Day -
01 » Arrive Chennai(Madras)
Arrive Chennai(Madras). Transfer to Hotel. Overnight
Chennai(Madras).
Day - 02 » Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram
Full day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram (Checkout from the
hotel at 1200 hrs).
Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai(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 - 03 » 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 - 04 » 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.
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 - 06 » 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 - 07 » Cochin
Drive to Cochin. Overnight Cochin.
Day - 08 » 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 - 09 » Flight for Bangalore
Morning transfer to airport for Bangalore flight. Arrive Bangalore and drive directly to Mysore. Overnight Mysore.
Day - 10 » Belur - Halebid
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 - 11 » 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 - 12 » Mysore - Chennai
Transfer to rail-station for Chennai(Madras) train. Arrive and transfer to Hotel.
Day - 13 » Chennai - Back home
Morning free. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Transfer to airport for return flight.