Guide

English speaking guide service included on sightseeing days as per program in all cities. (Other language guide can be organined on request)

Others

Monuments entrances of sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary. Bottled water in car Government taxes.

Transport

Private Chauffer driven air-conditioned deluxe car for airport transfers, sightseeing & excursion as per program.

Accommodation

Hotels used or similar for 18 nights accommodation Chennai x 2 nights 3* - Raj Park/ MGM East Woods 4* - The Raintree/ Accord Metropolitan 5* - ITC Grand Chola/ The Leela Palace Vellore x 1 night 3* - Hotel Khanna Fiesta/ POPPYS Anukula Residency 4* & 5* - Regency Sameera Vellore by GRT Hotels/ Fortune Park Trichy x 1 night 3* - Red Fox Hotel/ Grand Gardenia 4* & 5* - Sangam Hotels Madurai x 1 night 3* - Astoria by Sparsa/ Madurai’s Residency 4* - GRT Regency/ Fortune Pandiyan Hotel 5* - Heritage Madurai/ The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai Munnar x 2 nights 3* - Fort Munnar/ Abad Copper Castle 4* - Nature Zone Jungle Resort/ Fragrant Nature Munnar 5* - Chandys Windy Woods/ Tea County Pariyar (Thekkady) x 2 night 3* - Abad Green Forest/ Hotel Treetop 4* - The Elephant Court/ Cardamom County 5* - Spice village/ Cardamom County Kumarakom x 1 night 3* - Abad Whispering Palm/ Cocobay Resort 4* - Eastend Lake Song/ Goldfield Lake Resort 5* - Coconut Lagoon/ The Zuri Alleppey x 1 night 3* - ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats 4* - ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats 5* - Xandari Riverscapes/ Lakes & Lagoons/ Spice Route Premium Cochin x 1 nights 3* - The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza 4* - Casino Hotel/ The Avenue Regent 5* - Xandari Harbour/ Le Meridien Kovalam x 2 nights 3* - Harmonia Beach Resort/ Sagara Beach Resort 4* - Estuary Island Resort/Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel 5* - Vivanta by Taj - Green Cove/ The Leela Kovalam Beach Kanyakumari x 1 night 3* - Sea Shore/ Hotel Seaface 4* & 5* - Anantya Resorts/ Annai Resorts and Spa Rameshwaram x 1 night 3* & 4*- Daiwik Hotel 5* - Hyatt Place Rameswaram Chettinad x 1 night 3* & 4*- Chidambara Vilas/ Chettinadu Mansion 5* - Visalam Cgh Earth Thnjore x 1 night 3* - Grand Gardenia/ Oriental Towers 4* - Sangam Hotels/ Ideal River View Resort 5* - Svatma Pondicherry x 1 night 3* - Shenbaga Hotel/ Annamalai International 4* - Le Pondy/ The Windflower Resort & Spa 5* - Palais De Mahe/ La Villa

Not included:

Meals

Daily breakfast at hotel is included. Alleppey housebaot accommodation include 1 lunch & 1 dinner as well

Others

Any air fare Camera charges at monuments Main Meals, Lunch or dinner unless mentioned Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc. Or anything not mentioned above.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Arrive Chennai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Arrive Chennai

On arrival at Chennai airport assistance and transfer to hotel. Later city tour of Chennai. Visit Fort St. George & Museum built by the British East India Company in 1640 AD. The fort is believed to be the first establishment of the British in India. Kapaleeshwarar Temple a Hindu temple dedicated to lord Shiva, Semmozhi Poonga a beautifuly landscaped botanical garden. Dakshina Chitra a living history museum & Arulmigu Sri Parthasarathy Temple an 8th-century Hindu Vaishnavite temple dedicated to the Lord Vishnu. Evening walk on the on Marina beach. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 Day 2: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Vellore (140Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Vellore (140Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Pick up from your hotel in Chennai and drive to Pondicherry via visiting Kanchipuram & Vellore. In Kanchipuram visit Kailasanathar 8th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, noted for its architecture and sculptures. There are 58 small shrines situated around the main shrine compound wall. Ekambareswarar temple another ancient temple dedicated to Siva. The 2500-year-old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yields different varieties of mangoes. Varadharaja temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, noted for its wonderful sculptures. Vaikundhaperumal temple dedicated to lord Vishnu, it is also one of the 108 Divyadesams. Kamakshiamman temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi the presiding deity, one of the holy Sakthi worship places in India. Continue drive to Vellore and check in at hotel. Later city tour visit 16th-century Vellore Fort, with its imposing granite walls and surrounding moat. Inside the fort, the Jalakandeswarar Temple features many ornate sculptures. Nearby, the Government Museum has prehistoric relics and natural history displays. Sri Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple inside the Sripuram spiritual park is situated at the foot of a small range of green hills. This temple is gilded with 1,500 kg of pure gold, double the 750 kg gilding of the dome of the Golden Temple at Amritsar. Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 Day 3: Vellore - Tiruvannamalai - Trichy (280Kms/ 6Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Vellore - Tiruvannamalai - Trichy (280Kms/ 6Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Trichy via visiting Tiruvannamalai a Hindu pilgrimage town. At the foot of sacred Arunachala Hill is the vast, ancient Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, with intricately carved gopurams (towers). Shiva is worshiped as Arunachalesvara and is represented by the lingam, with his idol referred to as Agni lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Unnamalai Amman. To the west, the huge Sathanur Dam was constructed in 1958 on the Thenpennai River. Nearby there are gardens, plus a crocodile farm and a small zoo. Continue drive to Trichy check in at hotel. Evening visit Ranganathaswamy Temple to attend the Arti ceremony. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4 Day 4: Trichy - Madurai (135Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Trichy - Madurai (135Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple there are 22 gopurams including India’s tallest (72 meters, 13 storey high). Many people have had a hand in its construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas and rulers from Vijayanagar. Rock Fort Temple -The 83m high Rock Fort is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. The rock is one of the oldest in the world-approximately 3.800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. Also visit Tiruvanaikkaval the Jambukeshwara temple, dedicated to Shiva, and it houses five concentric walls, and seven gopurams. After sightseeing drive to Madurai check in at hotel. Later city tour of Madurai. Visit Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple one of the largest temple complexes in India built between the 16th and 18th centuries. Apart from the estimated 33 million sculptures there, the temple is absolutely absorbing with the endless rounds of ceremonies, prostration of countless devotees and glittering market stalls. Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple a Hindu temple and one of the Six Abodes of Murugan, built in rock-cut architecture by the Pandyas during the 6th century. Also visit the Tirumal Nayak’s Palace a highly decorative monument. Its enormous roofed arcade supported by 48 foot high stone pillar, still stands. Overnight at hotel.
Day 5 Day 5: Madurai - Munnar (160Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Madurai - Munnar (160Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel drive to Munnar, check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax. During the British rule in India, Munnar was the summer resort of the Government officials. The natural beauty, calmness and mild cold climate throughout the year make it the favorite tourist places. The tea estates, hills, lakes and forests inside Munnar range expose its beauty. Overnight at hotel.
Day 6 Day 6: Munnar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Munnar

After breakfast, visit to Pothamedu which offers an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The rolling hills, the lush mountain and the breathtaking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks. Mattupetty dam and its reservoir, this concrete gravity dam is built between the hill ranges and it is used mainly for water storage for hydroelectric projects. Eravikulam National Park, The Nilgiri Tahr can be observed at close quarters here. This park established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiri Ibex) is breathtakingly beautiful and is easily comparable to the best mountain ranges found anywhere in the world. Mattupedi Dairy Farm, famous for the Indo-Swiss Farm, this is a highly specialized dairy farm which comes under Indo-Swiss Livestock Project. Echo Point, go there and scream as loud as you can and wait for a minute. You can hear your echo back! Overnight at hotel.
Day 7 Day 7: Munnar - Thekkady (110Kms/ 3Hrs)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Munnar - Thekkady (110Kms/ 3Hrs)

Breakfast at hotel drive to Thekkady enroute stop at Ramakkalmedu. The place gets its name from the impressions of the feet found on the rock surface here, which is believed to be of Rama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, as told in the Indian epic Ramayana. Ramakkalmedu is noted for its hills and also for the panoramic and picturesque views of villages in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, which is towards the eastern side of the Western Ghats. A noticeably tall, pillar-like rocky structure, about 300 m high and facing east is another attraction here. It is one of the windiest places in Asia and being so, one can also find here a wind farm generating electricity, which is an undertaking of the Government of Kerala. Other attractions in-and-around Ramakkalmedu include places like Frog Rock, Turtle Rock and the highest twin-statue in Kerala; called Kuravan and Kurathi. Continue drive to Thekkady check in at hotel. Afterwards take a spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, tea estates etc. You could stop at the local market and pick up some fragrant spices. Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel.
Day 8 Day 8: Periyar - Kumarakom (140Kms/ 4Hrs)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Periyar - Kumarakom (140Kms/ 4Hrs)

Breakfast at hotel. Visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. Nestled between the Cheruthoni and Periyar rivers Wildlife Sanctuary is blessed with the most diverse flora and fauna. The sanctuary has a gorgeous lake that is perfect for romantic boat rides. The tropical evergreen and deciduous forests teeming with elephants, bison, sambar deer, wild dogs, jungle cats, tiger and wild boar along with various species of snake including cobras, vipers, kraits and many non-poisonous snakes is a wildlife lover’s dream. A variety of birds such as grey jungle fowl, Malabar grey hornbill, woodpeckers and bulbuls also have found a home in this sanctuary. Afternoon drive to Kumarakom check in a backwater resort. Overnight at hotel.
Day 9 Day 9: Kumarakom – Alleppey (Backwaters Sailing Boat To Alleppey)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Kumarakom – Alleppey (Backwaters Sailing Boat To Alleppey)

Breakfast at hotel, transfer to boat jetty to board houseboat and sail to Alleppey through the tropical countryside enchanting backwaters. While sailing enjoy palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals, the panoramic sights one can never forget. The Chinese fishing nets the reminiscent of our past trade links are also found on the way. Flocks of duck swimming around the banks and tiny birds flying across the sky remains as enduring pictures reflecting the charm of this tourist land, you also enjoy fishing from the houseboats, evening enjoy sunset from the sun-deck of the houseboats. The Houseboats have generated electricity, sitting cum dining area, separate bedroom with attached English toilets, sun deck and fully loaded kitchen with a Chef, and Driver. Lunch, Dinner and overnight in houseboat.
Day 10 Day 10: Alleppey – Cochin (60Kms/ 1.30Hrs)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Alleppey – Cochin (60Kms/ 1.30Hrs)

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin check in at hotel. Later city tour of the Cochin. Visit Fort Cochin famous for Chinese fishing nets, scenic beaches and architectural style of ancient buildings. At St. Frances Church see the town of Vasco da Gama. The Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568 in the old part of Mattancherry Town, one of the oldest lively synagogues. Mattancherry "Dutch" Palace which has an incomparable collection of huge Kerala Temple murals, exhibits & portraits. You may also visit the famous Hill Palace Museum, the largest archaeological and heritage museum in Kerala. Bolgatty Palace the oldest living Dutch palaces outside Holland, now converted into a heritage hotel. Willingdon Island a man-made island created in 1933 with wonderful walkways and jetty’s. In the evening, enjoy the Kathakali Dance, one of India's most famous Classical dances with lavish costumes, exotic makeup & Masks intensifying the beauty of the dancer’s intricate moments. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11 Day 11: Cochin – Kovalam (200Kms/ 4Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Cochin – Kovalam (200Kms/ 4Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Kovalam check in at hotel. Rest day free and easy for personal activities & relax on the beach. Overnight at beach hotel.
Day 12 Day 12: Kovalam
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Kovalam

Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Trivandrum. Visit Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple the guardian deity of the city. The Maharaja of Travancore till date pays homage at the Padmanabhan Swamy Temple that enshrines the image of Lord Vishnu reclining under the hood of "Anantha" the great serpent. Also visit Attukal Temple a Hindu religious shrine. The city has a rich tradition of nurturing art and culture since ancient times, witness same by visiting Napier Museum, Kuthira Malika & Sri Chitra Art Gallery. Drive thru famous beaches which include Shankumugham Beach, Kovalam Beach, Vizhinjam lighthouse & Light House Beach Road. Overnight at beach hotel.
Day 13 Day 13: Kovalam - Kanyakumari (80Kms/ 2Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Kovalam - Kanyakumari (80Kms/ 2Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Kanyakumari check in at hotel. Later visit Kanyakumari Temple one of the 108 Shakti Peetha in Hindu mythology. The temple is one of the major Hindu temples across India and is mentioned in almost all the ancient Hindu scriptures. Gandhi Mandapam and Vivekananda Memorial, watching sun set from here is the big attraction. Padmanabhapuram Palace, a temple town, located 11km from the city of Kanyakumari. The temples here are built in the distinctive Dravidian style and are adorned with massive gopurams which are a common characteristic of all the Dravidian temples. Kanyakumari is an excellent shopping destination for buying various seashell items. day free and easy for personal activities & relax on the beach. Overnight at beach hotel.
Day 14 Day 14: Kanyakumari - Rameshwaram (310Kms/ 6Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Kanyakumari - Rameshwaram (310Kms/ 6Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel drive to Rameshwaram, check in at hotel. Rest time fee and easy to relax after long drive. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15 Day 15: Rameshwaram - Chettinad (150Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Rameshwaram - Chettinad (150Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel. City tour of Rameshwaram an island separated from the mainland by a small strait of water. Rameshwaram is famous for the Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Rama who, it is believed, had descended on its shores and built a bridge across the Palk Strait to reach Lanka in his quest to rescue Sita from Ravana. Additionally, the temple is famous for being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Siva. Lord Rama had constructed a Siva linga in order to offer thanks to the Lord after killing Ravana. Hence, the temple is a sacred site for both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. The grandest part of the temple is the 1219 m pillared corridor consisting of 3.6m high granite pillars, richly carved and well proportioned. Built in the 12th century AD, the temple with its awe-inspiring corridors are the longest in India. Also visit to Adam's Bridge the name given to the chain of reefs, sandbanks and islets that almost connects Sri Lanka with India. According to legend, this is the series of stepping stones used by the monkey army, lead by Hanuman to cross the ocean in a bid to rescue Sita from the clutch of Ravana. After sightseeing drive to Chettinad check in at hotel. Later city tour visit Chettinad the region well known for its 19th-century mansions, whose wide courtyards and spacious rooms are embellished with marble and teak. Construction materials, decorative items, and furnishings were mostly imported from East Asian countries and Europe. The marble was brought from Italy, chandeliers and teak from Burma, crockery from Indonesia, crystals from Europe and wall-to-wall mirrors from Belgium. Many of these mansions were built using a type of limestone known as karai. It is estimated that 11,000 such mansions still remain—about half the number that existed 100 years ago. They were built by men who once traded in everything from salt to gems, with countries like Burma, Malaysia and Singapore. Much of their profits went into building these grand residences, which used to be called natukottai or regional fort. But in the mid-20th century, most Chettiar families moved to cities. Their palatial homes were left in the custody of caretakers, who maintained them for those rare occasions, such as weddings or Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival, when the family came to visit. Visit few massions open for tourist like Chettinad Mansions, Chettinad Palace and few Chettinad Temples like Vairavan Kovil Temple, Karpaga Vinayakar temple, Kundrakudi Murugan temple, Kottaiyur Sivan temple. Overnight at hotel.
Day 16 Day 16: Chettinad - Thanjore (100Kms/ 2Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Chettinad - Thanjore (100Kms/ 2Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Thanjore check in at hotel. Later visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Fort - built by great Chola king in the 10th century. It is an outstanding example of Chola architecture and is listed in UNESCO world heritage site. Thanjavur Palace & Museum - The palace houses an art gallery, a library and a hall of music. Art Gallery - in the Palace there are a number of granite and bronze statues of the Chola period. Saraswathi Mahal Library - another section of the Palace is the library where over 30,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts in India and European languages are preserved. Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel.
Day 17 Day 17: Thanjore - Darasuram - Gangaikonda Cholapuram - Chidambaram - Pondicherry (180Kms/ 4Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Thanjore - Darasuram - Gangaikonda Cholapuram - Chidambaram - Pondicherry (180Kms/ 4Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Pondicherry. Enroute visit Darasuram Temple a storehouse of art and architecture with 85 feet high vimana. The front mandapam itself is in the form of a huge chariot drawn by horses. The temple has some exquisite stone carvings. The main deity's consort Periya Nayaki Amman temple is situated adjacent to Airavateshwarar temple. Gangaikonda Cholapuram built in Tamil style of architecture with a square plan. The original courtyard is two squares stacked next to each other, all mandapas, the upapitham, the shrine plans, the garbha griha (sanctum) and the tower elements are all square shaped and incorporate circles and principles of geometric symmetry. The temple complex includes Nandi Mandapa, Alankar Mandapa, Maha Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa and Ardha Mandapa. Thanjavur, Darasuram & Gangaikonda Cholapuram temples are the The Great Living Chola Temples (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) built by the Cholas between the 10th and 12th centuries CE and have a lot of similarities. Continue drive & visit Chidambaram Nataraja Temple which is dedicated to the Nataraja the dancing posture of Lord Shiva. The temple has mythical roots and a Shiva shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai. Arrive Pondicherry check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 18 Day 18: Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Chennai (160Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 18: Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Chennai (160Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel. City tour of Pondicherry visit Aurovil founded in 1968 by the spiritual leader Mirra Alfassa as a town where people from all over the world could live in harmony. Its focal point is the Matrimandir, a futuristic, spherical temple covered in gold discs. Pondicherry Museum an art and history museum especially noted for its collection of fine lost wax bronzes form the period of the Chola Empire. The Museum's collection includes 81 Chola bronze sculptures, ranking as one of the largest collections of Chola bronzes. Later walk in French Colony. Pondicherry has some of the finest examples of old French culture with a hint of Tamil influence in its visual aesthetics. Observe and get inspired by the architectural beauty of the French part of the town while enjoying a cup of coffee and some deserts along the way. Customise your walk with your guide to cover French consulate, French Institute, Raj Nivas, Bharati Park (Aayi Monument), Government Square, Beaches, Monuments, Churches, French schools. Later drive to Chennai via visiting Mahabalipuram. In Mahabalipuram visit Monolithic Temples locally known as Rathas. They were executed by chiseling out the exterior face of the boulder. Shore Temple built with blocks of granitein in 7th century the temple complex consisting of two Siva temples and a carving of Anantasayana Vishnu. It is one of the oldest structural stone temples of South India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Cave Temples cut and decorated with panels in the Mamalla style of the Pallava period in the 7th century. Remnants seen in the caves also indicate that they were plastered and painted when built. Krishna's Butterball a gigantic granite boulder resting on a short incline. Continue drive to Chennai check in at hotel. Rest time for personal activities and relax. Overnight at hote
Day 19 Day 19: Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Chennai (160Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 19: Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Chennai (160Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Breakfast at hotel. As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

+16

19 days tour

Temple Of Tamilnadu & Nature, Backwater Of Kerala

This tour includes:

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Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Temple Of Tamilnadu & Nature, Backwater Of Kerala

Day 1: Arrive Chennai

Day 2: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Vellore (140Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Day 3: Vellore - Tiruvannamalai - Trichy (280Kms/ 6Hrs Approx)

Day 4: Trichy - Madurai (135Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Day 5: Madurai - Munnar (160Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Day 6: Munnar

Day 7: Munnar - Thekkady (110Kms/ 3Hrs)

Day 8: Periyar - Kumarakom (140Kms/ 4Hrs)

Day 9: Kumarakom – Alleppey (Backwaters Sailing Boat To Alleppey)

Day 10: Alleppey – Cochin (60Kms/ 1.30Hrs)

Day 11: Cochin – Kovalam (200Kms/ 4Hrs Approx)

Day 12: Kovalam

Day 13: Kovalam - Kanyakumari (80Kms/ 2Hrs Approx)

Day 14: Kanyakumari - Rameshwaram (310Kms/ 6Hrs Approx)

Day 15: Rameshwaram - Chettinad (150Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Day 16: Chettinad - Thanjore (100Kms/ 2Hrs Approx)

Day 17: Thanjore - Darasuram - Gangaikonda Cholapuram - Chidambaram - Pondicherry (180Kms/ 4Hrs Approx)

Day 18: Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Chennai (160Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

Day 19: Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Chennai (160Kms/ 3Hrs Approx)

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