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Day 1 - Arrive Chennai
Traditional welcome on arrival at the international airport and transfer to the
hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Chennai Kanchipuram Madurai
Alleppey Kovalam Trivandrum
Day 2 - Chennai
Relaxed breakfast at hotel, followed by a full day guided visit to Fort St. George,
War memorial, St. Mary's Church, the Basilica of Saint Thomas, believed to have
been built by St. Thomas, the apostle, Snake Park ending the day on Marina Beach.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 - Chennai - Kanchipuram Mahabalipuram (175 kms)
After breakfast, drive to Kanchipuram (1 hr.) the erstwhile capital of the Pallavas
and Cholas. Visit the temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses. Also visit
the shopping area, as it is also home of weavers of the famed Kanchipuram silks.
Lunch at Kanchipuram. Evening drive to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram), a world heritage
site and check in hotel for overnight stay.
Day 4 - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (134 kms / 3.5 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel. Guided sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram, which, too was part
of the Pallavas dynasty and exhibits some of the most outstanding examples of the
Dravidian style of art and architecture. Experience the Arjunas Penance, the rock
cut caves, the Krishna Mandapam, the famous rathas and the Shore Temple. Afternoon
drive to Pondicherry and enjoy this quaint French town. Overnight at hotel.
Day 5 - Pondicherry
Breakfast at hotel. Proceed for a half-day sightseeing tour visiting Auroville and
Aurobindo Ashram. Overnight at hotel.
Day 6 - Pondicherry - Tanjore (196 kms / 5 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Tanjore (Thanjavur): the former city of Danish settlement
from 1624 to 1825. Commonly known amongst the Danish language as "Tranquebar".
The town of Tanjore is surrounded by lush green rice fields and winding rivers with
coconut and banana orchards. Afternoon, guided visit to the Brahadeeswarar temple
built by King Raja Cholan between 985 & 1014 AD which is an architectural marvel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 7 - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai (198 kms / 5 hrs)
After breakfast, visit the palace, which also houses an art gallery, a library,
a hall of music and the Schwartz Church. By noon drive to Trichy (Tiruchirappalli).
After lunch in a restaurant, guided visit to the Rockfort and Srirangam Temple.
Proceed for Madurai and on arrival check-in hotel. Enjoy the sound and light show
at Tirumalai Nayak Palace. Overnight at hotel.
Day 8 - Madurai - Thekkady (140 kms / 3.5 hrs)
After breakfast, guided city tour visiting the Meenakshi temple built in the Dravidian
style and Teppa Kulu, a tank with an island temple. Evening drive to Thekkady and
check in resort. Overnight at resort.
Day 9 - Thekkady
Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy game viewing on boat safari on Periyar lake. Evening at
leisure to spend time on own under the nature's lap. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10 - Thekkady- Cochin (190 kms / 4 hrs)
After breakfast drive to Cochin (Kochi). On arrival transfer to hotel followed by
city tour and boating in the backwaters of Cochin. Cochin means, "port"
and so it has been since history began, trading spices, silks, ivory and sandalwood.
It is now the spice capital of India. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11 - Cochin - Alleppey Kumarakom (64 kms / 2 hrs)
Breakfast at hotel and drive to Alleppey (Alappuzha) and transfer to jetty point
to embark on the 'Kettuvalloms' - a traditional rice boat of Kerala, which gives
a romantic way to explore the unique web of lagoons, lakes, canals & rivers.
Lazy cruising towards Kumarakom. Lunch and dinner on board. Overnight on houseboat.
Day 12 - Kumarakom - Quilon (110 kms / 3 hrs)
After breakfast, drop off at jetty point to drive to Quilon (Kollam). This is the
most picturesque and absorbing of the backwaters town with the Ashtamudi Lake at
one end. It is an old port town on the Arabian coast. Being one of Kerala's most
historic ports, it was a stopover for Persians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs. On arrival
check in resort. Afternoon visit Ramesharwara Temple. Evening free to explore the
city. Overnight at hotel.
Day 13 - Kollam- Kovalam (90 kms / 2 hrs)
After breakfast, drive to renowned beach resort, which has been a favorite haunt
of tourists since 1930's. Kovalam consists of three adjacent crescent beaches. The
southernmost, known as the Lighthouse Beach, is the most popular. Kovalam is much
sought after for sunbathing, watersports, shopping, catamaran cruising, yoga, meditation
and rejuvenating ayurvedic massages. Check in hotel and day for leisure. Overnight
at hotel.
Day 14 - Kovalam
After breakfast, full day to enjoy time at the beach, sunbathe or and indulge in
water sports. Overnight in resort.
Day 15 - Kovalam Trivandrum (20 kms / .5 hrs)
After breakfast, drive to Trivandrum (International) airport to catch flight to
connecting destination.
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