10 DAYS
(Chennai-Mamallapuram-Kovalam-Kanyakumari-Alleppey-Kochi)
The suggested itinerary takes you through Palm-fringed sandy beaches, spectacular hill country, a proud cultural heritage, the most genial of welcomes, exotic and historic Tamil country and Kerala’s serene backwaters.
The trip can be tailor made to suit your budget & interests. Hotels, length of stay at each destination, foreign language guides (English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese or Spanish) and vehicles can be chosen to suit these requirements. The itinerary presented below is a sample one & can be customized.
The tour can be started either from Delhi/Mumbai or Chennai. If the port of entry in India is Delhi or Mumbai a one day tour city-tour can be added to the itinerary. Flight connections will then be provided from Delhi/Mumbai to Chennai.
On
arrival meet our representative at the airport, who will assist
in transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon enjoy half day
sightseeing tour, which takes you to Gandhi memorial,
Kalakshetra, Mylapore temple and Marina beach. Overnight stay at
hotel.
After breakfast drive to Mamallapuram (64kms/2hrs). Located
south of Chennai, the coastal town of Mamallapuram is an
international historic and heritage center for being the place of
origin and evolution of art and architecture of the Tamil country.
An important sea port from the 2nd century, it later became an
architectural center owing to its beautiful coastal area studded
with small hills ideal for the creation of cave temples, stone
carvings, etc. Enjoy the sightseeing of rock cut outs, shrines. The
carvings on rock depicting demons, gods and animals are poetic in
nature. Enjoy water activities at beach. Evening return & overnight
stay at Chennai.
After
breakfast transfer to airport to catch flight to Madurai. One of
South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the
celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river
Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the
great Tamil era more than 2500 years old.
On arrival transfer to hotel for check in. Afternoon city tour visiting beautiful Meenakshi Temple and temple art museum. Overnight stay at hotel.
After breakfast transfer to airport to catch flight to Thiruvanantapuram (Trivandrum). On arrival transfer to kanyakumari. Day at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Full day trip to Kanyakumari (Cape Commorin), which is located at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. The small temple dedicated to Kanyakumari, or the youthful form of the primeval energy Shakti (Mother Goddess) is located on the seashore, in the town known by the same name. Swami Vivekananda spent days in meditation upon a rock off of the coast. A memorial built in his honor is accessible via ferry.
Overnight stay at Kanyakumari
Kovalam, an enchanting strip of golden sands laced with the rich greenery of coconut palms, just 16 kms from Thiruvanantapuram. Apart from being a major beach attraction, Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a slew of Ayurvedic treatments for the tourists. The virgin beaches on the southern side of Kovalam up-to Poovar is enchanting for body and soul. The sea-view from the hillocks of Poomkulam on a sunny day is rejuvenating and inspiring.
Check in at the hotel. Evening free for leisure walk and personal activities on the beach. Overnight stay at hotel.
Morning depart for Alleppey a town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches and lagoons once described as the List of places known as Venice of the East by Lord Curzon. Alleppey is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha, which as per history has had trade relations with ancient Greece and Rome in B.C and in the Middle Ages. Enjoy backwaters boat ride amidst lush green vegetation at Alleppey. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day
at leisure. Enjoy a performance of Kathakali, one of the famous
Indian dance forms. Overnight stay at house boat.
Depart early morning for Kochi, arriving at your hotel there in mid-morning and spending the afternoon sightseeing. The Chinese cantilevered fishing nets, Jewish synagogues, Portuguese churches, Hindu temples and Dutch fort all make the point that this is a very cosmopolitan city.
Return
to Delhi/Mumbai/Chennai for your onward flight.
Stay at any of the locations can be extended.
A one day trip to Pondicherry ( a nights stay) can be added from Chennai.
A trip to Kanchipuram from Mamallapuram.
A trip to Varkala & a days stay can be added between Kovalam and Alleppey.
Pondichery : Pondicherry - Although the French influence is gradually fading, Pondicherry retains a few Gallic accents. Pondicherry's main sights are the Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram retreat was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual authority passed to one of his disciples, a French woman known as the Mother. The Mother was also instrumental in founding the city of Dawn Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry. Its original charter aimed at creating a city of the future where people from India and abroad could live and work together in a spiritual environment.
Kanchipuram : 70 kms west of Mamallapuram, lies this city of thousand temples. One of the seven sacred cities of Hindus, it was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC. Kanchi was a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. Apart from temples, the city is also famous for its silk weavers, settled here some 400 years ago and have given it an enviable reputation.
"Jane and I want to thank your whole team for arranging a very successful visit to India for us. The holiday, arrangements and your efficiency, outdid our expectations.Thanks again".
Andrew Johnston
British National
"I am please to say we had a really great holiday.I think we got the mix of sightseeing and relaxation really well balanced. And of course we were delighted with the number of tigers we saw. My general feedback would be".
Diane Firth
US National
"Just a note to say that all the arrangements for our trip to Goa and Cochin worked perfectly.Helen and I completely enjoyed the train trips from Mumbai to Goa and from Goa to Cochin giving us a quite different perspective of Indian life".
Roger Allnutt
Australia
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