SOUTH INDIA TEMPLE WITH HILLSTATION
Places Covered
CHENNAI – COVELONG – MAHABALIPURAM – PONDICHERRY –CHIDAMBARAM – KUMBAKONAM – TANJORE – SRIRANGAM-TRICHY – MADURAI – PERIYAR – KUMARAKOM – KOTTAYAM – ALLEPPEY – COCHIN – OOTY – MYSORE – HALEBID – BELUR -SRAVANABELGOLA – BANGALORE – CHENNAI / DEPARTURE
Duration : 17 NIGHTS / 18 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 Chennai airport, the cosmopolitan City and capital of Tamil Nadu is the main gateway for travelers to South India. You will be welcomed 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. Rest of the day free for leisure activities. Overnight Chennai
Day 02: CHENNAI – COVELONG
After healthy breakfast, proceed for Chennai sightseeing with Kapaleeshwar Temple and Parthasarthy Temple. Later visit Fort st. George church, Kala Kshetra and National Art Gallery and Museum. Later continue drive to the coast to Covelong. In Covelong we stay in a Beach Hotel at the Bay of Bengal.
Day 03: COVELONG – MAHABALIPURAM – PONDICHERRY
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry, Enroute visit Mahabaliuram visit shore temple, Arjuna’s penance and Five Ratha’s. later continue drive to Pondicherry. , Pondicherry, which carries a strong whiff of the French presence in India. This erstwhile French colony on the east coast of South India merged with the rest of the country in 1954. Legend says that Pondicherry is the place where St. Agasthaya settled down. On arrival Pondicherry visit Aurobindo Ashram, visit Auroville – a unique heaven for all; irrespective of caste,creed,colour and nationality. Overnight at hotel.
Day 04: PONDICHERRY – CHIDAMBARAM – KUMBAKONAM – TANJORE
Morning after breakfast drive to Tanjore, Enroute visit Chidambaram and Kumbakonam city, Chidambaram is famous for the Nataraja temple with the root of the sanctum-sanctorum covered with golden plates. In this temple postures from the Bharatnatayam form of dance are depicted in sculpture. Later visit Kumbakonam city is one of the oldest towns in Tamilnadu and is famous for its Mahamaham festival. In the 7th Century it was the Capital of Chola Kings. Kumbakonam, the famous temple town of South India. Later continue drive to Tanjore. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight Tanjore.
Day 05: TANJORE – SRIRANGAM – TRICHY
After breakfast drive to visit Srirangam and visit the Ranganathasvami Temple which is one of the largest temples in India dedicated to god Vishnu. After the visit of Srirangam we proceed to Trichy. Trichy, the land near the delta is very fertile and productive. This town Trichy is so ancient that it was mentioned by Ptolemy in the 2nd century BC by Alexandrian geographer. We climb stairs to the famous Rock Fort which was built on 84 m high rock in the centre of town in about 1660. We also visit a Shiva and Ganesha temple and enjoy a wonderful view of the surroundings from the top. Later check in at hotel. Overnight Trichy.
Day 06: TRICHY – MADURAI
After breakfast drive to Madurai some 2600 years old is laid out in the banks of river Vaigai as a lotus flower with the Meenakshi temple in the center. After lunch explore the famous Meenakshi Temple, a superb example of the Dravidian School of Architecture and is known for its profusely carved and gigantic gateways and visit Tirumalai Nayak Palace. Overnight in Madurai.
Day 07: MADURAI – EXCURSION TO RAMESHWARAM
After breakfast excursion visit to Rameshwaram on arrival visit – one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Legend says that Ramanathaswamy Temple stands where LordRama performed worship of a Sand Lingam made by Sita. Lunch at Rameshwaram. Return to Madurai in the evening and overnight at the hotel.
Day 08: MADURAI – THEKKADY
After breakfast drive to Thekkady, Thekkady is the location of the Periyar National Park The Periyar forests of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India. Spreads across the entire district are the picturesque plantations and hill towns that nestle beautiful trails for treks and mountain walks. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight Thekkady.
Day 09: THEKKADY – KUMARAKOM
After breakfast enjoy morning Boat ride on the lake of Periyar. The lake of Periyar is the central point of the famous Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 780 square km and was designated a part of project Tiger in 1973. After the Boat ride we drive through the Park and observe the elephants, bison, sambar, wild oxen, wild boar and spotted deer which are common here. In the afternoon we drive through the mountains which are full of Cardamom and pass through the tea and coffee plantations and proceed to Kumarakom. In Kumarakom we enjoy the Boat ride trip through the tropical vegetation on the backwaters.
Day 10: KUMARAKOM
After breakfast full day leisure. One can enjoy the Ayurveda massage in the hotel or have a nice walk in the nice tropical surroundings. The Swimming Pool of the hotel will be to happy to welcome you for swimming and relaxing.
Day 11: KUMARAKOM – KOTTAYAM – ALLEPPEY – COCHIN
After breakfast enjoy a boat trip for two hours through the narrow channels of famous backwaters of Kottayam and arrive in Alleppey from there we drive to proceed further by car to Cochin. Cochin is the most interesting town in South India at Malabar Coast and is also known as Venice of south. In Cochin we visit St. Francis church, the oldest European church in India in which the grave of famous sailor Vasco da Gama can be visited. After the visit of St. Francis Church we have a walk through the Jewish area of Mattancherry. Overnight Cochin.
Day 12: COCHIN
Post breakfast visit Fort Cochin, Willington Island, Ernakulam, Bolghatty Island and Vypeen Island. Most of the historic buildings are in Fort Cochin. Later visit local market. Evening enjoy Kathakali dance show. Kathakali dances come from Kerala and in its traditional form relates stories from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Overnight Cochin
Day 13: COCHIN – OOTY
Today after breakfast & check out from the tropical coast of Kerala we drive on the serpent road and pass through the Tea plantation and eucalyptus forests of mountains of Nilgiri and arrive in the city Ooty (Udhagammandalam). Ooty which was developed as hill station by British, lies at an altitude of 2300 m. and still has British flair. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight ooty.
Day 14: OOTY – MYSORE
After breakfast and check out from the hotel explore Ooty (also known as the queen of the blue mountains) is famous for its rolling hills covered in pine and eucalyptus forests and also for its coffee and tea plantations. We visit the famous and most beautiful botanical Garden of Ooty which covers an area over 20 hectares and is planted with more than a thousand varieties of plants, shrubs and trees including orchids, fern and alpine. In the afternoon we pass through the betel nut and pepper plantation and proceed to Mysore. In Mysore we drive to Chamundi Hill to see a giant Nandi (buffalo god) and enjoy the view of the surroundings form the hilltop. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight Mysore.
Day 15: OOTY – HALEBID – BELUR
After breakfast visit City Palace of Mysore “Ambar Vilas” is built in the Indo-Saracenic style. Mysore is world famous for Silk and Sandalwood. Mysore is also a centre of producing saris which is a common dress of woman in India. After the sightseeing of Mysore we proceed through picturesque hilly landscape and arrive in Halebid which is the ancient capital of Hoysala empire. In Halebid we visit the Hoysalesvara Temple of 12th century where we see half life size statues of Hindu deities, with minute details of each, all around the temple. After the visit in Halebid we proceed to Belur. In Belur we visit the group of Chennakesava Temples which are famous for its architecture and sculptures. Overnight Belur.
Day 16: BELUR – SRAVANABELGOLA – BANGALORE
After breakfast drive to Bangalore. Enroute visit Sravanabelgola where we visit the colossal monolithic statue, standing 18 meters high. This Jain sculpture represents the saintly prince Bahubali after he had gained enlightenment. After the visit of Sravanabelgola we proceed for Bangalore. Bangalore is the capital city of the Indian state Karnataka. This former “Garden city” Bangalore is known today as “computer city” of India. In Bangalore we visit the monolithic Nandi, Shiva’s Bull and famous Gowda Fort which was built by Tipu Sultan. Overnight Bangalore.
Day 17: BANGALORE – CHENNAI
After breakfast and check out from the Bangalore hotel, drive to Chennai. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day free to relax at hotel. Overnight Chennai.
Day 18: CHENNAI / DEPARTURE
After breakfast transfer to airport to board on flight for your onwards destination with the happy memories of your tour and our services.