Intense Tour of South India
21 Nights / 22 Days

Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondichery - Tanjore - Chettinad - Madurai - Thekkady - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Ooty - Mysore - Chilmagalur - Hospet - Badami - Goa - Mumbai

Day 1 : ARRIVE CHENNAI
Arrive Chennai – meet & transfer to hotel.
In the afternoon proceed for sightseeing of Chennai visiting Fort St. George, San Thome Cathedral and the museums that contain the world's most complete and impressive selection of Chola bronzes and stone sculptures from South India and the Deccan.
Overnight : Hotel in Chennnai

Day 2 : CHENNAI –KANCHIPURAM - MAHABALIPURAM
After breakfast, take an excursion to Kanchipuram known as the Golden City of a Thousand Temples, is one of the oldest towns in India.
There after continue drive to Mahabalipuram
'Mamallapuram'; popularly known as Mahabalipuram, once the main port of the Pallava Dynasty from the 5th to 9th centuries. Today, it is the site of several antique sculptural marvels. Declared as the world heritage site by UNESCO, Mahabalipuram boasts of some of India's most sublime rock-cut art. The only shore temple, which remains here, is the spectacular two-spired shrine, which is unique in that it houses both Vishnu and Shiva in its sanctum.
Overnight : Hotel in Mahabalipuram

Day 3 : MAHABALIPURAM – PONDICHERRY
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing of Mahabalipuram, here you will see the famous sea port of the Pallavas in Mahabalipuram, which includes the famous rock-cut and the sea shore temple. 'Arjuna's Penance'. The tour of the temples ends with a visit to the 'Shore Temple';
Later drive onward to Pondicherry (162 Kms / 04 Hrs).
On arrival check inn at Hotel.
Overnight : Hotel in Pondichery

Day 4 : PONDICHERRY – TANJORE
After breakfast, enjoy an orientation tour of Pondicherry, driving through its main promenande, past elegant colonial mansions and tree lined boulevards and visit visit Auroville.
Later drive to Tanjore (170 Kms / 4 Hrs)
Overnight : Hotel in Tanjore

Day 5 : TANJORE – CHETTINAD
After breakfast visit the Sri Brihadeeshwara Temple built by the great Chola King, Raja Raja I in the 10th century AD, Tanjore Palace and Museum. The Palace, adjacent to the temple is a vast structure of outstanding architecture built partly by the Nayaks and partly by the Marathas around 1550 AD.
The Royal museum displays many items of the kings who ruled the palace in the past - the Royal clothes, hunting weapons, the headgears and many more such items. The Nayak hall of the palace is converted into an Art Gallery which has an excellent collection of artefacts from the Chola dynasty during the 8th and 9th century.
Later drive to Chettinad.
Arrive & Check in at hotel.
Overnight : Hotel in Chettinad

Day 6 : CHETTINAD - MADURAI
After Breakfast drive to Madurai, known as the Athens of the East, Madurai, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu is situated on the banks of the river Vaigai.
Arrive & check in at hotel.
In the afternoon visit to the Palace of Tirumalai Nayak, an Indo-Saracenic building constructed in 1523. Meenakshi Temple. One of the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage.
Overnight : Hotel in Madurai

Day 7 : MADURAI – THEKEDDY
After breakfast drive to Thekaddy (4 hrs)
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary lies around the lake, on the cool hills of the Western Ghats the heartland of which luxuriate in matted coffee, tea, pepper and cardamom plantations. Periyar offers one of the most sybaritic ways of seeing big game.
Arrive & check in at hotel.
In the afternoon go for boat cruise in Lake Periyar to see wildlife.
Overnight : Hotel in Thekkady

Day 8 : PERIYAR - KUMARAKOM
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom (4 hrs.)
Arrive & check in at hotel
Overnight : Hotel in Kumarakom

Day 9 : KUMARAKOM - HOUSEBOAT
1200 hrs : Check-out from your Hotel in Kumarkom and board on House Boat for 1 night and move towards Alleppey.
Overnight: Houseboat (Air Conditioned)

Day 10 : ALLEPPEY - COCHIN
After breakfast drive to Cochin (2 hrs).
In the afternoon sightseeing of Cochin City. Includes Mattancherry Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Fort Cochin, and famous Chinese Fishing Net.
In the evening visit Kathakali dance
Overnight : Hotel in Cochin

Day 11 : COCHIN - OOTY
After breakfast  drive to Ooty - Ootacamund (7 to 8 hrs) - the former summer capital of the Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), it is known as the Queen of Hill stations. It nestles in the Nilgiri Hills at an altitude of 2300 meters
Overnight : Hotel in Ooty

Day 12 : OOTY - CONOOR - OOTY
Early morning experience the Toy Train ride to Conoor, this is the highlight of this area.
Aftnoon free at leisure.
Overnight : Hotel in Ooty

Day 13 : OOTY - MYSORE
After breakfast drive to Msyore (4 hrs) - the capital of King Tipu Sultan who fought British but refused to given up his kingdom, a true martyr.
In the afternoon proceed for sightseeing of Mysore – Visit Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery – Housed in the Jag Mohan Palace, the gallery has a collection of exquisite paintings.
Overnight : Hotel in Mysore

Day 14 : MYSORE - SRAVANBELAGOLA - CHIKMAGALUR
After breakfast drive to Chikmagalur enroute visiting Sravanbelagola with its huge monolithic statue of Gomatheshwara (17 meters).
Thereafter continue in drive to Chikmagalur.
Arrive & check in at hotel.
Overnight : Hotel in Chikmagalur

Day 15 : CHIKMAGALUR - HOSPET
After breakfast Visit the Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid renowned for their fine sculptures and design.
Thereafter drive to Hospet, arrive & check in at hotel.
Overnight : Hotel in Hospet

Day 16 : HOSPET - HAMPI - HOSPET
After breakfast full day sightseeing of Vijayanagar and Hampi ruins that date back to 14th Century. Vijayanagar was one of the largest Hindu Empires in the Indian History spread from Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal and covered all the Deccan Plateau (Peninsular India). The greatness of the city is still evident from the Vitala and the Hazara temples, the stone chariot, Lotus Mahal and Queen’s bath etc. In 1565, the Muslim rulers attacked it, giving it the name, the Pompeii of India.
Overnight : Hotel in Hospet

Day 17 : HOSEPT - AIHOLE - BADAMI
After breakfast drive to Aihole, the cradle of stone temple architecture of the southern Dravidian school, the temples date back to early Chalukya period 5th century A.D.
Thereafter continue drive to Badami visiting en route the temples at Pattadakal, referred by Ptolemy in the 1st century A.D. as Petrigal.
Arrive & Check in at hotel.
Overnight : Hotel in Badami

Day 18 : BADAMI - GOA
After breakfast visit the hilltop temples with rock-cut shrines and the splendid cave temples adorned with carvings.
Later drive to Goa (6 hrs)
Arrive & check in at hotel
Overnight : Hotel in Goa

Day 19 : GOA
After breakfast day free to relax on the beach.
Overnight : Hotel in Goa

Day 20 : GOA
After breakfast day free to relax on the beach
Overnight : Hotel in Goa

Day 21 : GOA - MUMBAI
After breakfast transfer to airport
Depart by flight (Jet Airways) to Mumbai
Arrive & check in at hotel
Overnight : Hotel in Mumbai

Day 22 : MUMBAI DEPARTURE
Departure transfer to International airport for flight back home.