South India Cultural Tour
Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Destinations covered : Delhi, Madurai, Thekkady, Munnar, Cochin, Kumarakom, Kovalam, Trivandrum
Day 01: Arrive Delhi
On arrival at International airport, the guest will be met by our representative and transferred to hotel. Overnight at hotel
Delhi, capital city of the Federal Republic of India is one of India's fastest growing cities. The city has two distinct parts, Old Delhi & New Delhi. Old Delhi reflects shades of Mughal Emperor whereas New Delhi shows the legacy of what British left behind.
The streets of Old Delhi are narrow & bustling. The beauty & serenity lies inside the courts of the main buildings. Delhi has some of the finest museums in the country. Its boutiques and shopping arcades offer access to a wealth of traditional and contemporary crafts, from all over the country. New Delhi was proclaimed the capital of India by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944), & is tree-lined & spacious.
Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast proceed for day sightseeing of Delhi covering the following areas of New Delhi and Old Delhi
Rajghat - A memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, also known as Bapu (Father of Nation)
Red Fort (Lal quila) - Old Delhi is centered on the Red Fort built by Emperor Shah Jahan between 1636 & 1658, when the mougal empire was on its peak.
Jama Masjid (Mosque) - Work on the Jama Masjid mosque was begun in 1650 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to complement his palace at the Red Fort. More than 5,000 workers toiled for six years to complete the largest mosque in India.
Qutub Minar - is the tallest stone tower in India. Some believe it was erected as a tower of victory to signify the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Others say it served as a minaret to the muezzins to call the faithful to prayer
Indian Gate - Built as a memorial to commemorate the 70,000 India soldiers killed in World War, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1931.
Built from sandstone, the arch also houses the Eternal Flame, a gesture in memory of the Indian soldiers who laid their lives in the 1971 war with Pakistan.
Rashtrapati Bhawan - Formely the Viceregal Lodge, the building is the highlight of Lutyen's New Delhi and was completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000 pound sterling. Located in an area of 130 hectares, the palace has 340 rooms
Overnight in Delhi - we will be happy to recommend places for an evening stroll or a restaurant for dinner tonight.
Day 03: Delhi- Madurai (4 hours by Air)
After breakfast according to the time transfer to airport to catch the flight for Madurai
Madurai: One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. It was the capital city for the great Pandya kings.
Arrive Madurai and check in at hotel.
In the afternoon visit the great Tirumala Nayak Palace, Alagar Hills, Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Spare your evening to immerse in divine beauty of Meenakshi Temple.
Overnight at Madurai.
Day 04: Madurai – Thekkady (137 Kms, 3 hours drive by road)
After breakfast start for Thekkady. Drive through paddy fields and vast spice plantation.
Thekkady - 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 semblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Even a casual visitor to this place will not fail to observe the special ecological pattern of Thekkady. Afternoon experience the mind bowing view of calm crystal clear Periyar lake to view the wildlife. Overnight stay at Thekkady.
On arrival at Thekkady check into Hotel
Afternoon experience the mind bowing view of calm crystal clear Periyar Lake to view the wildlife. Overnight stay at Thekkady
Day 05: Thekkady – Munnar (120 Kms, 4 hours drive by road)
After breakfast drive to Munnar. Throughout the journey enjoy beautiful streams small waterfalls, Rubber, Pepper cardamom and Tea plantations and thick forests. Arrive Munnar and check in at resort.
Munnar: - breathtakingly beautiful - a haven of peace and tranquility - the idyllic tourist destination in God's own country. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Munnar was the favoured summer resort of the erstwhile British rulers in the colonial days. Unending expanse of tea plantations - pristine valleys and mountains- exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests - aroma of spice scented cool air
Overnight at resort
Day 06: Munnar
After breakfast start for a full day sightseeing of Munnar watch beautiful mist kissing romantic green meadows- mind-blowing hills sleeping under green carpet (Tea Gardens) visit Mattupetty Lake & Dam, Echo Point, Kundala Lake, Blossom Garden, Rajamalai, Eravikulam Wildlife sanctuary & Tea Plantation.
Overnight stay at Munnar
Day 07: Munnar- Cochin (145 Kms-4 hours drive by road)
After breakfast start for Cochin.
Kochi (colonial name Cochin) 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'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.
Arrive Cochin and check in at resort
Relax for the rest of the day or take a walk along the historic colonial streets of Fort Cochin. Watch a Kathakali Show (Traditional art performance of Kerala). Overnight at hotel in Cochin
Day 08: Cochin
After breakfast proceed for a guided tour of Fort Cochin and the Jew Street in Mattancherry. Visit the synagogue, century’s old churches and palaces, colonial buildings, Chinese fishing net etc. Spend your evening on the nearby Fort Cochin beach or ferry across to Cherai Beach which is half an hour away. Come back to the hotel or visit Ernakulam city for souvenir and other shopping on Mahatma Gandhi Road. Overnight stay at the hotel
Day 09: Cochin- Kumarakom (145 Kms, 4 hours drive by road)
After early morning breakfast and start for Kumarakom. Arrive Kumarakom and check in at resort.
Kumarakom: - When nature is all you need to recuperate, Kumarakom is undoubtedly the most invigorating, fascinating paradise in Kerala, God's own country. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, 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. That is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom.
Visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. In the evening canoe down the narrow canals. Join the evening sunset cruise or enjoy the beauty of backwater by just relaxing near Vembanadu Lake.
Overnight stay at the resort
Day 10: Kumarakom
Breakfast at resort. Morning at leisure at resort, 1230 hrs check in at houseboat. Rest of the day at leisure on the House Boat. Sit back and relax while the boat cruises through the narrow serene backwater canals. Lunch, Evening Tea/Coffee with snacks, dinner and enjoy your evening on the sundeck away from polluted cities and maddening crowd. Overnight stay on House Boat
Day 11: Kumarakom- Kovalam (172 Kms, 4 hours drive by road)
After breakfast start for Kovalam. Check-in at hotel at Kovalam. The rest of the day is kept for leisure at the Kovalam Beach. Overnight stay at Kovalam
Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. Azure water and favourable climate make Kovalam a favourite year-round spot for swimming. Sea here is pacific and shallow where you can take a dip in the saline waters. Surfing and swimming are among the other water sports possible in Kovalam beach. Many people from different countries and culture intermingle with each other and get together in this paradise of the South and spend their leisure time joyfully.
Day 12: Kovalam- Trivandrum (16 Kms, 25 mins drive by road)
After breakfast start for Trivandrum.
Thiruvananthapuram (known as Trivandrum) the capital of Kerala. Located at the South Western tip of India, is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the West and Tamil Nadu on the East. The wooded highlands on the Western Ghats in the Eastern and North Eastern borders give some of the most enchanting picnic spots, a long shoreline, with internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage make this district a much sought after tourist destination.
Arrive Trivandrum and check in at hotel.
In the afternoon visit Museum Complex, Padmanabha Swami Temple, Science and Technology Museum, Veli Tourist village.
Overnight at hotel
Day 13: Trivandrum
After breakfast drive to International airport to board flight for destination ahead with sweet memories of Kerala, Gods own country.
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