Splendours of Southern India
From the indian ocean to the arabian sea, including the Keralan backwaters
In Brief
| Flight - 1 night. Chennai - 1 night. Mahabalipuram - 2 nights. Pondicherry - 1 night. Tanjore - 1 night. Madurai - 2 nights. Periyar - 1 night. Kumarakom - 1 night. Houseboat - 1 night. Cochin - 2 nights. |
Day 1Fly from your chosen airport via Dubai to Chennai.
Day 2 Transfer to Hotel GRT Grand for overnight.
Day 3 Morning city tour of Chennai including Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Church and Marina Beach. Visit Kanchipuram, a city of 1,000 temples. Continue to the coastal temple town of Mahabalipuram for two nights at Chariot Beach Resort.
Day 4 Sightseeing of Mahabalipuram includes the Shore Temple, a World Heritage monument, Arjuna’s Penance, the five Rathas & Krishna Mandapam. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 5 Drive to Pondicherry (3 hrs) for overnight at Hotel Atithi. Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the museum.
Day 6 Continue south through the flat landscapes of the Kaveri to the temple of Gangaikondacholapuram (3 hrs). Continue to Tanjore (3 hrs), for an overnight stay at the Ideal River View Resort.
Day 7 Visit Brihadeshwara Temple. Continue south west to Trichy (Tiruchirpalli), mentioned by Ptolemy in the 2nd century BC. Visit the temple complex of Srirangam and view the Rock Fort. Drive to Madurai for two nights at Heritage Madurai.
Day 8 Take a rickshaw ride to Meenakshi Temple with its towering Gopurams. Visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace, an architectural work of art.
Day 9 Continue to Periyar (5 hrs) for overnight at the Hotel Elephant Court. Evening ‘Kalaripayattu’ performance, a local form of martial art.
Day 10 Morning nature walk in Periyar National Park. Travel to Kumarakom (4 hrs) on the shores of Lake Vembanad. Overnight at Cocobay Resort.
Day 11 Board a Keralan houseboat for a cruise through the backwaters. Overnight on board with lunch, dinner and breakfast included. Afternoon canoe ride.
Day 12 Disembark and drive to Cochin for two nights at Hotel Trident. A walking tour of Cochin includes the Jewish Synagogue, the Mattancherry Palace and the Chinese fishing nets. Evening cooking demonstration and dinner at the home of a local family.
Day 13 Visit the agricultural and fishing village of Kumbalanghi on the backwaters with lunch included. Evening Kathakali classical dance performance, with an opportunity to see the dancers preparing for the performance.
Day 14 Return flight to UK via Dubai arriving later the same day.
Extension
Spend 3 nights at the 3-star Abad Turtle Beach Resort, situated in Mararikulam, with 29 air-conditioned beach cottages, a restaurant, ayurvedic spa and pool; or the 4-star Marari Beach Resort considered the best hotel in the area, with 62 air-conditioned cottages spread across 55 acres of lawn, with a restaurant, bar, pool, Ayurvedic centre and tennis court.
Note
Keralan houseboats provide modest, air-conditioned accommodation.
Please click here for important India travel information.
