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Trip
Duration : 14 Nights /15
Days
Places Covered :
Chennai - Kanchipuram -
Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry – Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai -
Thekkady – Cochin – Alleppey - Kumarakom –
Kollam – Kovalam - Trivandrum
Day1 - Arrive Chennai
Traditional welcome on arrival at the international airport and
transfer to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day2 - Chennai
Relaxed breakfast at hotel, followed by a full day guided visit
to Fort St. George, War memorial, St. Mary's Church, the Basilica
of Saint Thomas, believed to have been built by St. Thomas, the
apostle, Snake Park ending the day on Marina Beach. Overnight at
hotel.
Day3 - Chennai - Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram
(175 kms)
After breakfast, drive to Kanchipuram (1 hr.) the erstwhile
capital of the Pallavas and Cholas. Visit the temples dedicated
to various gods and goddesses. Also visit the shopping area, as
it is also home of weavers of the famed Kanchipuram silks. Lunch
at Kanchipuram. Evening drive to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), a
world heritage site and check in hotel for overnight stay.
Day4 - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (134 kms / 3.5 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel. Guided sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram,
which, too was part of the Pallavas dynasty and exhibits some of
the most outstanding examples of the Dravidian style of art and
architecture. Experience the Arjuna’s Penance, the rock cut
caves, the Krishna Mandapam, the famous rathas and the Shore
Temple. Afternoon drive to Pondicherry and enjoy this quaint
French town. Overnight at hotel.
Day5 - Pondicherry
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for a half-day sightseeing tour
visiting Auroville and Aurobindo Ashram. Overnight at hotel.
Day6 - Pondicherry - Tanjore (196 kms / 5 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Tanjore (Thanjavur): the former city
of Danish settlement from 1624 to 1825. Commonly known amongst
the Danish language as "Tranquebar". The town of Tanjore is
surrounded by lush green rice fields and winding rivers with
coconut and banana orchards. Afternoon, guided visit to the
Brahadeeswarar temple built by King Raja Cholan between 985 &
1014 AD which is an architectural marvel. Overnight at hotel.
Day7 - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai (198 kms / 5 hrs)
After breakfast, visit the palace, which also houses an art
gallery, a library, a hall of music and the Schwartz Church. By
noon drive to Trichy (Tiruchirappalli). After lunch in a
restaurant, guided visit to the Rockfort and Srirangam Temple.
Proceed for Madurai and on arrival check-in hotel. Enjoy the
sound and light show at Tirumalai Nayak Palace. Overnight at
hotel.
Day8 - Madurai - Thekkady (140 kms / 3.5 hrs)
After breakfast, guided city tour visiting the Meenakshi temple
built in the Dravidian style and Teppa Kulu, a tank with an
island temple. Evening drive to Thekkady and check in resort.
Overnight at resort.
Day9 - Thekkady
Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy game viewing on boat safari on Periyar
lake. Evening at leisure to spend time on own under the nature's
lap. Overnight at hotel.
Day10 - Thekkady- Cochin (190 kms / 4 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Cochin (Kochi). On arrival transfer to
hotel followed by city tour and boating in the backwaters of
Cochin. Cochin means, "port" and so it has been since history
began, trading spices, silks, ivory and sandalwood. It is now the
spice capital of India. Overnight at hotel.
Day11 - Cochin - Alleppey – Kumarakom (64 kms /
2 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel and drive to Alleppey (Alappuzha) and transfer
to jetty point to embark on the 'Kettuvalloms' - a traditional
rice boat of Kerala, which gives a romantic way to explore the
unique web of lagoons, lakes, canals & rivers. Lazy cruising
towards Kumarakom. Lunch and dinner on board. Overnight on
houseboat.
Day12 - Kumarakom - Quilon (110 kms / 3 hrs)
After breakfast, drop off at jetty point to drive to Quilon
(Kollam). This is the most picturesque and absorbing of the
backwaters town with the Ashtamudi Lake at one end. It is an old
port town on the Arabian coast. Being one of Kerala's most
historic ports, it was a stopover for Persians, Greeks, Romans
and Arabs. On arrival check in resort. Afternoon visit
Ramesharwara Temple. Evening free to explore the city. Overnight
at hotel.
Day13 - Kollam- Kovalam (90 kms / 2 hrs)
After breakfast, drive to renowned beach resort, which has been a
favorite haunt of tourists since 1930's. Kovalam consists of
three adjacent crescent beaches. The southernmost, known as the
Lighthouse Beach, is the most popular. Kovalam is much sought
after for sunbathing, watersports, shopping, catamaran cruising,
yoga, meditation and rejuvenating ayurvedic massages. Check in
hotel and day for leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day14 - Kovalam
After breakfast, full day to enjoy time at the beach, sunbathe or
and indulge in water sports. Overnight in resort.
Day15 - Kovalam – Trivandrum (20 kms / .5 hrs)
After breakfast, drive to Trivandrum (International) airport to
catch flight to connecting destination.
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