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Day-1 Chennai / Mahabalipuram.
Meals Included : Breakfast.
American breakfast this morning. You’ll proceed on a brief
visit of the City of Madras. Fort St. George built by the
British East India Company, completed in the 17th Century,
St. Mary's Church and the Government Museum for its superb
collection of Chola Art. Lunch in Chennai. Continue drive to
Mahabalipuram. 58 kilometers from Madras on the Bay of
Bengal, this tiny sea side village of Mahabalipuram, is set
in a boulder-strewn landscape. You’ll stop en route to visit
the Cholamandal Artists Village and the Dakshinchitra
Museum, which showcases Traditional Art, Craft and
Architecture from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Checkin at your
Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in
Mahabalipuram.
Day-2 Mahabalipuram.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
After breakfast this morning, you’ll visit Mahabalipuram
known world over for its shore temples. Mahabalipuram, was
the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram.
Tourists are drawn to this place by its miles of unspoiled
beach and rock-cut art. The sculpture of this place is
particularly interesting, because it shows scenes of day-to-
day life, in contrast to the rest of the state of Tamil Nadu,
where carvings generally depict gods and goddesses.
This afternoon will be at your leisure to enjoy the
facilities at your hotel. Overnight in Mahabalipuram.
Day-3 Mahabalipuram / Chennai / Madurai.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
After breakfast this morning, you’ll be transferred to
Chennai Airport for your flight to Madurai. On reaching
Madurai, you’ll be met by our representative and transferred
to your hotel.
Madurai: Two thousand six hundred years old Madurai, often referred
to as the Athens of the East, is the oldest city in Tamil
Nadu, both historically and mythologically. Madurai, the
most famous of the temple towns of the south is known for
the Meenakshi Temple. Famed for its many carved and painted
halls, this magnificent temple of goddess Meenakshi and Lord
Sundareshwar (Shiva) has the tallest Gopuram (temple
gateway) in the world. It lies on the banks of the river
Vaigai. The Temple and the old city adorn the southern bank,
while modern Madurai with its famous textile mills,
engineering industries and vast university campus sprawls
around.
Afternoon visit the Meenakshi Temple.
After an early Dinner (at your own expense) you’ll transfer
by to the Meenakshi Temple to witness the closing ceremony,
where the idols of Sundareshwar (Lord Shiva) and his consort
Meenakshi (Parvati), are taken in a procession and confined
to the bed chamber. Return to Hotel. Overnight in Madurai.
Day-4 Madurai / Munnar.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
After an early breakfast this morning you’ll drive to Munnar.
Check-In at your Hotel.
In 1877, the Royal family of Anchanad sold to J.D. Munro (a
British Officer), a tract of land in the Kannan Devan Hills.
The tract was completely underdeveloped, largely unexplored
and covered with thick forests and there were no means of
communications. J.D. Munro formed the North Travancore Land
Planting and Agricultural Society and members of the society
developed their own estates in various parts of the High
Range. The first cultivation was undertaken in 1877. The
pioneers tried many crops, such as coffee, cinchosna, sisal
and cardamom, before discovering in TEA a product best
suited to the area.
This afternoon will be at your leisue. Dinner and Overnight
at the Windermere Estate.
Day-5 In Munnar.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
Breakfast at Hotel. You’ll proceed on a full day exploration
of the different regions of Munnar starting with a visit to
Anaimudi, which is the tallest peak in Southern India, walk
in the buffer zone of the Eraivikulam National Park to see
the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. As part of the visits you will
visit a Cardamom Plantation and a tea estate. The High range
has a great history behind it and your guides will tell you
more about it with much passion. Overnight in Munnar.
Day – 6 Munnar / Kothamangalam / Kumarakom.
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch.
After breakfast, this morning, you will drive to Kumarakom.
You’ll stop en-route for Lunch at a Plantation Bungalow in
Kothamangalam. After lunch, you’ll continue driving to
Kumarakom an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove
forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves
interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals. Situated
on the Vembanad Lake, in this small water world you’ll come
across plenty of traditional country crafts, boats and
canoes that will take you into the heart of the scenic lake.
On arrival into Kumarakom Check-Into your hotel. Overnight
in Kumarakom.
Day – 7 Kumarakom.
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch.
After breakfast this morning you’ll visit the temple at
Ettumannur near Kottayyam. Thereafter you will be
transferred to Vechoor Boat Jetty for a short boat transfer
to Phillip Kutty’s for lunch with a traditional Syrian
Christian. Return to your hotel mid-afternoon. The rest of
the afternoon will be at leisure at the hotel. Overnight in
Kumarakom. Overnight at Hotel.
Day – 8 Kumarakom / Alleppey / Cochin.
Meals Included : Breakfast / Lunch.
After breakfast this morning you’ll board a traditional rice
barge that takes you through the colorful canals across Lake
Vembanad. Lunch on board. You’ll reach finishing point boat
Jetty at Alleppey and transfer to Cochin. On reaching Cochin
you’ll check-into your hotel.
At sunset, you’ll enjoy a cruise on the Cochin Harbor,
passing through Wellington Island, Bolgatty Islands, fishing
boats and ending up at the Chinese Fishing Nets. These huge
cantilevered fishing nets are the legacy of one of the first
visitors to the Malabar Coast. The best place to watch the
nets being lowered into the sea and the catch being brought
in is the Vasco da Gama Square, a narrow promenade that runs
along the beach. Overnight in Cochin.
Day – 9 Cochin.
Meals Included : Breakfast.
A leisurely walk through the city is the best way to
discover historic
Fort Kochi. An obscure fishing village that became the first
European township in India, Kochi or Cochin has an eventful
and colorful history. The town was shaped by the Portuguese,
the Dutch and later the British. The result of these
cultural influences is seen in the many examples of Indo
European architecture that still exists here.
This morning you’ll proceed on a sightseeing tour of the
Dutch Palace Museum and St. Francis Church. Walk through the
Jewish Town and visit the Synagogue. Bargain in the lovely
antique shops in the old part of the town. This afternoon
will be at your leisure to stroll around town.
Evening witness a show of Kathakali, the popular art form of
Kerala, referred to as the first theatre imagination of the
world, owing to its elaborate costumes, ornaments and facial
make-up. Witness the make-up session.
Overnight in Cochin.
Day-10 Cochin / Next Destination.
Meals Included : Breakfast.
After breakfast this morning you’ll be transferred to the
airport for your flight to the next destination. |
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