14 NIGHTS/15 DAYS
DAY 01 ARRIVE COCHIN
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to Hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 02 COCHIN
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to Hotel.
If Kerala is India’s most beautiful state, which many tourists believe, then the lovely port of Cochin is its jewel. It has been variously hailed as Queen of the Arabian Sea, Venice of Orient, etc. Some choose to call it simply a museum city for its rich past and colorful present. Cochin displays a blend of peoples and architecture. It is one place where you can see a Jewish
Afternoonsightseeing of Cochin, a city till today influenced by medieval Portugal, Holland and England. You visit St. Francis Church, built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars where Vasco da Gama was buried for 14 years before his remains were transferred to Lisvon. His tombstone still stands. Nearby is the Mattancherry Palace or “Dutch Palace”. The central hall on the Ist floor was the coronation hall of the rajas of Cochin. Other rooms depict scenes from the
Ramayana and Puranic legends connected with Hindu gods. Amazing are the Chinese fishing nets. These cantilevered fishing nets line the entrance to the harbour mouth. They were introduced by traders from the courts of Kublai Khan. You also see the Jew City with the Jewish Synagogue, constructed in 1568, with hand-painted, willow-pattern floor tiles brought from Canton in the mid-18th century by a Rabbi, who had trading interest in that city.
Evening enthrall yourself with a special presentation of the colourfully costumed Kathakali Dance Drama. This mask dance form is originally from Kerala and 1500 years old. This classical dance has 24 mudras expressing the nine emotions of serenity, wonder, kindness, love, valor, fear, contempt, loathing and anger.
Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 03 COCHIN – KUMARAKOM By surface 55 Kms
After the breakfast leave for Kumarakom by surface. On arrival check-in at hotel.
The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and this small water world is part of the Kuttanad region. The bird sanctuary here, which is spread across 14 acres, is a favorite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist’s paradise. Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live There in flocks are a fascination for visitors. The best way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islands.
In the evening enjoy the sunset boat cruise on the Vembanadlake provided by the hotel.
Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 04 KUMARAKOM – PERIYAR By surface 127 Kms 3 hours
After breakfast in the hotel drive to Periyar National Parken route visit tea factory which is about 40 km from Periyar (tea factory remain closed on public, local holidays and in the event of local issues like death, regional function etc.). This unique wildlife sanctuary is about 780 sq. km centered on an artificial lake fed by the Periyar River.
Afternoon Elephant ride, spice plantation visit and game viewing is on board boat, which carry you through the jungle along convoluted waterways and afford sightings of elephant, bison, deer and occasionally, tiger. Small animals include black Nilgiri langur, bonnet and lion tailed macaque, Giant and Flying squirrel. There are some 246 species of birds and 112 species of butterfly. There are trees more than 100 years old and over 50 m high.
Evening Kalaripayattu performance.
Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 05 PERIYAR – ALLEPPEY By surface 142 Kms 3 hours
After breakfast drive to Allepay, upon arrival board the house Boat. Boat cruse through the day through the backwaters to Alleppey, an idyllic experience. Pass through the lagoons watching the waterside local activities of the villagers – coir-making, toddy tapping, fishing, rice growing along the palm lined banks and narrow strips of land that separate the water-ways, and the constant traffic are typical. It also offers the opportunity to see tropical vegetation, bird life and crops.
Overnight is on board the house boat.
DAY 06 ALLEPAY – KOVALAM By surface 162 Kms 4 hours
After breakfast in the hotel drive to Kovalam, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.
Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 07 KOVALAM
Day is at leisure.
Optional Tour of Kanyakumari:
Transfer from hotel for a two hour drive to Kanyakumari popularly called as Land’s End. En route visit Padmanabhapuram Palace (closed on Mondays), the former summer palace of the Travancore Kingdom. Rich with its intricate woodcraft, the palace also has a superb collection of mural paintings and granite statues. This is followed by a visit to Sucheendram Temple. Dedicated to Lord Siva this temple is a repository of art treasures. Temple is famous for a huge Hanuman statue and musical pillars. (Men have to remove shirt for entering the temple).
Take a ferry to Vivekananda rock memorial, the main landmark of Kanyakumari where the famous Indian philosopher Swami Vivekananda meditated and got enlightenment. The memorial stands on one of two rocks located about 500 meters off the mainland. Later visit Gandhi Mandapam& Kanyakumari Devi temple before leaving for Kovalam.
Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 08: KOVALAM– Madurai By surface 305 Kms 6 hours
After breakfast departure to Madurai, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing of Madurai ThirimalaiNaik Palace and Meenakshi Amman Temple.
Meenakshi Temple, an outstanding example of the Dravidian temple architecture from the Vijaynagar kingdom. Meenakshi, the fish eyed goddess and the consort of Shiva has a temple to the south and Sundareswarar (Shiva) a temple to the west. One of the biggest temples of India. Its nine “Gopuram”-Temple towers (23-30m ) have wonderful stucco images of gods, goddesses and animals from the Hindu mythology.
Late evening, visit the Meenakshi temple to witness the pooja (prayer) ceremony
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 09: Madurai – Thanjavur via Trichy 192 Kms 6 hours
After breakfast in the hotel drive to Thanjavur, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon city tour of Thanjavur.
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 10: Thanjavur – Trichy – Thanjavur 62 Kms 2 hours
After breakfast in the hotel same day visit of Trichy. Tiruchirapalli which is dominated by the Rock Fort, perched on a massive rock that soars 83 meters upwards from the surrounding plains. The present fort was built by the Nayak of Madurai and was the scene of Carnatic battles as late as the 18th century. Visit Rock Fort Temple and Srirangam – a picturesque island between the Cauvery River and its tributary Kollidam, north of Tiruchirapalli. Sri Ranganathaswamy temple is one of the largest Vaishnavite Temple in south India built around the 13th and 14th centuries. With its 21 magnificent towers and stone pillars covered with a profusion of carvings. The temple is surrounded by seven walls within which the town itself is located.
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 11: Thanjavur – Pondicherry 172 Kms 4 hours
After breakfast in the hotel drive to Pondichery, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Despite its invigorating seafront and relaxing atmosphere the town is visited above all for the Sri Aurobindo Ashram which draws visitors from all over the world. Before checking into the hotel you visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual centre founded by Sri Aurobindo and his chief disciple MirraAlfassa. Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was an early 20th century Bengali revolutionary and philosopher who struggled for freedom from British colonial power. He started the Ashram to put into practice his ideals of a peaceful community. In this aim he found a lifelong French companion in MirraAlfassa, who became universally known as the Mother. After his death the Mother continued as the spiritual successor and charismatic figure of Pondicherry. Stroll through the streets whose names still bear the French influence and finally to Auroville, “city of dawn”, founded in 1968 and is inhabited by about 1000 people who are from 20 different countries.
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 12: Pondichery – Mahabalipuram 110 Kms 3 hours
After breakfast in the hotel drive to Mahabalipuram, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit the magnificent rock temples and carvings in Mahabalipuram. Five Rathas (chariots) ceremonial chariots, rock-cut monoliths, named after the 5 Pandavas – heroes of the Mahabharata epic and Draupadi their wife. The Shore Temple by the sea surrounded by gardens designed according to descriptions of the original layout from ancient times. Built in sandstone in the 7th century. Bhagiratha’s Penance is a bas- relief (27 to 9m) sculptured on the face of two enormous adjacent rocks, depicts, the penance of Arjuna, myraid characters from the Mahabharata, realistic life-size figures of animals, gods and saints watching the descent of the river goddess Ganga to earth. Also visit Krishna’s Butterball.
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 13: Mahabalipuram – Chennai via Kanchipuram 66 Kms 1 hours
After the breakfast drive to Chennai en route visit Kanchipuram.
Kancheepuram (64km), the “Golden City”, was once the capital of the Pallavas and the Cholas. These two powerful ruling dynasties gave the city its numerous temples and tanks. The city is also famous for its “Kancheepuram Silk”. It has still has 150 active temples, dedicated various gods and goddesses. Kancheepuram is also one of 7 holy cities in India. Visit Ekambareshwara-Temple, the biggest in the city, are large complexes with mandapas, tanks and sculptured halls with devotees who still flock here. It has an ancient mango tree, and it’s believed that its branches represent the four vedas and its fruits are said to have a different taste. Also visit Kailashnath Temple, Kamakshi Temple, and theVaikunthaperumal Temple.
Later drive to Chennai, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel
DAY 14: Chennai
Breakfast in the hotel
Further city tour of Chennai visiting fort St. George, the seat of the state government and the legislative assembly. The fort was built in 1652 by the British East India Company. The fort contains the fort museum with its collection of memorabilia of the East India co. Also see St. Mary`s church the oldest surviving Anglican church in India. Very near to Fort St.George is the Indo Saracenic High Court building, said to be the largest judicial building in the world after the Courts of London. Opposite the high court lies the beautiful Marina beach. Proceed on to the Kapaleeswarar temple, a pure Dravidian temple and one of the most ancient in Madras. Drive on to the Government museum with its galleries off Chola Bronzes.
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel
DAY 15 Leave Chennai
In time transfer to the airport to connect flight for onward destination.