ARRIVAL CHENNAI

Chennai (Madras) - Garlanding on arrival with meeting and assistance at the airport. Our representative will meet to welcome and escort you by a private chauffeur driven transport to the Hotel. Whilst the room keys and check-in is organized, our representative will also hand over the “Welcome Folder” documents and brief you the tour programme.
Chennai - Capital of the south-eastern state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is one of the four major metropolitan cities in India. Today, it is hard to believe that a place that was till 1639 just a small fishing village would become such an enormous and beautiful city. Situated on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai is perhaps the most peaceful and green metropolis in India. Chennai has a number of attractions for the tourists to see. One of them is the beautiful Marina beach, where the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal mingle with the golden sands. The city also has its share of forts and palaces reminding the tourists the glory of bygone eras.

IN CHENNAI

Chennai (Madras) - After breakfast half day city tour visiting, Kapaleshwarar Temple: A masterpiece of Dravidian architecture, this ancient Shiva temple, is the biggest in Chennai. Fort St.George: Located on the seashore near the harbour, Fort St. George was built for the East India Co. in 1960 AD. Marina Beach: the pride of Chennai is the second longest beach in the World and has a wide sandy foreshore. Other attractions are Fort Museum and St. Mary’s Church and Little Mount Shrine.

CHENNAI - PONDICHERRY ( 165 Kms. and takes approx.. 3 Hrs. )

Pondicherry - After breakfast depart by surface to Pondicherry, On arrival check-in at Hotel.
Pondicherry means ’the new settlement’. It was a French settlement comprising of Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam besides Pondicherry. While Karaikal is in Tamil Nadu, Mahe is in Kerala, and Yanam is a part of Andhra Pradesh. Situated around 200 kilometres south of Chennai, Pondicherry is today a union territory where the French connection on the architecture and culture of the place is strongly visible—a result of the centuries-old relation with the French power. However, the fame of Pondicherry lies not in its French connection but its relation with the saint-philosopher Aurobindo Ghosh who founded his ashram here. Sri Aurobindo was a political revolutionary who reached Pondicherry in 1920 and established a place for peaceful and harmonious living. Today the ashram is home to nationals from every part of the world who come here to find peace and solitude.

PONDICHERRY - TRICHY - TANJORE ( 259 Kms. and takes approx.. 4 Hrs. )

Thanjavur - After breakfast depart by surface to Tanjore, enroute visiting Trichy, On arrival check in at Hotel.
Tanjore is famous for many reasons since the time of Cholas. The name itself has many interesting legends related to it. According to one of them, Tanjore probably was called Tanjai. The other legends attribute the name of the city to Tanjam, a demon who was haunting the locality and was destroyed by God Vishnu. However, apart from these legends Tanjore also has a sound history of different dynasties that ruled over it. The Cholas conquered Thanjavoor in about 850 A.D. replacing the Mutharayar Chiefs and made it their capital. The Cholas ruled over, Pandyas and Cheras. The present day Tanjore is the headquarters of the Tanjore District.

TANJORE - MADURAI ( 185 Kms. and takes approx.. 3 Hrs. )

Madurai - After breakfast depart by surface to Madurai, On arrival check in at Hotel.
Madurai is called the temple city of India, which makes it one of the most visited religious destinations of southern India. The political capital of the Pandyan and the Nayakan dynasties, Madurai has also been the centre for learning and the heart for South Indian culture and tradition for the last 2,500 years. The magnificent gopurams of the Meenakshi Temple are the first and main attraction of the city. Spread across six hectares of area, the temple is situated in the middle of the town. Apart from the massive Meenakshi temple, the Mariamman Teppakulam, Tirumalai Nayak Mahal, Gandhi Museum, Thirupparankunram, Azhagar Koil and Koodal Alagar Temple are some of the other important sites to visit in Madurai. Moreover, as Madurai makes a good base point to visit some of the exotic destinations nearby, you can also decide on spending some more time here to complete your visit to southern India.

MADURAI - KANYAKUMARI ( 245 Kms. and takes approx.. 4 Hrs. )

Kanyakumari - After breakfast depart by surface to Kanyakumari, On arrival check in at Hotel.
Kanyakumari - the southernmost point of mainland India, lies at the confluence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. It is basically a pilgrimage town dedicated to the virgin Goddess Devi Kanya whose temple overlooks the shoreline. On a rock about 500 m offshore stands the Vivekananda Memorial, dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, a great Indian philosopher. The construction reflects architectural styles from all over India. Kanyakumari is the only place in India where one can watch the sunset and the moonrise simultaneously on a full moon evening.

KANYAKUMARI - ALLEPPEY ( 249 Kms. and takes approx.. 5 Hrs. )

Alappuzha - After breakfast depart by surface to Alleppey, On arrival check in at Dlx Ac House Boat.
With the Arabian sea on the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and freshwater rivers crisscrossing it, Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty. Referred to as the Venice of the East by travelers from across the world, this backwater country is also home ot diverse animal and bird life. By virtue of its proximity to the sea, the town has always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime history of Kerala. Today, Alappauzha has grown in importance as a backwater tourist centre, attracting several thousands of foreign tourists each year. Alappuzha is also famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called Kuttanad.

IN ALLEPPEY

Alappuzha - After breakfast embark Ac Houseboat to enjoy day cruise on backwaters.

ALLEPPEY - COCHIN ( 52 Kms. and takes approx.. 1 Hrs. )

Kochi (Cochin) - After breakfast depart by surface to Cochin, On arrival check in at Hotel.
Cochin is popularly known as the “Queen on the Arabian Sea” and is the oldest European settlement in India. Surrounded by backwaters, this city has always managed to attract voyagers to travel to Kerala, India.
Afternoon city tour of Cochin visiting Dutch Palace, built by the Portuguese known for its murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and dresses and palanquins used by Cochin’s erstwhile rulers; Koonan Kurishu Shrine which is a small chapel, Jewish Synagogue which has a number of copper plates inscribed in the He brew script; Fort Kochi , St Francis Church, the oldest one to be constructed by Europeans in India; Santa Cruz Basilica with a beautifully painted ceiling, and, Chinese Fishing Nets near the harbor’s entrance of Cochin.

DEPART COCHIN

Kochi (Cochin) - In time transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

• Private transportation
• Local Guide.
• Hotel or airport pick-up and drop-off
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Fuel, parking and toll fee.
• Breakfast
• All Government taxes.

• Tips and gratuities.
• Anything not mentioned in Inclusions.
• Any monuments & camera fee at all entrances as applicable
• Any Air / Train Fare
• Lunch and Entrance tickets.

This 10-day South India tour starts with arrival in Chennai, the cultural heart of Tamil Nadu, celebrated for its historic sites and Marina Beach. Discover Chennai’s temples and forts before traveling to the delightful French-inspired town of Pondicherry. Continue through Trichy to Tanjore, renowned for its Chola-era temples, and proceed to the temple city of Madurai, home to the famous Meenakshi Temple. Visit Kanyakumari, the southernmost point of India, then relax on a houseboat in the tranquil backwaters of Alleppey. The tour concludes in Cochin, a city rich in colonial history and vibrant culture, with departure from Cochin marking the end of the journey.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.