Project Description
Splendours of Southern India
13 Days 12 Nights
Chennai • Mahabalipuram • Pondicherry • Tanjore •Madurai • Munnar •Periyar • Kumarakom • Alleppey • Cochi
PRICE AND DATE
| DATES | Twin Sharing |
Single Supplement |
| April – Sept | CAD 2,910 | CAD 1,100 |
| Oct – Dec | CAD 2,850 | CAD 1,240 |
Prices include accommodations, private transfers & tours, admissions, and some meals. Prices exclude international flights, gratuities, visa fees, taxes, and high-season surcharges.
To customize this tour, please call 1-800-387-0387
E-Mail: tours@jadetours.com
ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive Chennai
Meet and greet on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Hotel: 5 * Crowne Plaza Adyar Park or similar (2 nights)
Day 2 Chennai B
Enjoy full day Chennai sightseeing tour visiting to the Government Museum, National Art Gallery and Fort St. George. Drive past Chennai University, the Senate House and the Palace of the Nawabs of the Carnatic, and San Thome Cathedral where the apostle is buried. Visit the ancient Kapaleeshwar Temple and Little Mount Shrine .
Day 3 Chennai – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram B,L
Drive to Mahabalipuram (approx. 60 kms/ 2 hrs). Enroute visit one of the India’s sacred cities Kanchipuram (Kanchi) also known as the Golden City of a Thousand Temples. Visit Ekambareshwar Temple, Kailashnath Temple, Kamakshi Temple, the Vaikunthaperumal Temple, all were built in the 7th and 8th centuries.
Upon arrival, visit Shore Temple, one of the oldest temples in South India. Arjuna’s Penance is the world’s largest bas-relief. Next visit Rathas (Tiger Cave Temple) and Monolithic temples.
Hotel: 4 *Ideal Beach Resort or similar (1 night)
Day 4 Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry B,L
Drive to Pondicherry (approx. 100 kms/ 3 hrs). Visit Manakula Ganesh temple, Aurobindo Ashram, the best known landmark of Pondicherry, and the French colony.
Hotel: 4 * Le Pondy or similar (1 night)
Day 5 Pondicherry – Tanjore B, L
Transfer to Tanjore (approx 170 Kms/ 04 Hrs), enroute visit to Chidambaram Temple which is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the heart of the temple town of Chidambaram,Tamil Nadu. Upon arrival, visit Brihadishwara Temple, commissioned in 1010 by Rajaraja.
Hotel: 4 *Ideal Riverview or similar (2 nights)
Day 6 Tanjore – Trichy – Tanjore B,L
Excursion to Trichy or Tiruchirappalli, the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of the river Cauvery. Visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam which is a superb temple complex and probably the largest in India. And visit to the Rock Fort Temple, crowns a massive outcrop of rock that soars 83 meters upwards from the surrounding plains. It is reached by a step flight of 437 steps cut into the rock.
Day 7 Tanjore – Madurai B,L
Before breakfast, join the Morning Holy Mass at 06:30 AM.
Then drive to Madurai (approx 180 Kms/ 4 Hrs). It is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu & was originally known as Kadambavanam.
Today’s Highlights visit to Meenakshi Temple, the Hall of a Thousand Pillars. Visit The Tirumal Nayak’s Palace. Its’ enormous roofed arcade supported by 48-foot-high stoned pillars.
Also witness night ceremony at Meenakshi Temple and enjoy the Rickshaw ride (TUK TUK).
Hotel: 4 * + Courtyard by Marriott or similar (1 night)
Day 8 Madurai – Munnar B,L
Drive to Munnar (approx. 150 kms/ 05 hrs). Visit Srishti, a Welfare Centre run by Tata tea. It aims at giving a quality life to the families of tea pluckers in Munnar.
Hotel: 4 *+Fragrant Nature or similar (1 night)
Day 9 Munnar – Periyar B,L
Visit to the Tea Museum (Closed on Monday), before drive to Periyar (approx. 95 kms/ 3 hrs)
Proceed to Periyar National Park and enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Periyar to witness the wild life including herds of elephant, sambar, gaur, leopard, barking deer and mouse deer. The park and Tiger Reserve are one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world.
Hotel: 4 * Greenwoods or similar (1 night)
Day 10 Periyar – Kumarakom B,L
Drive to Kumarakom (approx. 150 kms/ 4.5 hrs). The day is free at leisure or enjoy a sunset cruise on winding canals provided by the hotel.
Hotel: 4 * Lakesong Resort or similar (1 night)
Day 11 Kumarakom – Alleppey B,L
After breakfast, drive to Alleppey (approx 40 Kms/ 40 minutes). Embark on Houseboat and cruise through the canals to observe & experience the daily life of the villagers along the backwaters.
Accommodation: Houseboat or similar (1 night)
Day 12 Alleppey – Cochi B,L
Disembark and drive to Kochi (Cochin) (approx. 50 kms/ 1.5 hrs). Proceed to Mattancherry where you will visit the The Dutch Palace (Closed on Fridays & Saturdays), Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Fridays) and St. Francis’ Church, the oldest European church in India. Also visit Chinese Fishing Nets and Fort Cochin area.
Enjoy the Kathakali Dance show in the evening.
Hotel: 5 *Crowne Plaza or similar (1 night)
Day 13 Cochi Departure B
Transfer to the airport.
