Day 01: Kochi
Arrival at Kochi Airport / Railway station, and transfer you to
the hotel / resort. Check in to home stay / hotel. Evening visit
to Marine Drive, enjoy the sunset and have stroll on the walk
way. Over night back to the hotel.
Day 02: Chennai
Mahabalipuram (58 kms. 01½ hrs.)
After breakfast
drive to Mahabalipuram. Reach & Check-in at the hotel and relax
for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Mahabalipuram is
globally renowned for the Shore Temples. The main tourist
attraction of the town is the Varaha Cave, a small rock-cut
mandapam (hall). Heinrich Zimmer, a leading expert on
Mahabalipuram has described the famous Pallava doorkeepers'
expression outside the cave as of "pious rapture. Explore the
rest of the day at your own leisure.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 03: Mahabalipuram
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast.
Later proceed for the sightseeing of Mahabalipuram. The major
attractions are Arjuna's Penance which is carved in relief on
the face of a huge rock. Arjuna's Penance is the mythical story
of the river Ganges, issuing from its source, high in the
Himalayas. The surface of the rock has detailed carvings showing
the most endearing and natural renditions of animals. Mandapams
(low rise, rock cut halls), Krishna Mandapam adorn massive rocks
near the centre of the village. The beautiful Shore Temple
towers over the waves, behind a protective breakwater. Sixteen
man-made caves in different stages of completion are also seen.
Shore Temples - These beautiful temples, ravaged by wind and
sea, were given the World Heritage listing, a few years ago. The
two spires of the temples contain a shrine for Lord Vishnu and
for Lord Shiva.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 04: Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (130 kms. 03½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry.
Reach & check-in at the hotel and relax relax for a while amidst
the comforts of your room. Later proceed to take a ramble.
Pondicherry which offers a versatile choice ranging from
historic buildings, museums, art galleries, meditation centers,
scenic beauty to sun-kissed beaches. The trip to this
magnificent destination is never complete without indulging in
the culinary delights, indigenous to the region. The cuisines
offer a unique blend of the culinary traditions of the Orient
and the French. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 05: Pondicherry
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast. Later proceed for the sightseeing
Aaayi Mandappam which is also known as the park Monument, an
attractive monument of Pondicherry government park (Bharathi
Park). Sri Aurobindo Ashram which exhudes a spiritual aura.
Sacred Heart Church which is built by French Missionaries in the
1700s in a contrasting Neo Gothic style with its towers.
Chunnambar Beach & Backwater the tropical paradise flanked by a
quiet flowing creek on one side. Matri Mandir which is not a
temple but a place for individual silent concentration.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 06: Pondicherry Tanjore (180 kms. 04½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Thanjavur/ Tanjore which is like Rome
in Europe or Egypt in Africa. Reach & check-in at the hotel and
relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. The major
attractions of Tanjore are Sri Brihadeswara Temple, dedicated to
Lord Shiva with its architectural excellence. The Palace is a
fascinating building with huge corridors, spacious halls,
decorated rooms, having the amazing stucco work with wonderful
fresco painted walls & ceilings, underground tunnel and
intricate carvings. Art Gallery the place where you can find
fabulous collection of bronze icons, stone sculpture and pieces
of art. Saraswati Mahal Library is the most remarkable library
in India. Royal Museum which displays rare antiques belonging to
the Maratha Royal Family.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 07: Tanjore Trichy (55 kms - 01½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Trichy. The major sight-seeing
attractions of Trichy are Rock Fort Temple which crowns a
gigantic piece of rock, soaring 83 meters upwards, from the
encircling plains. Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple) is
among the most venerated temples to Lord Vishnu in South India.
Enclosed by seven rectangular walled courtyards, this 13th
century temple has 21 gopurams. The Jambukeshwara Temple the
temple at Tiruvanaikkaval is dedicated to Shiva, and has five
concentric walls, and seven gopurams. The chief deity is the
Shiva lingam, which remains almost submerged in water flowing
from the subterranean spring. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 08: Trichy - Madurai (130 kms. 03½ hrs.)
After breakfast driveto Madurai which is called the `Athens
of the East' because of the way myth meets life here. Reach &
check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts
of your room. Madurai is almost synonymous with the famed
Meenakshi Temple the nucleus of the temple is older than the
Madurai city. The Meenakshi temple complex at Madurai is not
only an architectural marvel but also the epitome of Indian
culture and civilization. Explore the rest of the day at your
own.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 09: Madurai
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast. Later proceed to see the other
attractions of Madurai. Thirumalai Nayak Palace, the main Palace
where the king lived. Vandiyur Mariamman the area of the tank,
and the island pavilion with a garden in the center.
Thirupparankunram, one of the six houses of Lord Subramanya, the
second son of Lord Siva, is located here. Subramanya is said to
have married Indra's daughter, Deivanai, on this hill. The
rock-cut temple of Subramanya here is thronged with pilgrims on
all days of special worship.Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 10: Madurai Kanyakumari (250 kms. 05½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Kanyakumari. Reach & check-in at the
hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room.
Kanyakumari an important pilgrim centre of India, is famous for
the Amman Temples a symbol of unity and sanctity dedicated
to the virgin Goddess, Kanyakumari. To its South East lies the
famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a blend of all architectural
styles of India. Explore the rest of the day at your own
leisure. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 11: Kanyakumari
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast. Later proceed for the sightseeing
of Kanyakumari. Mahatma Gandhi Memorial resembling the central
India Hindu temples in form, the memorial was so designed that
on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday (02nd October), the first rays of
the sun fall on the exact place where the ashes were kept.
Thiruvalluvar Statue the memorial statue of Thiruvalluvar is in
Kanyakumari. Explore the rest of the day at your own leisure.
Overnight stay at the Hotel .
Day 12: Kanyakumari Kovalam (84 kms. 02 hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Kovalam beach. Kovalam
is known as the "Paradise of the South". This dreamland is an
evergreen, serene, pleasant climatic and enticing beach
destination. Reach & check in at the hotel and relax for a while
amidst the comforts of your room. Explore on your own to see how
the everlasting sea touches the everlasting sky. Kovalam is the
place where one can see the golden sand at the day time & silver
sand in the night. With high rock promontory and a calm bay of
blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on
moonlight nights. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 13: Kovalam Trivandrum Kovalam
After breakfast drive to Trivandrum. Thiruvananthapuram
literally means Ananthapuri, "the city of Ananthan", the Thiru
(Great/Lord) Ananthan's Puram (City). Ananthan is the serpent
Sesha on whom Padmanabhan or Vishnu reclines. The temple of
Anantha, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple is the most religious
icon of the city. Other sightseeing places are Kuthiramalika
Palace Museum, the name Kuthiramalika means 'palace of horses'
derived from the frieze of 122 wooden horses on the exterior
walls. Veli Tourist Village, which has an excellent waterfront
park with a wide range of aqua entertainment facilities like
fishponds, wading pools and landscaped garden. Shangumugham
Beach where one can watch the amazing sunset. Overnight stay at
the Hotel.
Day 14: Kovalam Kumarakom (176 kms. 05 hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom. Kumarakom
is one of the few places in the world where the means for
transportation is through boats. Kumarakom is blessed with the
Vembanad Lake which has its majestic canals, streams and
distributaries along its banks, weave an intricate and
enchantingly beautiful web. The major attractions of Kumarakom
is the Bird Sanctuary which lies at the edge of the grounds of
an old estate where a profusion of all kinds of birds can be
observed. Domestic birds such as cuckoo, wild duck, egrets,
darters, herons, teal, and water fowl can be seen in abundance
here, and the Siberian storks which migrate to this place each
year. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 15: Kumarakom Mararikulam (40 kms. 01 hr.)
After breakfast drive to Mararikulam the place which is not
changed with the passage of time. A typical fishing village with
beautiful swaying palm trees, coconut trees and the vast expanse
of the sea in a tranquil environment. Mararikulam or Marari
would give a completely new experience to a traveler as it
offers an unblemished and pristine shoreline, extolled as
Keralas cleanest sandy beach. Explore the rest of the day at
your own leisure on the beach. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 16: Mararikulam
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast with the new sunrise in
Mararikulam. Later explore the beaches by playing with the
sun-kissed shimmering sands and take a leisurely walk. The beach
is known for nature's bounteous beauty with stunning backwaters,
the tranquility of the village and the spectacular sceneries,
glistening sands and the everlasting blue water will fill your
soul and mind with joy. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 17: Mararikulam Athirapally (150 kms - 04 hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Athirapally.
Reach & check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the
comforts of your room. Later proceed to enjoy with the natures
gifted waterfalls. Athirapally which is within the breathtaking
embrace of the deep forests, a rich and diverse flora & fauna
abounds. Athirapally Waterfalls are often referred to as the
Niagara Falls of India. Behold the spectacular view of the
crashing 80 ft waterfalls. Athirapally lying with the wilderness
of the Sholayar Range with a breathtaking embrace of the deep
forests, a rich and diverse flora & fauna abounds. Overnight
stay at the Hotel/Resort.
Sightseeing of Thumpurmuzhi Gardens, Charpa Falls, Vazhachal
Forest Gardens & Water Falls. The Vazhachal waterfalls are
located very close to the Athirapally Falls and are a part of
the Chalakudy river stream.
Optional activities: Enjoy a spot fishing in the river. Pay a
visit to the tribal village, trek to the base of the waterfall.
Find your way through the Jungle (subject to permission from the
forest department) Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day 18 : Athirapally Kochi (78 kms 02½ hrs.)
After breakfast drive to Kochi. Reach & check-in at the hotel
and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Explore
the rest of the day at your own leisure. Overnight stay at the
Hotel
Day 19: Kochi
Enjoy the sumptuous breakfast. Later, move for a
half day city sightseeing tour of Kochi. Kochi which is having
the best preserved history of colonial times and the ideal way
to bring it alive is to take a walk down memory lane. The major
tourist attractions are Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis
Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Jewish Synagogue, and Mattancherry
Palace/Dutch Palace.
Overnight stay at the Hotel
Day 20: Kochi
After Breakfast transfer to airport / railway station
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