Duration:
13 nights / 14 days
Destinations Covered: Chennai
- Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Trichy - Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar - Cochin
- Bangalore - Mysore - Chennai
Day
1: Departure from your home country.
Day 2: Chennai (Madras)
Arrive Chennai(Madras). Transfer to Hotel.
Day 3: Chennai (Madras) - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram
Full day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram (Checkout from the hotel at
1200 hrs).
Kanchipuram (64 kms from Madras) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous
as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated
to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls.
Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of
interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.
The city of Mahabalipuram is 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. Evening transfer to rail-station for Trichy
night train. Night on board.
Day 4: Trichy
Morning arrive Trichy and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon tour of Trichy. Trichy was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the
medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between
the French and the English. Lord Robert Clive's house is still there to see
and so is the Danish Church. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. A climb
of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top and a further climb
to a Shiva temple.
Overnight Trichy.
Day 5: Tanjore - Madurai
Morning
drive to Madurai visiting Tanjore enroute. At Tanjore, the beautiful Chola Temple
of Brihadeshwara is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block
weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 km long ramp,
an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and
handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India. Overnight
Madurai.
Day 6: Madurai
Morning visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva
with its towering gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side).
Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic
style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit the
Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Afternoon free. Overnight Madurai.
Day 7: Periyar
Morning drive to Periyar National Park. Set up in 1934, it extends to 777 square
kms & forms part of the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghats. Wild life
can be seen while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motor boat. Amongst the animals
which can be seen are elephants, wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog,
langur monkeys, etc. Overnight Periyar.
Day 8: Cochin
Drive to Cochin. Overnight Cochin.
Day 9: Cochin
Morning
tour of Cochin. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the famed underwater
Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the rougher the seas are outside
the calmer the waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama placed it on the
world map. It has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, mosques & Hindu
temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Afternoon free. Overnight Cochin.
Day 10: Bangalore - Mysore
Morning transfer to airport for Bangalore flight. Arrive Bangalore and drive
directly to Mysore. Overnight Mysore.
Day 11: Mysore
Full day excursion to Belur and Halebid. The Chenna Kesava temple of Belur built
900 years ago is an exquisite example of Hoysala art. Halebid's 12th century
Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples are master pieces of Hindu art. On the
return, if time permits, visit Sravanbelgola. At Sravanbelgola, hewn out of
a single rock and visible from a distance of 25 kms is the statue of Lord Gomteshwara
which is bathed with milk and honey once every 12 years. Overnight Mysore.
Day 12: Mysore
Morning visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 - 1912. The palace is
of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and saracenic styles of architecture with
archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent. Visit
the Art Gallery; drive upto Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a
panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Afternoon free.
Overnight Mysore.
Day 13: Chennai (Madras)
Transfer to rail-station for Madras train. Arrive and transfer to Hotel. Overnight
Madras.
Day 14: Departure
Morning free. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Transfer to airport for return flight.
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