Chennai - Mahabalipuram
-Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar- Cochin - Goa - Mumbai
( 13 Nights / 14 Days )
Day 01 / Arrive Chennai
Welcome to India! arrive Chennai (formerly known
as Madras), meet assist at the airport by our
tour representative & then transfer to hotel.
Overight stay in Chennai.
Day 02 / Chennai - Mahabalipuram (70
km - 02 hr)
After taking leisurely breakfast in the hotel,
proceed for sightseeing tour, visiting San Thome
Cathedral, built in 1504, is said to house the
remains of St. Thomas the Apostle, who is believed
to have visited Madras (Chennai) sometime during
52 AD. National Art Gallery, established in the
year 1857, is undoubtedly one of the country's
finest museums. It has sections devoted to geology,
archaeology, anthropology, botany, zoology, sculpture
& numismatics. Government Museum has a fine
archaeological section representing all the major
South Indian periods including Chola, Vijaynagar,
Hoysala & Chaulakya. The bronze gallery has
a superb collection of Chola art especially the
bronze statue of Ardhanareeswara, the androgynous
incarnation of Shiva. Its most prized possessions
are the relics from 2nd century AD Buddhist site
of Amaravathi & the prehistoric antiques of
South India.
Fort St. George, the first bastion of British
power in India & built in the year 1640 AD
by the British East India Company. Within the
Fort we visit St. Mary's Church, built in the
year 1680 & oldest Protestant Church in the
East. Fort Museum has 10 galleries & displays
armory, old uniforms, crockery & silverware,
coins, palanquins, paintings, letters, old prints,
etc. Later drive to Mahabalipuram, town of temples,
sand & sea. It is world renowned for its beautiful
Shore Temple & other temples. It was once
the main port & naval base of the great Pallava
kingdom & was later made the capital of this
dynasty. Most of the temples here are dedicated
to Lord Shiva & Vishnu. The monuments are
mostly rock-cut & monolithic, constitute the
early stages of Dravidian architecture, wherein
Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible.
It is known especially for its rathas (temples
in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries)
& giant open-air bas-reliefs & has been
classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Night
stay in Mahabalipuram.
Day 03 / Mahabalipuram - Excursion to
Kanchipuram (70 km - 02 hr)
Breakfast in the hotel, proceed for sightseeing
tour of Mahabalipuram, visiting Shore Temple,
one of the oldest temples in South India. It belongs
to the 8th Century AD. Designed to catch the first
rays of the rising sun & to illuminate the
waters after dark, the temple ended up with an
unusual lay-out. Arjuna's Penance, world's largest
bas-relief. This huge whale-back shaped rock contains
figures of gods, demigods, men, beasts, &
birds & in fact can be said to represent creation
itself. Next we visit Rathas, monolithic temples
fashioned as chariots. They remain an architectural
mystery as each is apparently a faithful reproduction
of a structure built of wood.
Excursion to Kanchipuram: Later proceed for excursion
tour to Kanchipuram, is one of the seven holy
cities in the country. It was a city of learning
for both Tamil & Sanskrit, & was believed
to be visited by Hsuan Tsang. In ancient times
it was called Kachi. Once had over a thousand
temples & today there are more than a hundred
extant. It is also known for its temples &
silk sarees. We visit Ekambaranatha, ancient temple
dedicated to lord Shiva. The 57 metres high Raj
Gopuram is one of the tallest towers in South
India. The 3000 year old mango tree inside the
temple has 4 branches each yielding different
variety of mangoes. Next we visit Kailasanatha
Temple, built in 8th Century AD. It is built in
the typical Pallava style, with a pyramidal tower.
The temple is famous for exquisite carvings &
attracts devotees & tourists alike. Fresco
style paintings adorn the inner walls of the temple.
Later we also visit Kamakshi Amman, built in 12th
century AD, as an important Shakthisthalam, known
as Parabrahmaroonpini. Overnight stay in Mahabalipuram.
Day 04 / Mahabalipuram - Tanjore (300
km - 06 hr)
After breakfast in the hotel, drive to Tanjore,
flourished during the rule of the Nayaks &
Mahrattas. It has been the treasure house of art
for centuries. It is called the Rice Bowl of Tamil
Nadu. Thanjavur is well-known throughout the world
for its exquisite handicrafts like the Art Plate,
pithwork, bronze icons, Thanjavur paintings &
the classical South Indian musical instruments.
Later we visit Brihadeshwara temple, also known
as Big Temple, built by Rajaraja Chola I was completed
around 1010 CE. This 10th century CE temple, one
of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a brilliant
example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture.
Night stay in Tanjore hotel.
Day 05 / Tanjore - Madurai via Trichy
(200 km - 04 hr)
Breakfast in the hotel, then drive for Madurai
the oldest city in Tamil Nadu & was originally
known as Kadambavanam or the forest of Kadamba.
En route Trichy: En route halt at Trichy, which
has very historic temples & monuments. It
was an important town in the days of the later
Cholas, Nayaks as well as during the early days
of the British East India Company. we visit Rockfort
most famed landmark is an 83 m high rock which
is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land
of the city. The most amazing fact about the rock
is that it is one of the oldest in the world approximately
3,800 million years, which makes it as old as
the rocks of Greenland & older than the Himalayas.
Later Visit Srirangam Temple, surrounded by the
waters of the River Kaveri on one side & its
tributary Kollidam on the other. It is a 600-acre
island-town enclosed within the seven walls of
the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Night
stay in Madurai hotel.
Day 06 / Madurai - Periyar (136 km -
03 hr)
After breakfast visit to Meenakshi Sundareshwar,
first built 2000 years ago & was substantially
expanded between the years (1623-55 AD). A striking
feature of the temple is the astonishing structure
known as Ayiramkaal mandapam or Hall of a thousand
pillars in the outermost corridor. Later drive
to Periyar, Set on an attractive lakeside, it
is South India's most popular Wildlife Sanctuary.
It is a place to cruise on the lake & gives
an opportunity to see wildlife. It is home to
tigers, leopards, elephants, bison, antelopes,
sambhar, wild boar, monkey, a wide variety of
birds. Next we explore the sanctuary to experience
the beauty & ecological pattern. Night stay
in Periyar hotel.
Day 08 / Periyar - Cochin (190 km - 04
hr)
Early morning experience a boat ride to view wildlife
in the sanctuary on Lake Periyar. After breakfast
drive to Cochin, it has one of the finest natural
harbours on the Arabian coastline. Its cosmopolitan
character is reflected in the buildings &
structures representing different regions of the
world. Later we attend Kerala's most popular classical
dance programme, Kathakali by local artist. Night
stay in Cochin hotel.
Day 09 / Cochin
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of
Cochin, visiting Jew Town, synagogue, built in
the year 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese
tiles & Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls
of the Old Testament can be found here. Later
St. Francis' Church, built in the year 1503 by
Portuguese Francisan Friars & known to be
the oldest European church in India. It was restored
in the year 1779 by the protestant Dutch, converted
to an Anglican Church by the British in 1795.
The Palace has a fine collection of mural paintings
depicting scenes from Hindu epics, Mahabharata
& Ramayana. Also visit the spice market, where
the air is filled with the pungent smell of spices.
Chinese fishing nets, (Cheenavala) are distinctly
unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders
from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan
introduced these nets here. Night stay in Cochin
hotel or Optional- Boat Cruise stay.
Day 10 / Cochin - Goa
Morning transfer to airport to board flight for
Goa, also has rich flora & fauna, owing to
its location on the Western Ghats range, which
are classified as a biodiversity hotspot rather
an absolute paradise on earth. Evening free at
leisure. Night stay in Goa hotel.
Day 11 / Goa
After breakfast in the hotel proceed for sightseeing
tour of Goa, Visiting old Goa Churches; Basilica
of Boom Jesus, dedicated to Infant Jesus is the
most popular & famous of all churches in Goa.
Sri Mangueas Temple, surrounded by rolling green
hills & dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the most
important of all temples in Goa & is located
at Priol in Ponda Taluka. Dona Paula, a village
named after Dona Paula de Menezes, the wife of
a noble man Antonio de Souto Maior, who died as
a young woman in 1682. Miramar Beach, an urban
beach where the Mandovi River meets the Arabian
Sea, a point that offers the best location to
watch enchanting sunsets. Night stay in Goa.
Day 12 & Day 13 / Goa
Day at Leisure, enjoying the golden beaches, luxurious
casinos & flowing spirits in Goa. Night stay
in Goa hotel.
Day 14 / Goa - Mumbai
Morning transfer to airport to board flight for
onward journey or back home.
Package includes:
English speaking Guide for the Tour
A/C transportation as per the itinerary (No transportation
on leisure days)
Kathkali dance show in Cochin
Breakfast as per the itinerary
13 Nights accommodation on twin sharing basis
Package does not include:
Any Monument entry fee & camera fee
Any airfare or airport tax
Optional Tours
Any expense of personal nature such as hard-soft
drinks, laundry, phone-fax calls, tips etc.
Any other expense not mentioned in the "Package
includes".
Call us now
91 9899 095 777
91 9810 483 201
Mai to us
For
Price & reservation mail us
|
