Temple Backwater and Palaces of South India (15 Days)

Temple Backwater and Palaces of South India (15 Days)

This our personal favourite itinerary has the ability to touch your soul and melt your heart. Explore the magnificent temple & see the largest & oldest active temples of Hindus in Thanjore, Trichy & Madurai of which some are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Walk in Colonial town of Chennai, Pondicherry, and Fort Kochi. Explore the picturesque Periyar National Park & learn about spice plantation. Cruise in enchanting backwater at Alleppey. Ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway and visit fort & palaces of Mysore and Bangaloe.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Chennai

Pass By: Chennai District, Chennai District, Tamil Nadu
Arrival Chennai airport assistance and transfer to hotel.


Stop At: Marina Beach Road, Chennai (Madras) 600005 India
Later sightseeing of colonial Chennai which includes Churches, Fort, Museum and government buildings. Also visit Marina beach.
Duration: 4 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (120kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu
Breakfast at hotel drive to Mahabalipuram via visiting Kanchipuram Temples. Arrive Mahabalipuram check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100kms/ 2hrs approx)

Stop At: Mahabalipuram, Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu
Breakfast at hotel visit temple and monuments at Mahabalipuram. Afternoon drive to Pondicherry check in at hotel.

Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Pondicherry - Darasuram - Chidambaram - Thanjore (185kms/ 4hrs approx)

Stop At: Pondicherry, Pondicherry, Union Territory of Pondicherry
Breakfast at hotel sightseeing of French colony, churches, Temple and Aurobindo Ashram.

Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Chidambaram, Chidambaram, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu
Drive to Thanjore via visiting Darasuram & Chidambaram Temple. On arrival check in & overnight at hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Thanjore - Trichy (60kms/ 1.5hrs approx)

Stop At: Tanjur, Tamil Nadu 622201, India
Breakfast at hotel visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Thanjore Fort.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Rock Fort Temple, Rock Hills, Tiruchirappalli India
Drive to Trichy check in at hotel. Later visit Rock Fort Temple & Srirangam Temple.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Trichy - Madurai (140kms/ 3hrs approx)

Pass By: Madurai, Madurai, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu
Breakfast at hotel drive to Madurai heck in at hotel.


Stop At: Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Venmani Rd, Sellur, Madurai 625002 India
Later sightseeing of Meenakshi Temple, Tirumalai Nayak Mahal & Vaniyur Mariamman Teppakulam Temple.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Madurai - Periyar (Thekkady)

Stop At: Thekkady, Thekkady, Idukki District, Kerala
Breakfast at hotel drive to Periyar check in at hotel.
Late afternoon spice plantation tour and village visit.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Periyar (Thekkady)

Stop At: Periyar National Park, Banks Of Artificial Periyar Lake, Thekkady India
Breakfast at hotel explore the park by boat. The special animals in this region include wild elephants, nilgiri langur monkeys, sambar deer, wild bison, and colorful birds.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Thekaddy – Alleppey (135kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Alleppey Backwaters, Alappuzha India
Breakfast at hotel drive to Alleppey. Board a houseboat from here and glide over the enchanting backwaters of Kerala. Houseboat stay includes lunch & dinner on board.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Houseboat stay.

Day 10: Alleppey – Cochin (60kms/ 1.5hrs approx)

Stop At: Mattancherry Palace, Palace Road, Kochi (Cochin) India
After breakfast disembark houseboat and drive to Cochin check in at hotel. Later city tour of Cochin one of few places in India that has managed to preserve the remnants of its colonial past with utmost care. Visit The Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Jewish Synagogue and the Mattancherry Palace.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Cochin - Ooty (280kms/ 8hrs approx)

Stop At: Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Ooty (Udhagamandalam), The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu
Breakfast at hotel proceed to the hill station of Ooty, the capital of the Nilgiri ‘Blue Mountain’ that once enticed the British to escape the summer heat of plains. Check in at hotel and rest time to relax.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Ooty - Mysore (140kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Coonoor, Coonoor, The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu
Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy the town and visit the well-maintained botanical gardens, which have over 1,000 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees. Also take a ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway that winds its way down through spectacular scenery and breathtaking views to the nearby town of Coonoor.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Mysore District, Mysore District, Karnataka
Afternoon drive to Mysore check in at hotel.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Mysore

Stop At: Wellesley Bridge, Across River Kaveri, Srirangapatna India
Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Mysore. First stop the Chamundi Hills, site of the Chamundeswari Temple and Nandi Bull as well as the vast City Palace, which was re-built by Henry Irwin during 1897 in an indo-saracenic style. Excursion to visit the temple complex at Somnathpur and the exquisite Keshava Vishnu temple, one of the finest in India, along with Srirangapatnam where Tipu Sultan was killed in battle against an East India Company army including Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Mysore - Bengaluru (150kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Bangalore Palace, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru 560052 India
Breakfast at hotel drive to Bengaluru check in at hotel. Later half day city tour visiting Lal Bagh Garden, Vidhana Soudha and Bangalore Palace & Fort.

Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.


Day 15: Bengaluru - Departure

Pass By: Bengaluru, Bengaluru, Bangalore District, Karnataka
Breakfast at hotel as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.


Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.