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Highlights of the trip: This tour showcases the diverse attractions of southern India. Highlight include the visit to the famous Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu, the colonial architecture of Chennai, a cruise on the Kerela backwaters, discover the rural charms of south India and a visit to the port city of Kochi - a former centre of spice trade.
Detailed Itinerary:
Days 1-2 Kochi -
Namaste! Welcome to India.
You can arrive at any time on Day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting at as per your itinerary. Your tour leader (incase of group) / Glorious India Tours representative (for FIT) would have a meeting with you and discuss the itinerary in detail.
Cochin (also called Kochi) has been an important trading port since ancient times. Today, the land of spices that attracted the far-away European Traders is a quaint blend of the old and the new, the Indian and the Western. Popularly referred to as the Queen of the Arabian Sea.
Sightseeing: Visit Mattancherry Palace, St. Francis Church, Chinese Fishing Nets, Dutch Palace and Jewish Synagogue. Evening enjoy Kathakali Dances – Traditional Dance Form of Kerala.
Day 3 Alleppey -
Early morning after breakfast depart for Alleppey by professional driven car. Alleppey is one of the most important tourist centers in the state, with a large network of inland canals earning it the sobriquet "Venice of the East". These large network of canals provide Alleppey its lifeline. Alleppey was one of the busiest centers of trade in the past with one of the best known ports along the Malabar coast.
Later enjoy the cruise of backwater.
Houseboat day cruise in Kerala backwaters will be memorable with the mind-blowing view of canal systems and endless lagoons, paddy fields, rivers joining the backwaters, small houses on small stretch of land. There are villages in all over these backwater but the land area is very small. The view of backwater birds, people working in paddy fields, fishing in backwater, or people using small canoes as mode of transportation. Big houseboats, Alleppey Houseboats, motorboats country made boats used by tourists, small resorts, heritage homes are speciality of this area.
Day 4 Thekkady -
Morning Post disembarkment depart for Thekkady: is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India.
Arrival and transfer to Hotel. Later depart for Wild Plantation Tour and enjoy boat ride at Periyar Lake.
Day 5 Madurai -
Post early morning breakfast depart for nature walk and later post check out transfer to Madurai in Private Car. Madurai is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Indian peninsula. It is an ancient and prestigious city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, situated on the banks of the River Vaigai in Madurai district. Madurai was the capital city of ancient Southern civilization.
Visit: Meenakshi Temple, Tirumala Nayak Palace,
Day 6 Trichy -
Upon arrival at Trichy transfer to Hotel. Trichy also called Tiruchi, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirapalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation in Tamil Nadu and also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state.
Later visit Rock Fort Temple in Trichy and Ranganathaswami Temple in Srirangam
Day 7 Tanjore -
Post breakfast depart for Tanjore by private car. The name Tanjore is derived from "Tanjan", a legendary asura in Hindu mythology. Thanjavur is one of the oldest cities in India and has a long and varied history dating back to Sangam period. The city rose into prominence during the rule of the Later Cholas when it served as the capital of the Chola empire. After the fall of the Cholas, the city was ruled by the Pandyas, Vijayanagar, the Madurai Nayaks, the Thanjavur Nayaks, the Thanjavur Marathas and the British. It has been a part of independent India since 1947.
Visit Sri Brahadeeswara Temple and Nayak Palace
Day 8 Pondicherry -
Post breakfast check out and depart for Pondicherry.En route visit temples in Darasuram, Gangaikondacholpuram and Chidambaram.
Pondicherry town (now known as 'Puducherry') is the headquarters of the Union Territory of Pondicherry which comprises Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yaman and Mahe - four widely separated towns, the first two enclaves in Tamil Nadu, the other two enclaves in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala respectively, made one by their French connection.
Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Manakular Vinayakar Temple.
Day 9 - 10 Mahabalipuram -
Mahabalipuram was a 7th century port city of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas around 60 km south from the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The name Mamallapuram is believed to have been given after the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who took on the epithet Maha-malla (great wrestler), as the favourite sport of the Pallavas was wrestling. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th and the 9th centuries, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage. The monuments are mostly rock-cut and monolithic, and constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible. They are constituted by cave temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted reliefs and structural temples. The pillars are of the Dravidian order. The sculptures are excellent examples of Pallava arttage Site.
Overnight stay at Hotel / Resort
Post early morning breakfast depart for sightseeing visiting Five Rathas, Arjunas Penance, Shore Temple, Krishna Mandapam.
Day 11 – 12 Mysore -
Board train on (10th Night) for Mysore,
Mysore is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka,India. It is the headquarters of the Mysore district and the Mysore division and lies about 146 km (91 mi) southwest of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. The name Mysore is an anglicised version of Mahish?ru, which means the abode of Mahisha. Mahisha stands for Mahishasura, a demon from Hindu mythology
Sight seeing Mysore Palace, Camunda Hill
Day 13 – 14 Masinagudi -
Post breakfast proceed to Masinagudi by chauffer driven deluxe car.
Masinagudi: It’s an exotic locale situated a few kilometers before Ooty, on the Karnataka - Tamil Nadu Border. Masinagudi is a beautiful place on the foothills of Nilgiris just after the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. The place is lush green, peaceful and adventurous at the same time with a lot of trekking and hiking options available for one and all.
Upon arrival at Masinagudi, check in your resort.
Later experience most exciting life time experience game drive.
Day 15 – 16 Ooty -
Depart for Ooty in a chauffer driven car
Ooty is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. Udhagamandalam is the official Tamil name for the town. Ooty stands at an approximate height of 7,500 feet (2, 286 m) above sea level.
Later visit enjoy a train ride to Coonor in the World Renowned Nilgris Blue Train
Conoor is on toy train line between Mettupallayam (28 Km) and Ooty.A popular pastime is bird watching, as an extensive variety of birds can be spotted. Conoor is a town and a municipality in the Nilgiris district in the state of Tamil Nadu,India. It is known for its production of Nilgiri tea.
Thereafter visit Botanical Gardens and Tea Plantations
Day 17 Kochi -
Depart for Kozhikode, arrive and transfer to Railway Station to board train for Kochi.
Arrive and transfer to Hotel
Day 18 Kochi –Depart -
Break fast at the hotel. Later in time transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination
Note : Tour Cost on request.
*************** TOUR ENDS *****************
Included Activities: Sightseeing Kochi - Mattancherry Palace, St. Francis Church, Chinese Fishing Nets, Dutch Palace and Jewish Synagogue, Alleppey – Cruise of Back Water, Periyar – Periyar Lake, Sightseeing Madurai - Meenakshi Temple, Tirumala Nayak Palace, Sightseeing Trichy – Rock fort Temple, Sightseeing Srirangam - Ranganathaswami Temple, Sightseeing Tanjore- Sri Brahadeeswara Temple and Nayak Palace, Sightseeing Pondicherry - Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Manakular Vinayakar Temple, Sightseeing Mahabalipuram - Five Rathas, Arjunas Penance, Shore Temple, Krishna Mandapam, Sightseeing of Mysore - Mysore Palace, Bull Temple, Masinagudi – Enjoy game drive, Nilgiris – Enjoy toy train ride, Sightseeing Ooty - Botanical Gardens and Tea Plantations.
Route:
