16 days South India Splendour Tour

Duration: 15 Nights / 16 Days

Destination : Chennai- Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram- Chennai – Madurai – Kanyakumari – Kovalam – Trivandrum – Thekkady – Kumarakom – Alleppey – Cochin – Bangalore – Mysore – Bangalore

16 days South India Splendour Tour Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival in Chennai

Arrive Chennai meet and assist at the airport then transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2 : Chennai to Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram - Chennai

After breakfast leave for full day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. The city of Mahabalipuram (58 kms / 1 hr drive from Kanchipuram) 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. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 3 : Chennai local – Madurai

After breakfast, leave for city tour of Chennai. Visit the Museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery. Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Kapaleeswar Temple, Cathedral, and Snake Park. Overnight on Journey

Day 4 : Madurai

Later visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva. 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. Overnight at hotel.

Day 5 : Madurai - Kanyakumari

After breakfast morning free for leisure or you may explore the city by own. Later drive to Kanyakumari . Upon arrival transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 6 : Kanyakumari - Kovalam

Early morning watch sunrise. Later visit Kanyakumari Temple, Gandhi Memorial, and Vivekananda Memorial in Kanyakumari. Evening watch spectacular sunset from the Beach. Later drive to Kovalam . Upon arrival transfer to hotel for overnight stay

Day 7 : Kovalam

Kovalam is well known for its beautiful beaches and palm fringed coconut trees. After breakfast full day free to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.

Day 8 : Kovalam – Trivandrum – Alleppey

TrivandrumAfter breakfast drive to Alleppey . Enroute visit Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala. Overnight at Hotel

Day 9 : Alleppy – Board Houseboat

Morning free to explore the natural beauty of the place. Later board Houseboat from the Jetty. House Boats (Kettuvallam) or Rice Boats are best described as mobile cottages with all modern facilities and offer excellent accommodation. The Backwaters are a unique web of lakes, lagoons, canals and rivers. The Overnight cruise offers excellent opportunity to see the lifestyles of local people living along the large sections of the backwaters of Kerala. There are halts in between to stretch your legs on the shore, visiting the ancient temples, churches, local villages & people, plus try the floating markets, duck rearing or take in a quick bottle of fresh sweet toddy from a local pub.

Day 10 : Kumarakom

Disembark from the houseboat at Kumarakom. Afternoon visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary which is well known for large bird population including migratory birds from Siberia. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Kumarakom - Thekkady

Morning drive to Thekkedy. The Periyar National Park 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. Elephants, wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc. can be seen easily. Afternoon visit spice plantations. Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Thekkedy – Cochin – Bangalore

Day 12 is scheduled for a day-trip to Rameshwaram for darshan at the Rameshwaram temple. If history is to be believed the island and the temple got their names from the event when Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to gain penance when he was coming from Lanka, after killing Ravana. Back to Madurai hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 13: Bangalore

Morning arrive Bangalore transfer to the hotel. Afternoon tour of Bangalore city, visit the Lal Bagh with a variety of old trees, fountains, lotus pools, terraces & an assortment of tropical and sub-tropical herbs. Also see the Maharaja’s Palace & Government Buildings. Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Bangalore - Mysore

After breakfast drive to Mysore. Afternoon free for leisure or to explore the city by own. Overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Mysore

After breakfast 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 visit St. Philomina’s Chrch and Brindavan Gardens. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 14: Mysore - Bangalore Outward Journey

Transfer to Bangalore International airport in time to connect flight for onward destination.