SOUTH INDIA HERITAGE WITH WILDLIFE TOUR
Places Covered
CHENNAI – KANCHIPURAM – MAHABALIPURAM – CHENNAI – TRICHY – MADURAI – PERIYAR – COCHIN – OOTY – BANDIPUR – BANGALORE – CHENNAI / DEPARTURE
Duration : 12 NIGHTS / 13 DAYS
Note :
Suggested tour itinerary is a flexible tour proposal and can be change as per the guest requirement. We provide tailor made itinerary as per the need of the guest if you want to add or remove any of the destination please advise us for modification so that you can enjoy best of your holidays in India.
Day 01: ARRIVE CHENNAI
Arrive at airport, meet and greet by ITM representative and transfer to hotel. Where our representative will assist you to check in at hotel and later explain the tour scheduled in detail and handover all the tour related documents to you. Chennai, Chennai – the gateway to southern India, established in 1639 by the East India Company, is one of the oldest cities of the country. After freshen up Chennai sightseeing visiting Gandhi Memorial, KalaSkhetra, Mylapore temple, Marina beach etc. Overnight Chennai.
Day 02: CHENNAI – KANCHIPURAM – MAHABALIPURAM
After breakfast drive to Kanchipuram – is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Later continue drive to Mahabailpuram, earlier called Mahabalipooram, this ancient Pallava Port, is today the sight of several antique sculptural marvels. In this ancient seaside town, shrines And huge sculptures cut-out of rocks more than 1200 years back during the reign of Pallava Kings in the region can be seen. The rock carvings depicting mythological episodes- of demons, Gods and animals in battle and others – are truly poems in stone. The only shore temple which remains here is the spectacular two – spire shrine, unique because it houses both Lord Shiva and the Lord Vishnu in its sanctum-sanctorum. Overnight Mahabailpuram.
Day 03: MAHABALIPURAM – THIRUVANNAMALAI – PONDICHERRY
After breakfast drive to Tiruvannamalai – a pilgrim centre with an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. After lunch, proceed to Pondicherry, which carries a strong whiff of the French presence in India. On arrival visit Aurbindo Ashram, the city of dawn, which is 10kms 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 at hotel, 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. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 04: PONDICHERRY – CHIDAMBARAM – TANJORE
After breakfast drive to visit Chidambaram also called as Thillai, which has the famous Nataraja temple with the root of the sanctum-sanctorum covered with golden plates is located in the centre of the town covering an area of 40 acres. In this temple, postures from the Bharatnatayam form of dance are depicted in sculpture. Natraja is Lord Shiva as a cosmic dancer. After lunch continue drive to Thanjavur enroute visiting the Brass factory at Kumbakonam. Tanjore once the capital of Chola Kings, has the Brahadeswara temple(or the big temple of God).The temple tower rises to a height of 15mts from a square base of 29 mts and then tapers off, making a total of 66mts. Overnight Tanjore.
Day 05: TANJORE – TRICHY
After breakfast drive to Trichy, short name of Trichurapalli, situated on the banks of Kaveri River is a blend of history and tradition as well as pilgrim centre, it is famous for Ranganath temple at Srirangam. Checkin at hotel. After lunch city tour visiting Rock fort and its temple at a height of over 23mts. Also visit Srirangam and Jambukeshwar Temple. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06: TRICHY – MADURAI
After breakfast proceed to Madurai and checkin at hotel. The ancient city of Madurai, some 2600 years old is laid out in the banks of river Vaigai as a lotus flower with the Meenakshi temple in the centre. After lunch city tour visiting – Meenakshi temple, King Tirumala’s Palace, Mariamman Tepakkulam and Alagar Kovil. Overnight Madurai.
Day 07: MADURAI – THEKKADY
After breakfast drive to Thekkady includes Periyar wild life sanctuary where you can see wild elephant, boar, deer, the great Indian tiger and more, Mullaperiyar dam and spice plantations tour where one can shop exotic spices.In the evening you can go for boat cruise in the lake and experience the wilderness, Enjoy watching martial arts of Kerala, Kathakali, elephant ride, bamboo rafting, jeep safari, natural walk, jungle patrol, trekking and can go for Ayurveda massages (optional). Overnight Thekkady.
Day 08: THEKKADY – COCHIN
Enjoy healthy breakfast at hotel and drive to Cochin sightseeing includes Fort Cochin, Navy museum, St. Francis Church, Chinese fishing nets, Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattanchery palace, Jewish synagogue, Marine drive, Marine walk way, boating, Tripunitura Hill palace. Overnight Cochin.
Day 09: COCHIN – OOTY
After lavish breakfast drive to Ooty. Ooty, also known as Udhagamandalam, is a hill station in the state of Tamil Nadu, in southern India. Surrounded by trees, central Ooty Lake is a huge artificial expanse of water with pleasure boats. Overnight Ooty.
Day 10: BANDIPUR
Early morning get ready for our first Jungle experience to spot the wildlife. We will board safari van (open canter) to explore the Bandipur National Park.
Later return to the resort for fresh-n-up and breakfast. After breakfast it’s time to enjoy the serenity around the resort or one can participate in the various house activities. After lunch we will again get ready for wildlife exploration & birding within the periphery of the national park. This we will be on foot and will be doing a guided walk to explore its amazing wildlife. Later in the evening return to the resort. Evening enjoy the activities offered by the resort. Dinner and overnight stay at resort.
Bandipur was once a private hunting reserve for the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore.
It has remarkable variety of flora and fauna. Bandipur is home to Leopard, Asiatic Wild Dogs, Stripped Hyenas, Jackals, Jungle Cats, Leopard Cats, Rusty Spotted Cats, Palm Civet, Small Indian Civets, Otters and four different species of Mongooses (the common stripe necked, brown and ruddy mongooses), Gaur, Sambar, Cheetal, Muntjac, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Four-Horn Antelope, Pangolin, Indian Porcupine, Fruit Bat, Spender Loris, Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Wild Pig, Black Saped Hare and variety of reptiles such as Rock Python, Cobra, Marsh Crocodile, Monitor Lizard, Rat Snake, Wolf Snake, Common Krait, Runel’s Viper Bamboo Pit Viper and Green Keel Back are also found here.
Day 11: BANDIPUR – BANGALORE
After breakfast drive to Bangalore. Bengaluru (also called Bangalore) is the capital of India’s southern Karnataka state. The center of India’s high-tech industry, the city is also known for its parks and nightlife. By Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha is a Neo-Dravidian legislative building. Former royal residences include 19th-century Bangalore Palace, modeled after England’s Windsor Castle, and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, an 18th-century teak structure. Overnight Bangalore.
Day 12: BANGALORE
After breakfast visit Iskcon Temple, Bull Temple, Tipu Sultan Palace, Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Vishveshwarya Technological Museum, Art Gallery, Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha (out side view), MG Road and Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park. Overnight stay in Bangalore.
Day 13: BANGALORE / DEPARTURE
Breakfast at hotel and transfer from Hotel to the Airport / Railway Station to catch flight / Train for onwards destination with the happy memories of your tour and our services.