South India Tour

Day 01: Arrive Chennai
Arrive Chennai International airport. Upon arrival at International Airport, you will be met by Our friendly Local Representative, after a traditional 'Swagat' (Indian welcome consisting of Aarti-Tikka and garlands) our representative would assist you at airport & transfer to your beach resort at historic Mamallapuram, just outside the city of Chennai.

Day 02: Mammallapuram
After a buffet breakfast, the day is free. Enjoy the sun and surf anywhere at the twenty-kilometer stretch of Golden beach. Go to a crocodile farm and see about 1500 of the amphibians flourish in captivity.

Day 03: Mamamallapuram to Pondicherry - Visit Auroville Town
After breakfast, we drive to Pondicherry - a city with a unique Anglo-French background. After lunch, visit the world famous Aurobindo Ashram - abode of the twentieth century saint and philosopher Sri Aurobindo. Later, visit Auroville town - an o asis of peace and enlightenment designed by the French architect, Roger Anger. You would find the town living up to its designer's mission of making people realize the merits of human unity.

Day 04: Pondicherry to Tanjore - Visit a World Heritage Monument
After breakfast, we drive to Tanjore, the 'rice bowl' of Tamil Nadu. Arrive at Tanjore by afternoon and occupy your resort. Relax.

In the evening we take you on a tour of this historic town. Ancient capital of the Cholas - one of the greatest dynasties of South India - Tanjore is dotted with no fewer than seventy-four temples.
In the evening, we visit the Brahadeswara Temple - a World Heritage Monument. Enjoy the architecture.
Also be awed by the majesty of the palaces and art gallery attached to this temple.

Day 05: Tanjore to Trichy - Visit Rock Fort Temple
After breakfast drive to Trichy. Trichy is along the beautiful Cauvery River; enjoy the landscapes on your route.
Arrive by afternoon in Trichy - the city blessed by a fine blend of history, religion and commercial activity. In the evening, we visit Rock Fort temple - a boulder of giant proportions perched on top of a hill, with images carved into it. Take a deep breath and climb the 437 odd steps from the entrance to the summit.

Day 06: Trichy - Visit Sri Rangam Temple
After breakfast, the day is free. Opt for a shopping tour in the city where you are sure to find enough mementos with local flavor to take home. Otherwise, just relax in the comforts of your resort.

In the evening, visit Sri Rangam Temple sprawled on an island in the river Cauvery. Gaze up at the twenty-one magnificent towers of the temple surrounded by seven walls. Mind you, this temple was built around the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

Day 07: Trichy to Madurai - Visit the amazing Meenakshi Temple Complex
After breakfast, we set out to Mad urai. You are about to enter a very special city. Madurai is over 2500 years old and is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu. Ancient seat of learning, the city is planned in the shape of a lotus. Check in to your hotel at Madurai by noon.

After lunch, in the afternoon, visit the famous Madurai Meenakshi Temple. There are four entrances to this amazing temple complex set in six hectares. Marvel at the truly majestic towers, twelve of them, pointing skywards at 45 to 50 metres. Beat some of the stone pillars in the complex with any hard object and feel incredible on hearing sweet metal sounds.

You now know why they are called musical pillars. By the way, the total number of pillars in the temple is a staggering one thousand. Enjoy a light and sound spectacle and back to the hotel by 8 p.m.

Day 08: Madurai to Kanyakumari - Watch Majestic Sunset
After an early breakfast, we drive to Kanyakumari - India's land's end. You can enjoy the long drive in the air-conditioned comfort vehicle.

Arrive at Kanyaku mari - the confluence of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal - by afternoon and check into your hotel. Leave your hotel in time to watch the glorious sunset from the seashore. On a full moon day, observe, with disbelief, the sunset and moonrise simultaneously. This spectacle can be witnessed nowhere else in India.

Day 09: Kanyakumari to Kovalam
Awake in time to see the stunning sunrise view in the Bay of Bengal. After breakfast, board a boat to the just offshore Vivekananda Memorial - located on a huge rock, in memory of Swami Vivekananda, the Great Indian spiritual leader.

Back to the mainland by forenoon. Time to drive to Kovalam - the famous palm-fringed beach. Arrive at Kovalam in the afternoon and check into your beach resort.

Day 10: Kovalam
A full day at the Kovalam beach. The day's plans are for you to chart. Shall we suggest some: Kattamaram (traditional boat) fishing trip. Enjoy the hospitality and overnight at your resort.

Day 11: Kollam Gateway - Cruise on a houseboat to Kumarakom
After breakfast, we will take you to Kollam - gateway to Ashtamudi backwaters - to start out on an enchanting, exciting houseboat cruise to Kumarakom via Alappuzha.

Your houseboat is a typically huge traditional boat made of Anjili wood. It has two attached bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen, toilet, and balcony. On board, enjoy the scenery and serenity around while relishing a fine lunch by the chef of the boat. Glide through dreamy landscapes till nightfall.

Then, the boat casts anchor right in the middle of the romantic waterway. Wow! It is cool blue waters, a blue sky and a starry night. This is one of those moments when Hi-Life makes your dreams happen.
It goes without saying that you overnight on the boat.

Day 12: Onto Kumarakom - Still on the houseboat
At six 'o' clock in the morning there is slight ripple as your boat sets sail again. Before long, the gong strikes to announce it is breakfast time. You n ow meander through narrow canals, come across huge acres of paddy fields, cause a flutter among children of a coir processing village, take deviation to avoid a tiny island in the middle of your way, go past Chinese Fishing Nets. Well, enter Kumarakom backwaters without knowing that many hours have passed since the breakfast gong. Check into the resort. Relax, if you need any more relaxation. In the evening, enjoy a Kalaripayattu - martial arts - performance.

Day 13: Kumarakom to Thekkady
After an early breakfast, we drive you to t he Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Arrive at the Sanctuary by noon and check into your hotel. A little later, we take you on a memorable boat ride through Lake Periyar in the heart of the sanctuary.

Come across elephants and bison grazing on the banks. You can also opt for an elephant safari through the forest, if you are interested.

Day 14: Thekkady to Munnar
After breakfast, we drive to picturesque Munnar - the tea garden hill station. En-route you pass through one of the most scenic landscapes in the world. Be enamored by the heavenly charm.

Reach Munnar by afternoon. Check into your resort. Relax. In the evening, we take you for shopping in the provincial but exotic town centre. Fresh tea, cardamom, pepper and other spices are available. Get back to the comforts of your hotel by 8 p.m.

Day 15: Munnar - Visit Eravikulam National Park
After breakfast, we drive you in and around Munnar on a sight seeing tour. Take a boat ride at Mattupetty dam. Visit the Eravikulam National Park to catch a glimpse of and endangered species of mountain goats called Nilgiri Tahr. Take snaps. Visit sandalwood forests at Marayoor - the highest peak in Munnar. Here, see valleys where Neelakurinji, a type of violet flower (Strobilanthus) blooms once in twelve years.

Day 16: Munnar to Cochin
After breakfast, we drive you to Cochin - 'the Queen of the Arabian Sea'. Arrive by afternoon. Check into your hotel. Lunch, and have a siesta.

In the evening we take you on a downtown-shopping trip. Later, visit a Kathakali centre to experience the most popular performing art of Kerala.
There is an enlightening 'Mudra (gestures) & Make-up' demonstration too.

Day 17: Experience Fascinating Cochin
Breakfast, and get ready for full day trip in and around Cochin. First, you board a luxury boat that takes you to Fort Cochin and Mattancherry where you can trace the past of Cochin.

Visit the Jewish Synagogue at Mattancherry, considered to be the oldest in India. At Fort Cochin see the historic St. Francis Church built in 1510 by Portuguese priests. Back to the mainland by noon. After lunch get ready for your final, and perhaps the most unforgettable, experience at Cochin. Set out on a country craft canal cruise. Amaze at life's pace (or lack of it) in rural Kerala. Get a closer look at coir processing, duck farming and the tapping of toddy (country liquor from coconut palms). Drink tender coconut water - perhaps the world's healthiest and sweetest natural drink. Or, get tipsy with a bottle of toddy.

Day 18: Depart Cochin
Tour concludes. T4U thank you for your patronage and ensure a punctual transfer to International Airport to catch the flight back home.