South India Grand Tour

Day 01 – IN / CHENNAI
Upon arrival you would be met & transferred to the Hotel.

Day 02 – CHENNAI
After breakfast, visit with our guide Fort St George + Museum built in c.1653 by the British East India Co. & St Mary’s Church - the oldest British Church in India. We then proceed to the ancient Kapaleeswarar Temple devoted to Lord Shiva. In the afternoon we drive along Marina Beach to visit Govt Museum which houses rare Bronzes. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 – CHENNAI / MAHABALIPURAM
After breakfast we drive to Mahabalipuram. En route we visit Crocodile Bank & Snake Farm. Upon reaching Mahabalipuram we visit with our guide, the romantic 7th cent. Shore Temple, majestic in its solitary splendor. After checking in at our Hotel, we later view the relief carvings of Arjun’s Penance depicting animals, deities & fables from the ‘Panchtantra’. Evening at the beach on Bay of Bengal for surf and sand. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04 – MAMALLAPURAM / CHENNAI
Morning free to spend on the beach. After lunch we visit The Five Raths - magnificent examples rock-cut temples carved in the form of chariots, out of living rock. Later we drive to Chennai and check in at the Hotel for ovenight.

Day 05 – CHENNAI / BANGALORE / HASSAN
Early morning we transfer to railway station to connect SHATABDI EXPRESS train to Bangalore. Breakfast on the train by Indian Railways. From Bangalore we drive to Hassan and check in at a Resort in the interiors. Day free to enjoy the Resort with overnight there.

Day 06 – HASSAN / MYSORE
After breakfast, we go for excursion to Belur & Halebeed to see the Hoysala Temples - cream of one of the most artistically exuberant period of Hindu Cultural Development. After lunch at the Resort, we check out and drive to Mysore – the Sandalwood city where we check in at the Hotel for overnight.

Day 07 – MYSORE
After breakfast, we visit Srirangapatnam from where Tipu Sultan ruled most of South India, defied the British and died fighting them. We then visit his summer palace, Darya Daulat Bagh now converted into a museum and Gumbaz – his tomb. In the evening, we visit Wodeyar Palace - seat of the Maharajas of Mysore built in Indo-Saracenic style. We also see the 16’ high Nandi the bull of Lord Shiva carved out of a single piece of rock. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 – MYSORE / OOTY
After breakfast, we check out and drive to Ooty - most famous hill resort of South India, established by the British in 19th century – and check into the Hotel. In the afternoon, we visit without guide, the St Stephan’s Church built in 1829 and known for its stained glass. In the evening we visit the Lake where we can rent row boat on our own if we want to. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09 – OOTY / COCHIN
After breakfast, we check out and drive to Cochin, Kerala which boasts of being one of the world’s finest harbour and check in at the Hotel. In the afternoon we visit the Jewish Synagogue. Later we see the classical dance form of Kerala, Kathakali, including the back-stage scenes of applying make-up etc. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 – COCHIN
After breakfast, we visit with our guide St Francis Church where the explorer Vasco Da Gama was buried for a while; Mattancherry Palace – gifted by the Dutch to Cochin’s Maharaja, and the Chinese Fishing Nets worked by a system of pulleys and weights brought to India by Chinese traders in the time of Kublai Khan in China. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 – COCHIN / ALLEPPEY / KUMARAKOM
After breakfast, we check out and drive to Alleppey where we board a chartered luxury houseboat for a cruise on the fabled Backwaters of Kerala for the day during which we see the lifestyle of villagers & the typical flora & fauna of the region. Lunch on the houseboat. At Kumarakom, we disembark and check-in at the Resort for overnight.

Day 12 –KUMARAKOM
After breakfast, day free to enjoy Ayurvedic massage at the resort, nature walks, water sports, or simply relax by the poolside. Overnight at the resort.

Day 13 – KUMARAKOM / COCHIN / MUMBAI
After breakfast, we drive to Cochin to connect the flight for Mumbai, where you would be met and transferred to the Hotel for check-in & overnight.

Day 14 – MUMBAI / OUT
At an appropriate time our staff will transfer you to the airport to connect flight home.

End of Programme