Amazing South India

Arrival Note: Upon arrival, you will be warmly greeted by our representative at the Chennai Airport with a welcome board, and a comfortable private car and driver will be prepared to transfer you to the hotel in downtown Chennai. You can spend the rest of the day resting to get over the jet lag and preparing for the following Chennai tour.

► Travel Tips to India
1. Don't try street food because water hygiene cannot be guaranteed, and the water used by street vendors may be improperly stored.
2. Drinking water safety is the most important concern when traveling in India, and bottled water should be consumed every day.
3. Use the toilet when you see it, since it is not sure where the next is, especially during long transfers.
4. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes which are easily to put on and take off, as most temples require visitors to enter barefoot.
5. Do not use the left hand to pass things to locals. In their faith, the left hand is considered unclean.

Sightseeing Activities: After breakfast, our guide will first take you to visit the Santhome Church, a Cathedral basilica built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus – Saint Thomas. Next, we will visit the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, a 7th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and built in Dravidian style of architecture.

Afterwards, we will travel by private car to Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram. En route, we will go to Kanchipuram, the ‘Varanasi of South India’, and visit the Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy featuring exquisite carvings and sculptures in Dravidian style of architecture. After the sightseeing, keep driving to Mahabalipuram. We will arrive and check into a local hotel, and then you can spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Sightseeing Activities: First we will visit the Shore Temple, an 8th-century granite temple complex touted as the best example of the architectural style of the Pallava Dynasty. Later, we will head to the Arjuna's Penance, the world's largest bas-relief completed in the 7th century, and finally the Five Rathas, a perfect manifestation of the evolution of Dravidian architecture.

The Mysterious Shore Temple
Why we say the shore temple is a mysterious temple? That's because it was built on the coast and has been impacted by waves for over 1300 years, including the Indian Ocean tsunami, but still stands and in use.

Mahabalipuram was not only one of the prosperous harbors under the Pallava dynasty, but also the center of Hinduism from 7th to 8th century AD. At that time, Pallava dynasty had a vast territory, covering countries such as Indonesia and Sri Lanka, where Hinduism was practiced. Shore Temple is one of the best, and it, along with nearby temple complex, was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1984.

In 2004, just before the arrival of the Indonesian tsunami in Mahabalipuram, the coastline suddenly retreated 500 meters. Some tourists vaguely saw a long stone wall appearing at the ebb tide and then submerged by the huge waves. Afterwards, the Indian government agency conducted sonar observations along the coast, a stone wall in 6-foot high and 70 meter long, the remains of two temples and an underwater grotto was discovered. Maybe there are more ruins under the sea waiting for discovery.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive to Pondicherry (also called Puducherry) and check into the hotel.

Sightseeing Activities: In the afternoon, our guide will lead you to have a look at the colonial-style buildings at the French Quarters. If you like, you can rent a bike at your own expense and ride around the neighborhood for a while. Next, we will visit the Aurobindo Ashram, a community built by Mirra Alfassa, a spiritual guru, and Sri Aurobindo who developed Internal Yoga. Our last stop today is the Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple, an over 500-year-old Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha.

International Yoga Festival in Pondicherry
Puducherry is a picturesque seaside town that perfectly preserves the style of the French colonial period. Aurobindo, known as the Three Masters of India along with Gandhi and Tagore, came to Pondicherry in 1910 and founded Aurobindo Ashram with Mother Alfassa. He continued to explore Integrated Yoga for 40 years, making Puducherry a holy place for yoga. Since 1993, the International Yoga Festival has been held here from January 4th to 7th every year, attracting yoga enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world. During the event, tourists can participate for free.

People from 45 countries live in Puducherry，they cultivated wasteland, utilized wind energy, and to a certain extent, are they are able to support themselves and happily live a low-carbon life. Each person do his part and they only leave 30% of their income for the basic needs, while the rest is collectively used for the operation of the global village. Our guide will you more about the last utopia in the world.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will start a long drive to Tanjore (officially known as Thanjavur). Stops can be made wherever you want on the way. Upon arrival, check into the local hotel and have a break, and our guide will then accompany you on an afternoon tour of Tanjore.

Sightseeing Activities: We will start with a visit to the Brihadeeswara Shiva Temple, a vast Chola Dynasty complex which represents the essence of the temple architecture in south India. Next, we will head to a former imperial palace – Thanjavur Maratha Palace, whose history dates back to the Thanjavur Nayak Dynasty. Going into the Palace, we will admire 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.

The World's Top 10 Oldest Existing Libraries
How many of the top ten oldest libraries in the world have you visited? At present, the earliest discovered ruins in the world is the Library Of Ashurbanipal, located 2800 years ago at the site of the Assyrian royal palace in the ancient city of Nineveh, Iraq. The well-known Alexandrian Library in Egypt was not built until 400 years later. So far, there are still many libraries in the world that have been open for hundreds of years or more, and today we will list ten of the most historically valuable for reference. The Saraswati Mahal Library we are going to visit today ranks fourth.

1. Saint Catherine’s Monastery Library in Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. The monastery itself is also one of the oldest surviving monasteries in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Al-Qarawiyyin Library in Fez City, Morocco. Al Qarawiyyin University is the oldest surviving university in the world, and the library is part of the university.
3. Hereford Cathedral Library in England, a functional borrowing and reference library, also known as a Chained Library.
4. Saraswathi Mahal Library in India, one of the oldest libraries in Asia, with over 60,000 precious collections including palm leaf manuscripts and papers written in Tamil, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, and other local Indian languages. In addition to these, the manuscripts, books, maps, and paintings from various aspects of art, culture, and literature are carefully preserved here. The Encyclopedia Britannica described it as the most outstanding library in India.
5. Tianyi Pavilion Library in Ningbo, China, It is the oldest existing library in China and the third oldest private library in the world. Built in 1561 and 70,000 books are collected during its heyday.
6. Laurentian Library in Italy, designed by Michelangel, now it has over 11,000 manuscripts and 4500 books printed around 1571.
7. Redwood Library in America, It is widely believed to be the first and oldest purposefully built library in the United States.
8. Rampur Raza Library in India. The king Nawab Faizullah Khan established a library to collect manuscripts in various languages from 1774 to 1794. Now, the Rampur Raza Library has manuscripts in over 17,000 languages.
The other two are Peking Pavilion of the Imperial Library in Beijing, China and Admont Abbey Library in Austria.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, we will set off to Madurai. On the way we’ll stop at Trichy (Tiruchirapalli) for a visit.

Sightseeing Activities: At Trichy, our guide will first take you to Srirangam to visit the Sri Ranganathaswami Temple, one of the biggest Indian temple complexes dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Then we will proceed to the Lord Robert Clive's House and the Danish Church to look for the footprints left by the colonists. Next, we will go to the Rock Fort, which sits on a huge rock, from where we can have a panoramic view of Trichy and visit the two temples of Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva respectively.

After visiting the fort, we will continue our journey to Madurai. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and walk around if you are still energetic.

Meals: Breakfast

Sightseeing Activities: In the morning, our visit will start from the Meenakshi Temple, where countless colorful statues on the exterior wall are quite eye-catching. Next, you will be guided to visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace, which was built in the 17th century and renowned for its domes and arches. Afterwards, we will continue to visit the Alagar Hills and the Gandhi Museum. Today’s guided tour will then end at a bustling local market, and you can spend the rest time shopping, drinking coffee, or exploring the city on your own.

Teppam Festival in Madurai
The tall tower gate of Meenakshi Temple is pyramid shaped, is a sacred place in the hearts of Tamil people. The multi-layered tower is believed to be the ladder used by God when she descended into the world. A devout Brahman will also tell you that this temple is a tirtha that connects the secular and sacred.

The goddess Meenakshi is known for her generosity, and local people believe that those who worship her will always receive blessings, especially in terms of fertility. If they pray in front of Minakhi's shrine and tie a rope to the bodhi tree in the courtyard, and then the women will conceive and have a child within nine months.

Every year from January to February, during the full moon season of the Thai month, a grand event called the Teppam Festival will be held here. At that time, people will carry the statue of Meenakshi and walk around the city in a carefully designed route, with the event culminating in Shiva marrying the bride Meenakshi. During this festival, female believers wear flowers on their heads and hold offerings such as milk, coconut oil or ghee, hoping that the goddess can fulfill all their desires. British historian William Dalrymple, in his book The Age of Kali, describes the complex and psychedelic belief world of the locals during the Teams Festival in 1990s, and the traditions and beliefs are still well preserved amazingly now. You will surely learn more about this temple when you visit it.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, we will drive to Munnar, a beautiful hill station. If you see any beautiful scenery on the way, you can ask our driver to stop at any time for you to take photos, which is the advantage of our private tour. Arriving at the hotel, you can have a rest. Munnar is 1,500 to 2,695 meters above sea level and is famous for its mountains, water and tea plantations. We will not arrange a fixed itinerary for the rest of the day, in consideration of your fatigue from the long ride. We prefer to leave the time free for you to relax and breathe in the fresh air.

★  Treat Yourself with a Cup of Tea in Munnar
Munnar is famous for its undulating mountains and tea plantations, and it is praised as the Kashmir in the south because of its lush and primitive environment. India is the world's second-largest tea grower after China. Tea planting was first introduced to India by the British East India Company, they discovered ideal places for tea planting, which results in the main tea producing regions in India include Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Kangra, Munnar and Dooars Terai.

During the free afternoon, we suggest you take a leisure walk to the nearby tea plantation to integrate into nature and find a place to enjoy a cup of black tea. We strongly suggest you try the national tea - masala tea. Masala tea is originated from Kelala and is a fragrant Indian black tea, which is usually boiled with spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and pepper, followed by the addition of fresh milk and sugar. This unique production gives masala tea a rich taste and aroma. Adding these spices was originally invented to enhance the medicinal properties of herbs. However, the locals gradually discovered its unique flavor and liked it. Have a cup of masala tea to awaken your spirit or relax your mind and body. We wish you like it, anyway, it should also be a wonderful attempt on the journey.

Meals: Breakfast

Sightseeing Activities: In the morning, we will head to the Eravikulam National Park, a protected area for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and home to many species of butterflies and birds. Next, we will go to the Tea Museum to learn about the local tea plantations through artifacts and photographs. Later, we will head to the Top Station, the highest point of Munnar. En route, we’ll stop to see the Echo Point which is named after the natural echo phenomenon here. At last, we will visit Mattupetty popular for its dam and natural beauty, marking a perfect end to the day.

Meals: Breakfast

Today we will continue our holiday to Periyar. We’ll arrive at the hotel in Periyar around noon with coffee break on the way. Or, you can ask for photo oppotunities where you are interest in. After a short break at hotel, our guide will take you to spend some time exploring a spice plantation to learn about the use of many exotic spices. 

★ Travel Different: In the afternoon, we will arrange a special boat tour of the Periyar Lake for you. Cruising along the main waterway of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, you can not only enjoy the picturesque lake views, but also spot some wildlife along the banks, which would be an exciting and fun experience.

► Tip: There is a popular Hindu martial arts show named Kalaripayattu at night. If you are interested, you can tell our guide in advance to arrange it for you for an additional charge.

The Best War Dance in India- Kalaripayattu
Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest martial arts in the world, with a history of over 3000 years. Kalari means a training ground, and Payattu means fighting, so Kalaripayattu is both a martial arts and a kind of life. It consists of five interrelated parts: fighting, Ayurvedic therapy, yoga, astrology, and spiritual practice. Historians believe that it is one of the oldest surviving martial arts in the world and it is the power of both strength and softness that people perceive from fierce animals such as lions, tigers, elephants, bears, pythons, and crocodiles.
Legend has it that Indian war dance was introduced to India by Lord Parashurama, the incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Another theory is that in Indian mythology, Parasurama , the father of war dance, was personally taught by the god Shiva and mastered this skill. All of these stories can be found in the rock paintings. If you are interested in this performance, please let us know and then we will make the proper arrangements for you.

Meals: Breakfast

Periyar National Park is famous for its elephant and tiger reserves. There are various plants growing in the park, with over 350 being medicinal, here is also a home to many endangered species and a natural habitat for over 320 bird species and other rare wild animals. In the early morning about 07:00, our guide will accompany you to enjoy a forest trek inside the National Park, where you can watch various birds, butterflies and other wildlife through a range. Back to hotel for breakfast. The full day is to spot Elephants at a park, the ancient Kalaripayattu and take a shared boat to view the charming scenery of this jungle. Overnight Periyar.

Meals: Breakfast

We will have a Bird Sanctuary trip in the morning. And then drive to Kumarakom. South India can be regarded as a fertile land, with Lake Vembanad being a landmark. Which covers an area of approximately 200 square kilometers and is surrounded by the Pathiramanal, Perumbalam, and Pallippuram Islands. The sapphire colored backwater lake is surrounded by emerald shadows of green coconut tree on both sides, each frame here is the best reward for the eyes. Visit there and stay overnight in Kumarakom. 

Onam Festival - The New Year in Summer
Every August or September, Kerala holds a grand 10 day festival called the Onam Festival. The story originated from King Mahabali, a highly acclaimed ruler of Kerala. His actions were praised by the people but envied by the gods. They were worried that the people of Kerala would only remember King Mahabali but forget them, so they complained to Vishnu. So Vishnu disguised himself as a ragged, dwarf looking poor Brahmin and asked for a small piece of land in which he could walk for three steps and the generous king agreed. The dwarf placed the first step on the ground, the second in the sky, and then he asked the king where should he put the third, then the King Mahabali sacrificed his own head. Vishnu was very satisfied with him and allowed Mahabali a wish - to let the king visit his people in Kerala once a year, and Onam Festival is the day when King Mahabali's soul returns.

The festival lasts for 10 days, and locals will decorate houses with flowers, many ebullient activities will be held, such as float parades, snake boat competitions, singing, Katakali dance and tiger dance. If you happen to be traveling during this period, please enjoy this passionate holiday to the fullest.

Meals: Breakfast

Today we will continues our trip by private car to Alappuzha, earlier known as Alleppey, a major city of Kerala State on India’s west coast. After two hours, we will arrive at this fancy destination known as the ‘Venice of the East’ for its master network of waterways.

Sightseeing Activities: Here we will prepare a local houseboat for you to experience a cruise on Kerala's backwaters. The boat will pass several villages and it is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty and know the local lifestyle.

★ What makes us different:
1. Best Cruising Time: Our itinerary is carefully designed based on the site visits of our travel experts, and we will arrange the most suitable time to board the houseboat between 12:00 and 13:00, so that you can get the best photo light and sightseeing experience.
2. Accommodation on Local Houseboat: We will prepare your lunch and dinner on board, which are plain but authentic local food. In addition, we will specially arrange for you to stay in the houseboat for one night, which would be a special experience. You’ll see that the local fishermen stop sailing around 17:00 to 18:00 to do their own fishing. After sunset, the houseboats will be moored at the dock for the night.
3. Nehru Trophy Boat Race: It is an annual tradition held on the second Saturday of August at the Punnamada Lake in Alleppey. If you are interested, please book as early as possible and let our travel consultants make proper arrangements for you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we will drive 1.5 hours from Alleppey to Kochi. Upon arrival, we’ll first check into the hotel, and then the guide will take you to the Jew Town to appreciate the ancient buildings and alleys with various architectural styles. Next, we will get into the Mattancherry Palace, a Portuguese palace exhibiting Hindu murals and ancient furniture. Afterwards, we’ll proceed to the St Francis Church, the most ancient European church which witnessed the colonial struggle. Later in the afternoon, we’ll move to the Jewish Synagogue, the oldest synagogue among Commonwealth countries. Finally, we will head to the harbor to see the Chinese Fishing Nets introduced to India from centuries ago and enjoy a leisurely time at sunset. 

► Tip: Kathakali, a traditional Kerala night show with a history of more than 400 years, is worth seeing. If you are interested, please tell our guide to arrange it for you at an additional cost.

Spice Trading Center in Kochi
Kochin was once one of the ancient and important spice trading centers, attracting many European merchants. Spices from Southeast Asia such as cinnamon, cloves, and pepper were considered rare and very valuable commodities in middle Ages, and the trade war of spices one of the reasons that India was colonized.

In Jew Town, there is an ancient Pepper Exchange that is still in service, of course, only serving the general public now. Here, you can watch the traders' interesting bargaining while select traditional spices if you need. Old carvings are also be sold in antique shops here, which worth a look.

Meals: Breakfast

Departure Note: Your south India tour comes to an end today. Our guide and the driver will escort you to the Cochin International Airport for your homebound flight. Hope you have a pleasant trip!

Meals: Breakfast