Amazing South India

Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative with a welcome board at Chennai airport, and transferred to your hotel in Chennai. The rest of the day is free for you to prepare for your exciting Chennai tour.

Visit the Santhome Church in the morning, it is one of the three churches sitting on the tomb of an apostle of Jesus - Saint Thomas. Next we visit Kapaleeshwarar Temple, a 7th-century Hindu temple in Dravidian architectural style dedicated to Lord Shiva.

After the visit, we will set off to Mahabalipuram（also known as Mamallapuram） by a comfortable drive. Once you are settled in your hotel, you can spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

First we go to Kanchipuram, the "Varanasi of the south", and visit the Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy featuring exquisite carvings and sculptures in Dravidian architectural style. Then we go to the Shore Temple, an 8th-century granite temple complex touted as the best example of the architectural style in Pallava dynasty. Next we head to Arjuna's Penance, the world's largest bas-relief completed in the 7th century, and the Five Rathas, a perfect manifestation of the evolution of Dravidian architectural style.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive to Pondicherry (also called Puducherry) and check into your hotel. Stops will be made whenever you want. In the afternoon, have a look at the colonial-style buildings at French Quarters. If you want, you can take a bicycle there at an additional cost. Then we continue to Aurobindo Ashram, a community built by Mirra Alfassa, a spiritual guru and Sri Aurobindo, who developed Internal Yoga. Our last stop today is The Lord Ganesha Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple, an over 500-year-old Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, your driver will take you to your hotel in Tanjore (officially known as Thanjavur) famous for the Great Living Chola Temples. Today we will start with a visit to Brihadeeswara Shiva Temple, which represents the essence of temple architecture in southern India. Then we head to a former imperial palace - Tanjore Maratha Palace, whose history dates back to the Tanjore Nayak dynasty. Going into the Palace, we will visit the Saraswati Mahal Library with over 30,000 palm leaf manuscripts, and the Raja Raja Chola art gallery, where plenty of ancient stone and bronze sculptures of Hindu deities are stored.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning we will set off to Madurai. On the way we stop at Trichy (also called Tiruchirapalli). First you will be taken to Srirangam to visit Sri Ranganathaswami temple, one of the biggest Indian temple complexes dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Then we proceed to Lord Robert Clive's house and the Danish Church to find the footprint left by the colonials. Next we move to Rock Fort which was located on a massive rock. Here we can get a panoramic view of Trichy and visit two temples of Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva separately.

Getting down from the fort, we continue our ride to your hotel in Madurai. You can walk around the hotel if you are still energetic.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning we start at Meenakshi Temple, where countless colorful statues on the exterior wall are quite eye-catching. Then you will be guided to visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace, which was built in the 17th century and renowned for its domes and arches. After that, we will move to visit Alagar Hills and Gandhi Museum. The morning tour will end at a bustling and living market. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city and the local people's life by yourself.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning we will drive to Munnar, a beautiful hillstation. The distance between the two places is 171km (106m). En route, we will make stops upon your request. Check in at the hotel, Munnar lies 1500 to 2695 meters above sea level, and it is famous for mountains, water and tea plantation. We prefer to leave the rest of the time free for you to breath the fresh air in the nature.

Meals: Breakfast

Morning we head to Eravikulam National Park, the protection of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and the residence of many species of butterflies and birds. Then we go to Tea Museum to learn about the local tea plantations through curios and photographs. Next we continue to Top Station, the highest point of Munnar. En route stop at Echo Point named for the natural echo phenomenon here. Then we visit Mattupetty popular for its dam and natural beauty to end today's itinerary.

Meals: Breakfast

Today we will proceed with our vacation to Periyar. After a short break at the hotel, you can spend some time exploring a spice plantation and learn about the use of many exotic spices.

Afternoon we take you to Periyar Lake for a cruise. Sailing along the main way of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, you can not only enjoy the picturesque lake view but also meet with some wildlife. You can watch a Hindu martial art performance named Kalaripayattu at your own expense in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Today, our sightseeing continues to Alleppey (also known as Alappuzha), known as the "Venice of the East" for its master network of waterways. Here you will board a houseboat for a cruise on Kerala's backwaters, the boat will pass several villages and it is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the natural beauties as well as to get to know the local's life style.

Friendly Tips:
• Board a houseboat between 12:00 - 13:00 is recommended, as fishermen stop sailing at around 17:00 - 18:00 to do their own fishing. After sunset, houseboats will be moored on the dock for overnight.
• Every second Saturday of August, a Nehru Trophy Boat Race on the Punnamada Lake will be held.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning after breakfast, we will drive to Kochi, which was earlier known as Cochin, the last destination of this tour. Upon arrival, your driver will take you to check into your hotel. Later we set off to Jew Town to appreciate the ancient buildings and alleys with various architectural styles of many countries. Next we venture into Mattancherry Palace, a Portuguese palace exhibiting Hindu murals and ancient furniture. We then proceed to St Francis Church, the most ancient European church which witnessed the European colonial struggle. Then we move to the Jewish Synagogue, the oldest synagogue among Commonwealth countries. After that, we will head to the harbor to see the Chinese fishing nets introduced to India by Chinese from centuries ago. Enjoying a leisurely afternoon, you have an opportunity to watch an over 400-year old Kerala's representative performance - Kathakali in the evening (at your own expense).

Meals: Breakfast

Your whole tour comes to an end today. We will escort you to Cochin Airport for your homebound flight. Hope you have a pleasant trip!

Meals: Breakfast