Glimpses of South India Holidays
Places to visit : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Cochin
- Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Mararikulam - Cochin
Duration : 11Nights / 12 Days
Day1:
Arrive ChennaiAssistance on arrival at Chennai International airport, you
will be met & transferred to hotel by our representative.
Day 2: Chennai Morning, proceed for the city tour of Madras, which
is now known as Chennai and is one India's four metropolises located on
the Coromandel Coast, it is the gateway to south India and also an important
harbour. Chennai has a blend of Dravidian and Gothic architecture in its
buildings. It was the first citadel of the British. Tamil Nadu is a bastion
of Hinduism, whose past endures into the present. Visit the St. George Fort
built in 1640 A.D which now houses the Tamil Nadu State Legislature and
Secretariat, San Thome Cathedral, which is said to contain the remains of
St Thomas and the famous bronze Museum. Overnight at hotel
Day 3 : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) Morning
drive to Mahabalipuram, enroute visit Kanchipuram, one of India's seven
sacred Hindu cities. Historic capital of the Pallavas and thereafter the
Cholas Also called as the city of thousand temples, it has magnificent temples
of unique architectural beauty that bear eloquent testimony to its glorious
Dravidian heritage. Notable being the Kailasnatha Temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva, finest example of Pallava architecture. Kanchipuram is also famous
for its silk saris. Later proceed to Mahabalipuram, the ancient seaport
city of Pallavas, known for its rock hewn temples with statues of gods and
goddesses, monsters and angels, snakes, water nymphs and animals that crowd
the rock to watch the descent of Ganges flow through Shiva's hair. Overnight
at the hotel in Mahabalipuram.
DAY 4: Mahabalipuram - Chennai - Cochin (By air)Morning transfer
to Chennai Airport to connect flight for Cochin Upon arrival - met at the
airport and transferred to hotel. Cochin - with a fine natural harbour,
has been Kerala's center of trade for innumerable centuries. With its beautiful
setting on a cluster of islands, narrow Peninsulas and a long history, Cochin
boasts of one of the oldest churches in India, 500 year old Portuguese houses,
cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the historical Palace built by the Portuguese,
Jew town, complete with an immaculately preserved synagogues. Overnight
at hotel.
Day
05: Cochin Morning proceed for the sightseeing tour of Cochin - visiting
the Fort area including the Dutch Palace, the Church of St. Frances and
the Jewish synagogue. Cochin - now called 'Kochi' is the commercial hub
of Kerala and a town of great historical importance. It has one of the finest
natural harbours and is called the "Queen of the Arabian Sea".
Rest of the day at leisure for souvenir shopping. Witness the Kathakali
dance show in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06: Cochin - Periyar (180 kms - 3 hours) Morning depart for Periyar.
Arrive and check in to hotel. In the afternoon, proceed to visit the different
farms to see how famous spices are grown for which the French, Dutch, Portuguese
and British came to India. The spices found here are pepper, tea, cinnamon,
clove, cardamom, turmeric, etc. Rest of the day at leisure Overnight at
hotel.
Day 07: Periyar Morning, visit the famous Periyar wildlife sanctuary
on motorboat to see the wild Life - set high in the ranges of the Western
Ghats of Kerala. Periyar - an artificial lake or reservoir created by a
dam on Periyar River, which is the heart of the 777 sq. km Wildlife Sanctuary.
Apart from the wild elephant, one can spot Asiatic Deer, Black Buck and
some times even Tigers come to shores of the lake to drink water. Overnight
at hotel
Day 08: Periyar - Kumarakom (130 kms - 3 hours) Morning depart for
Kumarakom. Arrive Kumarakom and check in to hotel. Kumarakom slumbers on
the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part of Kuttanad ('granary'
of Kerala). The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries
along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. In the
afternoon, proceed to visit the Vembanad bird sanctuary - on the southern
bank of Kavanar river is a small bird sanctuary where numerous species of
birds, including Darters, Bitterns, Brahminy kites, Marsh Harries, Teals
and several varieties of Herons roost are found. For an inquisitive bird
watcher, it is always advisable to carry their binoculars at all times.
Return to hotel, relax and overnight.
Day
09: Kumarakom - Alleppey (By Houseboats) Morning at leisure. In the
afternoon check in to House Boat. Proceed for an overnight cruise towards
Alleppey. The journey will take us through the tropical countryside enchanting
backwaters of Alleppey to Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the
vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets, typical villages
and regattas (boats snakes) for which Kerala is very famous. Dinner will
be served on board. Overnight in the houseboats.
Day 10: Alleppey - Mararikulam Arrive Alleppey and transfer to Mararikulam.
Time free to relax in the hotel.
Day 11: MararikulamDay at leisure for independent activities or near
the beach. Overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Mararikulam - Cochin (60 kms - 1 to 2 hours) - Back homeMorning
at leisure on the beach. Evening transferred to International airport in
Cochin to connect flight for your next destination.
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