Home >> God's own
country - Kerala
Delightful South! Nearly untouched by invasions throughout it’s history, the Indian heritage is more intact here than in any other region of the country. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, home of the world famous Bharat Natyam dance, towering temples and the towns of Mahaballipuram and Kanchipuram. Kerala, with it verdant greenery and breathtaking landscapes is the spice coast of India, with a thread of unbroken beach line, a unique network of rivers and lagoons.
Duration : 24 Nights / 25 Days
This itinerary covers the following destinations : Bombay - Bangalore - Mysore - Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Madurai - Kanyakumari - Kovalam - Periyar - Cochin
Day
1 : Bombay
Reach Bombay late in the evening. Welcome with flower Garlands on arrival at the airport. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2 : Bombay
Bombay is the country's foremost sea port, commercial centre and the centre of world’s largest film industry commonly called the Bollywood.
Day 3 : Bombay
Take a cruise in the Arabian Sea to see the famous Elephanta Caves - Hewn out of a solid rock, the Elephanta Caves date back to 600 AD, the cave complex is a collection of shrines, courtyards, inner cells, grand halls and porticos arranged in the splendid symmetry of Indian rock-cut architecture, and filled with exquisite stone sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses represented in many reincarnations.
In the afternoon, depart for your first encounter with the city starting with a visit to the Gateway of India, the imposing stone archway in Indo-Saracenic architecture built in 1911, Hanging Gardens, the Aquarium and the Marine Drive. Later visit the museum of Wales, then walk towards the Victoria station and the market of Colaba.
Day
4 : Bombay / Bangalore (Flight, S2 215 – 1645 / 1820)
Morning at leisure in Bombay. In the afternoon, leave for the airport to catch a flight for Bangalore .
Day 5 : Bangalore
After breakfast, proceed for an orientation for your stay in Bangalore, the Capital city of Karnataka. The town came into existence in the early 16th century and is also refereed to as the Garden City. It is India's cosmopolitan city and has become a landmark for the IT industry.
The visit includes a walk in Lal Bagh - the rich and beautiful Lal Bagh Garden spread over 240 acres of greens located up till southern suburbs of Bangalore. Rulers of Mysore laid this garden. Haider Ali started building this garden in 1760, but his son Tipu Sultan completed it.
Continue your experience with a visit to the National Museum that was established in 1896, the Museum has significant collections of ancient weapons, stone carvings, pottery, painting and relics of the 5000-year-old Mohan- jo-Daro civilization. Vidhan Saudha, a magnificent post independence structure incorporating the traditional feature of architecture. Later pick up your shopping bags and enjoy shopping.
Day
6 : Bangalore / Mysore (3 ½ hrs)
Depart for Mysore - the capital of the erstwhile princely state, this quaint charming city of Mysore has a profusion of palaces and museums around which the boulevards of the city radiate.
Enroute, we stop at Srirangapattanam, the summer Palace of Tipu Sultan, located on an island of Cauvery. In the afternoon, we visit the Mysore Palace, one of the grand and magnificent palaces in India . It's a kaleidoscope of stained glass, beautiful carved wooden doors, mosaic floors, and exquisite paintings. Mysore is famous for its silk, sandalwood and incense sticks. Arrive and check in to the hotel.
Day 7 : Mysore
The next morning, visit the Mysore Palace built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, arches and colonnades, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and pieces of art from all over the world. The tastefully decorated and intricately
carved doors open into luxuriously decorated rooms. The palace has now been
converted into a museum, which treasures paintings, jewellery, royal costumes
of the rulers and much more.
Then visit Chamundi Hills - the temple of patron Goddess of Wodeyars, Chamundeshwari located on a hill 335 m high, the temple can be approached by 1000 steps built by the Maharaja of Mysore in the 17th century. Half way towards the temple is the giant monolith Nandi Bull. Also visit the Vrindavan Gardens. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 8 : Mysore / Chennai (Train – 1420 / 2125)
Spend the day at your disposal.
Day
9 : Chennai / Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram / Chennai
Mahabalipuram : As the port of the Pallava rulers of Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram was of particular importance in the 7th -8th centuries. Most of the Hindu monuments date from this period. They are particularly associated with two Pallava rulers, Mamalla and Rajasimha. The rock-cut and monolithic temples at Mahabalipuram are the earliest temples of monumental architecture in Southern India. Most of the cave temples are excavated into the sides of a granite hill, only a short distance from the sea..
Kanchipuram : One of the holy cities of Hindus, is Kanchipuram. The city has a political significance since it served as a capital of Pallava rulers in the 7th -9th century. It continued to maintain its importance during the succeeding Cholas, Vijayanagars and Nayakas periods. Important examples of Hindu temple architecture spanning almost a thousand years are preserved at Kanchipuram.
Day 10 : Chennai
Sightseeing tour of Chennai city starts with a visit to Saint Mary's Church (1678 - 80), the spiritual and physical centre of the original settlement and the oldest surviving building in the East associated with the Anglican church.
Visit the famous museum that houses a fantastic collection of medieval artillery, regimental flags, weapons and armour. Also visit the St. George Fort built in 1644. Drive along the Marina, which is one of the most beautiful marine promenades in the world and contains a series of impressive private and public buildings. End the tour with a visit to Kapaleeshwara temple. This is the largest and the most important Shiva complex in Chennai.
Day 11 : Chennai / Pondicherry(3 hrs)
Spend the day at your disposal and travel down to Pondicherry.
Day 12 : Pondicherry
Pondicherry, 161 kilometres south of Madras, is an amalgamation of all the former French settlements, which were handed over to the Indian Government in November, 1954.
The French influence is still noticeable albeit superficial. The main attraction of the town is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram founded in 1926 and based on the teachings of philosopher poet Aurobindo Ghose and also known as the Centre of Intergral Yoga.
Day 13 : Pondicherry
Spend the day at your disposal.
Day 14 : Pondicherry / Chennai (162 Kms)/ Madurai (Train – 2110 / 0620)
In the afternoon, transfer to Chennai railway station to connect train for Madurai Night on board.
Day
15 : Madurai
Reach Madurai at 06:20 hrs. Madurai is the cultural capital of South India. It has been a centre of learning and pilgrimage, for centuries. Visit the Meenakshi temple, which is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture, with gopurams covered from top to bottom, in a profusion of multi coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. It is the most alive temple of India.
Afternoon, visit the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, which was built in 1636. In the evening, attend the evening ceremony with melodious music when lord Sundarasvehvara, goes to rest beside Meenakshi.
Day 16 : Madurai / Kanyakumari
Spend the morning at leisure to explore the local market. In the late evening, pack up for the railway station to catch a train for Kanyakumari. Night on board.
Day 17 : Kanyakumari
In the afternoon, start the tour of Kanyakumari with a visit to the Kumari Amman Temple , the Vivekananda Rock and experience the fantastic sunset near the sea.
Day 18 : Kanyakumari
Day at leisure in Kanyakumari.
Day
19 : Kanyakumari / Kovalam
Once you reach Kovalam, check in to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure near the beach.
Day 20 : Kovalam
The next day visit the beautiful Kovalam.
Day 21 : Kovalam / Cochin ( 4 hrs )
The next morning depart for Cochin which has been Kerala's centre for trade for innumerable centuries. With its beautiful setting on a cluster of islands, narrow peninsulas and a long history, Cochin boasts of one of the oldest churches in India, 500 year old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the historical Palace built by the Portuguese, Jewtown, complete with an immaculately preserved synagogues. In the afternoon, visit the Fort area including the Dutch Palace, the Church of St. Frances and the Jewish synagogue.
Day
22 : Cochin
Breakfast at the hotel Boat Cruise. Depart to take a dip in the water with rice boats called Kettuvalam. This trip will take you through the tropical countryside and enchanting backwaters to Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets, typical villages and regattas ( boats snakes ) for which Kerala is very famous.
Day 23 : Cochin / Periyar
After a leisurely breakfast depart for Periyar. In the afternoon, visit the famous Periyar wildlife sanctuary on a motorboat to see the wild life set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats of Kerala. Periyar - an artificial lake or reservoir created by a dam on Periyar River, which is the heart of the 777 sq. km Wildlife Sanctuary. Apart from the wild elephant, one can spot Asiatic Deer, Black Buck and even Tigers.
Day
24 : Periyar
Periyar is famous for spices. The next morning, visit the farms to see how famous spices are grown for which the French, Dutch, Portuguese and British came to India. The spices found here are pepper, tea, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, turmeric, etc. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 25 : Periyar / Cochin / Bombay (9W 404 – 1535 / 1720)
After breakfast pack up for the Cochin airport at 15:35 hrs, Depart for Bombay. At 1720hrs, reach Bombay and get ready to leave for the International airport to catch the flight to your next destination.
Enchanting South
Delightful South! Nearly untouched by invasions throughout it’s history, the Indian heritage is more intact here than in any other region of the country. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, home of the world famous Bharat Natyam dance, towering temples and the towns of Mahaballipuram and Kanchipuram. Kerala, with it verdant greenery and breathtaking landscapes is the spice coast of India, with a thread of unbroken beach line, a unique network of rivers and lagoons.
Duration : 24 Nights / 25 Days
This itinerary covers the following destinations : Bombay - Bangalore - Mysore - Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Madurai - Kanyakumari - Kovalam - Periyar - Cochin
Day
1 : Bombay Reach Bombay late in the evening. Welcome with flower Garlands on arrival at the airport. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2 : Bombay
Bombay is the country's foremost sea port, commercial centre and the centre of world’s largest film industry commonly called the Bollywood.
Day 3 : Bombay
Take a cruise in the Arabian Sea to see the famous Elephanta Caves - Hewn out of a solid rock, the Elephanta Caves date back to 600 AD, the cave complex is a collection of shrines, courtyards, inner cells, grand halls and porticos arranged in the splendid symmetry of Indian rock-cut architecture, and filled with exquisite stone sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses represented in many reincarnations.
In the afternoon, depart for your first encounter with the city starting with a visit to the Gateway of India, the imposing stone archway in Indo-Saracenic architecture built in 1911, Hanging Gardens, the Aquarium and the Marine Drive. Later visit the museum of Wales, then walk towards the Victoria station and the market of Colaba.
Day
4 : Bombay / Bangalore (Flight, S2 215 – 1645 / 1820) Morning at leisure in Bombay. In the afternoon, leave for the airport to catch a flight for Bangalore .
Day 5 : Bangalore
After breakfast, proceed for an orientation for your stay in Bangalore, the Capital city of Karnataka. The town came into existence in the early 16th century and is also refereed to as the Garden City. It is India's cosmopolitan city and has become a landmark for the IT industry.
The visit includes a walk in Lal Bagh - the rich and beautiful Lal Bagh Garden spread over 240 acres of greens located up till southern suburbs of Bangalore. Rulers of Mysore laid this garden. Haider Ali started building this garden in 1760, but his son Tipu Sultan completed it.
Continue your experience with a visit to the National Museum that was established in 1896, the Museum has significant collections of ancient weapons, stone carvings, pottery, painting and relics of the 5000-year-old Mohan- jo-Daro civilization. Vidhan Saudha, a magnificent post independence structure incorporating the traditional feature of architecture. Later pick up your shopping bags and enjoy shopping.
Day
6 : Bangalore / Mysore (3 ½ hrs)Depart for Mysore - the capital of the erstwhile princely state, this quaint charming city of Mysore has a profusion of palaces and museums around which the boulevards of the city radiate.
Enroute, we stop at Srirangapattanam, the summer Palace of Tipu Sultan, located on an island of Cauvery. In the afternoon, we visit the Mysore Palace, one of the grand and magnificent palaces in India . It's a kaleidoscope of stained glass, beautiful carved wooden doors, mosaic floors, and exquisite paintings. Mysore is famous for its silk, sandalwood and incense sticks. Arrive and check in to the hotel.
Day 7 : Mysore
The next morning, visit the Mysore Palace built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, arches and colonnades, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and pieces of art from all over the world. The tastefully decorated and intricately
carved doors open into luxuriously decorated rooms. The palace has now been
converted into a museum, which treasures paintings, jewellery, royal costumes
of the rulers and much more. Then visit Chamundi Hills - the temple of patron Goddess of Wodeyars, Chamundeshwari located on a hill 335 m high, the temple can be approached by 1000 steps built by the Maharaja of Mysore in the 17th century. Half way towards the temple is the giant monolith Nandi Bull. Also visit the Vrindavan Gardens. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 8 : Mysore / Chennai (Train – 1420 / 2125)
Spend the day at your disposal.
Day
9 : Chennai / Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram / Chennai Mahabalipuram : As the port of the Pallava rulers of Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram was of particular importance in the 7th -8th centuries. Most of the Hindu monuments date from this period. They are particularly associated with two Pallava rulers, Mamalla and Rajasimha. The rock-cut and monolithic temples at Mahabalipuram are the earliest temples of monumental architecture in Southern India. Most of the cave temples are excavated into the sides of a granite hill, only a short distance from the sea..
Kanchipuram : One of the holy cities of Hindus, is Kanchipuram. The city has a political significance since it served as a capital of Pallava rulers in the 7th -9th century. It continued to maintain its importance during the succeeding Cholas, Vijayanagars and Nayakas periods. Important examples of Hindu temple architecture spanning almost a thousand years are preserved at Kanchipuram.
Day 10 : Chennai
Sightseeing tour of Chennai city starts with a visit to Saint Mary's Church (1678 - 80), the spiritual and physical centre of the original settlement and the oldest surviving building in the East associated with the Anglican church.
Visit the famous museum that houses a fantastic collection of medieval artillery, regimental flags, weapons and armour. Also visit the St. George Fort built in 1644. Drive along the Marina, which is one of the most beautiful marine promenades in the world and contains a series of impressive private and public buildings. End the tour with a visit to Kapaleeshwara temple. This is the largest and the most important Shiva complex in Chennai.
Day 11 : Chennai / Pondicherry(3 hrs)
Spend the day at your disposal and travel down to Pondicherry.
Day 12 : Pondicherry
Pondicherry, 161 kilometres south of Madras, is an amalgamation of all the former French settlements, which were handed over to the Indian Government in November, 1954.
The French influence is still noticeable albeit superficial. The main attraction of the town is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram founded in 1926 and based on the teachings of philosopher poet Aurobindo Ghose and also known as the Centre of Intergral Yoga.
Day 13 : Pondicherry
Spend the day at your disposal.
Day 14 : Pondicherry / Chennai (162 Kms)/ Madurai (Train – 2110 / 0620)
In the afternoon, transfer to Chennai railway station to connect train for Madurai Night on board.
Day
15 : Madurai Reach Madurai at 06:20 hrs. Madurai is the cultural capital of South India. It has been a centre of learning and pilgrimage, for centuries. Visit the Meenakshi temple, which is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture, with gopurams covered from top to bottom, in a profusion of multi coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. It is the most alive temple of India.
Afternoon, visit the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, which was built in 1636. In the evening, attend the evening ceremony with melodious music when lord Sundarasvehvara, goes to rest beside Meenakshi.
Day 16 : Madurai / Kanyakumari
Spend the morning at leisure to explore the local market. In the late evening, pack up for the railway station to catch a train for Kanyakumari. Night on board.
Day 17 : Kanyakumari
In the afternoon, start the tour of Kanyakumari with a visit to the Kumari Amman Temple , the Vivekananda Rock and experience the fantastic sunset near the sea.
Day 18 : Kanyakumari
Day at leisure in Kanyakumari.
Day
19 : Kanyakumari / Kovalam Once you reach Kovalam, check in to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure near the beach.
Day 20 : Kovalam
The next day visit the beautiful Kovalam.
Day 21 : Kovalam / Cochin ( 4 hrs )
The next morning depart for Cochin which has been Kerala's centre for trade for innumerable centuries. With its beautiful setting on a cluster of islands, narrow peninsulas and a long history, Cochin boasts of one of the oldest churches in India, 500 year old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the historical Palace built by the Portuguese, Jewtown, complete with an immaculately preserved synagogues. In the afternoon, visit the Fort area including the Dutch Palace, the Church of St. Frances and the Jewish synagogue.
Day
22 : Cochin Breakfast at the hotel Boat Cruise. Depart to take a dip in the water with rice boats called Kettuvalam. This trip will take you through the tropical countryside and enchanting backwaters to Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets, typical villages and regattas ( boats snakes ) for which Kerala is very famous.
Day 23 : Cochin / Periyar
After a leisurely breakfast depart for Periyar. In the afternoon, visit the famous Periyar wildlife sanctuary on a motorboat to see the wild life set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats of Kerala. Periyar - an artificial lake or reservoir created by a dam on Periyar River, which is the heart of the 777 sq. km Wildlife Sanctuary. Apart from the wild elephant, one can spot Asiatic Deer, Black Buck and even Tigers.
Day
24 : Periyar Periyar is famous for spices. The next morning, visit the farms to see how famous spices are grown for which the French, Dutch, Portuguese and British came to India. The spices found here are pepper, tea, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, turmeric, etc. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 25 : Periyar / Cochin / Bombay (9W 404 – 1535 / 1720)
After breakfast pack up for the Cochin airport at 15:35 hrs, Depart for Bombay. At 1720hrs, reach Bombay and get ready to leave for the International airport to catch the flight to your next destination.
