HERITAGE AND WILDLIFE TOURS IN SOUTH INDIA

Duration : 15 NIGHTS/16 DAYS

Cities Covered : MADRAS-BANGALORE-MYSORE-COONOOR-COCHIN-KUMARAKOM-PERIYAR-MADURAI-TANJORE-MAHABALIPURAM-CHENNAI

Highlights : This tour takes you to the south of India among the beautiful jungles, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, garden cities and colourful stucco image filled temples.

Day 01 : CHENNAI

Arrive Chennai. Meeting and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 02 : CHENNAI/BANGALORE

Morning transfer to the railway Station to board Shatabdi Express train for Bangalore. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon city tour visiting Cubbon Park, which is a huge tree studded lawn spread over 300 acres with a number of public buildings gracing its boundries. Located at one end of the park is the magnificient Vidhana Souda built after independence, stands out by its imposing architecture in the neo Dravidian style. Lal Bagh - laid some 200 years back, the gardens are spread over 240 acres and have a thousand varieties of trees and plants. A glass House built on the lines of the Crystal palace of London, is the venue of flower shows. Visit the Bull Temple built in the Dravidian style of architecture. It has a huge Nandi Bull carved out of a single grey granite. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 03 : BANGALORE/MYSORE

Depart by coach for Mysore. En route visit Srirangapatnam, once the capital of Mysore. Visit the Fort & Palaces of Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, Daria Daulat and his Mausoleum. Thereafter, proceed for Mysore. Aeeive and check in at hotel. Afternoon city tour visiting Maharaja Palace, Art Gallery and drive upto Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore and also visit the Nandi Bull. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 04 : MYSORE

Full day excursion to Belur and Halebid temples. In Belur visit the Chennakesawa Temple built 900 years ago is an exquisite specimen of Hoysala art. In Halebid visit the 12th century Hoysaleswar and Kedareswara temples which rank among the masterpieces of Hindu Art. Also visit on your way back 'Sravanabelagola' - a 17 metre high statue of lord Gomateshwara. Hewn out of single rock, this gentle colosus atop a hill can be seen from a distance. Return to Mysore.
Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 05 : MYSORE/COONOOR

Depart by coach for Coonoor. Arrive and check in at hotel. In the south's gentle Blue Hills, the Nilgris, is the little town of Coonor - 1,858 meters high. You will see tea planters in shorts from the neighbouring tea estates, dapper officers and their ladies from the Defence Services Staff College atop the hill. Also cottages in picture-book gardens, a golf course. Relax in the picturesque surroundings of Coonoor. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 06 : COONOOR/COCHIN

Depart by coach for Cochin. Arrive and check in at hotel. Rest of the day free.Evening witness the Kathakali dance performance.
Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 07 : COCHIN

Early morning Boat cruise on the enchanting backwaters through the coconut groves and quiet lagoons. Watching the sunrise in a symphony of colours is an unforgettable experience. Thereafter, for city tour visiting the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Church. Rest of the day is free. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 08 : COCHIN/KUMARAKOM

Depart by coach for Kumarakom. Arrive Taneermuk Boat Jetty and transfer by boat to "Coconut Lagoons" Kumarakom. Arrive and check in at resort. Kumarakom is bound by the Vembanad Lake on two sides, the swaying paddy fields on one side and a bird sanctuary on the other. The Coconut Lagoons Resort built on a 10 acre coconut garden and is only accessible by boat. Relax in the quiet atmosphere of the resort amidst picturesque surroundings. Evening Sunset cruise on a traditional Rice boat. Thereafter the traditional "Theyyam" dancers will enchant you with their rhythmic chanting. And the spectacle of the "Jalanipayattu" martial art specialists gliding silently in from Vembanad lake, with torches blazing in the silent night, will linger forever in your memory. Followed by these events a sumptuous Sea Food barbeque Dinner awaits you. The dinner will be served by the poolside.
Overnight at Resort.

DAY 09 : KUMARAKOM/PERIYAR

Morning transfer by boat to the Transit station, thereafter to depart by coach for Periyar wildlife sanctuary. Arrive and check in at SPICE VILLAGE RESORT - a village resort set in a spice garden. Afternoon visit the Periyar Wild life sanctuary which extends to 777 sq.km and forms part of the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghat. The best way to see wild life can be seen while cruising on Periyar lake in a motoboat. Amongst the animals are wild elephants, which can be seen and photographed at close quarters, wild boar, sambhar, tiger, leopard, wild dog and langur monkeys. Overnight stay at Resort.

DAY 10 : PERIYAR/MADURAI

Morning depart by coach for Madurai. Arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon city tour visiting the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva, with its towering gopurams. later visit Tirumala nayak Palace - a gracious building in the Indo-Saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes and arches. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 11 : MADURAI/TRICHY/TANJORE

Depart by coach for Tanjore. Enroute visit Rock Fort and Srirangam Temple in Trichy. Thereafter, proceed for Tanjore. On arrival grand Welcome by Big Temple Elephant and reception by beautiful girls dressed in traditional South Indian costumes. Evening enjoy a Bullock Cart ride through the town. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 12 : TANJORE

Morning sightseeing tour visiting the famous Chola temple of Brihadeshwara. Also visit Art Gallery and Saraswati Mahal Library. Late in the afternoon visit to a South Indian village and Coconut Plantation on the banks of the River Cauvery. Evening Magic Show: there is nothing that captures the magical spirit of the land as much as the conjuror who enthrals his audience with leights of hand and a range of tricks. Only the adventurous can volunteer to be sawed in half! Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 13 : TANJORE/MAHABALIPURAM

Depart by coach for Mahabalipuram. En route visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Chidambaram Natraja (Dancing Shiva)temples. Arrive and check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 14 : MAHABALIPURAM

Famous for the seven pagodas. Here on the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are the examples of Dravidian style of architecture. The sculptors are more than 1200 years old. There are five chariots cut out of rock in individual pieces and carved out intricately. See the world's largest and finest stone Bas-relief 27 metres long and 9 metres wide depicting Arjuna's penance. Thereafter, proceed for Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram known as the golden city of a thousand temples speaks of the gorgeous Dravidian heritage. These temples provide an opportunity to study the temple architecture in South India. Return to Mahabalipuram.
Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 15 : MAHABALIPURAM/CHENNAI

Depart by coach for Chennai. Arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon city tour visiting the Fort of St.George, High Court, Fort Museum, marina Beach, santhome cathedral and Snake Park and drive past the Flower and Fruit market. Evening witness Bharat Natyam Dance followed by Dinner at "The Raintree Restaurant". Overnight stay at hotel.

DAY 16 : DEPART CHENNAI

In time transfer to the airport to board flight for onward destination.

Note: Train schedule subject to change.