South India Beach Tour
Duration: 10 Nights / 11 Days
Places Covered: Chennai - Kancheepuram - Mamallapuram - Chennai - Kodaikanal
- Thekkady - Kottayam - Cochin - Trivandrum - Kovalam - Trivandrum
Day 01: Madras
Arrive Madras. Transfer to hotel. Day at leisure/ independent activities. Overnight
at Hotel
Day 02: Madras - Kancheepuram - Mamallapuram
Forenoon sight see places of interesting Madras - Fort St. George, Govt. Museum,
Valluvar Kottam, Snake park, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Santhome Cathedral, and
drive along the marina Beach.
After lunch proceed to Kancheepuram to visit ekambaranatha Temple, Kamatchi
Amman Temple and shop for the world famous Kancheepuram Silks. Proceed to
Mamallapuram. Check in Beach Resort for overnight stay.
Day 03: Mamallapuram - Madras - Overnight Train
Sight see the 7th century pallavan monuments in the forenoon. Relax in the
beach. Depart Mamallapuram in the evening to reach Madras. Proceed to EGMORE
rly. Station to board pandiyan Express - overnight train journey.
Day 04: Kodaikanal
Reach Kodai Road rly. Station in the early hours and thereafter proceed to Kodaikanal,
on road. Check in hotel. Day at leisure. Enjoy boating in the lake in the evening.
Founded by American missionaries in 1845, Kodaikanal is steeped in history.
Relics and artifacts of the Paliyans who once lived in these hills can still
be seen in the Shenbaganur Museum. Even today, a few Paliyans can be seen near
Kukal Cave. In the early days, there were no roads-people had to travel by bullock-cart
and palanquin, braving the dangers of the forests. Slowly Kodaikanal developed,
missionaries established church properties, many of the then ruling princes
built summer holiday-homes, clubs were opened, school and hotels were built,
and civic amenities were introduced.
Day 05: Kodaikanal
Sight see Coakers Walk, Pillar Rocks, Bryant park, Kurinji Andavar Temple
in the forenoon. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at Hotel
Day 06: Kodaikanal - Thekkady (periyar)
Depart from Kodaikanal after breakfast to reach Thekkady for lunch. Check
in hotel. Take the launch trip in the lake in the evening to view Wild animals.
Overnight at Hotel
Periyar: One of the well known wildlife sanctuaries in the south, Periyar
sanctuary attracts a large number of nature lovers every year. Also called the
Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, this place is ideal for watching the animals in
their natural habitat.
The forest here, slopes into the manmade lake at the bottom of the hill. This
lake serves as the waterhole for the animals and they come here to drink or
take a dip. Elephants, Gaur, Sambhar and even tigers can be spotted here.
There are boat services which takes the visitor around the lake. The best season
to visit the park is between October and June. Spread over 777 sq.km of the
Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats, the Periyar sanctuary is located 137 km from
Madurai.
Although an excursion on the splendid artificial lake is the standard way to
experience the sanctuary, you can also walk around with the local guide in a
small group. Wild Elephant herds come to the lake to frolic in the water.
Other attractions of the sanctuary are the Sambhar, Bison, Spotted Deer, Tigers,
Leopards, Malabar Flying Squirrels, Stripe necked Mongooses, etc. There are
over 260 species of birds here, including Nilgiri Wood Pigeons, blue-winged
Parakeets, White bellied Tree Pies, laughing Thrushes and Fly Catchers.
Day 07: Thekkady
Can avail the launch trip again, if interested, (Optional) at dawn. Rest of
the day at leisure. Overnight at Hotel
Day 08: Thekkady - Kottayam - Cochin
Leave Thekkady after breakfast to reach Kottayam. Take a boat cruise in the
palm fringed scenic back waters. Reach Cochin in the evening. Check in hotel
and stay overnight. Cochin set on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas,
the port city of Cochin (Kochi) (Queen of Arabia) reflects the eclecticism of
Kerala perfectly. With a rich past and a bustling present, it has been the business
hub of the region from the very early days after Alleppey (Alappuzha). Cochin
consists of mainland Ernakulam, the islands of Willington, Bolgatty and Gundu
in the harbour, Fort Cochin and Mattancherry on the southern peninsula, and
Vypeen Island north of Fort Cochin, all was linked by ferry but now some islands
have bridges. The influence of Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans is evident
in Cochin and its people. The oldest church in India, 500-year-old Portugese
houses, old tiled houses built in the Chinese pagoda style, the famous Chinese
fishing nets, a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora, synagogues
and mosques all tell the fascinating story of this harbour town. The harbour
is still at the heart of the city and pepper, sea food, rubber and coir mats
and matting are exported from here. Despite this, Cochin is an attractive city
with serene creak & lagoons overhung with feathery coconut palms and picturesque
islands. The older parts of Fort Cochin and Mattanchery are an unlikely blend
of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village grafted onto the
troppical Malabar coast. Cochin is one of India's largest ports and a major
naval base.
Day 09: Cochin - Trivandrum - Kovalam
Sight see the places of interest in Cochin - Bolghatty Palace, Chinese Fishing
Nets, Mattancherry, Dutch Palace, Temple, Art Gallery and reach Kovalam. Check
in beach resort and stay overnight.
Day 10: Kovalam
Relax on the Beach during the day, in Kovalam. Overnight at Hotel Kovalam beach
is known as the "Paradise of the South". Kovalam is just 16 kms away
from Trivandrum, Kerala's capital city. Kovalam is an evergreen and pleasant
climatic beach resort. Kovalam is a dreamland for tourists all over the world.
With high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise
creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights. Kovalam was brought to the public
eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. Over the past three decades, the place has
been well developed, and now figures prominently on the world tourism map. The
warm and clean atmosphere by the coconut trees and the white sandbed are perfect
for relaxing holidays, as the seabreeze gently plays with the waves.
Day 11: Kovalam - Trivandrum - Back Home
Depart Kovalam and proceed to Trivandrum in time to board conveyance Back
Home with Pleasant Memories.
