Day 01: Kochi
Arrival at Kochi Airport / Railway station, and transfer you
to the hotel / resort. Check in to home stay / hotel.
Evening visit to Marine Drive, enjoy the sunset and have
stroll on the walk way. Over night back to the hotel.
Day 02: Chennai
Mahabalipuram (58 kms. 01½ hrs.)
After breakfa st drive to Mahabalipuram. Reach & Check-in at
the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your
room. Mahabalipuram is globally renowned for the Shore
Temples. The main tourist attraction of the town is the
Varaha Cave, a small rock-cut mandapam (hall). Heinrich
Zimmer, a leading expert on Mahabalipuram has described the
famous Pallava doorkeepers' expression outside the cave as
of "pious rapture. Explore the rest of the day at your own
leisure.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 03: Mahabalipuram
Enjoy the sumptuous bre akfast. Later proceed for the
sightseeing of Mahabalipuram. The major attractions are
Arjuna's Penance which is carved in relief on the face of a
huge rock. Arjuna's Penance is the mythical story of the
river Ganges, issuing from its source, high in the
Himalayas. The surface of the rock has detailed carvings
showing the most endearing and natural renditions of
animals. Mandapams (low rise, rock cut halls), Krishna
Mandapam adorn massive rocks near the centre of the village.
The beautiful Shore Temple towers over the waves, behind a
protective breakwater. Sixteen man-made caves in different
stages of completion are also seen. Shore Temples - These
beautiful temples, ravaged by wind and sea, were given the
World Heritage listing, a few years ago. The two spires of
the temples contain a shrine for Lord Vishnu and for Lord
Shiva.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 04: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (130 kms. 03½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Pondich erry. Reach & check-in at
the hotel and relax relax for a while amidst the comforts of
your room. Later proceed to take a ramble. Pondicherry which
offers a versatile choice ranging from historic buildings,
museums, art galleries, meditation centers, scenic beauty to
sun-kissed beaches. The trip to this magnificent destination
is never complete without indulging in the culinary
delights, indigenous to the region. The cuisines offer a
unique blend of the culinary traditions of the Orient and
the French. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 05: Pondicherry
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast. Later proceed for the
sightseeing Aaayi Mandappam which is also known as the park
Monument, an attractive monument of Pondicherry government
park (Bharathi Park). Sri Aurobindo Ashram which exhudes a
spiritual aura. Sacred Heart Church which is built by French
Missionaries in the 1700s in a contrasting Neo Gothic
style with its towers. Chunnambar Beach & Backwater the
tropical paradise flanked by a quiet flowing creek on one
side. Matri Mandir which is not a temple but a place for
individual silent concentration. Overnight stay at the
Hotel.
Day 06: Pondicherry Tanjore (180 kms. 04½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Thanjavur/ Tanjore which is
like Rome in Europe or Egypt in Africa. Reach & check-in at
the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your
room. The m ajor attractions of Tanjore are Sri Brihadeswara
Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva with its architectural
excellence. The Palace is a fascinating building with huge
corridors, spacious halls, decorated rooms, having the
amazing stucco work with wonderful fresco painted walls &
ceilings, underground tunnel and intricate carvings. Art
Gallery the place where you can find fabulous collection of
bronze icons, stone sculpture and pieces of art. Saraswati
Mahal Library is the most remarkable library in India. Royal
Museum which displays rare antiques belonging to the Maratha
Royal Family.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 07: Tanjore Trichy (55 kms - 01½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Trichy. The major sight-seeing
attractions of Trichy are Rock Fort Temple which crowns a
gigantic piece of rock, soaring 83 meters upwards, from the
encircling plains. Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple) is
among the most venerated temples to Lord Vishnu in South
India. Enclosed by seven rectangular walled courtyards, this
13th century temple has 21 gopurams. The Jambukeshwara
Temple the temple at Tiruvanaikkaval is dedicated to Shiva,
and has five concentric walls, and seven gopurams. The chief
deity is the Shiva lingam, which remains almost submerged in
water flowing from the subterranean spring. Overnight stay
at the Hotel.
Day 08: Trichy - Madurai (130 kms. 03½ hrs.)
After breakfast driveto Madurai which is called the `Ath ens
of the East' because of the way myth meets life here. Reach
& check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the
comforts of your room. Madurai is almost synonymous with the
famed Meenakshi Temple the nucleus of the temple is older
than the Madurai city. The Meenakshi temple complex at
Madurai is not only an architectural marvel but also the
epitome of Indian culture and civilization. Explore the rest
of the day at your own.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 09: Madurai
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast. Later proceed to see the
other attractions of Madurai. Thirumalai Nayak Palace, the
main Palace where the king lived. Vandiyur Mariamman the
area of the tank, and the island pavilion with a garden in
the center. Thirupparankunram, one of the six houses of Lord
Subramanya, the second son of Lord Siva, is located here.
Subramanya is said to have married Indra's daughter,
Deivanai, on this hill. The rock-cut temple of Subramanya
here is thronged with pilgrims on all days of special
worship.Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 10: Madurai Kanyakumari (250 kms. 05½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Kanyakumari. Reach & check-in at
the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your
room. Kanyakumari an important pilgrim centre of India, is
famous for the Amman Temples a symbol of unity and
sanctity dedicated to the virgin Goddess, Kanyakumari. To
its South East lies the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial,
a blend of all architectural styles of India. Explore the
rest of the day at your own leisure. Overnight stay at the
Hotel.
Day 11: Kanyakumari
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast. Later proceed for the
sightseeing of Kanyakumari. Mahatma Gandhi Memorial
resembling the central India Hindu temples in form, the
memorial was so designed that on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday
(02nd October), the first rays of the sun fall on the exact
place where the ashes were kept. Thiruvalluvar Statue the
memorial statue of Thiruvalluvar is in Kanyakumari. Explore
the rest of the day at your own leisure. Overnight stay at
the Hotel .
Day 12: Kanyakumari Kovalam (84 kms. 02 hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Kovalam beach. K ovalam is known as
the "Paradise of the South". This dreamland is an evergreen,
serene, pleasant climatic and enticing beach destination.
Reach & check in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst
the comforts of your room. Explore on your own to see how
the everlasting sea touches the everlasting sky. Kovalam is
the place where one can see the golden sand at the day time
& silver sand in the night. With high rock promontory and a
calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a
unique aquarelle on moonlight nights. Overnight stay at the
Hotel.
Day 13: Kovalam Trivandrum Kovalam
After breakfast drive to Trivandrum. Thiruvananthapuram
literally means Ananthapuri, "the city of Ananthan", the
Thiru (Great/Lord) Ananthan's Puram (City). Ananthan is the
serpent Sesha on whom Padmanabhan or Vishnu reclines. The
temple of Anantha, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple is the
most religious icon of the city. Other sightseeing places
are Kuthiramalika Palace Museum, the name Kuthiramalika
means 'palace of horses' derived from the frieze of 122
wooden horses on the exterior walls. Veli Tourist Village,
which has an excellent waterfront park with a wide range of
aqua entertainment facilities like fishponds, wading pools
and landscaped garden. Shangumugham Beach where one can
watch the amazing sunset. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 14: Kovalam Kumarakom (176 kms. 05 hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom. Kumarako m is one of the
few places in the world where the means for transportation
is through boats. Kumarakom is blessed with the Vembanad
Lake which has its majestic canals, streams and
distributaries along its banks, weave an intricate and
enchantingly beautiful web. The major attractions of
Kumarakom is the Bird Sanctuary which lies at the edge of
the grounds of an old estate where a profusion of all kinds
of birds can be observed. Domestic birds such as cuckoo,
wild duck, egrets, darters, herons, teal, and water fowl can
be seen in abundance here, and the Siberian storks which
migrate to this place each year. Overnight stay at the
Hotel.
Day 15: Kumarakom Mararikulam (40 kms. 01 hr.)
After breakfast drive to Mararikulam the place which is not
changed with the passage of time. A typical fishing village
with beautiful swaying palm trees, coconut trees and the
vast expanse of the sea in a tranquil environment.
Mararikulam or Marari would give a completely new experience
to a traveler as it offers an unblemished and pristine
shoreline, extolled as Keralas cleanest sandy beach.
Explore the rest of the day at your own leisure on the
beach. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 16: Mararikulam
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast with the new sunrise in
Mararikulam. Later explore the beaches by playing with the
sun-kissed shimmering sands and take a leisurely walk. The
beach is known for nature's bounteous beauty with stunning
backwaters, the tranquility of the village and the
spectacular sceneries, glistening sands and the everlasting
blue water will fill your soul and mind with joy. Overnight
stay at the Hotel.
Day 17: Mararikulam Athirapally (150 kms - 04 hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Athira pally. Reach & check-in at
the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your
room. Later proceed to enjoy with the natures gifted
waterfalls. Athirapally which is within the breathtaking
embrace of the deep forests, a rich and diverse flora &
fauna abounds. Athirapally Waterfalls are often referred to
as the Niagara Falls of India. Behold the spectacular view
of the crashing 80 ft waterfalls. Athirapally lying with the
wilderness of the Sholayar Range with a breathtaking embrace
of the deep forests, a rich and diverse flora & fauna
abounds. Overnight stay at the Hotel/Resort.
Sightseeing of Thumpurmuzhi Gardens, Charpa Falls, Vazhachal
Forest Gardens & Water Falls. The Vazhachal waterfalls are
located very close to the Athirapally Falls and are a part
of the Chalakudy river stream.
Optional activities: Enjoy a spot fishing in the river. Pay
a visit to the tribal village, trek to the base of the
waterfall. Find your way through the Jungle (subject to
permission from the forest department) Overnight stay
at the Hotel.
Day 18 : Athirapally Kochi (78 kms 02½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Kochi. Reach & check-in at the
hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your
room. Explore the rest of the day at your own leisure.
Overnight stay at the Hotel
Day 19: Kochi
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast. Later, move for a half day
city sightseeing tour of Kochi. Kochi which is having the
best preserved history of colonial times and the ideal way
to bring it alive is to take a walk down memory lane. The
major tourist attractions are Chinese Fishing Nets, St.
Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Jewish Synagogue, and Mattancherry Palace/Dutch Palace.
Overnight stay at the Hotel
Day 20: Kochi
After Breakfast transfer to airport / railway
station. |