Duration: 16 Nights / 17 Days Places Covered: Chennai - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar
- Kovalam - Aleppey - Cochin
Day 1 - Chennai: Arrival at airport / railway station and transfer to
your hotel.
Afternoon visit museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery, High court, Fort
museum, Marina Beach, San Thome Cathedral and Snake Park.
Day 2 - Chennai: Kingdom of Pallavas. Excursion to Kanchipuram.
Visit temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshiand and Varadarajaswamy
are of interest.
Day 3 - Pondicherry: Drive to Mahabalipuram to see the famous seven
pagodas.
Continue to Vedanthangal Water Bird Sanctuary to see various kinds of water
birds.
Reach Pondicherry in the evening.
Day 4 - Pondicherry: For the half-day sightseeing tour of Pondicherry,
we visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, Museum and Church of Sacred Heart
of Jesus.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 5 - Tanjore: Reach Tanjore or Thanjavur by noon. After lunch explore
the beautiful Chola temple of Brihadeeshwara, Palace and it's Art Gallery,
which contains several granite and bronze statues of the Chola period.
Day 6 - Madurai: On the way to Madurai, visit Trichy. The Rock Fort
is the landmark of Trichy.
Enjoy a climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top
and a further climb to a Shiva Temple.
At Madurai we keep the day free to relax.
Day 7 - Madurai: Visit the great Meenakshi Temple. Later, visit the
Tirumal Nayak Palace, Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock Temple.
Day 8 - Periyar: Reach Periyar by noon. After lunch visit a nearby coffee
plantation.
Day 9 - Periyar: Early morning we take boat ride over the Lake Periyar
to watch animals in their natural habitat on the water's edge.
For the lunch we return back to hotel. Late afternoon, visit the park again
by cruise to shoot its animals by camera.
Day 10 - Kovalam: Enjoy aquatic sports at a nearby beach.
Yoga classes and transcendental meditation are held at the yoga & health
center.
Experts give Ayurvedic oil massages and oil bath.
Day 11 - Kovalam: Complete day at leisure or use it in exploring its
beach, people & culture and water sports.
Day 12/13 - Aleppey: From Kovalam to Aleppey, take an overnight houseboat
journey and pass through the palm fringed narrow canals winding.
Reach Aleppey the next day.
Day 13 - Aleppey: Full day at leisure.
Day 14 - Aleppey: Explore the coastal town of Aleppey.
Day 15 - Cochin: After having breakfast we drive to Cochin. At Cochin,
visit the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese Fishing Nets, St.
Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Church. We also visit the Hill palace
Museum that displays articles of archeological importance.
Day 16 - Cochin: For the day we take a motor launch excursion to Kottayam.
Upon arrival, visit the Thirunakkara Shiva Temple built in the Kerala style.
Evening return back to hotel.
Day 17 - Cochin: At the time of the onwards journey, you will be transferred
to Airport / Railway station.
