| SOUTH INDIA SPECIAL |
Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Thekkady - Kumarakom -Cochin
(15 Nights/ 16 Days) |
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| Day 01 : Arrival in Chennai |
Arrival in Chennai airport. Meet & assist by Excel’s
representative. Transfer to hotel and upon arrival check in
at hotel.
Chennai - one of the four major metropolitan cities of
India, is the capital of the southeastern state Tamilnadu
.The Gateway to the South, Chennai the first city of Tamil
Nadu is located on the coromandel coast of the Bay of
Bengal. It is well known fro its Cultural heritage and
Temple architecture and also a hub for south Indian
classical music and dance performances. Rest of the day at
leisure. |
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| Overnight at hotel |
| Day 02 : In Chennai |
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| Morning after breakfast proceed for a orientation tour of Chennai to include visits to Art and Bronze Gallery, (Closed on Friday and public holidays). Here one also finds a few examples of the Tanjore School of painting. The Flower and Fruit market, High Court, Fort Museum, Marina Beach , Santhome Cathedral, Snake Park. etc. |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 03 : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram |
After breakfast proceed to Mahabalipuram en-route visit
Kanchipuram (3 Hrs /Approx 80 Kms) visit temples at
Kanchipuram.
Kanchipuram - is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous
as a city of 1000 temples and still has 124 shrines. The
first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th
century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of
Ekambaswara, Kailashnatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy
are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.
Later proceed to Mahabalipuram (01 Hr / 26 Kms). Upon
arrival transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 04 : In Mahabalipuram |
| After breakfast proceed for half day sightseeing of Mamallapuram where you visit the Famous world heritage monuments of The Shore Temple, The Arjuna`s Penance, Five Rathas and many cave temples. Later visit out skits of Mamallapuram with visit to Crocodile farm (inhabits more than 2000 no's of crocodiles) & Tiger cave (a rock cut shrine dating from 7th century). Rest of the day free to relax. |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 05 : Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry |
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry (3 Hrs / Approx 80 kms) arrive in Pondicherry, the former French colony with its distinctive streets, houses and ornamental gardens as well as the Aurobindo Ashram, a center for international living.
Pondicherry - is a union territory, which lies within the state of Tamil Nadu. The inherent ambience of Pondicherry, becomes most evident in the oldest part of the town, which flanks the seashore boulevard. Rest of the day free at leisure. |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 06 : In Pondicherry |
| Morning proceed for half-day sight seeing tour of Pondichery, once a French colony to visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry Museum, Sacred Heart Church, Bharathi and Bharathidasan Memorial Museums etc. Dinner at a French Hotel in the evening, |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 07 : Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Swamimalai - Tanjore |
After breakfast drive to Tanjore, en-route visit Chidambaram and Swamimalai. ( 175 Kms / 04 Hrs ) - The driving time does not include the stoppage a time at Chidambaram and Swamimalai. At Chidambaram visit Nataraja Temple a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the enthralling form of the Cosmic Dancer Nataraja. The peculiarity of the temple is its presiding deity - the Akasha Lingam or the ether lingam. The four tall entranceways have carvings of the famous South Indian dance, Bharatanatyam.
After lunch at Chidambaram proceed to Tanjore, en-route visit Darasuram and Swamimalai.
Darasuram temple (built in memory of the White elephant - AIRAVATH from the gods family), the temple has its original name as "Airavatheshwar temple". Visit the sculpture worship at Swamimalai to see how the craftsmen did their job through the traditional way of casting a sculpture. Later proceed to Tanjore and on arrival transfer to hotel. |
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Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 08 : Tanjore - Trichy |
After breakfast proceed for a city tour of
Tanjore visiting the beautiful Chola temples of Brihadesvara,
which is capped by monolithic cupola, made of granite block
weighing 80 tons.
Later drive to Trichy ( 02 Hrs / 60 Kms) to visit the
ancient temple of Lord Ganpati (Lord Ganesha), 434 steps cut
out into the rock side and interspersed with shrines lead to
the temple. Also visit the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 09 : Trichy - Madurai |
After breakfast drive to Madurai (3 Hrs / 160 Kms). Arrive and check in to the hotel.
Madurai is over 2500 years old and is the second largest city of Tamilnadu. Planed in the shape of a lotus, the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to consort of lord shiva. The city, the Light & Sound Panorama in Thirumala Naik Temple is splendid, Algar hills &Thirupura Rock Temple. Rest of the day free at leisure. |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 10 : In Madurai |
| Morning proceed for a half day s/seeing tour of Madurai. Visit the Meenakshi temple for the evening AARTI ceremony which will be one of the tour highlights |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 11 : Madurai - Thekkady |
| After breakfast proceed to Periyar (4 Hrs /Approx 130 Kms ) drive through the temple city of India reach Periyar and transfer to hotel
Thekkady is one of India's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, where you can watch wildlife at close range. The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied that it does not bear resemblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Evening go for Game viewing cruise on lake Periyar. |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 12 : Thekkady - Kumarakom |
Morning after breakfast transfer by road to Kumarakom (04 hrs/140 Kms). On arrival transfer to the hotel
Kumarakom is undoubtedly the most invigorating, fascinating paradise in Kerala, God's own country. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life.Kumarakom is also famous for boat cruises & snake boat races.
Evening enjoy backwater Sunset Cruise on Vembanad Lake by Exclusive Motor boat for 2 hrs to experience the villages, Canals etc |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 13 : In Kumarakom |
| Morning free at leisure. Afternoon you could do various optional activities there like village walk, visit century old Christian churches, temples, and tryout Ayurveda Oil massage, visit local market etc
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 14 : Kumarakom - Cochin |
Morning transfer by road to Cochin (01 Hr/ 80 Kms). Arrive & check in to the hotel.
Cochin, the Queen of Arabian Sea is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 15 : In Cochin |
| Morning proceed for a Full-day sightseeing tour of Cochin covering The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry. The Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town. The St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. The Santa Cruz Basilica originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese. The Chinese fishing nets are huge cantilevered fishing nets believed to have brought to Kochi by Chinese traders etc. Evening enjoy dinner in the hotel. |
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| Overnight at Hotel |
| Day 16 : Cochin departure |
| Today in time transfer to airport to connect onward flight. |
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