Temples & Backwater Tour of South India

Duration	Destination	Departure
15 days and 14 nights	India (Chennai, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Chitdambaram, Thanjavur (Tanjore), Trichy, Madurai, Munnar, Periyar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Cochin, Kovalam)	India (Chennai)

Description

Visit the two state of India. Tamil Nadu famous for its exquisite temples of which some are UNESCO World Heritage sites. See the largest & oldest active temples of Hindus in Thanjore, Trichy & Madurai. Rejuvenate yourself in French Colonial town Pondicherry by practicing Yoga in Auroville Ashram. Old monuments, exotic flora and fauna, lush vegetation, the delicate scent of spices and temples bells all characterize Kerala. Western Ghats in the tea-growing region of Munnar gives you a true sense of the sheer natural beauty. Explore the picturesque Periyar National Park & learn about spice plantation. Cruise along the beautiful Keralan backwaters & watch mesmerizing traditional Kathakali dance. At the end of tour relax on world famous Kovalam beach.

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Category
3 star hotels (Private Tour) Bed & Breakfast en
Price includes • Assistance on arrival at airport. • 14 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels. • Daily breakfast & meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner) • Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program. • English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program. • Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary. • Bottled drinking water in car. • Government taxes. Price does not include • Any flight tickets. • Camera charges at monuments. • Meals other than mentioned in day plan. • Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc. • Gratuities & optional activities. • Anything not mentioned in inclusions.
4 star hotels (Private Tour) Bed & Breakfast en
Price includes • Assistance on arrival at airport. • 14 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels. • Daily breakfast & meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner) • Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program. • English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program. • Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary. • Bottled drinking water in car. • Government taxes. Price does not include • Any flight tickets. • Camera charges at monuments. • Meals other than mentioned in day plan. • Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc. • Gratuities & optional activities. • Anything not mentioned in inclusions.
5 star hotels (Private Tour) Bed & Breakfast en
Price includes • Assistance on arrival at airport. • 14 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels. • Daily breakfast & meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner) • Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program. • English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program. • Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary. • Bottled drinking water in car. • Government taxes. Price does not include • Any flight tickets. • Camera charges at monuments. • Meals other than mentioned in day plan. • Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc. • Gratuities & optional activities. • Anything not mentioned in inclusions.

Program

Day 1:
Arrive Chennai
Arrival transfer to hotel (check in/out time 12pm). Visit Fort St. George, St Mary Church inside the fortress, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Government Museum, Dakshinachitra Museum, Santhome Cathedral & Marina Beach.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 2:
Chennai - Mahabalipuram (120kms)
Drive to Mahabalipuram via visiting Kanchipuram an ancient city famous as city of thousands temple. On arrival check in at hotel. Later visit UNESCO WHS monuments Monolithic Temples, Krishnas Butterball, Cave Temples, Shore Temple & The Arjuna Penance.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 3:
Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (120kms)
Drive to Pondicherry check in at hotel. Visit Aurovil & Pondicherry Museum. Drive pass or walk through stunning French Quarters, charming mustard streets and colonial villas which include French consulate, Raj Nivas, Government Square, Churches & French schools.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 4:
Pondicherry - Thanjavur (180kms)
Drive to Thanjavur via visiting Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and The Great Living Chola Temples at Gangaikonda Cholapuram & Darasuram. On arrival check in.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 5:
Thanjavur - Trichy (60kms)
Visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Palace Complex built by great Chola king in the 10th century. Drive to Trichy check in at hotel. Visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple the largest functional temple in the world and The Rock Fort the oldest rock in the world 230 crore years old.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 6:
Trichy - Madurai (135kms)
Drive to Madurai check in at hotel. Visit Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Alagar Koil, Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple & Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 7:
Madurai - Munnar (160kms)
Drive to Munnar, check in at hotel. Later tea estate visit & tea testing.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 8:
Munnar
Visit Pothamedu, Mattupetty dam, Rajamala hill, Eravikulam National Park, Mattupedi Dairy Farm, Echo Point & Tea Museum.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 9:
Munnar - Thekkady (110kms)
Drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu the windiest places in Asia. Evening watch Martial Arts & Kathakali Dance show.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 10:
Thekkady
Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on boat safari followed by spice plantation tour. Drive to Kumarakom check in.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 11:
Thekaddy - Alleppey (135kms)
Transfer to Alleppey boat jetty to board houseboat & sail through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters.
O/n in houseboat. Meal plan: B,L,D.

Day 12:
Alleppey - Cochin (60kms)
Drive to Cochin check in at hotel. Visit Fort Cochin, St. Frances Church, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace & Chinese fishing nets. Evening watch Kathakali Dance.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 13:
Cochin - Kovalam (200kms)
Drive to Kovalam check in at hotel. Rest day free and easy for personal activities & relax on the beach.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 14:
Kovalam
Visit Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Attukal Temple, Napier Museum, Kuthira Malika & Sri Chitra Art Gallery. Drive through popular beaches.
Overnight at hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast

Day 15:
Kovalam - Departure
Departure transfer to airport. Meal plan: Breakfast

Price includes

• Assistance on arrival at airport.
• 14 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.
• Daily breakfast & meal as per day plan (B- Breakfast, L- Lunch, D- Dinner)
• Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.
• English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.
• Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.
• Bottled drinking water in car.
• Government taxes.

Price does not include

• Any flight tickets.
• Camera charges at monuments.
• Meals other than mentioned in day plan.
• Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.
• Gratuities & optional activities.
• Anything not mentioned in inclusions.

Itinerary

Day	Overnight	Itinerary highlights
1	4 StarsChennai	Chennai - Chennai Airport
2	4 StarsMahabalipuram	Kanchipuram
3	4 StarsPondicherry
4	4 StarsThanjavur	Chitdambaram
5	4 StarsTrichy
6	4 StarsMadurai
7	4 StarsMunnar
8	4 StarsMunnar
9	4 StarsThekkady	Periyar
10	4 StarsThekkady
11	4 StarsAlleppey
12	4 StarsKochi
13	4 StarsKovalam
14	4 StarsKovalam
15		Kovalam

Accommodations provided in each place

Place	3 star hotels	4 star hotels	5 star hotels
Chennai	Raj Park/ MGM East Woods or similar	The Raintree/ Accord Metropolitan or similar	ITC Grand Chola/ The Leela Palace or similar
Mahabalipuram	INDeco Hotels/ Mamalla Beach Resort or similar	Ideal Beach Resort/ Confluence The Banquet & Resort or similar	Radisson Blu Resort & Spa/ U Tropicana or similar
Pondicherry	Shenbaga Hotel/ Annamalai International or similar	Le Pondy/ The Windflower Resort & Spa or similar	Palais De Mahe/ La Villa or similar
Thanjavur	Grand Gardenia/ Oriental Towers or similar	Sangam Hotels/ Ideal River View Resort or similar	Svatma or similar
Trichy	Red Fox Hotel/ Grand Gardenia or similar	Sangam Hotels or similar
Madurai	Astoria by Sparsa/ Madurai’s Residency or similar	GRT Regency/ Fortune Pandiyan Hotel or similar	Courtyard by Marriott/ The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai or similar
Munnar	Fort Munnar/ Abad Copper Castle or similar	Nature Zone Jungle Resort/ Fragrant Nature Munnar or similar	Chandys Windy Woods/ Tea County or similar
Thekkady	Abad Green Forest/ Hotel Treetop or similar	The Elephant Court/ Cardamom County or similar	Spice Village/ Carmelia Haven Resort or similar
Alleppey	Deluxe Houseboat (ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats) or similar	Preminum Houseboat (Abad Premium Houseboats/ Rainbow Premium Houseboats) or similar	Luxury Houseboat (Xandari Riverscapes/ Lakes & Lagoons) or similar
Kochi	The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza or similar	Casino Hotel/ Le Maritime or similar	Xandari Harbour/ Le Meridien or similar
Kovalam	Harmonia Beach Resort/ Sagara Beach Resort or similar	Esturay Island Resort/Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel or similar	Raviz Kovalam/ Vivanta by Taj - Green Cove or similar