South India Cultural Tour

Mahabalipuram

Today you will have a full day excursion of Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram. Drive to Kanchipuram (71 kms / 1.5 hours) from Chennai. Visit Kanchipuram, the golden city of a thousand temples and one of the seven sacred cities of India. It's many Gopurams can be seen from long way away. After the visit, continue your drive to Mahabalipuram (55 kms / 1 hour) which is an ancient coastal port and world famous for its shore temple.

After the visit return to Chennai for overnight stay. Upon arrival meet and transfer to Hotel.

Afternoon city tour of Chennai - to see some of the highlights of India's fourth largest city. Visit the National Art Gallery and museum, which houses some of the most beautiful temple friezes and South Indian bronzes; the Cathedral of San Thome, the Mylapore temple and St. Mary's church.

(museums closed on Fridays and National holidays).

Overnight at hotel.

Morning drive to Pondicherry (130 kms/3 hours), an old French settlement. Upon arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Pondicherry. ( any places to see enroute pls advise)

Overnight at the hotel.

Morning drive to Tanjore (190 kms / 5 kms), enroute visiting the Rock Fort temple in Trichy. Upon arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon proceed for a tour round Tanjore city visiting the various temples, outstanding among them is the Brihadeswara temple.

Overnight at the hotel.

Madurai

Drive to Madurai (190 kms/ 5 hours), which is a destination for the spiritually inclined. Upon arrival check in at the hotel. In the evening witness the closing prayer ceremony in the Meenakshi Temple, the famous landmark of this city.

Overnight at the hotel in Madurai.

Drive to Periyar (137 kms / 4.5 hours). Upon arrival check in at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the wild life reserve by boat on lake Periyar.

Overnight at the hotel.

Kathakali Dance

Morning, wildlife tour by Boat, afternoon drive to Kumarkonam. On arrival check in at hotel After check in at hotel, leave for the visit to teagardens and explore the natural beauty.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning leave for crusing boat upto Alleppy, on arrval meeting at the boatyard and transfer to hotel in Cochin. Evening : Kathakali dance show, Overnight at hotel.

Morning sightseeing tour of Cochin visiting Jewish synagogue, Mattenchery Dutch Palace, Jew Town and Fort Cochin area. Afternoon drive to Ooty.

Day for the tour of Ooty town and to explore the natural surroundings.

Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Morning free, afternoon drive to Mysore. On arrival check in at hotel.

Mysore

Morning visit the beautiful city of Mysore, which is known for it's fine craftsmanship in wood, ivory, sandalwood and for it's silk. Visit the Maharaja Palace, which is lavishly decorated in a mixture of styles. Also visit the Zoological Garden, the Mysore Arts & Crafts Center. Afternoon visit Brindavan Gardens (17 Kms) to see it illuminated in the evening and attend a musical fountain show around 1900 Hours.

Overnight at hotel.

Morning proceed for a City sightseeing tour of Bangalore with an excursion to Cubbon Park laid out in 1864, 300 acres of verdant park-land from the heart of Bangalore city. The Bangalore Palace, built by the Wodeyer ruler of Mysore over a 100 years ago, the unusual structure of Granite, the palace is modeled on the Windsor Palace. The fort and Tipu Sultan's palace, a collection of memorabilia of the 18th century. We also visit the Government Museum and Venkatappa Art gallery - one of the oldest in the country, established in 1886 adorned with relic of Mohenjodaro period. The historic sprawling gardens at the Lal Bagh extended over 240 acres, was laid out by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in 18th century. We drive past the Vidhan Soudha, High Court and the bull temple.

Evening transfer to airport for flight for Chennai, on arrival meeting at the airport and transfer to international airport.