This tour takes you through the two prestigious states of South India – Tamil Nadu & Kerala. On the one hand Tamil Nadu invites visitors with its mammoth monuments, timeless temples, fabulous wildlife, scintillating sculptures and on the other hand Kerala offers unparalleled natural beauty.
On this tour discover the magnificent architecture of the temples at Madurai and Tanjore, explore the bungalows of rich merchants in Chettinadu (in between Thanjavur to Madurai), stop to admire the hundreds of terracotta horses in Ayyanar, fall in love with the quaint French town of Pondicherry and get a lesson in history and silk in Chennai, enjoy an overnight cruise on a houseboat in Kumarakom and discover the simple charms of the scenic backwaters. Spend time in Periyar where wild elephants roam, indulge in an ayurveda spa retreat. So come, discover the wonderful world of South India.
Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Day 02 Delhi
Day 03 Delhi to Chennai (By Air)
Day 04 Chennai sightseeing
Day 05 Chennai to Kanchipuram (90 Kms/ 2 Hrs) to Mahabalipuram (70 Kms/ 1.5 Hrs)
Day 06 Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry (100 Kms/ 2 Hrs)
Day 07 Pondicherry
Day 08 Pondicherry to Thanjavur (200 Kms/ 4.5 Hrs)
Day 09 Thanjavur to Trichy (60 Kms/ 1 Hr) to Madurai (150 Kms/ 3 Hrs)
Day 10 Madurai
Day 11 Madurai to Munnar (150 Kms/ 4 Hrs)
Day 12 Munnar
Day 13 Munnar to Thekkady (95 Kms/ 2.5 Hrs)
Day 14 Thekkady to Kovalam (220 Kms/ 5.5 Hrs)
Day 15 Kovalam
Day 16 Kovalam to Kumarakom via Jatayu Earth Centre (180 Kms/ 4 Hrs)
Day 17 Kumarakom
Day 18 Kumarakom to Kochi (60 Kms/ 1 Hr)
Day 19 Kochi to Delhi Airport Departure
Day 01 Arrive Delhi
On your arrival at Delhi airport, meet our representative (preferred language speaking) and greeted with a warm welcome with garlanding. Then our representative will escort you to the pre-booked hotel. Arrive hotel & fulfil check-in formalities. Spare little time with our representative to provide brief information about the tour.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 02 Delhi City Tour
This day introduces you with the city Delhi where you can witness a unique blend of the traditional and cosmopolitan styles. Delhi is a city that bridges two different worlds. Old Delhi, once the capital of Islamic India, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with crumbling havelis and formidable mosques. In contrast, the imperial city of New Delhi created by the British Raj is composed of spacious,
Day 03 Delhi to Chennai (By Air)
After breakfast, check out from hotel & proceed for Delhi airport to board flight for Chennai, located on the Coromandel Coast, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, a State of the Indian Sub-continent. It is the gateway to southern India, established in 1639 by the East India Company, is one of the oldest cities of the country.
Day 04 Chennai City Tour
After breakfast enjoy a sightseeing tour of Chennai city, visiting Egmore Museum, Marina Beach, the second longest beach in the world. The St. George Fort, built in 1653, is currently used as the state government’s secretariat; Santhome Cathedral was built around the 14th-15th century and is another colonial structure worth visiting. This afternoon visits the Kapaleeswarar Temple,
Day 05 Chennai to Kanchipuram (90 Kms/ 2 Hrs) to Mahabalipuram (70 Kms/ 1.5 Hrs)
After breakfast, check out from hotel & proceed to Kanchipuram to visit a stunning set of temples, all built in the 7th and 8th centuries. With a weaving tradition dating back to the Pallava era (when silk was the royal cloth), Kanchipuram is also justly famous for its fine silk saris each embellished with stunning patterns. In 2005, “Kanchipuram Silk Sarees” received the Geographical Indication tag, the first product in India to carry this label.
Day 06 Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry (100 Kms/ 2 Hrs)
After breakfast, check out from hotel & proceed to visit The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology is one of the largest reptile zoos in the world. It is spread over eight and a half acres of land and is home to over 2500 reptiles. Here you can get an opportunity to meet with distinct species of reptiles in their natural habitat. After visiting Crocodile farm, proceed to visit Pondicherry,
Day 07 Pondicherry
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of this former French enclave which today is an interesting mix of Gallic charm and Tamil influences. Start with a visit to Aurobindo Ashram and the city of Auroville. In order to book a meditation session at Auroville, one needs to make an advance booking by visiting the centre & presence for the person is a must
Day 08 Pondicherry to Thanjavur (200 Kms/ 4.5 Hrs)
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed for Thanjavur, one of the districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, in South-eastern India. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Great Living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, are located in and around Thanjavur. Arrive Thanjavur & check-in at hotel.
Day 09 Thanjavur to Trichy (60 Kms/ 1 Hr) to Madurai (150 Kms/ 3 Hrs)
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed for Madurai. On your way to Madurai, your stop will be at Trichy where you take a sightseeing tour of the erstwhile capital of the mighty Chola dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and the English. Lord Robert Clive’s house is a point of attraction as is the Danish Church.
Day 10 Madurai
After breakfast proceed for local sightseeing of Madurai. Madurai has been continuously inhabited since at least the 3rd century BCE and is located on the banks of the River Vaigai. On arrival, check into the hotel. Afternoon, go on a sightseeing tour of Madurai. Madurai is most famous for the Meenakshi Temple, with its towering gopurams and rare sculptures.
Day 11 Madurai to Munnar (150 Kms/ 4 Hrs)
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed for Munnar– a hill station located 1600 metres above sea level in Kerala, one of the Indian States. Once the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in South India, it retains its colonial charm and is famous for its tea plantations, most of which are privately owned. With its sprawling estates, rolling hills, sparkling waterfalls, picture postcard hamlets
Day 12 Munnar
After breakfast proceed on a sightseeing tour of Munnar. Visit the Eravikulam National Park at the Rajamalai to spot the Nilgiri Tahr, a rare and endangered species of mountain goat endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Follow this with a visit to the Tea Museum
Day 13 Munnar to Thekkady (95 Kms/ 2.5 Hrs)
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed towards Periyar National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary (Also known as Thekkady). Your journey takes you to the Western Ghats, a lush mountain range that rises parallel to India’s Arabian Sea coast. Arrive Thekkady & check-in at hotel.Later, visit a local spice plantation where you enjoy the sights and smells of fresh spices and learn about their cultivation process.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 14 Thekkady to Kovalam (220 Kms/ 5.5 Hrs)
After breakfast, check out from hotel and transfer by road to Kovalam. Kovalam beach is the world famous Indian tropical beach, boarded by blue waters and lush coconut gardens, is a western cultural dot on a traditional and orthodox Kerala physique. Blue water and favorable climate make Kovalam a favorite year-round spot for swimming.
Day 15 Kovalam
After breakfast proceed for excursion trip to Poovar Beach, located 12 km from Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram, here one gets to see a slice of life in a coastal village. It offers one a wonderful view of the formation of the backwaters. The golden sands are home to some of the best picnic spots in the area. This area is located at the juncture of the Neyyar River joining with the Arabian Sea.
Day 16 Kovalam to Kumarakom via Jatayu Earth Centre (180 Kms/ 4 Hrs)
After breakfast check out from hotel and proceed for Kumarakom. During your road journey to Kumarakom, take a stop at Jatayu Earth Centre. Situated in Chadayamangalam, this rocky hilltop is unique with its amalgamation of artistic brilliance, mythological history, innovative technology, culture, adventure and leisure.
The park located near the town of Chadayamangalam (Jatayumangalam), which was named for Jatayu. Jatayu was a demi-god in Ramayana (a Hindu epic) who had the form of a vulture. According to the Ramayana epic, Ravana abducted Sita to Lanka. Jatayu had tried to rescue Sita from Ravana while Ravana was on his way to Lanka. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana, but as Jatayu was very old, Ravana soon defeated him. Rama and Lakshmana while on the search for Sita, chanced upon the stricken and dying Jatayu, who informed them of the battle with Ravana and told them that Ravana had headed South. Legend says that Jatayu fell on the rocks in Chadayamangalam, after his wings were clipped by Ravana. This is where you get to see the world’s largest bird sculpture. To quench the curiosity of the visitors, a virtual reality museum and a theatre is also set up here that showcases the story of the mythical bird Jatayu and its era.After finishing this phase of sightseeing proceed towards Kumarakom.The enchanting backwater destination of Kumarakom is a small village that is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala. Kumarakom strengthens Kerala’s reputation for being God’s own country with its unbelievably beautiful mangrove forests, coconut groves and emerald green paddy fields interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with while lilies. It is a breath-taking bout to experience a solitary and calm glide through this network of waterways. Arrive Kumarakom & check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 17 Kumarakom
After an early breakfast, proceed to visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Thereafter, you will board a local houseboat right from boat jetty and sail through mysterious canals and dancing waves of Kerala backwaters. Experiencing this unique travel on an exclusive wooden houseboat or Kettuvallam, you will cherish a delicious lunch time in the backdrop of hills and paddy fields.
Day 18 Kumarakom to Kochi (60 Kms/ 1 Hr)
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed towards Kochi, the capital city of Kerala. It often referred to as the Queen of the Arabian Sea and is a cluster of islands narrow peninsulas built off the mainland. After a brief period of rest, proceed for city tour of Kochi visiting The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry (closed on Fridays) is renowned for its wall murals depicting scenes from the Indian epic Ramayana.
Day 19 Kochi to Delhi Airport Departure
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed for Kochi airport to board flight for Delhi & then take the connecting international flight for your resident country.
