Temple, Backwater & Palaces of South India

Duration	Destination	Departure
15 days and 14 nights	India (Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Thanjavur (Tanjore), Trichy, Madurai, Thekkady, Alleppey, Cochin, Ooty, Mysore, Bangalore)	India (Chennai)

Description

This our personal favourite itinerary has the ability to touch your soul and melt your city. Explore the magnificent temple & see the largest & oldest active temples of Hindus in Thanjavur, Trichy & Madurai of which some are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Walk in Colonial town of Chennai, Pondicherry, and Fort Cochin. Explore the picturesque Periyar National Park & learn about spice plantation. Cruise in enchanting backwater at Alleppey. Ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway and visit fort & palaces of Mysore and Bangalore.

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Category
3 star hotels (Private Tour) Bed & Breakfast en
Price includes  Assistance on arrival at airport.  15 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.  Meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner)  Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.  English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.  Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.  Bottled drinking water in car.  Government taxes. Price does not include  Any flight tickets.  Camera charges at monuments.  Meals other than mentioned in day plan.  Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.  Gratuities & optional activities.  Anything not mentioned in inclusions.
4 star hotels (Private Tour) Bed & Breakfast en
Price includes  Assistance on arrival at airport.  15 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.  Meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner)  Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.  English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.  Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.  Bottled drinking water in car.  Government taxes. Price does not include  Any flight tickets.  Camera charges at monuments.  Meals other than mentioned in day plan.  Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.  Gratuities & optional activities.  Anything not mentioned in inclusions.
5 star hotels (Private Tour) Bed & Breakfast en
Price includes  Assistance on arrival at airport.  15 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.  Meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner)  Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.  English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.  Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.  Bottled drinking water in car.  Government taxes. Price does not include  Any flight tickets.  Camera charges at monuments.  Meals other than mentioned in day plan.  Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.  Gratuities & optional activities.  Anything not mentioned in inclusions.

Program

Day 1:
Arrive Chennai
On arrival assistance & transfer to hotel (hotel check in/ out time 12pm). Visit Fort St. George, St Mary Church inside the fortress, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Government Museum, Dakshinachitra Museum, Santhome Cathedral & Marina Beach.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 2:
Chennai - Mahabalipuram (120kms)
Drive to Mahabalipuram via visiting Kanchipuram an ancient city famous as city of thousands temple. On arrival check in at hotel. Visit Mahabalipuram UNESCO WHS monuments Monolithic Temples, Krishnas Butterball, Cave Temples, Shore Temple & The Arjuna Penance.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 3:
Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100kms)
Drive to Pondicherry check in at hotel. Visit Aurovil & Pondicherry Museum. Drive pass or walk through stunning French Quarters, charming mustard streets and colonial villas which include French consulate, Raj Nivas, Government Square, Churches & French schools.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 4:
Pondicherry - Thanjavur (185kms)
Drive to Thanjavur via visiting Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and The Great Living Chola Temples at Gangaikonda Cholapuram & Darasuram. On arrival check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 5:
Thanjavur - Trichy (60kms)
Visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Palace Complex built by great Chola king in the 10th century. Drive to Trichy check in at hotel. Visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple the largest functional temple in the world and The Rock Fort the oldest rock in the world 230 crore years old.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 6:
Trichy - Madurai (135kms)
Drive to Madurai check in at hotel. Visit Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Alagar Koil, Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple & Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 7:
Madurai - Thekkady
Drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu the windiest places in Asia. On arrival check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 8:
Thekkady
Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on boat safari followed by spice plantation tour. Drive to Kumarakom check.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 9:
Thekaddy - Alleppey (135kms)
Transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat & sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters.
O/n in houseboat. Meal plan: B,L,D.

Day 10:
Alleppey - Cochin (60kms)
Drive to Cochin check in at hotel. Visit Fort Cochin, St. Frances Church, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace & Chinese fishing nets. Evening watch Kathakali Dance.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 11:
Cochin - Ooty (280kms)
Drive to Ooty check in at hotel. Rest time to relax & explore the surrounding.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 12:
Ooty - Mysore (140kms)
Visit botanical gardens followed by a ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Drive to Mysore check in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 13:
Mysore
Excursion to visit Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura. On return visit Mysore Palace, Chamundeswari Temple, Nandi Bull, City Palace & St. Philomenas Church.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 14:
Mysore - Bangalore (150kms)
Drive to Bangalore check in at hotel. Visit Lal Bagh Garden, Cubbon Park, Bangalore Fort, Tippu Summer Palace & Bull Temple. Drive pass Vidhana Soudha & Secretariat.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Day 15:
Bangalore - Departure
Departure transfer to airport.
Meal plan: Breakfast.

Price includes

 Assistance on arrival at airport.
 15 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.
 Meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner)
 Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.
 English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.
 Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.
 Bottled drinking water in car.
 Government taxes.

Price does not include

 Any flight tickets.
 Camera charges at monuments.
 Meals other than mentioned in day plan.
 Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.
 Gratuities & optional activities.
 Anything not mentioned in inclusions.

Itinerary

Day	Overnight	Itinerary highlights
1	4 StarsChennai	Chennai - English Airport
2	4 StarsMahabalipuram
3	4 StarsPondicherry
4	4 StarsThanjavur
5	4 StarsTrichy
6	4 StarsMadurai
7	4 StarsThekkady
8	4 StarsThekkady
9	4 StarsAlleppey
10	4 StarsKochi
11	4 StarsOoty
12	4 StarsMysore
13	4 StarsMysore
14	4 StarsBangalore
15		Bangalore

Accommodations provided in each place

Place	3 star hotels	4 star hotels	5 star hotels
Chennai	Raj Park/ MGM East Woods or similar	The Raintree/ Accord Metropolitan or similar	ITC Grand Chola/ The Leela Palace or similar
Mahabalipuram	INDeco Hotels/ Mamalla Beach Resort or similar	Ideal Beach Resort/ Confluence The Banquet & Resort or similar	Radisson BLU Resort Temple Bay/ Fisherman's Cove or similar
Pondicherry	Shenbaga Hotel/ Annamalai International or similar	Le Pondy/ The Windflower Resort & Spa or similar	Palais De Mahe/ La Villa or similar
Thanjavur	Grand Gardenia/ Oriental Towers or similar	Sangam Hotels/ Ideal River View Resort or similar	Svatma or similar
Trichy	Red Fox Hotel/ Grand Gardenia or similar	Sangam Hotels or similar
Madurai	Astoria by Sparsa/ Madurai’s Residency or similar	GRT Regency/ Fortune Pandiyan Hotel or similar	Courtyard by Marriott/ The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai or similar
Thekkady	Abad Green Forest/ Hotel Treetop or similar	The Elephant Court/ Cardamom County or similar	Spice Village/ Carmelia Haven Resort or similar
Alleppey	Deluxe Houseboat (ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats) or similar	Premium Houseboat (Abad Premium Houseboats/ Rainbow Premium Houseboats) or similar	Luxury Houseboat (Xandari Riverscapes/ Lakes & Lagoons) or similar
Kochi	The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza or similar	Casino Hotel/ Le Maritime or similar	Xandari Harbour/ Le Meridien or similar
Ooty	Monarch Hotel/ Hotel Darshan or similar	Fortune Resort Sullivan Court/ Sinclairs Retreat or similar	Savoy - IHCL SeleQtions/ Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel or similar
Mysore	Southern Star/Sandesh The Prince or similar	Fortune Park JP Palace/ Grand Mercure or similar	Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel/ Royal Orchid Brindavan Garden or similar
Bangalore	Ramada/ The Rialto or similar	Fortune Select JP Cosmos/ Lemon Tree Premier Ulsoor Lake or similar	ITC Gardenia, a Luxury Collection/ ITC Windsor a Luxury Collection or similar