Arrival Chennai

Arrival, meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel by our English speaking representative. Rest of the day at leisure.

• Overnight at the hotel.

Chennai

Breakfast at hotel

Proceed to visit: Fort St. George, The National Art Gallery has many excellent bronzes including the famous Chola period bronze Nataraja, the God Shiva, in the cosmic dance pose. The Government Museum (closed on Fridays) which contains sculpture and architecture produced by the Dravidian dynasties. San Thome Basilica, Mylapore Temple from outside Overnight at the hotel

• Dinner & Overnight Stay at Hotel in Habarana

Chennai Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram

Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast proceed for Mahabalipuram via Kanchipuram- 86 Kms/ 1½-2 Hours. Kanchipuram "The Golden City"" has about 125 shrines, all of them centuries old, dating back to the early Cholas of 200 B.C. It was successively capital of the Cholas, the Pallavas and the Rayas of Vijayanagara. Afternoon city tour- Mahabalipuram is a beautiful beach resort which consists of a the tiny village by the sea in which all else is dwarfed by a dream world of awesome Tamil art, an open air museum of sculpture in living rock. The piece de resistance is Arjuna’s Penance or the Descent of the Ganga, the world’s largest bas-relief, 764 ft. by 288 ft. (27m by 9m). The Shore Temple, which has stood by the sea for 12 centuries.

• Overnight Stay at Hotel.

Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry by surface (141 kms)

After breakfast proceed for Pondicherry and on arrival check-in at the hotel.

Afternoon city tour of Pondicherry, includes the Pondicherry Museum, the church of Notre Dame des Anges, Aurobindo Ashram, the best known landmark of Pondicherry.

• Overnight at the hotel

Pondicherry Chidambaram /Gangaikondacholapuram Swamimalai / Tanjore (197kms)

Breakfast at hotel

Morning proceed for Tanjore en route visit of Chidambram, Gangaikondacholapuram and Swamimalai.

complete pose sequences of the classical South Indian Bharat Natyam dance, Gangaikondacholapuram - A Shiva Temple.

Afternoon visit of Thanjavur (Tanjore)-famous for the Brihadeeswara Temple has gopurams over 90 ft. (27 m) high and are exquisitely sculpted. They lead to a vast courtyard in which the main temple stands guarded by two sentries carved out of single stones. Facing the sanctum is a nandi (bull) Shiva’s favourite vehicle. The corridors around the sanctum have many sculptures as well as Chola frescoes which were recently discovered. The Palace and the remains of the fort that surround it can still be seen. Members of the former royal family of Thanjavur still occupy some apartments in the inner recesses but the Palace is now mainly used as a art gallery.

• Overnight at the hotel

Tanjore Trichy Madurai (202 kms)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning proceed by surface for Madurai, enroute visit of Trichy- It is a historical town and for a period the capital of the Chola rulers Visit the Rock Fort, 300 ft. (90 m) high. After the visit proceed onward for Madurai and on arrival check in at the hotel.

Evening Aarti ceremony is basically the evening prayers performed at the Meenakhsi temple.

• Overnight at the hotel

Madurai

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning city tour Madurai- Visit magnificent Meenakshi Temple and Madurai Temple, Palace of Thirumalai Nayak,.

• Overnight at the hotel

Madurai Periyar (142 kms)

Breakfast at the hotel

After breakfast drive to Periyar

Visit Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary

• Overnight at the hotel

Periyar Cochin (195 kms)

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning proceed by surface for Cochin and on arrival check in at the hotel.

Afternoon visit of the Mattancherry Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays and public holidays),Jewish Synagogue (closed on all Fridays/ Saturdays and Jewish holidays) in Jew Town and Fort Cochin Area-legend dates, St. Francis Church and Chinese Fishing Nets.

• Overnight at the hotel

Cochin

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to the airport to board flight for onward destination.