SOUTH INDIA TOUR

Circuit: CLASSIC SOUTH INDIA

Covering: Chennai - (Kanchipuram) - Mamallapuram - Pondicherry - (Chidambaram) - Swamimalai - (Thanjavur) - Trichy - Karaikudi (Chettinad) - Madurai - Thekkady - Kumarakom - (Kerala Backwaters Houseboat Cruise - Alleppey) - Kochi

Day 01:Arrive CHENNAI (Madras)
On arrival at the CHENNAI International Airport, following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, our representative will meet you as you exit the arrival terminal building and transfer you to your hotel. Chennai, the largest city in southern India located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, developed after 1639 when the British East India Company established a fort and trading post at the small fishing village of Chennai. Over the past three and a half centuries, the small fishing village has grown into a bustling metropolis. Though the English legacy is undeniable, Chennai has continued to be a centre which has blended the foreign influence with the traditional Tamil-Hindu culture. As a city it continues to maintain the best of south Indian traditions. This is not surprising because the region was an important centre of Pallavan culture long before the British came here and the traces of which are to be found in the numerous old temples. Thus, you will find Chennai more than just a gateway of South India. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02:CHENNAI - Kanchipuram - MAMALLAPURAM (Mahabalipuram) (130 kms)
Morning: You will proceed on a guided panoramic city tour of Chennai. Drive past some of the famous colonial landmarks which include the Fort St. George, the first British outpost in India and the San Thome Basilica. Following the city tour, you will drive to the impressive temple town of Kanchipuram (60 kms) known as the "Golden City of a thousand temples". It is famous for both its temples, many of them remarkably well preserved and for its hand-woven silks. Later, continue to the seaside village of MAMALLAPURAM popularly known as Mahabalipuram, once the main port of the Pallava Dynasty. On arrival, you will check into your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03:In MAMALLAPURAM
Mamallapuram was a 7th century port city of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas. It is believed to have been named after the Pallava king Mamalla. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th and the 9th century, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monuments are mostly rock-cut and monolithic, and constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible. They are constituted by cave temples, monolithic rathas (chariots), sculpted reliefs and structural temples. The pillars are of the Dravidian order. The sculptures are excellent examples of Pallava art. It is believed by some that this area served as a school for young sculptors. The different sculptures, some half finished, may have been examples of different styles of architecture, probably demonstrated by instructors and practiced on by young students. This can be seen in the Pancha Rathas where each Ratha is sculpted in a different style. Morning: You will visit some of the important structures: Thirukadalmallai, the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It was also built by Pallava King in order to safeguard the sculptures from the ocean. It is told that after building this temple, the remaining architecture was preserved and was not corroded by sea; Descent of the Ganges - a giant open-air bas relief; Arjuna's Penance - relief sculpture on a massive scale extolling an episode from the Hindu epic, The Mahabharata; Varaha Cave temple - a small rock-cut temple dating back to the 7th century; The Shore temple - a structural temple along the Bay of Bengal with the entrance from the western side away from the sea. Recent excavations have revealed new structures here. The temple was reconstructed stone by stone from the sea after being washed away in a cyclone; Pancha Rathas (Five Chariots) - five monolithic pyramidal structures named after the Pandavas (Arjuna, Bhima, Yudhishtra, Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi. An interesting aspect of the rathas is that, despite their sizes they are not assembled -each of these is carved from one single large piece of stone.
Late afternoon: We will take you to visit DakshinaChitra. DakshinaChitra is an attempt to preserve some of the traditional south Indian ways of life by constructing a "living" village containing some of the various traditional homes of south India. Situated on the eastern shore, quietly resonating with the gentle thumps of the blue water at its back door, DakshinaChitra epitomises the South Indian cultural heritage. A breeze away from Mamallapuram, Dakshinachitra (a vision of the South) is a time-machine taking you back 150 years to give you a portrayal of the art, folk and craft of a bygone era. It was established in 1996 on a 10-acre campus by Madras Craft Foundation. It has various sections for each state, depicting the most important occupations of the people of that region, the typical houses and lifestyle. There are separate sections for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradhesh, Kerala. There is also a craft bazaar section where visitors can purchase crafts of various types from artisans and NGOs at a fair price. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04:MAMALLAPURAM - PUDUCHERI (Pondicherry) (105 kms)
Morning: You drive to PUDUCHERI (Pondicherry). On arrival check into your hotel. The unique union territory, Pondicherry comprises of four scattered coastal enclaves: Pondicherry now called as Puducheri; Karaikal which is in Tamilnadu; Yanam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahe in Kerala which lies on the west coast. These places have preserved the French heritage and its cultural aspects which are unique in India. Puducheri is referred by names such as 'Quintessence of French Culture', 'India's Little France' and 'The French Riviera of the East'. This territory was under the French rule for nearly 281 years. Still it has the French flavour in it as one can see by the grand colonial mansions, beautiful boulevards, and placid promenades, spellings on sign boards and buildings, names of roads and public places. Afternoon: You will Visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram founded by Sri Aurobindo Ghose, the poet philosopher, to help man reach the zenith of his evolution through spiritual exercises and yoga, combined with physical activity and productive work. Later, proceed to Auroville, which means the 'City of Dawn', located 10 kms north of Puducheri. Auroville is an international township which was inaugurated in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, known as the Mother. Auroville is an experiment in human unity based on the vision and teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. At present 1,780 inhabitants from 35 nations participate in very diverse activities ranging from greenwork to rural development to alternative technology to education. The city of Auroville is divided into four zones - cultural, industrial, international and residential. These zones represent the four essential activities of man in society; culture and education, work and administration, unity and diversity and residence. Auroville is a place where all human beings of goodwill that have a sincere aspiration could freely live as citizens of the world and obey one single authority, that of the supreme truth. It is a place of peace where you can conquer the causes of your sufferings and miseries, surmount your weakness and ignorance, to triumph your limitations and incapacities. It is a place where the needs of the spirit and the concerns for progress take precedence over the satisfaction of desires and passions, and the search for pleasure and material enjoyment. Evening: Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 05:PUDUCHERI - Chidambaram - SWAMIMALAI (150 kms)
Morning: We will take on a Heritage Walk through the French and Tamil quarters. The buildings in French section of Puducheri are an enduring legacy of French history in India. It tells the story of a colonial adventure in a far away land, fighting many odds, overcoming a new and difficult terrain and the historic rivalry between the European powers of the time including the Danes, the Dutch and the British besides the French. The French Heritage walk takes you through streets that are laid out in a well- planned grid pattern. The buildings in the French section are easily recognisable by their ornate gateways, arches, garden courtyards with multicoloured bougainvilleas and the buildings themselves painted in pleasant hues of lime and peach. The grand French names though unpronounceable, add a certain charm. The buildings in the Tamil streets are characterised by rows of tiled roofed buildings almost joined together by continuous wall to wall constructions. While the older buildings more or less retain their "Tamilness"�; the later constructions have acquired certain gallic features behind the Tamil facades. A synthesis of these two styles has resulted in a town that has a unique 'Franco Tamil' architectural identity. Though unsympathetic modifications and extensions have ruined many wonderful samples of the native quarters, increasing awareness and work by certain non governmental agencies like the INTACH, have ensured restoration of some of the structures. Afternoon: You drive to SWAMIMALAI, visiting the ancient Chidambaram temple (60 kms) en route, which is one of five holiest Shiva temples representing the natural element, sky. Chidambaram is associated with Nataraja, or Shiva in his Ananda Tandava pose (the Cosmic Dance of bliss) in the cosmic golden hall and the hall of consciousness (Chit Sabha). Evening: On arrival, check into your unique heritage hotel. Avail of the Ayurveda facilities available at the hotel or practice yoga and meditation the next day. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06:SWAMIMALAI - Thanjavur - TIRUCHIRAPALLI (95 kms)
Morning: At leisure for independent activities. Afternoon: You drive to TIRUCHIRAPALLI, visiting the Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur (36 kms) en route. Thanjavur, also known by its anglicised name Tanjore, was the capital of the Mutharayars and Cholas when they were at the peak of their power. Since then, Thanjavur has been one of the chief political, cultural and religious centres of South India. The Brihadeeswarar temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and dates to the Chola dynasty rule in the 11th century CE. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples". Evening: On your arrival, check into the hotel. Tiruchirappalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. Trichy is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around the Rock Fort. Apart from the Fort, there are several Churches, Colleges and Missions dating back to the 1760s. The town and its fort, now in Trichy were built by the Nayaks of Madurai. This city has given great Tamil scholars whose contributions to the Tamil literature have been very significant. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07:TIRUCHIRAPALLI - KARAIKUDI (Chettinad) (90 kms)
Morning: You will visit the Rock Fort and Srirangam temples. The Rock Fort temple tops on a 83m high outcrop. This temple was built by the Pallavas as a small cave temple, but the Nayaks made use of its naturally fortified position. It is a stiff climb, up the 437 steps cut into the stone to the top but well worth the view. (Non-Hindus are not allowed into the Vinayaka temple at the summit and at the bigger Sri Thayumanaswamy temple dedicated to Siva, halfway up.) The superb temple complex at Srirangam, about 3 kms from the Rock Fort is surrounded by seven concentric walls with 21 gopurams and is probably the largest in India.  Most of it dates from the 14th to 17th centuries, and many people have had a hand in its construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas and rulers from Vijayanagar. The largest gopuram in the first wall on the southern side was completed as recently as 1987, and now measures 73m. Afternoon: You drive to KARAIKUDI. On arrival, check into The Bangla. A quaint heritage hotel that was built up over the last 75 years. Karaikudi is the largest city in Sivaganga district, and is known as the capital of Chettinad region, which comprises Karaikudi and 74 other villages. Chettinad is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiars (Nagarathar), a prosperous banking and business community, many of whose members migrated to Southeast Asia, particularly Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Burma, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The people of Karaikudi played a major role during the Indian freedom struggle. Karaikudi got its name because of the famous plant called "Karai" which is widely spread over this area. Overnight at The Bangla.

Day 08:KARAIKUDI - MADURAI (90 kms)
Morning: You will visit the Chettinad Palace and the Chettinad Museum. Thereafter, drive on to MADURAI. Afternoon: On arrival, check into your hotel. One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. It was the capital city for the great Pandya kings. The Pandyan King Kulasekarar built a great temple and created a lotus shaped city around the temple. On the day the city was to be named, as Lord Shiva blessed the land and its people, divine nectar (Madhu) was showered on the city from his matted locks. This city was henceforth known as Madhurapuri. For the rest of the day, you will visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace and the Sree Meenakshi temple. The Palace was built in 1636 by King Thirumalai Nayak with the help of an Italian architect. The building we see today was the main Palace where the King lived. The original Palace complex was four times bigger than the present structure. This palace consisted mainly of two parts, namely Swargavilasa and Rangavilasa. The enormous Sree Meenakshi temple complex is dedicated to Shiva, known here as Sundareshwarar and his consort Parvati or Meenakshi. The original temple was built by Kulasekara Pandya, but the entire credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the Nayaks. The Nayaks ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th century and left a majestic imprint of their rule in the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple. The temple complex is within a high-walled enclosure, at the core of which are the two sanctums for Meenakshi and Sundareshwara, surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and grand pillared halls. Especially impressive are the 12 gopuras. Their soaring towers rise from solid granite bases, and are covered with stucco figures of dieties, mythical animals and monsters painted in vivid colours. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09:MADURAI - THEKKADY (150 kms)
Morning: Your journey continues from the temple town of Madurai, through a succession of market towns to the spice land of THEKKADY - the heart of God's own country! The very sound of the name conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice-scented plantations. On arrival, you will check into your hotel. Later this afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on the splendid Lake Periyar, the best way to experience the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary and view wildlife. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10:THEKKADY - KUMARAKOM (150 kms)
Morning: You drive to KUMARAKOM. On arrival, check into your resort. The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and this small water world is part of the Kuttanad region. The bird sanctuary here, which is spread across 14 acres is a favourite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise.  An enchanting backwater destination, Kumarakom offers visitors many other leisure options. Boating and fishing facilities are available at Kumarakom. An unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with while lilies. Nature has composed its magic to perfection here. A million verdant coconut palms lining the rivers lean to examine its reflections on the glassy rivers. Everywhere, nature is at its best. Afternoon: At leisure or independent activities. Overnight at the resort.

Day 11:KUMARAKOM = KERALA BACKWATERS HOUSEBOAT CRUISE
Morning: At leisure for independent activities. 12-noon: You will board your private Deluxe Houseboat to experience the journey up to Allapuzha (Alleppey). The backwaters in Kerala are a world of serenity and wonder. Over 900 kms of the Kerala backwaters are navigable and have been used for centuries by the local people for transportation. The backwaters of Kerala have a unique ecosystem - freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea in the backwaters in Kerala. Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants, and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters in Kerala. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants and bushes grow alongside the Kerala backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape. The fisher folk and people who live along the backwaters in Kerala have a unique relationship with the Kerala backwaters. The backwaters in Kerala are the source of the local people's livelihood. The fish caught from its waters, the paddy, coconut and other crops harvested along its banks, the boats they build and use to transport them across the labyrinthine backwaters in Kerala, are all an integral part of their traditional way of life. You can see the traditional lifestyle of the backwaters in Kerala. The largest backwater stretch in Kerala is the Vembanad Lake which flows through three districts and opens out into the sea at the Kochi Port. The Ashtamudi lake, literally having eight arms, which covers a major portion of Kollam district in the south, is the second largest and is considered the gateway to the backwaters. The Kettuvallom or 'boat with knots' is so called because the entire boat is held together with coir knots only - not a single nail is used during the construction. The boat is made of huge planks of Jack wood (Artocarpus hirsuta) or 'Aanjili' and joined with coir. This is then coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. A portion of the Kettuvallom is covered with a canopy made of the wood from the arecanut tree and bamboo mats and coir and served in the old days as a rest room and kitchen for the crews. Kettuvalloms were formerly used for the transport of goods like rice, spices and coir from the isolated villages of the interior to the towns.  A Kettuvallom, which measures from 20-25m in length and from 4-4.5m across, can hold up to 30 tons of cargo. Two men punting at each end with long bamboo poles moved these huge barges. With the advent of roads, bridges and modern transportation, these Kettuvalloms gradually disappeared from use. There used to be an entire clan of artisans who were involved in Kettuvallom construction. The houseboat of today is an innovative version of its Kettuvallom ancestor. While converting Kettuvalloms into houseboats, care is taken to use only eco-friendly and traditional materials, retaining the bamboo mat roofs and coir mat floors. As in the old days, kerosene lanterns are used to give a romantic touch even though solar lighting is equipped. The design incorporates the best of the old and the new. Even while retaining the strong traditional flavour, the standards of comfort and convenience are very high. In choosing your houseboat you have the choice of single, double or triple bedrooms in standard, air-conditioned or non-A/c - deluxe or luxury categories. Modified to meet a novel concept of holidaying, they are comfortably furnished with an open lounge, one or two or three bath attached bedrooms and a kitchenette and even with an upper deck for more privacy. All meals are prepared and served on board. Overnight on board the houseboat.

Day 12:Arrive ALLAPUZHA (Alleppey) - KOCHI (Cochin)
10:00 hrs.: Arrive at ALLAPUZHA jetty, and drive to KOCHI, where on arrival you will check into your hotel. The commercial capital of Kerala and the most cosmopolitan of the state's cities, Cochin or Kochi have long been eulogised in tourist literature as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea.' Strategically located on the east-west sea route, Kochi is Kerala's major port, boasting of one of the finest natural harbours in the world, which forms the hub around which the city revolves. Apart from being a major commercial hub, Kochi is also a major tourist attraction in Southern India. Afternoon: You will enjoy a guided tour of Kochi. Explore the fascinating sights which include the Jewish Synagogue (closed on Saturdays), the oldest living synagogue in the world built by a thriving Jewish community in 1568 A.D.; the Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays) at Mattancherry was built in 1555 and its coronation hall and murals at Ramayana are noteworthy features and the Chinese fishing nets which line the entrance to the harbour mouth. Later this evening, you have the option of visiting a Kathakali Dance Centre, where you will witness the 'Kathakali', a special dance form of Kerala, with its origins in the 'Theyyam', a ritual tribal dance of North Kerala. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13:KOCHI / Next Destination
Today, bid farewell to India. You will be transferred to the Kochi airport for your international flight back home.