Tour
Duration : 19 Nights/ 20 Days
Places to Visit :
Chennai - Pondicherry - Tanjore-Trichy - Madurai -
Periyar - Varkala
- Alappuzha - Munnar - Cochin - MumbaiDay
1 : Abroad - Chennai
Arrive
Chennai International airport.
On arrival, the guest will be met by our
representative and check in to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day
2 : Chennai Madras - the sprawling and gracious city on the
"Bay of Bengal" is the fourth largest city in India. Visit the
Fort St. George once a stronghold of the British, San Thome Cathedral,
Marina Beach and the beautiful Mylapore temple. Overnight at hotel
Day
3: Chennai - Pondicherry After breakfast drive to
Pondicherry
(162 km), enroute visit Kancheepuram and Mahabalipuram.
Kancheepuram
- known as the Golden City of a Thousand Temples, is one of the oldest towns
in India. It is famous for both its temples, many of them remarkably well
preserved and for its hand-woven silks. Kanchipuram is one of the seven
sacred cities of India and it is the only one associated with both Shiva and
Vishnu. Visit Ekambareshwar Temple, Kailashnath Temple, Kamakshi Temple, the
Vaikunthaperumal Temple, all built in the 7th and 8th centuries. With a
weaving tradition dating back to the Pallava era (when silk was the royal
cloth), Kanchipuram is justly famous for its particularly fine silk saris,
embellished with stunning patterns.
Mahabalipuram - is
famous for its unique 7th?century Shore Temple, a lovely beach and some of
the most beautiful rock - cut temples in the world. Situated on the shore of
the Bay of Bengal, Mahabalipuram was already a famous seaport in the 1st
century AD. This town was a workshop for temple building. Visit the seven
pagoda - style shore temples, lashed by the waves of the sea and the seven
rathas or temple chariots, a group of monolithic monuments & animal
figures carved out of solid rock, the earliest known examples of Dravidian
architecture. They were constructed in a single century - long burst of
creative enthusiasm, starting in the reign of Narasimhavarman 1 (AD 630?68).
Continue drive to Pondicherry.
Upon arrival in Pondicherry -
check into the hotel
Overnight at hotel
Day 4 :
Pondicherry 
Pondicherry,
was a far-flung outpost of the French maritime empire till the 1950's. It is
so different from the rest of Tamil Nadu that one feels that one has entered
another country! This busy coastal town is divided roughly into two: the old
White Town of elegant French houses, restaurants & administrative
buildings and the Black Town west of the canal where India takes over again.
Pondicherry has a gentle laid back charm, which helps you to soothe your
soul.
Afternoon
tour of Pondicherry - visiting Botanical
garden, Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus and Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Later visit
township of Auroville or the city of Dawn. Designed by a French architect
Roger Arger, it is an entirely new concept in education and urban living.
Overnight
at hotel
Day 5 : Pondicherry - TanjoreAfter breakfast
drive to
Tanjore (177 kms).
Upon arrival in Tanjore - check into
the hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Tanjore - was the
capital of the Chola Empire from the tenth to the fourteenth centuries. A
Chola king, Raja Raja Chola, who held the throne from 985 to 1016, built the
greatest of the empire's 74 temples, the Brahadeeswarar, with its soaring
tower over the inner sanctum. This tower rises more than 62 meters (200
feet). On its dome rests a single block of granite weighing 80 tons.
Overnight
at hotel
Day 6 : Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai After
breakfast drive to
Madurai (178 kms) enroute visit
TrichyCity
tour of Trichy - visit the 'Rock Fort Temple' which rises abruptly to a
height of 273 ft. A steep staircase cut into the rock leads upto the Fort.
At the first level are the remnants of a huge hall blasted into ruins in
1772. The next storey is the Mathrubhuteshwarer Shrine dedicated to Shiva.
Finally at the top of the hill, the 'Uchhi Pillayar Koil' - a Ganesh Temple
offering a commanding view of the city.
Thereafter continue drive
to Madurai.
Upon arrival in
Madurai - check into the hotel
Evening
visit of the Meenakshi temple - to attend the night ceremony at the
temple at 9 PM. This is a ceremony that takes place every evening when the
temple bronze of Lord Shiva is carried to the bedchamber of Parvati. The
procession is accompanied by religious prayer and temple music.
Overnight
at hotel
Day 7 : Madurai Morning, visit the
Meenakshi
temple one of the biggest temple complexes in India - 46 ft. long by 790
ft broad built in the 17th Century. It is a rectangular twin shrine:- the
southern temple dedicated to Meenakshi (the consort of Shiva) and the other
to Shiva. The high point of the Meenakshi temple is "Hall of Thousand
Pillars". Also visit the palace of
Tirumala Nayak which is an
example of the architectural mastery of the Nayaks - a blend of Hindu and
Saracen architecture. It's enormous roofed arcade supported by 48 foot high
stoned pillar still stands. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight at
hotel
Day 8 : Madurai - PeriyarMorning drive to
Periyar
(177 kms)
Upon arrival at Periyar - check into hotel
Periyar
-
Sprawling across 777 sq. kms. of the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats,
Thekkady is the home to one of the largest wildlife reserves in India. Alive
with exotic flora and vibrant wildlife, it is the perfect getaway tucked
away among hills.
Afternoon
boatcruise on the Lake of the
famous Periyar wildlife sanctuary to see wild life. Periyar Lake or
reservoir created by a dam on Periyar River is the heart of the Wildlife
Sanctuary wild elephants, Asiatic Deer, Black Buck and even Tigers come to
shores of the lake for a drink.
Overnight at hotel
Day
9 : Periyar - Varkala Morning drive to
Varkala (220 km).
Upon
arrival in Varkala - check into the hotel.
Afternoon visit the
Portugese church of Anjengo dated to the time of occupation, which maybe the
Elanchoros of the geography of Ptomempee (2nd century A.D.). Also visit the
English Fort constructed in 1695 A.D. by the English 'East India Company',
which play an important role in the war of Mysore in 18th century.
Overnight
at hotel
Day 10 : Varkala - Alappuzha Morning drive
to to be at
Alappuzha in time to witness the famous boat race.
Upon
arrival to Alappuzha - check into the hotel
The
Snake Boat
Races of Kerala is a magnificent fiestas that brings alive the tranquil
backwaters. Snake boat races are held in connection with Onam, the harvest
festival in August/September. Scores of long snake boats and other smaller
crafts participate in these events. It is the largest team sport in the
world, a sport that signifies the excellent team spirit, integration and
amity of the people of this backwater country.
Usually a snake boat
is manned by four helmsmen, 25 singers and 100 - 125 oarsmen who row in
unison to the fast rhythm of the vanchipattu (song of the boatman).
Thousands of people crowd the water's edge to cheer the huge black crafts as
they slice through the waters to a spectacular finish.
The snake
boat races are preceded by colourful water parades.
Overnight at
hotel
Day
11 : Alappuzha Full day at The Snake Boat Race festival
"Payippad
Boat Race Payippad near Harippad Alappuzha District ".The
Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the most colourful water sport in Kerala, is
conducted at PUNNAMADA LAKE in Alleppey on the second saturday of every
August/September each year. This prestigious cultural event of Kerala, which
has been attending people from all over the world. Nehru Trophy Boat Race is
a festival for the people of Alleppey. Though it is a festival, the
attraction about this is the sportive sprits among the participants of the
race.
Several Boat races are taking place in several parts of
Kuttanad and other parts of Alleppey. But today despite all the other water
festivals and functions this particular event has gained popularity and
attraction for many people.
This trophy was named as NEHRU TROPHY
was awarded to the winners of the boat race which is a unique feature of
community life and is gift to the people of Alleppey.
This aquatic
festival fosters a sense of unity and fraternity and sports man spirit event
and attaching foreign tourists also.
In the year 1952, Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru visited the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin. On his way to
Alleppey from Kottayam he was given a roaring reception by the people of
Alleppey, escorted by the huge snake-boats. Having gone through the
tremendous excitement of sailing in a snake-boat popularly known as Chundan,
Jawaharlal Nehru donated a rolling trophy to be awarded to the winner. The
trophy is a replica of a snake-boat in silver, placed on wooden abacus on
which the following words of Panditji are inscribed above his signature.
Overnight
at hotel.
Day 12 : Alappuzha Full day sightseeing tour
around Alappuzha area.
FISHING - Alappuzha is a great
centre of fisheries. 'Chakara' a rare marine phenomenon in which a large
number of fish throng together in the early days of May to August is a
peculiarity of Purakkad, one of the main fishing centres on the
coast
of the Arabian Sea. This is in fact a fishermen's fiesta.
COIR
- The district is the major centre of coir and allied products. There are
about 4000 production units including a few big factories with mechanized
looms. Alappuzha retains monopoly in coir production and exports.
AMBALAPPUZHA-SREEKRISHNA
TEMPLE - Amabalappuzha Sreekrishna Temple on the Kollam-Alappuzha
Highway is called the Dwaraka of the South. It is frequented by thousands of
devotees especially during the annual festival, which falls in April every
year. 'Ambalappuzha palpayasam' the devotional delicacy of the temple is
renowned for its unique taste. Ambalappuzha is also famous for the
traditional visual martial art of Kerala, Velakali.
KARUMADI
- Karumadi, three Kms. east of Ambalappuzha, has a statue of Budha called
Karumadikuttan, a perennial source of interest for the tourists.
Overnight
at hotel.
Day 13 : Alappuzha Aranmula Boat Race
Aranmula, PathanamthittaHere are some of the most exhilarating
moments from one of Kerala's most popular water fiestas. The Aranmula
vallomkali, held on the Aranmula river in Pathanamthitta district, is part
of the Onam celebrations. Unlike the other boat races of Kerala, is not a
contest but a retracing of a ritualistic journey undertaken to the Aranmula
temple in days gone by.
Traditionally, the Thiruvonasadya (the
grand Onam feast) was the ritual offering to the deity of the temple.
Vegetables, cereals and other provisions for this elaborate feast were
brought to the temple in a procession of snake boats. The vallom (canoe)
carrying the offerings was called the Thiruvonachilavuthoni (literally, the
canoe that carries the offerings for the Thiruvonasadya).
Today,
the Aranmula Vallomkali, held on the Uthruttathi asterism (the deity's
birthday) of the month of Chingam, is conducted along the route traced
centuries ago.
Thousands of excited people throng the waterside to
cheer the majestic crafts that slice through the waters with hundreds of
oarsmen roaring in rhythm to the boatmans songs.
The oldest boat
races still conducted with much enthusiam are the Champakulam vallomkali and
the Payippadu vallomkali held in Alappuzha district. The excitement growing
social participation, in these water fiestas have led to similiar sporting
events being organised at various other locations in the state. Among these
are the Nehru Trophy Boat Race which is today a national event, the
Neerettupuram vallomkali held on the river Pamba and the Pulinkunnu
vallomkali on the Pulinkunnu river.
Overnight at hotel
Day
14 : Alappuzha - Munnar Morning drive to
Munnar (180 km)
Upon
arrival in Munnar- check in to the hotel.
Munnar - is the
beautiful hillstation housing world's highest tea-growing estates. Beyond
these estates are rich tropical forests that houses an assortment of
wildlife such as Nilgiri Langur, Sambhar, Gaur, Elephant and Lion-tailed
Macaques. Afternoon visit the popular
tea estates.
Overnight
at hotel
Day 15 : Munnar Morning, visit
Ervikulam
National Park (16 kms) - it is the home of the endangered Nigiri Tahr (a
type of mountain goat) that roams on a stretch of grassland or is seen
climbing the pinnacles of the undulating hills.
Rest of the day at
leisure.
Overnight at hotel
Day 16 : Munnar - Cochin
Morning drive to
Cochin (160 km)
Upon arrival in Cochin
- check into hotel
Evening witness the
Kathakali dance
performance - Kathakali is a unique dance which has a 2000 year old
history with more than 100 different 'mudras' or gesture depicting deities,
demons, heroes, heroines and kings - each based on episodes from the
Mahabharata and Ramayana, the two epic Indian myths.
Overnight at
hotel
Day
17 : Cochin Morning tour of
Cochin or "Kochi"-
the palm green, commercial captial of Kerala is known as the "Queen of
the Arabian Sea". From time immemorial, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British &
Portuguese seafarers followed the sea route to Kochi & left their
impression on the town. Modern Kochi is thus a splendid mosaic of these
myriad influences. Visit the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue, the Church
of St. Francis, the Bolghatty Palace & the famous Chinese fishing nets.
Afternoon
free for
a stroll in Jew townOvernight at hotel
Day
18 : Cochin - Mumbai Late morning transfer from hotel to the
railway station for train to
Mumbai.
| Leave: Cochin |
at 1030 hrs |
by IC-166 |
| Arrive: Mumbai |
at 1215 hrs |
|
On arrival in Mumbai, the guests will be met by our
representative and transferred to the hotel Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight
at hotel
Day 19 : Mumbai Morning, one hour boat ride
across Mumbai Harbour brings you to the lush green Elephanta Island. Here,
visit some of the huge and intricately carved
Elephanta
Caves that date back to the 8th century. The rows of massive columns cut
into solid rock from three magnificent avenue leads to the outstanding
three-headed sculpture representing Brahma-the Creator, Vishnu-the Preserver
and Shiva-the Destroyer. Dedicated to Shiva, the beauty and power of these
phenomenal sculptures depicting the various manifestations of Shiva is
overpowering.
Afternoon,
City tour of Mumbai - the great
port city with its Victorian Gothic buildings from the British Raj Era
mingling with the modern. The tour includes
Gateway of India
overlooking the Harbour, the
Towers of Silence, Marine Drive and the
Dhobi Ghat, the unique and colourful outdoor 'laundry'. Also visit
Mani Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life and works of
Mahatma Gandhi, and the bustling Crawford Market.
Later in late
evening transfer to the International airport for your flight back home.
Day 20 : Abroad - Mumbai Depart : Mumbai
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