutch after 1663Palace. Afternoon, free for individual actitivities. In the evening, witness Kathakali Dance. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
After an early breakfast transfer to railway station to catch train for Calicut (Kozhikode). Arrive Kozhikode and lunch at local restaurant. Later drive to Wynad. Arrive Wynad and check into hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Drive about 60 km. around the area through splendid tea country. We will organize tea and snacks at viewpoint. Also we shall be using Jeeps for exploring the area. Overnight Resort.
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Nagarhole. Arrive Nagarhole and check into hotel for lunch. Nestled in the southern fringes of the Nagarhole National Park, the Kabini River Lodge is a perfect getaway for nature lovers. The breath taking locale with the tranquil backwaters of the River Kabini presents an ideal setting for a long-awaited vacation. Once the hunting lodge of the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, Kabini River Lodge is today rated by the British Tattler’s Travel Guide as one of the top 5 wildlife resorts in the world. Kabini is pure elephant country as one can see numerous herds at a time. Afternoon proceed for game viewing by Jeep. Dinner and overnight a hotel.
Morning ride on the elephant in the jungle for sight the animals. After breakfast drive to Hassan. Breakfast at hotel. Later proceed to Hassan, on arrival check into a hotel. After lunch visit Belur – The most photographed and perhaps the best and they are a must on every tourist’s temple itinerary and Halebid – the temple, perched on a star-shaped base amidst lawns, is a sculptural extravaganza. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel. Later drive to Mysore. Arrive Mysore and check into hotel for lunch. Mysore – the magnificent city on the foothills of Mount Chamundi. Visit the Mysore Palace, also known as the Amba Vilas Palace, this palace was the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore. Burnt down in 1897, the present one was completed in 1912, at a cost of Rs. 4.2 million; Chamundi Hill – overlooking Mysore from 1062m summit of the hill is the Sri Chamuneswari temple and the Brindavan Gardens. Evening we shall be visiting vegetable and fruit market and to see the lit up Mysore Palace. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Bangalore airport to board flight for Goa. Arrive Goa and transfer to hotel. Afternoon free. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Morning sightseeing of Old Goa to visit the famous churches from the 16th century. One is back to hotel for lunch. Will arrange a special visit to local home. Afternoon free. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Breakfast at Goa hotel. Day at leisure. Lunch at hotel. Afternoon transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. Upon arrival at Mumbai transfer to the hotel near to the airport for dinner. . After dinner transfer to the international airport to board flight for onward destination.
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