DAY 01: ABROAD-MADRAS

DAY 02: Arrive Madras by International Flight.

• Welcome to India- a land of million dreams and 5000 years of history, culture and religions, culminating in a unique blend of tolerance and is today the largest democracy in the World. Madras, India’s fourth largest city, is the seat of ancient civilization, with a rich heritage of fine arts, sculpture and architecture.
• Meeting and assistance at the airport upon arrival and transfer to hotel accommodation is reserved from the previous night to ensure immediate occupancy upon arrival.
• Afternoon sightseeing tour of Madras city starting with a visit to Saint Mary’s Church (1678 – 80), the spiritual and physical centre of the original settlement and the oldest surviving building in the East associated with the Anglican church.
• Visit the famous museum (Museums are closed on Friday and National Holidays) that house a fantastic collection of medieval artillery, regimental flags, weapons and armour.
• Also visit the St. George Fort built in 1644 which lies on the sea shore immediately north of the island. This now forms the nucleus of the Secretariat.
• Drive along the Marina, which is one of the most beautiful marine promenades in the world and contains a series of impressive private and public buildings. End the tour with a visit to Kapaleshwar temple. This is the largest and the most important Shiva complex in Madras.
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 03: MADRAS

• Morning excursion to Kanchipuram (70 kms). One of the holy cities of Hinduism, is Kanchipuram. The city has a political significance since it served as a capital of Pallava rulers in the 7th -9th century. It continued to maintain its importance during the succeeding Cholas, Vijayanagar and Nayakas periods. Important examples of Hindu temple architecture spanning almost a thousand years are preserved at Kanchipuram.
• Afternoon, visit Mahabalipuram. As the port of the Pallava rulers of Kanchipuram, the site was of particular importance in the 7th –8th centuries. Most of the Hindu monuments date from this period. They are particularly associated with two Pallava rulers, Mamalla and Rajasimha.
• The rock-cut and monolithic temples at Mahabalipuram are the earliest temples of monumental architecture in Southern India. Most of the cave temples are excavated into the sides of a granite hill, only a short distance from the sea. Shore temple at Mahabalipuram is the first significant structural temple of the Pallava period (8th century). Despite its general erosion, this is an impressive monument with elegantly proportioned towers.
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 04: MADRAS-BANGALORE-HASSAN

• Transfer from hotel to the Railway Station in time for:
• Lv: Madras at 0600 hours by SHATABDI EXP
• Ar: Bangalore at 1050 hours (Train operates daily except Tuesday).
• Meeting and assistance upon arrival at the Railway Station and proceed for a sightseeing tour of Bangalore visiting the Lalbagh botanical gardens which lies on the southern edge of the town and covers an area of 237 acres. Haidar Ali laid out the garden with topical plants and shrubs. In the center is a large iron and glass conservatory reputed to be modeled on the crystal palace. Among the lotus ponds, lakes and shaded avenues is a large outcrop of some of the most ancient rock collection in the world.
• Also visit Vidhana Soudha, a huge neo-Dravidian granite building which houses the secretariat and the state legislative. It is one of the most impressive modern buildings in India. The huge door to the entrance of the cabinet room is made of pure sandalwood.
• Later drive from Bangalore to Hassan (190 kms/5 hours)
• On arrival check-in at: hotel
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 05: HASSAN-COORG

• Morning sightseeing tour of Belur and Halebid, which is the finest examples of Hoysala Art. The soft stone used by builders was chiselled with extreme fineness for detail. The temple at Belur is famed for its profusely ornamented exterior and the one at Halebid for its sculptured figures and open air museum.
• Also visit the colossal monolithic Jain Statue, 57-ft high, which stands on top of a steep bare hill.
• Afternoon drive from Hassan to Coorg (140 kms/3 hours).
• On arrival check-in at: hotel
• Evening visit Coffee plantation and a processing factory.
• On return walk around plantation where there is likely hood of spotting wildlife like elephants, deer etc.
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 06: COORG-MYSORE

• Drive from Coorg to Mysore (100 kms/2.5 hours) enroute visiting Sravanabelagola. It is one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centers in India and site of the huge statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshwara) which, at 17 metres high and carved out of a single piece rock, is said to be the world’s tallest monolithic statue. It stands on top of the rocky hill.
• Continue your drive to Mysore and upon arrival check-in at: hotel
• Afternoon, you will visit the beautiful city of Mysore, which is known for its fine craftsmanship in wood, ivory, sandal-wood, and for its silk. Visit the Maharaja’s Palace, which is lavishly decorated in a mixture of styles.
• Also visit the Zoological Garden, the Mysore Arts & Crafts Center and then proceed to the Chamundi Temple on a hill high above the city.
• Evening drive to the Brindavan Garden, beautifully illuminated daily, truly a pleasure garden.
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 07: MYSORE-OOTY

• Drive from Mysore to Ooty (158 kms/5 hours).
• On arrival check-in at: hotel
• Afternoon, city sightseeing tour of Ootacamund. Located in the heart of the Nilgiris (Blue Mountains), at a height of 2,287 m, it lies on a plateau and looks like a vast park. To the northwest of Ooty, are splendid towns resembling those of Sussex. While to the west, south and southwest, lofty hills add to the grandeur of the scenery. Visit the terraced Botanical Gardens, which are a landmark in Ooty and have many rare trees and flowering plants.
• Overnight at the resort.

DAY 08 OOTY-COCHIN

• Drive from Ooty to Cochin (281 kms/7 hours).
• On arrival check-in at: hotel
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 09: COCHIN

• Morning, sightseeing tour of Cochin. Visit the Jewish synagogue (closed on Saturdays), built over 400 years ago. It contains beautiful Belgian glass chandeliers and is paved with hand painted tiles from China. Later, visit the “Dutch Palace” (closed on Fridays) with its wonderful murals depicting the entire story of the Ramayana.
• Proceed to see the St Francis Church (closed on Sundays), the first European Church built in India.
• In the afternoon, enjoy a motor launch cruise on the backwaters of Cochin, around the harbour, visiting the Bolghatty Palace (the beautiful dutch colonial mansion). You will pass islands and view the traditional fishing hamlets, and the fisherfolk in their colorful costumes.
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 10: COCHIN-MARARI BEACH RESORT

• Drive from Cochin to Marari Beach (75 kms/1.5 hours).
• On arrival check-in at:
• Rest of the day at leisure.
• Overnight at the resort.

DAY 11: MARARI BEACH

• Day free to relax at Beach or visit their health centre for Ayurvedic Herbal Oil Massage.
• Overnight at the resort.

DAY 12: MARARI BEACH-ALLEPPEY-KOTTAYAM-PERIYAR

• Drive to Alleppey (15 kms) boat jetty to board boats for backwater cruise through Vembanad Lake to arrive at Vembanad Lake Resort at Kottayam (2 hours cruise) in time for sea food lunch served on Banana Leaf.
• Later drive to Periyar (110 kms/3 hours).
• On arrival check-in at: hotel
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 13: PERIYAR-MADURAI

• Morning take a 1.5 hours boat ride on Lake Periyar to see the panorama spreads around – tropical jungles, wild Elephants, Indian Gaur, Monkeys, spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar and birds of myriad varieties.
• With an area of 777 sq. km the wildlife sanctuary lies at an elevation of 914 meters to 1828 meters above sea level on the Periyar Lake in the hills of Western Ghats.
• Afternoon drive from Periyar to Madurai (128 kms/3.5 hours).
• On arrival check-in at: hotel
• Late evening attend Pooja ceremony at Meenakshi temple.
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 14: MADURAI-TRICHY-TANJORE

• Morning, city sightseeing tour of Madurai, visiting the Meenakshi Temple where Dravidian temple architecture maybe seen in its exuberant baroque phase. Its Hall of a Thousand Pillars is fabulous and is filled with worshippers at all hours of the day.
• Also visit the Tirumal Nayak’s Palace which is in a highly decorative monument at Thebes. Its enormous roofted arcade supported by 48-foot-high stoned pillars still stands; and griffins, lions and other monster gargoyles are to be seen everywhere.
• Afternoon drive from Madurai to Tanjore (190 kms/5 hours enroute visiting Trichy Tiruchirapalli). The Rock Fort rises abruptly to a height of 273 ft. A steep staircase cut into the rock leads upto the Fort. At the first level are the remnants of a huge hall blasted into ruins in 1772. The next storey is the Mathrubhuteshwarer Shrine dedicated to Shiva.
• Finally at the top of the hill, the Ucchi Pillayar Koil- a Ganesh Temple offering a commanding view of the city.
• Continue your drive to Tanjore and upon arrival check-in at: hotel
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 15: TANJORE-PONDICHERRY

• Morning, city sightseeing tour of Tanjore where you will stop to visit temples built during the 10th and 14th centuries. Later it became part of the Vijaynagar Kingdom, then passed into the hands of the Marathas and went to the British.
• Also visit Palm Leaf Library.
• Afternoon drive from Tanjore to Pondicherry (177 kms/5 hours) enroute visiting Chidambaram, which is famous for Sri Natraja Temple. The Pallava, Chola and Pandya, and Nayak rulers built a number of temples and monuments in this area.
• There are sculptural representations of the 108 postures relating to Natya Sastra or Science of Dancing in the temple.
• Continue your drive to Pondicherry and upon arrival check-in at: hotel
• Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 16: PONDICHERRY-MADRAS

• Morning, sightseeing tour of Pondicherry, visiting Auroville. Conceived as a tribute to Sri Aurobindo, Auroville is an entirely new concept in education and urban living. The Aurobindo Ashram is known to the world over as the “Centre of Integral Yoga”. It was founded by Sri Aurobindo, India’s philosopher around 1920.
• Afternoon drive from Pondicherry to Madras (162 kms/4 hours) airport in time to board flight for:

DAY 17: MADRAS-ABROAD

• Lv: Madras by International Flight