» South India Temple Tours
Places Covered : Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Bangalore
- Mysore - Cochin - Periyar - Madurai - Trichy - Chennai
Duration :
13 Nights / 14 Days
Day 01 : Chennai
Arrive Chennai. Transfer
to Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 02
: Chennai
Full Day trip to Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram.
Mahabalipuram
: Visit 6th to 10th Century Rockcut monuments of Pallava Dynasty. (64 kms from
Madras drive time 1hr. and 30 mts.)
Kanchipuram : The Golden City. One of
the 7 sacred cities of India. Once it had 1000 temples and now there are 200 temples
only. It is famous for handwoven silk. Enroute to chennai on the return visit
to Crocodile bank where several species of crocodile are housed. Overnight : at
hotel.
Day 03 : Chennai
Morning city tour of Chennai visiting
: Fort St. George (Built by British in 1653 A.D.) St. Marys Church Marina Meach
(Second Longest Beach in the World) Santhome Cathedral, Kapaleeswarar Temple (this
ancient Shiva Temple was destroyed by the Portugese in 1566 and was rebuilt in
1688, Snake Park Govt. Museum and Art Gallery. Late Afternoon transfer to Airport
and leave by flight to Bangalore.
Bangalore :Arrive and transfer to Hotel.
Dinner and Overnight at hotel.
Day 04 : Bangalore
Morning
city tour of bangalore visiting the Lalbagh( Botonical Gardens extending over
240 acres. Bull Temple was built in the Dravidian style. Tipu's Palace which was
the summer residence of Tipu Sultan. After lunch proceed by surface to Hassan
which is 180 Kms from Bangalore. Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Hassan.
Day 05 : Hassan
Breakfast in Hotel. Morning visit the exquisite
carvings in temples of Hoysala dynasty of Belur and Halebid. After lunch at Hassan
proceed by surface to Mysore (150 Kms).
Mysore : Arrive and proceed to Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 06 : Mysore
Breakfast at Hotel. Morning
visit Maharaja's Palace (One of the biggest in the country) Chamarejendra Art
Gallery. Nandi (Bull vehicle of Shiva). Huge figure of Demon Mahishasura. Govt.
Silk Factory Govt. Sandelwood Oil Factory. Afternoon- at leisure for independent
activities. Evening visit the famous Drindavan Garden (19 kms. from Mysore) duly
illuminated. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 07 : Mysore - Bangalore - Cochin
Breakfast at Hotel. Leave by surface to Bangalore. Arrive Bangalore and leave
by flight to Cochin. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Afternoon at leisure for independent
activities. Overnight at hotel.
Day 08 : Cochin
Breakfast
at Hotel. Morning visit the Dutch Palace at Mattanchery. Jewish synagogue built
in 1568. St. Francis Church, Chinese Fishing Nets and take at Boat ride through
the Backwaters to various islands where the coir mats are made and also other
cottage industries can be seen. Afternoon at leisure. Evening witness the world
famous Kathakali Dance programme including the makeup of the artist. Overnight
at Hotel.
Day 09 : Cochin
Breakfast at Hotel. Leave by surface
for Thekkady (190 Kms. from Cochin) Thekkady arrive and stay at a Hotel. Evening
at leisure for independent activities. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 10
: Thekkady - Madurai
Morning Boat ride on the backwaters of Periyar Lake
to view Wild animals like Elephants, Wild Boar, Sambar, Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog
etc. King Cobra and other reptiles are found in plenty. After lunch leave by surface
for Madurai(140 kms) Arrive Madurai and proceed to Hotel. Overnight to Hotel.
Day 11 : Madurai
Breakfast at Hotel. Morning city tour of Madurai
visiting the famous Meenakshi Temple which is a superb carving og Dravida School
of architecture. The temple Museum which has cast 1000 pillar hall. Thirumalai
Naik Palace built in the 17th century, Mariamman Temple Tank. Afternoon at leisure
for personal activities, Evening witness the night ceremony at Meenakshi Temple.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 12 : Madurai
Breakfast at Hotel. Leave
by surface for Trichy (140 kms). Arrive Trichy and proceed to Hotel. Afternoon
city tour of Trichy visiting Rock Fort Temple. Srirangam island (which is a temple
town where all the life centres round the Temple). This temple has 31 Gateway
Towers (Gopurams). Overnight at Hotel.
Day 13 : Trichy
Breakfast
at Hotel. Morning excursion to Tanjore (54 Kms) to visit the beautiful Chola Temple
for Lord Shiva. Tanjore is one of the highlights of a visit to South. Return to
Trichy. Afternoon at leisure for Independent activities. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 14 : Trichy - Chennai
Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer to airport
and leave by flight to Chennai. Chennai arrive and change Flights for onward destination.
