South India - A Coconut Holiday
Tour Ref. # RV/391 BOOK NOW
Discover the diverse cultures, scenic beauty and
Historical Places of South India
Special
Feature: Beaches, Temples, Backwaters etc.
Price: 10 nights from US$ 1295 per person
Destination:
South India
Departure Date: As per the client's choice
Transportation : Air-conditioned Car with an expert driver for Arrival
& Departure transfers
ITINERARY
Day 01 - Mumbai - Chennai
Catch flight from Mumbai to the coastal city of Chennai. On arrival transfer to hotel for check-in. Rest of the day free to relax at your
hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02 - Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Chennai
After breakfast take a
short drive will bring you to the famous shore temples of Mahabalipuram.
The most notable frieze is that of Arjuna's Penance which depicts in bas
relief the story of the River Ganges. The rest of the day is at leisure
to enjoy the beach. In the late afternoon drive back to hotel in Chennai. Overnight at
hotel.
Day 03 - Chennai - Srirangam - Trichy
After an early breakfast check-out from the hotel and drive to Trichy. En-route
visit Srirangam which is a living example of a temple town where
all life centres round the temple. This massive temple complex has 21 magnificent gateway
towers (gopurams) and a 1000-pillared hall with beautiful carvings, all within the 7 walls
of the temple town. The 22nd gateway tower, 236 ft. high, has just been completed.
It is the tallest temple tower in Asia.
Later on continue
drive to Trichy which is located on the banks of the Cauvery river
and is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. A wonderful mix of history and modernity,
Trichy was once ruled by the Cholas and later by the Pallavas. Trichy was under the
Mughals for some time and later the Vijaynagar rulers captured it. It remained under the
Vijaynagar Empire till 1736 before Muslims took it. Later, the British took
Triuchirappalli under their control till the independence. On arrival check-in into hotel.
Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 04 - Chennai - Madurai
After breakfast check-out from the hotel and
visit Rock Fort Temple which is situated on 83 m high outcrops.This
temple was built by the Pallavas as a small cave temple, but the Nayaks made use of its
naturally fortified position. It is a stiff climb, up the 437 steps cut into the stone to
the top. The Rock Fort Temple complex in Tiruchirappalli or Trichy is a fine combination
of three temples, the Manikka Vinayakar temple at the foot of the hill, the Uchhi Pillayar
Koyil at the top of the hill and the Taayumaanavar Koyil Shivastalam on the hill.
Shivastalam is a rock cut temple on a hill and the most noticeable landmark in
Tiruchirappalli, reached by a flight of steps on the way to the famous Ucchi Pillayar
temple.
Later on continue drive to Madurai,
situated on the bank of river Vaigai is also referred to as the Athens of the East.
Madurai has the most outstanding examples of Vijayanagar temple architecture in the
Minakshi Temple, a standing monument to the temple builders of the 16th and 17th century.
Arrive Madurai and you will be met by our representative, holding a play card with your
name on it in the arrival lounge. Arrival transfer to hotel Supreme.
In the late afternoon visit Meenakshi
Temple, where thousands of priests and worshippers come daily, temple elephant
people are blessed and astrologists read the stars and hands. You can also get your
fortune read by parrots that pick tarot cards out of a pile. All the believers bathe
themselves in the temple baths. The temple also has a museum with beautiful bronze
statues. In the evening sermons are held within the walls of the temple and concerts are
often given in honor of the gods. The one thing that you must not miss is the evening
ceremony with a fanfare, where the god Shiva is lead to the bedroom of his wife,
Meenakshi. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 05 - Madurai -
Rameshwaram - Madurai
After breakfast full day excursion to Rameshwaram which is
hallowed by the epic Ramayana. A devout Hindu who visits Varanasi is expected to visit
Rameswaram also for the culmination of his quest for salvation. Rama sanctified this place
by worshipping Lord Siva after the war against Ravana. Therefore, it is held sacred by
Saivites and Vaishnavites as well. It is one of the major marine food centres in the
south, much of its fish and prawn catch being exported.
Visit Ramanathaswamy Temple - A remarkable
example of late Dravidian architecture, this temple is most noted for its excellent
corridors lined with massive sculptured pillars with their elaborate design, style and
rich carving. Legend has it that Rama sanctified this place by worshipping Siva here after
the battle of Sri Lanka. The construction work commenced in the 12th century AD and
further developments were made over the centuries by successive rulers, and hence, today
its gopuram is 53 m high. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the inner sanctorum. In the
evening come back to Madurai. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 06 - Madurai - Trivandrum - Kovalam
After breakfast
check-out and drive to Trivandrum - the capital city of Kerala. On
arrival drive to Kovalam Beach which is 12 km from the
airport. After arrival you will check in at one of the best deluxe five star resort hotels
on the side of the beach. The rest of of the day is free for you to explore Kovalam beach
on your own. You can also take a walk along the rustic countryside. Photograph your group
with the back ground of beach and waves. Watch sun set in the
Arabian sea. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 07 - Kovalam - Ponmudi - Pandmanabhapuram -
Kanyakumari - Kovalam
Today, early morning
drive to Trivandrum. Have short break at Aruvikkara water falls.
You will then drive to PONMUDI a beautiful Hill station
decked with stone cottage. You will be struck with natural scenery and the cool climate.
Those who are intersted in hiking can attempt the high trails. Later on continue drive to PADMANABHAPURAM
to see the beautiful Palace of the erstwhile kings of Travancore. From
here you will reach KANYAKUMARI, India's lands end which is a confluence
of three oceans, well in time to see the sun setting into the sea. Leave Kanyakumari by
dusk and back to Kovalam. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 08 - Trivandrum - Alleppey
After breakfast
check-out and drive to Alleppey. On arrival check-in into Punnamada Backwater Resort. Punnamada
backwater resort awaits you with a wide range of amenities. Cross over from your hectic
life and just step in to be pampered by the facilities and our crew. Spread over 10.5
acres with water frontage stretching over a kilometer, the resort enjoys an ever
refreshing weather. The breeze carries with it the warmth of the sun and the coolness of
the enchanting Vembanad lake. Every day here is vibrant with glorious sunshine and the
frenzied crescendo of the gentle waves, and every night balmy with subtle rhythm of tiny
waves caressing the shores.
Overnight at resort. (Breakfast)
Day 09 - Alleppey - Cochin
After breakfast drive to the commercial capital of Kerala -
Cochin. You will check-in into hotel. The rest of the day free for you to explore Cochin on your own and
go shopping for spices, handicrafts and antiques. There is lot to see and do
in Cochin. Among Kochi's best buy are metalware, camel-bone carvings, wood
carvings, articles made of coconut shels, baboo cane, embroidered screwpine mats, grass
mats and several other types of handicrafts. Kochi also has
several antique dealers. Jewellery, readymade garments, and ethnic hand-woven textiles
follow closely. Overnight at
hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 10 - Cochin
After breakfast, enjoy a
panoramic view of the
city of Cochin. Visit the XVI Century Dutch Palace, the
oldest Synagogue of the British Commonwealth, the St. Francis Chruch built in
1503, Bolghatty Palace, Hill Palace Museum and Bird
Santuary. Go for a boat cruise along the harbour and among the 13th Century
Chinese fishing nets. Enjoy roaming around the small streets of Fort Cochin. Overnight at
hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 11 - Cochin - Mumbai (Departure)
After breakfast
morning free to relax. In the afternoon check-out from the hotel and transfer to airport
to catch flight to Mumbai. On arrival transfer
international airport to catch flight to onward destination. (Breakfast) |
Extension
Packages 