Duration : 13 Nights
/ 14 Days
Destinations Covered : Chennai (Madras), Madurai, Periyar,
Trivandram, Cochin, Bangalore, Mysore
Day 01 : Arrival in Chennai
Arrive Chennai. Transfer to Hotel.
Day 02 : Chennai
Morning arrive Chennai. Transfer to hotel. Full day tour of Mahabalipuram &
Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai) is the ancient capital of the
Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The
first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has
paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi
and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its
silks. The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on
the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are
the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture.
Day 03 : Chennai - Madurai
Morning city tour. Visit the Museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery
(Closed on Fridays and Public holidays). Drive through the Flower and Fruit
market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral and snake
park . Check-out at 1200 hrs from the hotel. Late evening transfer to
rail-station for Madurai night train. Night on board train.
Day
04 : Madurai
Morning arrive Madurai and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the great
Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering
gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side). Later, visit the
Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style,
famous for the Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar
Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Afternoon free. Overnight Madurai.
Day 05 : Madurai - Periyar National Park
Morning drive to Periyar National Park. Set up in 1934,it extends to 777
square kms & forms part of the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghats.
Wild life can be seen while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motor boat.
Amongst the animals which can be seen are elephants, wild boar, sambar,
tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc. Overnight Periyar.
Day 06 : Periyar - Trivandrum
Drive to Trivandrum viewing thescenin beauty enroute. Kerala is lush green
and is full of lakes and water. Overnight Trivandrum.
Day 07 : Trivandrum
Day free in Trivandrum or optional tours to Cape Comorin (Kanya Kumari -
the southern most part of India) or nearby places like Kovalam beach, etc.
Day 08 : Trivandrum - Cochin
Morning drive to Cochin visiting the Kerala villages enroute.
Day 09 : Cochin - Bangalore
Morning tour of Cochin. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the famed
underwater Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the rougher the seas
are outside the calmer the waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama
placed it on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue , Portuguese churches,
mosques & Hindu temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Checkout at
1200 hrs. Transfer to railstation for Bangalore night train. Night on board.
Day 10 : Bangalore
Morning arrive Bangalore and transfer to hotel. After-noon city tour. In
this Garden City - visit the Lal Bagh with a variety of old trees,
fountains, lotus pools, terraces & an assortment of tropical and
sub-tropical herbs. Also see the Maharaja's Palace & Government
Buildings. Overnight Bangalore.
INDIAN
RAILWAYS
