Architecture,Backwaters,palace and Beach
Day 1: Chennai - Mahabalipuram (70kms/2hrs) Arrival assistance by our representative and drive to Mahabalipuram.
On arrival check into your hotel. Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram
Day 2: Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (70kms/1.5hrs each way) After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram and visit the famous temples of Kailasanatha&Ekambareshwara.. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk fabrics, so you can visit the silk weaving center if you are interested. Later return to Mahabalipuram and visit Shore Temple,5 Rathas and the old light house.
Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram
Day 3: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100kms/2.5hrs) After breakfast visit the Arjuna penance considered to be the largest base-relife measuring 27X 9 meters, Krishna\'s Butter Ball ,Varaha Cave and the Krishna mandapa.Later drive to Pondicherry the former French colony, the centre of the town still retains a French atmosphere in its architecture and planning. On arrival check into your hotel. Later visit the Aurobindo Ashram,Our lady of angels church,walk around the Indian part,the colourful local market and a walk on the beach.. Overnight at Pondicherry
Day 4: Pondicherry – Chidambaram(2 h) - Gangaikondacholapuram – (1 h)Kumbakonam (1 h )/Tanjore (1 h) (210 kms)
After breakfast drive to Kumbakonam enroute first stop will be Chidambaram the temple dedicated to the Cosmic dance of Shiva, known as Nataraja. where you can witness a special religious ritual (pooja) around 10 h 30 AM,a great moment and a very particular atmosphere!!!!Continue the drive to Gangaikondacholapuram considered built by the Cholas with rare sculptures Later drive to Darasuram,considered to be the finest miniature granite architecture of Tamilnadu.
After the visit drive down to Tanjore.. Overnight stay at Tanjore .
Day 5: Tanjore – Trichy-Tanjore (130 kms/1 h 15 min eah way)
After breakfast drive to Trichy and on arrival stop on the banks of the holy river cauvery where you can see the pilgrims dipping in the river with many Brahmin priests doing various kinds of rituals ,very colourful and unique.Later visit the huge temple complex of Sri ranganathaswami in Srirangam where the town itself is within the temple walls.Drive back to Tanjore.
Afternoon visit the Bronze museum known as ART GALLERY where you can see one of the most beautiful,delicately made wax lost bronze statues.visit the famous
BRHADESHWARA TEMPLE of Tanjore ,one of the many masterpiece skills of the Cholas. Overnight stay at Tanjore.
Day 6: Tanjore- Chettinad (120kms/2 h 30 min )
After breakfast drive to Chettinad the land of traditional bankers and traders who built spectacular bungalows and mansions all around this region.On arrival check into your hotel.Afternoon visit a paletale Chettiyar House and in the evening walk through the village to have a glimpse of the local life. Overnight stay at Chettinad
Day 7: Chettinad - Madurai (120kms/2.5hrs)
After breakfast drive to Madurai and on arrival check into the hotel and relax. Afternoon visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - a gracious building in Indo ceramic style, famous for the Stucco work . In the evening visit the great temple dedicated to the Godess Meenakshi considered to be a big pilgrime center for the Hindus. Overnight stay at Madurai
Day 8: Madurai - Periyar (150kms/4hrs)
Post breakfast drive to Periyar which is famous for its wildlife sanctuary. Check into the resort and later enjoy 02hrs elephant package which includes 01hr ride and then bathing, feeding, timber dragging process, command and communication, etc.In the evening watch a theatrical performance of Kalaripayattu martial art show.Overnight stay at Periyar
Day 09: Periyar- Aleppy (190kms/5hrs)
After late breakfast visit a Spice garden where you can see the different types of spices grown.Continue your drive to Aleppy through the tea,rubber and pine apple plantations .On arrival check in to your Houseboat traditionally known as KETTUVALAM.You will be served with your lunch on board.Time to relax and enjoy the nature and the people.Dinner on board. Overnight in Houseboat.
Day 10: Alleppey - Cochin (70kms/1 h 30 min)
After breakfast disembark the houseboat at Alleppey by 9.30am, from where you will be picked and transfer to Cochin. On arrival check into your hotel .In the evening watch a theatrical performance of Kathakali dance. Overnight stay at Cochin
Day 11: Cochin
Breakfast in the morning. Visit the Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica and the Chinese Fishing Nets.Later in the afternoon 2 hours sunset cruise .
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 12 :Cochin/Munnar (150 kms/4 h 30 min)
After breakfast drive to Munnar,considered to be the Heaven of Tea plantation.On arrival check in the hotel.
Afternoon visit a tea factory and walk around the town.
Overnight in Munnar.
Day 13 :Munnar/Mettupalayam
After breakfast Trekking in the Tea plantation for 2/3 hours.
Afternoon drive to Mettupalayam (6 h drive)
Overnight in Mettupalayam.
Day 14:Mettupalayam/Ooty
After an early breakfast drive to railway station to board the UNESCO declared TOY TRAIN (dep 07 h 10) to Ooty (arr 12 h 00).
On arrival you will be met by your driver and continue the drive to Mysore (4 h drive)
Overnight in Mysore.
Day 14:Mysore/Somnathpur/Srirangapatna/Mysore
Breakfast in the hotel.
In the morning proceed on a half day excursion to Somnathpur (1 h 15 min drive)o visit Hoysala type of temples
Return to Mysore via Srirangapatina. (45 min drive)
In the afternoon visit Mysore Palace
In the evening visit Chamundhi hill and the colourful DEVARAJA MARKET.
Overnight at the hotel in Mysore.
Day 15:Mysore/Sravanabelagola/Hassan
Breakfast in the hotel.
Leave for Hassan .
On the way visit Saravanabelagola.(2 h 15 min drive)
Arrive Hassan and check in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit the temples at Belur (45 min drive) and Halebid (30 min drive).
Return to Hassan (45 min drive).
Overnight at the hotel in Hassan
Day 16:Hassan/Hospet (360 kms/8 h drive)
After breakfast drive to Hospet .It will be a long drive but you will enjoy the road side villages and landscapes.
On arrival check in the Hotel.
Overnight in Hospet.
Day 17:Hospet/Hampi/Hospet.
After breakfast full day excurshion to Hampi, the once a very rich and fertile capital city of Vijayanagar Empire had palaces, temples and sculptures, spread all over. The city was razed to the ground by the Sultanates of South in 1565. 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 and Lotus Mahal. After completing the Hampi tour drive back to the hotel. Overnight stay at Hospet.
Day 18: Hospet - Badami (200kms/5hrs) After breakfast drive to Pattadakal and Aihole to visit the great temple sites there. Pattadakal is a world heritage site with a cluster of 10 major temples, each displaying interesting architectural features. Aihole has about 125 temples divided into 22 groups scattered all over the villages and the near by fields. Here visit some of the major temples like Durga temple, Lad Khan temple, Huchimalli temple, Ravalphadi Cave temple, Konti temple, Umamaheswari temple, Jain Meguti temple and the Buddhist temple.
On arrival Check in the hotel.
Overnight in Badami.
Day 19: Badami/Hubli.
After breakfast visit the exclusively rock cut Badami caves dedicated to Hindu Gods and the Jain Thirthangaras.
Afternoon leave for Hubli.(3 h 30 min drive)
Day 20:Hubli /Goa.
After breakfast drive to Goa (7 h drive).
On arrival check in your hotel.
Rest of the day free.
Day 21:Goa.
After breakfast visit the old Goa.
Rest of the day free.
Day 22:Goa.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free day to relax.
Day 23:Goa/Departure.
Breakfast in the Hotel.
Transfer to airport to connect the fight for your onward journey.
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