Classical South India with Beach Stay

Classical South India with Beach Stay

This Classical South India Tour is a great mix of the best parts of Tamilnadu and the serene Nature of Kerala.The history and culture of Tamilnadu is vivid for a traveller.Kerala is know for its Natural beauty,people,lifestyle and cuisine.Houseboat is a unique attraction of Kerala along with its vibrant backwaters.

Itinerary

Day 1: Chennai-Mamallapuram

Stop At: Monuments at Mahabalipuram, Mahabalipuram India
On arrival at Chennai, you will be transferred to Mahabalipuram Beach to check into your hotel on beach.(Check in time is 1 PM).Afternoon sightseeing of Mahabalipuram to explore the heritage of Mahabalipuram temples, built in 7th & 8th century AD which are today the sight of several antique sculptural marvels. Overnight at hotel.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Ideal Beach Resort,a 4 star hotel right on the beach

Day 2: Kanchipuram

Stop At: Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu
After an early breakfast,drive to Kanchipuram for sightseeing.Afternoon return to Mahabalipuram for exploring the beaches. You may opt to go for a walk through the main streets of Mahabalipuram which is full of local life.Overnight stay at the hotel.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Ideal Beach Resort

Day 3: The French Flavour

Stop At: Pondicherry, Pondicherry, Union Territory of Pondicherry
After a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Pondicherry which still carries a strong flavour of the French presence in India. On arrival ,check in at your hotel.Afternoon a familiarisation of the City. The traditional French architecture is still maintained even in the latest renovations and the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is the authorized agency for any such renovations in Pondicherry.After sightseeing,you will be brought to the Beach Road to spend sometime walking through the beachside to see the public life around.Return to your hotel. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Atithi,a cute boutique hotel centrally located

Day 4: Gingee Fort-Thiruvannamalai

Stop At: Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvannamalai, Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu
After breakfast, drive to Gingee Fort also known as Senchi Fort. You will visit the monuments located at the foot of the hill. Later drive to Tiruvannamalai to visit Arunachaleswarar Temple and Ramana Maharshi Ashram and Girivalam Road where you will find a number of Sadhoos just like in Varanasi.Late evening visit the temple again to watch the closing ceremony from close distance to the Sanctum Sanctorum.Overnight at Hotel.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Gingee Fort, Chidambaram, Villupuram District Thindivanam to Thiruvannamalai Road, 25 km, Gingee India
Visit Gingee Fort Enroute
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Himalaya,centrally located

Day 5: UNESCO Sites

Stop At: Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Cholapuram, Thanjavur India
After an early breakfast at the hotel,drive to Gangaikondacholapuram (UNESCO temple) to visit the amazing architectural Marvel. Later visit Darasuram Iravadeeswarar Temple (UNESCO Monument).On arrival at Kumbakonam,check in to your hotel.Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Darasuram, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India
Visit Airavateswara Temple,a UNESCO monument
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Paradise Resorts,a farm resort set in a living traditional village

Day 6: Tanjore Big Temple

Stop At: Brihadeeshwara Temple, Trichy High road, Thanjavur 613001 India
Early morning visit Darasuram Wholesale Vegetable market which is nice to visit .Later after breakfast,visit Tanjore Palace and big temple in the morning.Afternoon return to your resort for a village experience.Go for a bullock cart ride through the nearby village.Also you may visit to the artisans around the place. Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Paradise Resort

Day 7: Sreerangam-Madurai

Stop At: Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
After an early breakfast, drive to Sreerangam to visit the Temple with the tallest Temple Tower (Entrance Tower) in India.Continue drive to Madurai, an ancient city, more than 2,500 years old, known as the Athens of the east.Afternoon for sightseeing of Madurai with an evening visit to Meenakshi Temple.Overnight at Madurai.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Venmani Rd, Sellur, Madurai 625002 India
Visit Meenakshi Temple
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Fortune Pandiyan,centrally located

Day 8: Munnar Tea Gardens

Stop At: Munnar, Munnar, Idukki District, Kerala
Morning, after breakfast, proceed to Munnar, known as nature lover’s paradise . On arrival,check in to your resort.Afternoon go for an orientation tour of Munnar. Overnight at the Hotel.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Olivebrook Farm stay

Day 9: Tea Trail

Stop At: Munnar, Munnar, Idukki District, Kerala
Full day guided Tea Trail experience. You will be driven to a Tea Plantation to go with the workers to pluck the tea leaves and you will go through the whole process of making tea.In between our Naturalist will give you short Nature walks through the tea plantation.Lunch will be served at the Estate Bungalow.Finally you will taste your own tea and will take home half kilo of Tea as memory of your day experience.Overnight at the Hotel.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Olivebrook Farm Stay

Day 10: Cochin

Stop At: Fort Kochi, Fort Kochi, Kochi (Cochin), Ernakulam District, Kerala
After breakfast, drive to Cochin.On arrival at Cochin,check into your hotel.Afternoon for free walks.Evening watch a classical art performance at Greenix Theatre which is a kaleidoscope of Kerala classical arts like Kathakali, Kalaripayattu (Martial Arts),Bharatanatyam etc. Overnight at Hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Greenix Village, Kalvathy Road, Kochi (Cochin) 682 001 India
Enjoy a fusion of traditional art forms at Greenix Village
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Delight Heritage Homestay centrally located with local host family living in the same house

Day 11: Poothotta village

Stop At: Fort Kochi, Fort Kochi, Kochi (Cochin), Ernakulam District, Kerala
Morning, after breakfast proceed for a village backwater cruise with lunch to explore the pristine beauty of village backwater life. Afternoon go for a City Tour, exploring Chinese fishing nets, St.Francis church, the Jewish synagogue, Dutch palace etc… Cochin now named as Kochi is the Commercial capital of Kerala and a happening place.The development of the city is to be compared to that of any other Metros in the country. Late evening visit Pepper Trails Kitchen to have a cookery demonstration followed by Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Delight Homestay

Day 12: Houseboat

Stop At: Alleppey Backwaters, Alappuzha India
After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Alleppey to board your exclusive houseboat for a cruise through Vembanad Lake followed by overnight stay on board, covering Alleppey villages and the life around the villages.Earlier days the big boats were used as a media of transporting goods by the local farmers and later these boats converted into Houseboats with minimum amenities and now the Houseboats are most conveniently furnished with comfortable aircon and bio toilets etc.Your food will be freshly cooked and served on board. Overnight in the houseboat.

What is truly magical about a houseboat is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it offers. The houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen where are cooked on board and supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters. Today, the tradition is still continued and the food from the local cuisine is served by the Kuttanad locals, on board.
Duration: 21 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Exclusive Traditional Deluxe Houseboat with Airconditioned Bedroom

Day 13: Marari Beach

Stop At: Marari Beach, Beach Road, Mararikulam 688006 India
Enjoy your breakfast on board.Later , checkout & proceed to Marari, a relatively quiet beach paradise of Kerala. On arrival check in at the resort on the Beach.Rest of the day at leisure on the beach.You may opt to go for an Ayurvedic Massage or a village walk.Overnight at the Resort.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Le Plage,a boutique resort right on the beach

Day 14: Beach

Stop At: Marari Beach, Beach Road, Mararikulam 688006 India
Full day at the resort. Marari Beach is an endless vista of sand and surf, but it is more... An authentic experience of Kerala's traditional fishing villages, and a re-creation of an ancient, harmonious way of life. You may opt to take an Ayurvedic Massage…Visit the fishermen villages..By evening it may interesting to visit the local temple to watch the local crowd coming for worship and socialisation.Overnight at Resort.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Le Plage Boutique Beach Resort