13 Nights/14 Days

Day 01: Arrival Cochin

Assistance upon arrival at Cochin airport, followed by transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Cochin

Have breakfast in the hotel. This day there will be full day sightseeing of Delhi. Places of visit includes:

• Dutch Palace at Mattancherry. (Friday Closed)
• The Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town. (Friday & Saturday Closed).
• The St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India.
• The Santa Cruz Basilica, originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese.
• Drive past the Chinese fishing nets which are huge cantilevered nets believed to have been brought to Kochi by Chinese traders.
• In the evening see a kathakkali dance drama which is a must while in cochin

Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 03: Cochin – Alleppey – Kumarakom

After breakfast, drive down to Jetty at Alleppey. Board the houseboat from the jetty point to start the houseboat cruise for about 03-04 hrs including lunch on the houseboat itself. After the cruise, you shall be dropped back to the Jetty point of the resort.

On arrival, check in to hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax at the resort. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04: Kumarakom – Periyar

After breakfast drive to Periyar. Upon arrival, check into the hotel. Rest of the day is free for individual activities. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Madurai. Madurai is situated on the banks of Vaigai River. This city is more than 2500 years old and was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 A. D. when the Pandvas made it their capital. Modern Madurai is a burgeoning industrial centre even though the vast stretches of lush paddy fields.

On arrival check in the pre booked hotel. Stay overnight in the hotel.

After breakfast, half day city tour of Madurai. Madurai is famous for Meenakshi Temple built by kulasekara Pandaya. One of the temple dedicated to Meenakshi (Parwati) and other to Lord Sundreswarar (Shiva). Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal is about 1km south east of the Meenakshi temple; illustrate the architectural mastery of the Nayakks. Places to visit include

• Meenakshi temple
• Thirumalai Nayak Palace
• Teppakulam

At late evening, attend the evening ceremony at Meenakshi temple. Stay overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Chettinad. Chettinad is rich in cultural heritage, art and architecture, and is well known for its houses, embellished with marble and Burma teak, wide courtyards, spacious rooms, and for its 18th century mansions. Local legend has it that their walls used to be polished with a paste made out of egg whites to give a smooth texture. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. Evening is free to explore the village. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 08: Chettinad – Rameshwaram

After breakfast drive to Rameshwaram. On arrival check in at the hotel. Rameshwaram is a very important pilgrimage centre of India. The presiding deity is the Linga of Sri Ranganatha, which happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India. Rameshwaram is also popularly referred to as the 'Benaras of the south'. In order to attain Moksha it is believed that the visit to Rameshwaram is mandatory. Later visit the famous Ramanathaswamy temple. Evening is free for individual activities. Stay overnight at the hotel

Day 09: Rameshwaram – Thanjavur

After breakfast drive to Thanjavur. On arrival check in at the hotel. Though the history Thanjavur dates back to the Sangam age, it was between the 10th and 14th centuries that Thanjavur reached its zenith becoming the centre of Tamil learning and culture. Modern Thanjavur is a fertile plain which is often referred to as the "rice bowl" of Tamil Nadu. Evening will be for leisure activities. Stay overnight at the Hotel.

After breakfast visit of Thanjavur. The places to visit include

• Brihadeeshwara temple
• Palace
• Schwartz church

Later afternoon excursion to Trichy. Trichy is situated on the bank of the river Kavery and has always been a seat of power in south India and it bears the scars of wars fought to control it. Places to visit include -

• Rock Fort temple,
• Srirangam temple
• Below the fort, a must is a walk through china bazaar, the big bazaar and down the narrow side streets.

Later drive back for overnight at the hotel in Thanjavur.

Day 11: Thanjavur - Chidambaram – Mahabalipuram

After breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram. En-route, visit Chidambaram. After the visit continue drive to Mahabalipuram. Upon arrival check in the pre booked hotel. Stay overnight at the Hotel.

Day 12: Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram

After breakfast, visit Mahabalipuram. It was the second capital and seaport of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram the first Tamil dynasty of any real consequence to emerge after the fall of the Gupta Empire. Temples to visit include

• Shore Temple
• Rath temples

Then drive to Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram is very famous for its Silk Sarees. This is one of the seven sacred cities of India. Its temples are spectacular and the gopums can be seen from miles away. Temples to visit include

• Varadaraja Perumal Temple
• Kailasanatha temple
• Ekambareshwara temple.

Late evening drive back to Mahabalipuram. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 13: Mahabalipuram - Chennai

After breakfast drive to Chennai. On arrival check in at the hotel. Chennai the gracious city of ancient traditions is an urban agglomerate of over 5million people. It is the city of courtesy, charm and culture, with values of another day or age, still cherished here amidst the bustle of modern metropolis. In Chennai places to visit are

• Fort St George and St Mary’s Church
• Fort museum
• Kaapaleeswarar Temple
• Sree Parthasarathy Temple
• St. Thomas Bascilica

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14: Chennai

Have breakfast in the hotel. Then as per your flight timings get driven to the Chennai International Airport to board your flight back home. Services from our side end here with sweet memories of the Tour.