Day 01: Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai. On arrival, meeting & assistance at Chennai Airport and transfer to hotel for check-in. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 02: Chennai
Kanchipuram Temple
After breakfast, leave for city tour of Chennai visiting 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 & Santhome Cathedral. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 03: Chennai – Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (150 Kms / Approx 04 Hrs drive)
After breakfast, excursion to Kanchipuram, the Golden city is one of the seven sacred cities of India and famous for Silk fabrics.
After sightseeing, drive further to Mahabalipuram.
On arrival, transfer to the Hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 04: Mahabalipuram
Morning breakfast at Hotel. Later visit the Shore Temple, the 5 Rathas, carved in stone Monoliths, as the temple car are arranged according to the Heroes of the Mahabharata epic, have been appointed. Continue to famous 27 x 9 m large bass-relief of Arjuna Penance. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 05: Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry (100 Kms / Approx 2.5 Hrs drive)
Breakfast at hotel. Later drive to Pondicherry. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Pondicherry can trace its origins to Saint Agasthya, the revered sage of south India. Visit Sri Aurbindo Ashram, the final resting-place of Sri Aurbindo, a saint/yogi who mixed yoga and modern science. There is a museum, furnished with the period furniture of French India and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Museum remains closed on Mondays). Evening you can enjoy cooking class. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Trichy
Day 06: Pondicherry – Tanjore (220 Kms / Approx 05 Hrs drive)
After breakfast, drive to Tanjore. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Tanjore - an important center of pilgrimage for Christians. Visit of the mighty Shiva Temple and its Chola bronzes in the Sarasvati Palace Museum with the Sanskrit Sarasvati Mahal Library. Skip to Brihadeeswara Temple, built in 985 -1014, the capped by a monolithic cupola is the mass of a granite block (80t) exists. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 07: Tanjore - Trichy – Chittinad (90 Kms / Approx 03 Hrs drive)
After breakfast, drive to Chittinad. Enroute visiting Trichy. Visit the Srirangam temple, the temple walls, the entire City enclose a porch with Horse Sculpture and the hall of 1000 pillars. The roof of the middle Sanctuary is covered with gold. Upon arrival check in at the hotel. Rest of the time free for leisure activities. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 08: Chittinad
After breakfast go for local sightseeing of chettinad. Proceed on an Heritage tour to explore the elaborately decorated and unique feature of the Chettinad mansions with your specialized guide. Visit the Chettinad Palace, built for the royal Alagappa Chettiar in 1912. Stained glass, teak, tiles, granite and wrought iron work truly makes the Chettinad Palace a work of art. Go around the village to see some of the centers making local snack called murukku and also a Weaving centre. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 09: Chittinad - Madurai (275 Kms / Approx 5 Hrs drive)
After breakfast, drive to Madurai. Upon arrival in Madurai, transfer to hotel.
Overnight stay at Hotel.
Tirumalai Nayak Palace
Day 10: Madurai
After breakfast, the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, built in the Indo- Saracen Style. Later visit Meenakshi Temple, the main temple of the city. (Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple where main deities are placed). Visit to the Temple Museum. In the evening, participate in the Aarti ceremony at Meenakshi Temple. The god Shiva is supported by temple priests and Servants in a brightly decorated sedan chair, where he spends the night. Evening free to shop in the local markets. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 11: Madurai – Periyar (150 Kms / Approx 04 Hrs drive)
After breakfast, drive through the lowlands and up to 900 -2000 m high mountainous to Thekkedy, the spice-growing region India. On arrival check-in at hotel.
Periyar was the first wildlife sanctuary in the state, it was set up in 1934 and forms part of the Western Ghats mountain range. The Periyar sanctuary is a rare instance of human meddling having enhanced rather than damaged an ecosystem. In the evening, enjoy boat trip on the artificially creator Periyar Lake to watch elephants, tigers and a variety of Water birds. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 12: Periyar
Breakfast at Hotel. Morning enjoy Spice Plantation Tour.
Evening at leisure. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Kathakali Dance
Day 13: Periyar – Cochin (150 Kms / Approx 05 Hrs drive)
After Breakfast at hotel, drive further to Cochin. On arrival, check-in at Hotel. Rest of the day free for leisure.
In the evening, witness a Kathakali Dance performance at local auditorium. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 14: Cochin – Departure
Morning after breakfast, enjoy city tour of Cochin including visit to the St. Francis Church, where in 1524 the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama was buried before his Remains to Portugal convicted. For Mattancherry-Palace or Dutch Palace with well-preserved wall paintings and the Jewish synagogue in the city. (Closed on Fridays & Saturdays) and see the Chinese fishing nets.
Evening on time transfer to Cochin Airport to board flight for onward destination.
