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South India Panorama |
Country: India |
Description |
| Deep
South
is
the
fascinating
state
of
Tamil
Nadu,
founded
by
the
Drvidians
over
5,000
years
ago;
the
state
is
the
home
of
some
of
the
most
ancient
architectural
beauties
and
sculptures
in
the
world.
Now
Chennai,
India's
forth-largest
city,
renamed
with
Chennai
in
1997.
Chennai
is
modern
as
well
as
it
is
caring
history
of
its
own
cultural
and
artistic
life. |
Itinerary |
Day-01:
Arrive
Chennai
Meet
/
Greet
at
airport
and
transfer
to
hotel.
After
breakfast
sightseeing
of
Chennai
city
visit
Fort
St
George's
and
St
Mary's
Church.
Overnight
stay.
Chennai:
Owes
its
origins
as
India's
fourth
largest
city
to
the
colonial
period.
Established
by
Francis
Day
in
1639.
The
East
India
Company's
fort
and
trading
post,
known
until
1996
as
Madras,
became
the
political
and
economic
capital
of
British
territory
in
South
India.
Cluster
of
earlier
hamlets
was
incorporated
in
to
the
growing
city.
Day-02:
Chennai
-
Mahabalipuram
Drive
to
Mahabalipuram
offers
a
unique
combination
of
a
superb
group
of
monuments
and
several
fine
beaches.
On
arrival
installation
in
hotel
Mahabalipuram:
Also
known
as
Mamallapuram,
this
resort
was
built
by
Mahendra
Varman
of
the
Pallava
dynasty
during
the
17th
century
who
has
given
the
world
the
unique
monuments
of
sculptural
panels,
monolithic
panels,
structural
architecture
and
cave
temples.
The
most
important
of
these
architectural
relics
are
the
Five
Raths
(Chariots).
The
shore
temple,
Arjuna's
penance
and
the
M
ahishasuramardhini
cave.
Day-03:
Mahabalipuram
-
Pondicherry
Leave
by
surface
to
Pondicharry
enroute
visit
Auroville,
is
the
brain
child
of
the
mother.
Designed
by
French
architect
Roger
Anger,
its
opening
ceremony
on
28th
Feb
1968
and
was
attended
by
representatives
of
121
countries,
who
poured
the
soil
of
their
lands
in
to
an
arn
to
symbolise
universal
one.
The
Matrimandir
here
was
designed
to
be
the
spiritual
and
physical
center
of
Auroville.
Afternoon
sightseeing
of
Pondicherry
visit
Aurobindo
Ashram.
Overnight
stay
Pondicherry:
The
former
French
colony
settled
in
early
18th
century,
is
a
charming
Indian
town
with
few
enduring
pockets
of
French
culture,
and
an
Ashram
set
beside
the
sea.
Together
with
the
other
former
French
enclaves
of
Karaikal
(
Tamil
Nadu
),
Mahe
(
Kerala
)
and
yanam
(
Andhra
Pradesh
),
it
is
now
forms
the
union
territory
of
Pondicherry.
It
is
believed
to
be
the
site
of
ancient
Vedapuri
where
"
Agastya
muni
"
a
sage
had
his
hermitage
in
1500
B.C
Day-04:
Pondicherry
-
Thanjavur
After
breakfast
drive
to
Thanjavur
enroute
visit
Chidambaram
&
Kumbakonam.
The
Lord
in
Chidambaram
i.e.
Nataraja
is
believed
to
have
emerged
from
sacred
space
and
performed
his
cosmic
dance
here.
A
great
flood
brought
Kumbakonam
named
from
the
legend
where
Shiva
was
said
to
have
broken
a
"Cumber"
(Water
Pot)
that
contained
the
seeds
of
creation
after
it
here.
The
water
from
the
pot
is
reputed
to
have
filled
the
Mahamakam
Tank.
Afternoon
temple
tour
of
Thanjavur.
Overnight
stay
Thanjavur:
was
the
capital
of
the
great
Chola
empire
and
later
of
the
Nayaka
and
Martha
rulers.
The
Chola
Kings
built
most
of
Thanjavur's
93
temples.
The
Brihadishwara
temple
is
one
of
the
world
heritage
monuments.
|
|
Included |
01
Night
Chennai
:
Hotel
Radha
Park
Inn
or
similar
on
half
board
01
Night
Mahabalipuram
: Hotel
Sterling
Resort
or
similar
on
half
board
01
Night
Pondicherry
:
Hotel
Ananda
Inn
or
similar
on
half
board
01
Night
Thanjavur
:
Hotel
Oriental
Tower
or
similar
on
half
board
02
Nights
Madurai
:
Hotel
Madurai
Park
Inn
or
similar
on
half
board
01
Night
Periyar
:
Hotel
Taj
Garden
Retreat
or
similar
on
half
board
02
Nights
Cochin
:
Hotel
Avenue
Regent
or
similar
on
half
board
02
Nights
Munnar
:
Hotel
Siena
Village
or
similar
on
half
board
02
Nights
Kovalam
:
Hotel
Le-Meridien
or
similar
on
half
board
All
transfers
&
sightseeing
by
one
AC
chauffeur
driven
car.
Entrance
fee
to
the
monuments
and
to
the
Periyar
wildlife
sanctuary.
Kathakali
dance
and
sunset
boat
cruise
in
Cochin.
Services
of
an
local
English
speaking
guide
during
sightseeing.
|
Departure Dates |
| Jan.
-
April
and
Oct.
-
Dec. |
|
Day-05:
Thanjavur
-
Madurai
Leave
by
surface
to
Madurai
enroute
visit
Tiruchirapalli
also
known
as
Trichy,
long
history
goes
back
to
before
the
Christian
era
when
it
was
Chola
citadel.
During
the
first
millennium
AD,
both
the
Pallavas
and
the
Pandyas
took
power
many
times
before
the
Cholas
regained
control
in
the
10th
century.
The
Nayaks
of
Madurai
built
the
rock
fort
temples
the
town
and
its
most
famous
landmarks.
Arrive
Madurai.
Overnight
stay
Day-06:
In
Madurai
Morning
sightseeing
of
Madurai
visit
Meenakshi
temple,
Tirumalai
Nayak
Palace
and
Gandhi
Museum.
Evening
watch
bedchamber
ceromony,
an
image
of
Sundareswarer
is
carried
in
procession
from
the
shrine
near
the
east
"
Gopuram
"
to
Meenakshi
to
sleep
by
her
side,
which
is
returned
the
next
morning.
Overnight
stay.
Madurai:
is
one
of
India's
oldest
cities
and
has
been
a
centre
of
learning
and
pilgrimage
for
centuries.
Its
history
relates
to
an
era
several
centuries
before
Christ.
The
Pandyan
kings
ruled
from
here
until
the
14th
century.
The
Pandyans,
the
Cholas
and
again
the
Pandyans
successively
ruled
the
city,
until
it
felt
in
to
the
hands
of
Muslim.
After
70
years
of
Muslim
rule,
the
Hindu
kingdom
was
re-established
by
the
Vijayanagar
rulers.
Day-07:
Madurai
-
Periyar
Drive
to
Periyar
wildlife
sanctuary.
Game
viewing
and
excursion
by
boats
inside
the
sanctuary
to
watch
the
wild
life.
Overnight
stay.
Perrier:
situated
in
the
cardamom
hills
on
the
border
of
Tamil
Nadu
and
Kerala.
Periyar
was
established
in
1934
and
is
one
of
the
largest
sanctuaries
in
India.
It
is
one
of
the
best
sanctuaries
in
which
one
can
observe
herds
of
elephants.
The
21
miles
long
lake
is
artificial
built
by
the
British
in
1985
for
irrigation
purposes.
Viewing
is
the
best
by
boats
at
sunrise
and
sunset.
Day-08
:
Periyar
-
Cochin
Morning
game
viewing
to
the
park
again
and
drive
to
Cochin.
Evening
Sun
set
cruise
by
motor
boat.
Overnight
stay.
Day-09:
In
Cochin
This
morning
tour
the
city
visiting,
Mattancherry
Palace
the
nearby
merchant
house
and
a
fine
Synagogue.
Also
visit
Fort
Cochin
and
St.
Francis
Church,
the
oldest
European
Church
in
India.
In
the
afternoon
take
a
motor
launch
cruise
around
the
picturesque
harbor
to
see
Bolghatty
Palace
and
the
Chinese
fishing
nets.
Overnight
stay
Cochin:
is
a
logon
of
islands
and
peninsulas
separated
by
back
waters
of
the
Arabian
Sea,
which
are
connected
by
bridges
and
ferries,
Cochin
has
a
rich
maritime
history
and
still
ships
Kerala's
coir,
rubber,
seafood
and
pepper
products
to
foreign
ports.
Influenced
at
various
times
by
the
Arabs,
Chinese,
Dutch,
British
and
finally
Portuguese.
It
was
the
white
Jews
who
first
emigrated
from
Roman
persecuted
Jerusalem
in
6th
century
BC
to
Cochin.
Another
and
bigger
wave
came
in
first
century
AD
and
thus
was
founded
the
first
strong
community.
Day-10
:
Cochin
-
Munnar
Morning
invigorating
journey
through
the
green
valleys
takes
you
to
the
top
station,
Munnar.
Afternoon
we
proceed
to
the
Kundla
Dam.
After
having
good
look
around
we
return
to
hotel.
Overnight
stay.
Day-11
:
In
Munnar
Morning
walk
through
the
tea
plantations
and
walk
around
Munnar
hills,
followed
by
jeep
safari
takes
you
through
to
Eravikulam
wild
life
sanctuary
and
there
on
to
Benders
hills.
Our
route
stretches
across
the
mountain
chain
and
zig
zags
coars
with
its
numerous
hair
pin
bends-affords
breathtaking
views
of
the
wondrous
ghats.
Munnar
:
Situated
at
1890
mts
is
every
travelers
dream
come
true.
Acres
of
lush
green
grass
lands
and
tea
gardens
stretch
across
these
mountains.
Past
the
vast
expenses
of
Neelakurunji,
which
flowers
once
in
12
years.
Overnight
stay
Day-12
:
Munnar
-
Kovalam
After
breakfast
we
drive
to
Kovalam
via
Changanacherry
gives
you
wonderfull
views
adores
the
ghats
and
blissfully
quite
when
you
stop.
The
route
is
also
dotted
with
grand
churches
among
the
trees.
Overnight
stay
Day-13
:
In
Kovalam
Full
day
at
leisure,
private
activities
and
Ayurveda
rejuvenation
etc.
Overnight
stay
Kovalam
:
India's
most
spectacular
beach
is
a
sheltered
natural
bay.
Enjoy
the
luxury
sun
sanded
beaches
washed
by
the
surf
which
roras
and
hisses
at
the
feet
of
the
stalwart
palms
and
beaches.
A
beach
paradise,
boundless
blue
of
the
Arabian
sea
and
the
unwinding
miles
of
fine
sanded
beaches
washed
by
the
surf
which
roras
and
hisses
at
the
feet
of
stalwart
palms.
Overnight
stay
Day-14
:
Kovalam
-
Chennai
-
Home
Afternoon
transfer
to
Trivandrum
airport
to
board
flight
for
Chennai
departing
at
1430
hrs
and
arrival
Chennai
at
1540
hrs.
Late
evening
transfer
to
international
airport
for
your
flight
back
home.
|
Departure |
| Chennai,
India |
|
Price: $2155
Single Room Supplment: USD695
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