Day - 1 » Departure
Departure from your own Country.
Day - 2 » Chennai
Arrive Chennai(Madras). Transfer to Hotel. Overnight Chennai(Madras).
Day - 3 » Mahabalipuram
Full day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram (Checkout from the
hotel at 1200 hrs).
Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai(Madras)) is the ancient capital of the
Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The
first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and
has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri
Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous
for its silks.
The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on the
seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are
the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture. Evening transfer to
rail-station for Trichy night train. Night on board.
Day - 4 » Trichy
Morning arrive Trichy and transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour of Trichy.
Trichy was the citadel of the 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 still there to see
and so is the Danish Church. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. A
climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top and a
further climb to a Shiva temple. Overnight Trichy.
Day - 5 » Madurai
Morning drive to Madurai visiting Tanjore enroute. At Tanjore, the
beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeshwara is capped by a monolithic cupola
made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the
top with the help of a 6 km long ramp, an old technique used by the
Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make
Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India. Overnight
Madurai.
Day - 6 » Meenakshi Temple
Morning visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of
Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams (rising high above the surrounding
country side). Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious
building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its
domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran
Rock temple. Afternoon free. Overnight Madurai.
Day - 7 » Western Ghats
Morning drive to Periyar National Park . Set up in 1934,it extends to
777 square kms & forms part of the high mountain ranges, the Western
Ghats. Wild life can be seen while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motor
boat. Amongst the animals which can be seen are elephants, wild boar,
sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc. Overnight
Periyar.
Day - 8 » Cochin
Drive to Cochin. Overnight Cochin.
Day - 9 » Tour of Cochin
Morning tour of Cochin. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the
famed underwater Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the
rougher the seas are outside the calmer the waters are within the
Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama placed it on the world map. It has a Jewish
synagogue, Portuguese churches, mosques & Hindu temples. Watch the
Chinese Fishing Nets. Afternoon free. Overnight Cochin.
Day - 10 » Bangalore
Morning transfer to airport for Bangalore flight. Arrive Bangalore and
drive directly to Mysore. Overnight Mysore.
Day - 11 » Belur and Halebid
Full day excursion to Belur and Halebid. The Chenna Kesava temple of
Belur built 900 years ago is an exquisite example of Hoysala art.
Halebid's 12th century Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples are master
pieces of Hindu art. On the return, if time permits, visit
Sravanbelgola. At Sravanbelgola, hewn out of a single rock and visible
from a distance of 25 kms is the statue of Lord Gomteshwara which is
bathed with milk and honey once every 12 years. Overnight Mysore.
Day - 12 » Mysore
Morning visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 - 1912. The
palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and saracenic styles of
architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures
which are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto Chamundi hill
to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way
back, see the Nandi Bull. Afternoon free. Overnight Mysore.
Day - 13 » Chennai
Transfer to rail-station for Chennai(Madras) train. Arrive and transfer
to Hotel.
Day - 14 » Back to Home
Morning free. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Transfer to airport for return
flight.
