Day 01:
Arrive at Chennai airport / railway station. Transfer to hotel. If time
permits half day sightseeing of Chennai - Fort, St. George and Fort
Museum, Kapaleeswara Temple and Marina Beach. Overnight stay at Chennai
Day 02:
Excursion to Kanchipuram and Mahabalipura after breakfast and back to
Chennai. Lunch will be on the way. Stay at Chennai.
The history says that Kanchipuram, in the 3rd century AD, the great
Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka has established once the capital of Pallava
dynasty between 6th & 8th century. Known as the golden town of
thousand temples, most of them are more than 10 centuries old and the
most sacred pilgrim centre for Hindus. The great Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka
had established a Buddhist centre. Pallava dynasty ruled here with
Kanchipuram as capital between the 6th and 8th centuries. The main
attractions are Kailasanatha Temple (Shiva) 7th Century, Sri
Ekambaranathar Temple (Shiva), Kamakshi Amman Temple (Parvathi),
Vaikunta Perumal Temple etc. It is also famous for silk products.
There is an open-air museum of sculpture in living rock with few
parallels in the world in Mahabalipuram. It was the second capital and
seaport of the Pallava Kings of Kanchipuram. Narasimha Varman II later
rebuilt the famous shore temple built around 7th century. Arjun's
Penance - this relief carving on the face of a huge 30 metres long and
12 meters high rock is divided by perpendicular fissure, which is
skillfully encompassed into the sculpture. Mandapams (pillared pavilions
in front of temples), Ganesh Ratha.
Day 03:
Afternoon transfer to Madras railway station to travel to
Tiruchirapalli by express train. Arrive at Trichy same in the evening.
Transfer to your hotel for 2 nights stay. Stay at Trichy.
Day 04:
Day excursion to Tanjore after breakfast and back to Trichy. Lunch at
Tanjore. Stay at Trichy.
Tanjore has Brihadishwara Temple (66 meter tall). Inside, there is a
museum having collections of sculptures and photographs that show the
temple before restoration along with chart and maps. Thanjavur palace,
art gallery and library are the other attractions of Tanjore.
Day 05:
Half day sightseeing of Trichy after breakfast. Drive to Madurai later.
Stay at Madurai for two nights.
This fourth largest city of Tamil Nadu has Rock fort (83 meters high up
on a rocky out growth rising abruptly from the surrounding plains), Sri
Thayumanaswamy Temple, Lord Ganesha -Vinayaka Temple (437 steps stiff
climb stone cut steps). Srirangam is an island located 3 km from Trichy
on the Cauvery River. There is 10th century Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple,
which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Day 06:
Half-day sightseeing of Madurai after breakfast - temples, palaces and
temple tank. Rest of the day free in the market for shopping or leisure
at hotel. Stay at Madurai.
Madurai is one of South India's oldest cities, and has been a centre of
learning and pilgrimage for centuries situated on the banks of Vaigai
River. Madurai's main attraction are is Sri Meenakshi Temple,
Tirumalainayak Palace, Tirmalai Nayak, Swargavillasam or the "Celestial
Pavilion".
Day 07:
Drive to Thekkady after breakfast where one can see the state boundary
and enter into Kerala State (4 hours drive). Spice plantation tour to
see all the spices at one place in the after noon. Evening Boat ride at
Periyar Lake to witness the wildlife.
Thekkady has Periyar wildlife sanctuary (777 sq km area, with 26 sq km
artificial lake created by the British is 1895). This is the best place
for trekking. Spice Garden is another important place.
Day 08:
Drive to Munnar after breakfast for two nights stay. Rest of the day at
leisure. Stay at Munnar.
Day 09:
Sightseeing of Munnar after breakfast - Eco Point, Madupetty Dam (For
boating) and Eravikulam National Park (Niligiri Tahr), munnar town and
the tea gardens. Stay at Munnar.
Day 10:
Drive to Cochin after breakfast (4 hours drive). After lunch half day
sightseeing of Cochin - Jewish Synagogue built in 1568 A.D. (Closed on
Saturday), Dutch Palace built in 1555 A.D. (Closed on Friday),
St.Francis church built in 1510 A.D. by Portuguese and Chinese fishing
nets (Cheena Vala in Malayalam). Watch Kathakali Dance in the evening.
Day 11:
Spend sometime in Cochin for shopping in the morning. Drive to
Kumarakom to spend the most famous backwater holidays in the after noon.
On arrival check into any one of the backwater resorts for 2 nights
stay. Stay at Kumarakom.
Day 12:
Full day leisure or enjoy backwater ride or visit the bird sanctuary or
visit the town to see Thirunakkara Shiva Temple (Well known for its
traditional Sanskrit drama, Kootiattam), Cheriyapally & Valiyapally
(Syrian Christian Churches) etc. Stay at Kumarakom.
Day 13:
Transfer to Kottayam railway station after breakfast to catch train to
Tellicherry. The train departs by 9 am and will reach by evening (8
hours journey) for 2 nights. Transfer to private home. Rest of the day
free. Stay at Tellicherry.
Day 14:
Drive to Cannanore after breakfast to see the St. Angelo Fort and
beaches. In the evening, visit one the temple in around to see Theyyam.
Stay at Telichery.
Day 15:
Drive to Lakkadi after breakfast in Wayanad (140 km from Telicherry)
for 2 nights stay in the jungles resort in Vytiri. Stay at Vytiri.
Day 16:
Full day leisure. Stay at Vytiri.
Day 17:
Drive to Calicut (Kozikode) after breakfast (2 hours drive). On arrival
check in to backwater resort for a night. After noon visit at Kappad :
Vasco-Da-Gama set foot on the sands of Kappad beach on 27th May of 1498
A.D. Pazhassi Raja Museum and Art gallery display of ancient mural
paintings, antique brozes and old coins as well as models of temples,
megalithic monuments link dolmonoid cysts and umbrella stones. The art
gallery contains paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. The major collections are
at Sri Chitra Art Gallery at Trivandrum.
Day 18:
Transfer to Airport / Railway station.
