Tamilnadu Cultural Tour
Duration: 20 Nights / 21 Days
Places Covered: : Chennai - Pondicherry - Swami Malai - Tanjore - Trichy
- Madurai - KanyaKumari - Kovalam - Periyar - Kottayam - Alleppey - Cochin -
Ooty - Mysore - Hassan - Bangalore - Mumbai
Day 01: Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai by international flight. Assistance on arrival and transfer to
the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour. Chennai, the capital city, popularly
regarded as the 'Gateway to the South' represents a culture that is distinctly
different from that of northern India.
Day 02: Chennai
Morning drive to Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram, 70 kms west of Mahabalipuram, this
city of thousand temples lies. One of the seven sacred cities of Hindus, it
was the capital of the early Cholas as far back as the 2nd century BC. Kanchi
was a major seat of Tamil learning as well as an important place of pilgrimage
for Buddhists, Jains and Hindus.
Overnight at the hotel in Covelong.
Day 03: Chennai-Pondicherry
Morning drive to Pondicherry.
Aftrernoon sightseeing tour of Pondicherry
Day 04: Pondicherry-Swami Malai
Drive to Swami Malai ethnic Village Resort visiting en-route Chidambram and
Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Day 05: Swami Malai - Tanjore - Trichy
Moning drive to Trichy visiting en-route Tanjore Temple.
Arrive Trichy, check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit Srirangam and Rock Fort.
Day 06: Trichy - Madurai
Drive to Madurai and check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Madurai. Madurai is one of the oldest cities of
India, with a history dating all the way back to the Sangam period of the pre
Christian era. The glory of Madurai returned in a diminished form in the earlier
part of this millennium; it later on came under the rule of the Vijayanagar
kingdom after its ransack by the ravaging armies of Delhi (Malik Kafur). During
the 16th and 18th centuries, Madurai was ruled by the Nayak Emperors, the foremost
of whom was Tirumalai Nayakar. The Sangam period poet Nakkeerar is associated
with some of the Tiruvilayaadal episodes of Sundareswarar - that are enacted
as a part of temple festival traditions even today.
Day 07: Madurai
Day at leisure - optional. Day trip to visit Rameshwaram or Kodaikanal.
Day 08: Madurai - Kanyakumari - Kovalam
Morning drive to Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), the last end of India where three
Oceans meet. Continue to Kovalam and on arrival, stay for overnight.
Kanyakumari: At the southern most tip of India, where the Arabian Sea,
the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari
is also famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full
moon days. The city of Kanyakumari is surrounded by beautiful beaches and is
one of the known pilgrimages of India. A dip in the ocean here is considered
holy, but the sea is rough here and not fit for bathing. This is the only place
in India, where the sunset and moonrise can be viewed simultaneously on a full
moon day.
Day 09 : Kovalam
Breakfast at hotel. After lunch excursion to Kanya Kumari to visit the stunning
Padmanabhapuram palace and to enjoy the unique experience of Sunset & Moon
rise over the ocean simultaneously. Return to Kovalam in the evening. Overnight
at Kovalam. 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 10: Kovalam - Periyar
Morning drive to Periyar. Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Periyar to view wildlife.
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 11: Periyar - Kottayam - backwaters
Drive to Kottayam and board Kettuvalom, the Houseboat.
Sail through the day and spend night on boat.
Day 12: Arrive Alleppey - Cochin
At noon time, disembark Houseboat at Alleppey and proceed to Cochin, 56 km.
Alleppey: Alappuzha, formerly named as Alleppey, in Kerala is one of
the major backwater destinations. The thrilling boat race awaits you at Alleppey
or Alappuzha. Imagine to just lazing on a houseboat or enjoying fishing in Alleppey
Kerala. Kuttanad is also known as the 'rice bowl' of the state, Kerala India.
Alleppey is a captivating destination in Kerala India that provides backwaters,
traditional Kettuvallooms (house boats), beaches, boat race, swaying palms,
gourmet delight and many more.
Day 13: Cochin
Morning sightseeing tour. Evening witness Kathakali Dance Show in a Theatre.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 14: Cochin - Ooty
Drive to Ooty and check-in at the hotel.
Ooty: The verdant hills, the lush green valleys and the pristine natural
beauty of the hill resort of Ooty offers the urban tired souls a chance to resume
their affair with Nature, to whom they truly belong. The heavenly hill resort
like a blushing bride peeks from behind the lofty Nilgiri hills. The unassuming
beauty of this heavenly hill resort beckons you to come and embrace the tranquility
and solace that tours to Ooty India offer.
Day 15: Ooty
Full day sightseeing of Ooty and Coonoor.
Day 16: Ooty - Mysore
Drive to Mysore and check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon city sightseeing tour.
Day 17: Mysore
Morning visit Somnathpur Temple.
Afternoon visit Srirangapatnam.
Day 18: Mysore - Hassan
Drive to Hassan and check-in at the hotel.
Afternoon visit Belur and Halebid Temples.
Day 19: Hassan - Bangalore drive
Drive to Bangalore visiting en-route Sravanbelgola. On arrival, check-in at
the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour.
Day 20: Bangalore - Mumbai flight
Transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai. Aftrernoon city sightseeing tour.
Day 21: Mumbai - Departure
Transfer to airport for onward flight or extend your stay in GOA.
