South India Cultural Tour 2
Duration: 08 Nights / 09 Days
Destinations covered : Chennai, Madurai, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Alleppey, Cochin
Day 01: Arrive Chennai
Traditional Welcome on arrival at Chennai International airport.
Chennai is the fifth largest city in India and the capital city of the Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandal coast of the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the Musical and Cultural Capital of India.] The city is known for its classical dance shows and Hindu temples. The Tamil film industry, known as Kollywood, the second largest after movie industry (after Bollywood) in India, is based in the city.
Transfer to hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore commercial town. Overnight at hotel in Chennai.
Day 02: Chennai
After breakfast proceed for full day excursion to Mahabalipuram (60 km, 1 hr drive by road) & Kanchipuram (76 km from Chennai).
Mahabalipuram: -A UNESCO World Heritage site is an architectural marvel of Dravidian style incorporating Buddhist elements. These rock cut and monolithic monuments constitutes cave temples and monolithic chariots (Rathas). A walk around these monuments helps in connecting a bond with royal dynasty of Pallava.
Kanchipuram: It is well regarded as City of thousand temples. Kanchipuram attained its highest stature in 4th to the 9th centuries as capital of Pallava dynasty. Kanchi has magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty bearing eloquent testimony to its glorious Dravidian heritage. Buddhist monk Bodhidharma (A.D. 520) went to China from Kanchipuram to spread Buddhism. He stayed at the Shaolin Monastery and preached Buddhist ideologies. At that time he trained the local people in the art of Varmakkalai. The art underwent many changes and came to be known as Shaolin kung fu or boxing.
Day 03: Chennai Sightseeing/ Madurai (454 Kms 1.5 hrs drive by road)
After breakfast proceed for guided tour of city visit one of oldest and biggest museum of India -Government Museum, first establishment of British in India-Fort St George ,One of largest auditorium of South Asia Vallur Kottam where a 33mt tall statute of poet-saint Tiruvalluv struck a awe in visitors.
In the afternoon transfer to airport to catch 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.
Overnight at hotel
Day 04: Madurai
After breakfast 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 05: 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.
Day 06: Thekkady – Kumarakom (128 km, 3 hours drive by road)
After early morning breakfast and start for Kumarakom.
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.
Arrive Kumarakom and check in at resort.
In the afternoon 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 07: Kumarakom-Alleppey (38 kms, 40 minutes drive by road)
After breakfast start for Alleppey.
Arrive Alleppey and check in at Houseboat and enjoy an over night cruise cum stay in your houseboat. Food will be served in the houseboat. Enjoy the unique experience of a day on backwaters in a houseboat, and meander through the labyrinth of canals, that makes Kumarakom a top world destination. The backwater ride paints vivid picture of the traditional country life in all its natural beauty.
Over night stay at the houseboat.
Day 08: Alleppey– Cochin (63 Kms, 1.5 hours drive by road)
After breakfast drive to 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 hotel.
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 09: 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.
Late evening transfer to airport for the destination ahead with the sweet memories of tour
Cultural & Heritage 
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