Temples & Backwaters

11 Nights/12 Days: (Chennai-Pondy-Chettinadu-Madurai-Periyar-Houseboat-Cochin)

Day 1: Arrive at Chennai  

Arrive Chennai Airport. You will be met by your driver and representative and transferred to hotel. Stay at Hotel for the night. Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Chennai with a guide. You will visit places like St. Thomas Cathedral, Fort St. George, Marina beach, markets etc.

Day 2: Chennai-Mahabalipuram-Pondicherry

Morning after breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram. On arrival enjoy a sightseeing tour of this lovely seaside which was the capital of the Pallavas dynasty. You could visit the shore temple, the largest bas-relief in the world called Arjuna’s Penance and the famous and beautiful Five Rathas (Chariots) are what will be most eye-catching. Arjuna’s Penance, a complicated piece of work on a vertical rock is one of the best preserved. Later drive to Pondicherry (2 Hrs).

The capital of the Union Territory of Puducherry, Pondicherry is a former French colony and is now among the chief tourist destinations of South India. This coastal town was a French colony till 1954 and still retains many colonial buildings, churches, statues and the systematic town planning by the French and is often called the Europe of India because of its town planning. Stay at Hotel for 2 nights.

Day 3: Pondicherry

Morning enjoy a guided tour of Pondicherry. You will visit Sri Arabindo Ashram and Hand made paper making factory, Pondicherry Museum, Church of Sacred Heart Jesus and later enjoy a stroll through the beach road and old streets of town.

Day 4: Pondicherry-Tanjore-Chettinadu

After an early breakfast drive to Tanjore (4 Hrs) visiting the temples at Darasulam enroute. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a well-preserved example of 12th century Chola architecture.

On arrival at Tanjore visit the world famous Brihandeswara Temple with a guide. The most important tourist attraction in Tanjore is the 10th century Brihandeswara Temple – dedicated to Lord Shiva with a huge Shiva Lingam and a stone sculpture of the Nandi Bull. The Temple has been included in the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Monuments. Later drive to Chettinadu ( 3 Hrs). Stay at Hotel 2 nights.

Day 5: Chettinadu

Morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of the local town. You could visit the Chettinadu Raja’s Palace, local handmade tile making, Saree Weaving and a daily local market. Chettinadu is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiyar, a prosperous banking and business community, many of whose members migrated to South and Southeast Asia, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Chettinadu is well known for its Chettinadu cuisine, Mansions, and Temples.

Day 6: Chettinadu-Madurai

Morning after breakfast drive to Madurai (2 Hrs). Much like Varanasi in the north, Madurai is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India. Situated on the banks of Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu, the city is known for its Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. Stay at Hotel for the night.

Afternoon visit the famous Meenakshi Temple, the largest temple in South India, Madurai Palace remains & Teppakulam tank. The city of Madurai was originally built in the shape of a lotus flower, centred on the celebrated Sri Meenakshi Temple.

Day 7: Madurai-Periyar

Morning after breakfast drive to Periyar (4 Hrs). The Periyar wildlife Sanctuary, situated on the banks of the Periyar lake, is spread across 777 sq km, of which 360 sq km is thick evergreen forest. Stay at Hotel for 2 nights. Evening enjoy a martial arts show in a near-by theatre.

Day 8: Periyar

Morning enjoy a guided spice plantation tour where you can see the locally grown spices in Periyar like cinnamon, cardamom, pepper cloves etc. You will have a person to explain how they are grown, harvested and processed. Later enjoy an elephant ride through spice plantation.

Afternoon enjoy a boating in lake Periyar to spot wild animals. The artificial lake in the sanctuary was formed by the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River. The wildlife can be viewed at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The herds of wild elephant that come to water on the banks of the lake are a major attraction. The sanctuary is home to herds of elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs.

Day 9: Periyar- Alleppey

Morning after breakfast drive to Alleppey ( 4 Hrs). By noon board your one bedroom House boat (AC Deluxe Houseboat) for overnight    cruise on the Vembanad Lake. These boats are made in the traditional style but have modern en-suite facilities. This cruise on the Backwaters of the Vembanad Lake lets you have a look at the vast expanse of waterways and the village life. Lunch Dinner and breakfast will be served on the board. The boat anchors by 1800 Hrs and it will be stationary till next day early morning. They switch on the air-conditioning during the bed time from 2000- 0630 Hrs. Overnight on boat.

Day 10:    Alleppey- Cochin

Morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Cochin ( 4 Hrs).Stay at Hotel for 2 nights. Evening enjoy Kathakali dance show in a near-by theatre. Kathakali dance performance, the ancient pantomime dance drama of Kerala. The performance is for about 2 and half hours, with an hour of make-up, a short
introduction about the dance and an hour of dance performance. You can take pictures at the centre but they do charge a camera fee which can be paid directly at the centre.

Day 11: Cochin

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you start your sight-seeing tour of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. You will visit St. Francis Church, the oldest church built by Europeans in India where the Vasco Da Gama was buried. The Dutch Palace, with its murals, the Synagogue with is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. You get to see the old spice markets, some of which still ply their trade and the life of the people who live in the labyrinth which once used to be a thriving trading port. Afternoon you can explore the modern part of the Cochin to do some shopping.

Day 12: Departure from Cochin Airport

Like all good things, your tour in India comes to an end but you will always carry with you memories of this unique and unforgettable holiday experience. Today morning you will be assisted and transferred (1 Hr) to Cochin Airport to connect your flight to Chennai.