Day-01: Arrive Chennai
Meet / Greet at airport and transfer to hotel. After
breakfast sightseeing of Chennai city visit Fort St
George's and St Mary's Church. Overnight stay.
Chennai: Owes its origins as India's fourth largest
city to the colonial period. Established by Francis
Day in 1639. The East India Company's fort and trading
post, known until 1996 as Madras, became the political
and economic capital of British territory in South India.
Cluster of earlier hamlets was incorporated in to the
growing city.
Day-02: Chennai - Mahabalipuram
Drive to Mahabalipuram offers a unique combination of
a superb group of monuments and several fine beaches.
On arrival installation in hotel Mahabalipuram: Also
known as Mamallapuram, this resort was built by Mahendra
Varman of the Pallava dynasty during the 17th century
who has given the world the unique monuments of sculptural
panels, monolithic panels, structural architecture and
cave temples. The most important of these architectural
relics are the Five Raths (Chariots). The shore temple,
Arjuna's penance and the M ahishasuramardhini cave.
Day-03: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry
Leave by surface to Pondicharry enroute visit Auroville,
is the brain child of the mother. Designed by French
architect Roger Anger, its opening ceremony on 28th
Feb 1968 and was attended by representatives of 121
countries, who poured the soil of their lands in to
an arn to symbolise universal one. The Matrimandir here
was designed to be the spiritual and physical center
of Auroville. Afternoon sightseeing of Pondicherry visit
Aurobindo Ashram. Overnight stay Pondicherry: The former
French colony settled in early 18th century, is a charming
Indian town with few enduring pockets of French culture,
and an Ashram set beside the sea. Together with the
other former French enclaves of Karaikal ( Tamil Nadu
), Mahe ( Kerala ) and yanam ( Andhra Pradesh ), it
is now forms the union territory of Pondicherry. It
is believed to be the site of ancient Vedapuri where
" Agastya muni " a sage had his hermitage
in 1500 B.C
Day-04: Pondicherry - Thanjavur
After breakfast drive to Thanjavur enroute visit Chidambaram
& Kumbakonam. The Lord in Chidambaram i.e. Nataraja
is believed to have emerged from sacred space and performed
his cosmic dance here. A great flood brought Kumbakonam
named from the legend where Shiva was said to have broken
a "Cumber" (Water Pot) that contained the
seeds of creation after it here. The water from the
pot is reputed to have filled the Mahamakam Tank. Afternoon
temple tour of Thanjavur. Overnight stay Thanjavur:
was the capital of the great Chola empire and later
of the Nayaka and Martha rulers. The Chola Kings built
most of Thanjavur's 93 temples. The Brihadishwara temple
is one of the world heritage monuments.
Day-05: Thanjavur - Madurai
Leave by surface to Madurai enroute visit Tiruchirapalli
also known as Trichy, long history goes back to before
the Christian era when it was Chola citadel. During
the first millennium AD, both the Pallavas and the Pandyas
took power many times before the Cholas regained control
in the 10th century. The Nayaks of Madurai built the
rock fort temples the town and its most famous landmarks.
Arrive Madurai. Overnight stay
Day-06: In Madurai
Morning sightseeing of Madurai visit Meenakshi temple,
Tirumalai Nayak Palace and Gandhi Museum. Evening watch
bedchamber ceromony, an image of Sundareswarer is carried
in procession from the shrine near the east " Gopuram
" to Meenakshi to sleep by her side, which is returned
the next morning. Overnight stay.
Madurai: is one of India's oldest cities and has been
a centre of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. Its
history relates to an era several centuries before Christ.
The Pandyan kings ruled from here until the 14th century.
The Pandyans, the Cholas and again the Pandyans successively
ruled the city, until it felt in to the hands of Muslim.
After 70 years of Muslim rule, the Hindu kingdom was
re-established by the Vijayanagar rulers.
Day-07: Madurai - Periyar
Drive to Periyar wildlife sanctuary. Game viewing and
excursion by boats inside the sanctuary to watch the
wild life. Overnight stay.
Perrier: situated in the cardamom hills on the border
of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Periyar was established in
1934 and is one of the largest sanctuaries in India.
It is one of the best sanctuaries in which one can observe
herds of elephants. The 21 miles long lake is artificial
built by the British in 1985 for irrigation purposes.
Viewing is the best by boats at sunrise and sunset.
Day-08 : Periyar - Cochin
Morning game viewing to the park again and drive to
Cochin. Evening Sun set cruise by motor boat. Overnight
stay.
Day-09: In Cochin
This morning tour the city visiting, Mattancherry Palace
the nearby merchant house and a fine Synagogue. Also
visit Fort Cochin and St. Francis Church, the oldest
European Church in India. In the afternoon take a motor
launch cruise around the picturesque harbor to see Bolghatty
Palace and the Chinese fishing nets. Overnight stay
Cochin: is a logon of islands and peninsulas separated
by back waters of the Arabian Sea, which are connected
by bridges and ferries, Cochin has a rich maritime history
and still ships Kerala's coir, rubber, seafood and pepper
products to foreign ports. Influenced at various times
by the Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British and finally Portuguese.
It was the white Jews who first emigrated from Roman
persecuted Jerusalem in 6th century BC to Cochin. Another
and bigger wave came in first century AD and thus was
founded the first strong community.
Day-10 : Cochin - Munnar
Morning invigorating journey through the green valleys
takes you to the top station, Munnar. Afternoon we proceed
to the Kundla Dam. After having good look around we
return to hotel. Overnight stay.
Day-11 : In Munnar
Morning walk through the tea plantations and walk around
Munnar hills, followed by jeep safari takes you through
to Eravikulam wild life sanctuary and there on to Benders
hills. Our route stretches across the mountain chain
and zig zags coars with its numerous hair pin bends-affords
breathtaking views of the wondrous ghats. Munnar : Situated
at 1890 mts is every travelers dream come true. Acres
of lush green grass lands and tea gardens stretch across
these mountains. Past the vast expenses of Neelakurunji,
which flowers once in 12 years. Overnight stay
Day-12 : Munnar - Kovalam
After breakfast we drive to Kovalam via Changanacherry
gives you wonderfull views adores the ghats and blissfully
quite when you stop. The route is also dotted with grand
churches among the trees. Overnight stay
Day-13 : In Kovalam
Full day at leisure, private activities and Ayurveda
rejuvenation etc. Overnight stay
Kovalam : India's most spectacular beach is a sheltered
natural bay. Enjoy the luxury sun sanded beaches washed
by the surf which roras and hisses at the feet of the
stalwart palms and beaches. A beach paradise, boundless
blue of the Arabian sea and the unwinding miles of fine
sanded beaches washed by the surf which roras and hisses
at the feet of stalwart palms. Overnight stay
Day-14 : Kovalam - Chennai - Home
Afternoon transfer to Trivandrum airport to board flight
for Chennai departing at 1430 hrs and arrival Chennai
at 1540 hrs. Late evening transfer to international
airport for your flight back home.
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