Luxury South India Tour - 14N/15D

Upon arrival our representative will receive & escort you to your vehicle. Drive to your designated hotel. Our representative will assist you with the check-in formalities and inform you of your next day's program.

After breakfast you will leave the Indian Silicon Valley City or also known as the Computer City and drive through the countryside which is a total contrast to the metropolis. You will arrive in Chikmanglur by late afternoon and check-in at your hotel.

The day is dedicated to the twin temple complexes in Belur & Halebid. Both these temples are masterpieces of sculpture in the local black-grey stone. The freezes of elephants, dancing figures and the various mythological Gods & Goddesses are carved with intricate decorations and each piece is a masterpiece.

Return back to your hotel in the evening and enjoy the Pool.

After breakfast drive through the small village roads to Sravanabelagola, the Jain pilgrim place where the collossal monolithic statue of Gomateswara stands on the rock and is reached by 500 steps.

After the visit drive on to Mysore, which was the capital of the Wodeyar dynasty, feudatories of the Vijayanagar Empire, who declared their independence in the 16th century and ruled in Mysore until independence. Mysore is also known at the Sandalwood City.

You will drive straight to visit the Palace Museum. The Palace is built in Indo Saracenic style in mid 19th cent. The Palace was the residence of the Wodeyars family and even today a part is private.

After arrival & check-in at your hotel rest of the evening is free.

Today will be a long day as you have a long drive to the Airport outside Bangalore to board the flight to Chennai.

Flight Schedule - 9W446 1540/1620 HRS.

Our representative will be there to help you with check-in formalities. In Chennai you will be received and escorted to your hotel.

Chennai is the capital city of the State of Tamil Naidu and a very old and culturally rich City. You will visit Bronze Gallery at he Govt. Museum. The collection is one of the finest in the World. Another important place to visit is the St. Thomas Church. It is believed that apostle Thomas crusaded in the area and lived here. The Mosaic dome of the High Court building is a spectacular sight and the famous Flower & Fruits gives you a taste of the local market.

After a short break you will drive out to Mahabalipuram, the beach area south of Chennai. The beaches on the Corromandal Coast are little rough and not suitable for swimming but Mahabalipuram is famous for religious reasons.

You arrive at your hotel and the rest of the evening is free.

In the morning visit the historical sites in the "City of Seven Pagodas". Important places are Five Rathas (chariots), which are in the form of ceremonial chariots cut out of rock as monolithic structures and named after the 5 Pandavas the heroes of the Epic Mahabharata. Also interesting to visit are the Shore Temple & Bhagiratha's Penance rock with caves behind it.

The afternoon is free to enjoy the beach and relax at the Swimming pool.

After breakfast transfer to the Chennai Airport to connect flight to Madurai. You will be received at the Airport & escorted to your hotel.

One of the important ceremonies at the Meenakshi Temple is the transfer of the Deity to his consort's chambers and it is performed in every evening just before closing the Temple complex.

Flight Schedule - IC671 1205/1300 HRS.

In the morning visit the Temple Complex once again the day light and admire the high Gopurams on all for directions. The Hall of Musical Pillars and all the daily activity that takes place in the complex. Also visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, which is built in Indo-Saracenic style with its tall pillars.

In the afternoon you will drive across a part of the "Blue Hills" to arrive in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary area.

Upon arrival check-in at your hotel and rest of the evening is free.

Early morning is the best time to visit the National Park. The Sanctuary is all around man made Lake and boats are available to take you around the area. You can do game viewing from the Boat as getting off and walking around could be dangerous as there are many herds of wild Elephants, Doles, Wild Boars and if you are lucky you may also come across a Tiger also.

In the evening you will embark on a tour to visit a Spice Garden, where you will see almost the spices being grown. All these Spices are also available in the region and that is the reason that this region is called as the area for "Black Gold".

After breakfast drive to Kumarakom through the "Blue Hills" and windy road. You will pass through Tea, Rubber, Cardemom and Black Pepper Plantations before you arrive at your hotel on Kumarakom on the Lake Vembrand.

Enjoy the surroundings of your hotel to recoup from the long journey.

You have an entire day to relax and go for a Ayurveda message & feast on Ayurveda meals prepared specially in this region.

Today you have a relaxed activity of viewing the life around the famous Backwaters in Kerala.

Overnight in the hotel.

After the relaxed stay you leave for the big city of the State of Kerala, Cochin. The city is also the main trading place for all spices you have seen up in the hills.

Vasco de Gama landed here by mistake instead of America and opened up the sea route for trade. Cochin is a big center for Indian Spices and had attracted invaders from all over the World who came here at different times because of these Spices.

Your Sight seeing tour will take around the Fort Cochin area where you will see the Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, the Jewish Synagogue, and the Dutch Palace.

Like all good things come to an end your beautiful, enriching & intensive tour of South India comes to an end. You will be escorted to the airport to connect flight to Mumbai where our representative will receive you & check you in at your hotel The Leela Kempenski near the airport.

Later in the evening you will be assisted to drive to the international airport and check-in for your flight back home.

Flight Schedule - 9W402 1300/1440 HRS.