Cultural Tapestry of South India

Day 01 - IN / CHENNAI
On arrival, you will be met & transferred to the Hotel for overnight.

Day 02 - CHENNAI
After breakfast visit Fort St George & Museum - built c.1653 by the British East India Co. & St Mary’s Church - the oldest British Church in India.  Proceed to the ancient Kapaleeswarar Temple devoted to Lord Shiva.  Later visit Government Musuem to see bronzes from various dynasties.  Drive past Marina Beach.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 – CHENNAI / MAHABALIPURAM
After breakfast visit Kalakshetra Arts Village specially founded to propagate classical dancing & singing.  After lunch on your own, check out & drive to Mahabalipuram, 65 kms away and check into a beach facing Resort. Visit the low relief carvings of Arjun’s Penance depicting animals, deities & fables from the ‘Panchtantra’ carved in living rock.  Overnight at the resort. 

Day 04 – MAHABALIPURAM / CHENNAI
After breakfast visit the romantic 7th cent. Shore Temple & The Five Raths - magnificent rock-cut temples.  Return to Chennai & check in at the hotel for overnight.

Day 05 – CHENNAI / MYSORE
Early morning transfer to railway station to connect train for Mysore.  Breakfast & lunch on.   At Mysore your would be met & transferred to the Hotel.  After freshening up, visit Mysore Palace, seat of the Maharajas of Mysore built in Indo-Saracenic style.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06 – MYSORE / HASSAN
After breakfast visit Srirangpatnam, former Capital of Tipu Sultan from where he ruled South India.  Later proceed to Hasan and check-in to the Hotel for overnight.

Day 07 – HASSAN
After breakfast go for excursion to Halebeed & Belur to see the Hoysala Temples - cream of one of the most artistically exuberant period of Hindu Cultural Development.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 – HASSAN / BANGALORE / COCHIN
After breakfast drive to Bangalore & transfer to the airport to connect flight for Cochin where you would be met and transferred to the Hotel.  In the evening see the classical dance form of Kerala, Kathakali, including the back-stage scenes of applying make-up etc.   Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09 - COCHIN
After breakfast, visit Mattancherry Palace, a gift from the Dutch to the Maharaja of Cochin; the Pardesi Synagogue & the Fort Cochin area.  See also St Francis Church, where the remains of Vasco Da Gama were interred for a while, and the Chinese Fishing Nets - brought to India by traders from the court of Kublai Khan.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 – COCHIN / ALLEPPY
After breakfast we check out and drive to Alleppy, 65 kms away & check in at the Resort of the shores of Lake Vembanad.  Take a leisurely Cruise on the fabled Backwaters of Kerala on a chartered Houseboat for 5 hours seeing the lifestyle of villagers here and some bird watching.  Overnight at the Resort.

Day 11 - ALLEPPY
After breakfast, day free for independent activities e.g. an Ayurvedic Oil Massage Nature walk, Watersports etc on you own.  Overnight at the resort.

Day 12 – ALLEPPY / THEKKADY
After breakfast drive to the hill resort of Thekkady in the Nilgiri Hills, and check into the Resort.  After lunch we visit a Spice Plantation to see the spices growing in their natural element.  Dinner & overnight at the Resort.

Day 13 – THEKKADY / MADURAI
After an early breakfast, visit the Periyar Wild Life Sanctury. Return to resort for check out and drive to Madurai & check-in at the Hotel.  In the evening visit Sri Meenakshi Temple, and observe the evening service.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14 – MADURAI / MUMBAI
After breakfast check-out and visit Mahatma Gandhi Museum.  Transfer to airport to connect flight to Mumbai for dinner.  Transfer to international airport to connect flight home.

End of Programme