Meeting & Assistance on arrival at Chennai international airport by Indian Horizons
representative and transfer to Hotel. On arrival check into hotel. Rest of the day
free for leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel
Morning after breakfasts proceed for the sightseeing tour of Chennai. Visit the
National Art Gallery and Museum with a fine collection of ancient paintings of
almost all schools, Fort St. George, St. Mary's Church, Marina Beach (the second
longest in the world), San Thome Cathedral and Mylapore Shiva Temple. Rest of the
day free for shopping & leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel
Morning after breakfast drive by surface to Mahabalipuram en - route visit
Kanchipuram ancient town famous for 1000 Temples. On arrival check into hotel.
Afternoon visit Mahabalipuram, the town of temples, sand and sea-Mamallapuram,
formely known as Mahabalipuram is world renowned for its beautiful Shore Temple. The
area around the temple is now a landscaped park, with guards keeping the hordes of
souvenir hawkers at bay. A Shiva lingam is enshrined in the central building and the
site can get very crowded on weekends. Five Rathas (Pancha Pandava Rathas). This
site contains five rathas, literally chariots, dating from the 7th century. The
sculptures are complemented by some enormous stone animals, including a large
elephant. Arjuna's Penance, also known as the Descent of the Ganges. A giant
bas-relief filled with detailed carvings, including a family of elephants and
monkeys. Archaeologists still squabble over what, exactly, the bas relief depicts;
the central figure may actually depict Bhagiratha, not Arjuna. Rest of the day free
for leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel.
Morning after breakfast drive by surface to Pondichery. On arrival check into hotel.
Afternoon hailf day visit of the city Pondicherry is a union teritory which lies
within the state of Tamil Nadu. Colonial buildings which trace back to the 18th
century, line along a grid of straight clean streets and house the French
institutions, private homes and businesses, and the sprawling premises of the famous
Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The visitor is greeted by mellow colours of cream, yellow,
pink and grey with flamboyant bougainvillae bursting over gates and compound walls
of cool courtyards. Visit Aurobindo Ashram, International Education Centre,
guesthouses, libraries and the cottage industries. Beach - Sunrise-watchers can
catch their magnificent view over the bay, with the pretty Arasalar river reaching
out to the sea. Alternatively, you can canoe or kayak in picture-book surroundings.
Have a round of beach volley ball. Or, armed with the angling gear, you can reel in
a surprise.
Overnight at hotel.
Morning after breakfast drive by surface to Tanjore. On arrival check into hotel.
Afternoon proceed for half day sightseeing tour of the city - visit to Brihadeswara
Temple also known as the 'Big Temple', built by the Chola dynasty. This massive
temple is 216 Day 05feet high and the single spherical stone on top weighs 80 tons.
Tanjore is known for its rich architecture, exquisite handicrafts, paintings,
bronzes and South Indian Musical instruments. The other tourist places in Tanjore
are Nandi (Bull), the Royal palace complex, which houses library and museums. Rest
of the day free for leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel.
Morning after breakfast drive by surface to Madurai. Enroute visit Tricy – the most
famous landmark of this bustling town is the Rock Fort Temple, a spectacular
monument perched on a massive rocky outcrop which rises abruptly from the plain to
tower over the old city. It is reached by a flight of steep steps cut into the rock
and from its summit you get a fantastic view of the town plus its other main
landmark, the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. This temple is one of the largest and most
interesting temple complexes in India, built on an island in the middle of the
Cauvery River and covering a staggering 2.5 sq km. On arrival check into hotel. Rest
of the day free for leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel.
Morning after breakfast drive by surface to Madurai.Madurai one of the oldest cities
in South India it is famous for its 1000 pillared Meenakshi Temple. You can also
take to the special religious night ceremony held in the temple. Another key
attraction of this town is Thirumalai Nayak’s palace and Gandhi Museum.
Evening, you are to return to the hotel for over night stay.
Morning, after breakfast, drive by surface to Kanyakumari, the land's end of India.
This is a meeting point of the great seas-the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the
Bay of Bengal. On arrival, you are to check into the hotel. Later we take you for a
ferry ride to Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial. We also take you to visit the
Kanyakumari Mandir, Gandhi Mandapam and Trisamudra Milan.
Evening, you are to return
to the hotel for over night stay.
In the morning, after breakfast, we drive you to Kovalam . Kovalam is reckoned the most trendy beach retreat in India enroute visit Padmanabhapuram and Palace Sree Chithra Art Gallery - the collection also includes paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali, University Observatory - Located at the highest point in the city; one can have a bird's eye view of the city.
This day relax on beach or explore Trivendrum city by your own.
After a refreshing breakfast, drive to Alleppey (180 km) and check in to houseboat.
Set out on an enchanting overnight backwater cruise in traditionally decorated
houseboats. While cruising in these floating luxury-villas, let your eyes settle for
the rare and the unusual - skim past Chinese fishing nets, bowed-down paddy fields,
local inhabitants engaged in making coir products, rustic homes, ancient temples and
swaying coconut groves. Food will be served onboard.
Overnight stay in the houseboat
After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Kumarakom (50 km). Check in to
the hotel. Afternoon proceeds for local sightseeing in and around Kumarakom - a tiny
backwater hamlet perched on the western banks of the Vembanadu Lake. The stretch of
backwater is spread over 900 sq. km.
Overnight stay is arranged in Kumarakom.
Morning after breakfast drive by surface to Periyar. On arrival check into hotel.
Afternoon visit Spice Village located in the Periyar wilderness, high in the western
ghats of Kerala. Pepper and cardamom, cinnamon and ginger, nutmeg, mace and anise
the Periyar hills became nature's taste factory in the 14th century, as Cochin
became nature's harbour, the port of lading for a spice-hungry world. It’s the
rainforests, the animals and the vast silences that attract the modern visitor. On
the road to Spice Village, it's easy to feel this centuries-old allure yourself. The
earth boils in a fertile outpouring, every conceivable shade of green, flecked with
the crimson and gold of mountain flowers. This is a world of forests patterned in
dappled sunlight. Plantations of rubber, coffee and spice. Rolling highlands and
crisp, cool air. Rest of the day free for leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel.
Early morning visit the Sanctuary Periyar wildlife sanctuary has a picturesque lake
at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this
reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent
source of water for the local wildlife. Apart from Elephants, the other animals to
be seen in the Periyar sanctuary are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse
Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog and very rarely, a Tiger. There are, now, an estimated
40 tigers here. Four species of primates are found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed
macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque. Periyar also happens
to be the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr. Back to hotel for breakfast.
Later afternoon drive by surface to Munnar -the most tranquil town in Kerala. On
arrival check into hotel. Rest of the day free for leisure activities. In the
evening, stroll around the incredible mountainous terrains. One of the most popular
hill stations in India, Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain
streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala.
Overnight at hotel.
Morning after breakfast proceeds for sightseeing tour of Munnar. Start you day for
the encounter with the town famous for the tea plantations. Walk into the tea
estates to profit the nature & the greenry of the place. Explore the picturesque
hill station including Anaimudi (2,695 m), South India’s highest peak, the Christ
Church, the Evarikulam National Park, the Rajamala Hills, Top Station and the
Madupetty Dam. Rest of the day free for leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel.
Morning after breakfast proceed for a guided city tour of Cochin visiting The Dutch
Palace, Portuguese Churches, Mosques, Hindu temples, Fort Cochin, still keeping
alive its ancient Jew tradition, St. Francis Church, Jew’s street and the Chinese
fishing nets at Fort Cochin. Evening enjoy Katthakali dance show – a traditional art
form of Kerala.
Overnight at hotel
Transfer to airport to board flight back home/ onward destination.
Accommodation
Airport Transfers
Daily Breakfast
Surface transportation by an exclusive chauffeur driven air-conditioned car
Services of english speaking local guides
Entrance fees to the monuments
All Taxes