DAY
01 Arrive Chennai
by International Flight |
WELCOME TO INDIA – One Nation,
countless destinations. A land of rich heritage that’s
ancient. The mystique of India, its history of 5000
years, philosophy, religions, fabulous historical
monuments all add to its bewildering diversity to
create a unique and colorful mosaic. This is the wonder
that is India, come, enjoy and experience it.
Reception upon arrival at the International airport
and transfer to HOTEL
Chennai – India’s fourth largest city,
Chennai is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu.
Chennai was the site of the East India company’s
first settlement founded in 1639 on land given by
the Raja of Chandragiri, the last representative of
the Vijaynagar rulers of Hampi. The East India Company
was an English trading establishment and thus was
the forerunner to the British Empire which, came into
political prominence towards the end of the 17th Century.
Chennai is basically a conglomerate of over grown
villages, and being a major port, today it is also
known as the gateway to the South. |
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| DAY
02 CHENNAI |
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning free.
Afternoon, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Chennai.
The tour begins from the ‘St. Mary’s Church’,
built in 1678 – 80, was the first English Church
in Chennai. The Saint Thomas Cathedral, built in 1504,
then re-built in neo - gothic style in 1893, this
Roman Catholic Church is said to house the remains
of St. Thomas the Apostle. Also visit the Kapaleeshwarar
Temple, an ancient Shiva Temple, constructed in pure
Dravidian style. The Sri Parathasarathy Temple, dedicated
to Lord Krishna, built in 8th century during the reign
of the Pallavas. Other attractions include the National
Art Gallery and Museum, which house some beautiful
temple friezes, the bronze gallery, archeological
section. Drive past the High Court Building, Fort
St. George and the famous film studios.
OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL. |
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| DAY
03 CHENNAI-MADURAI |
Early morning transfer from hotel to the airport
in time for:
Leave: Chennai at 0650
hours by 9W-3521
Arrive: Madurai at 0810
hours
Reception upon arrival at the airport and transfer
to HOTEL
In the afternoon, proceed for a sightseeing tour of
Madurai – The primary interest is the Meenakshi
Temple, where Dravidian temple architecture may be
considered to be at its best. Its Hall of a thousand
Pillars is fabulous and is filled with worshippers
at all hours of the day. The tour also includes a
visit to the – Thirumalai Nayak Palace &
Thiruparangundram temple.
In the evening witness puja ceremony at Shree Meenakshi
temple.
OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL. |
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| DAY
04 MADURAI-PERIYAR |
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, drive from Madurai to Periyar (137
kms/4 hours).
On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
Afternoon game viewing in the park by boat.
Cruise on the Periyar Lake to view the wildlife, which,
often converges on the banks of this lake as it is
the only water source in the region. The wildlife
includes wild Elephants, Indian Gaur, Monkeys, spotted
Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar and birds of myriad
varieties. Encompassing an area of 777 sq kms, the
wildlife sanctuary lies at an elevation of between
914 meters and 1828 meters above sea level on the
Periyar Lake in the hills of Western Ghats.
OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL. |
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| DAY
05 PERIYAR-KUMARAKOM |
Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive from Periyar to Kumarakom (120 kms/3 hours).
On arrival check-in at : HOTEL
Rest of the day at leisure.
OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL. |
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| DAY
06 KUMARAKOM-HOUSE BOAT |
Breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed to boat jetty to board House Boat for back
water cruise and overnight.
Cruise the backwaters on one of these beautifully
crafted vessels with your attentive crew – a
relaxing and romantic way to explore this remarkable
area.
Here, on an intricate network of canals, it is possible
to witness a way of life that has changed little through
the ages. With women washing clothes on the river
banks while children play in the shallows, kingfishers
dart among the palm trees and the fishermen stand
with water up to their necks, seeking out fish with
their feet.
Lunch & dinner on board.
OVERNIGHT ON BOARD THE HOUSE BOAT. |
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| DAY
07 |
Breakfast on board.
Arrive at Alleppey boat jetty and drive to Cochin
(63 kms/1.5 hours).
On arrival check-in at: HOTEL
Evening, witness a Kathakali dance performance at
a local theatre, performed by various artists. Kathakali
is a traditional dance form, depicting Indian epics
(Ramayana and Mahabharata). The dancers are dressed
in very colorful and elaborate costumes. Their faces
are painted to depict various characters of these
epics. This dance has a lot of facial expressions
and brisk, yet articulate body movements.
OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL. |
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| DAY
08 COCHIN |
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning, proceed for the sightseeing tour of Cochin.
The tour begins from “The Dutch Palace (closed
on Fridays)” also known as Mattancherry Palace,
built by Portugues in 1555, which is famous for its
murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana and the
puranic legends. Adjacent to the palace is the Jewish
Synagogue (closed on Fridays & Saturdays) built
in 1568. Also visit the St. Francis Church (closed
on Sundays), established by the Portuguese Franciscan
friars in 1503. Vasco Da Gama was buried in the courtyard
of this European church built in India. Other attractions
include the traditional fishing hamlets and the fisher
folk in their colorful costumes. The tour also includes
a visit to the seaside where one can still see the,
nearly a century old Chinese fishing nets, which,
are still in use.
Afternoon at leisure.
OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL. |
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| DAY
09 COCHIN-BANGALORE-MSYORE |
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer from hotel to the airport in time for:
Leave: Cochin
at 0830 hours by 9W-3512
Arrive: Bangalore at 0945 hours
Reception upon arrival at the airport and straight
drive to Mysore (139 kms/3.5 hours) enroute visiting
Srirangapatnam, once the summer palace of Tipu Sultan,
is known for its fortress and tomb of the famous Warrior
King.
Continue your drive to Mysore and upon arrival check-in
at: HOTEL
OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL. |
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| DAY
10 MYSORE-BANGALORE |
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, proceed for a sightseeing tour of
Mysore . Up on a hill overlooking the city is the
temple to Chamundeswari, its patron goddess. The major
tourist attraction is the “ Mysore Palace ”,
the beautiful profile of this walled Indo-Saracenic
Palace , the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore, graces
the city skyline, rebuilt in 1912. The Mysore Arts
and Crafts Centre is famous for its fine craftsmanship
in wood, ivory, sandalwood and silk. The tour also
includes a visit to the Zoological Gardens and the
St. Philomena’s church, one of the largest churches
in the country, built in the Victorian Gothic style.
In the afternoon drive from Mysore to Bangalore (139
kms/3.5 hours).
On arrival check-in at HOTEL
OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL. |
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| DAY
11 BANGALORE-ABROAD |
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning, sightseeing tour of Bangalore: The tour begins
with a visit to the visit the Government Museum and
Venkatappa Art Gallery – one of the oldest in
the country, established in 1886, which is endowed
with relics from prehistoric Mohenjodaro period. The
tour concludes with a drive past the Vidhana Soudha,
the High Court and the Nandi Bull Temple.
Hotel check-out time 12 noon.
Afternoon transfer from hotel to the airport in time
for:
Leave: Bangalore by International Flight |
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| Madurai: is an animated city
packed with pilgrims, vendors, business people,
bullock carts and legions of under employed
rickshaw pullers. It is one of the Southern
India’s oldest cities and has been a center
of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. |
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| Kochi (Cochin)
: Now known as Kochi, is one of India’s
largest ports where the misty silhouettes of
huge merchant ships can be seen anchored off
the point of Fort Cochin waiting for a berth
in the docks of Ernakulam or Willingdon island.
With its wealth of historical associations –
since the times it was visited by the Portuguese,
the Dutch and British, this city is a magical
blend. Here you can see the oldest church in
India, a 500 years old Portuguese house, the
cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish
synagogue and the palace built by the Portuguese. |
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| Mysore: the city of palaces
– 17 in all – Although no longer
a princely state, it retains its old charm and
many buildings are adorned with domes, turrets
and impressive archways. Also know as “Sandalwood
City” it is a major center for the manufacture
of incense so that the air is often sweet and
fragrant. The city is a legacy of the famous
warrior king Tipu Sultan who is a legendary
figure in Karnataka, known for his victories
over the British Army. The city is also known
for its silk processing as it is a major center
for nurturing silk worms which is a major industry
here. |
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| Bangalore: India’s
“garden city”. As capital of the
state of Karnataka, Bangalore is a delightful
mix of the traditional and modern. Housing many
fascinating legacies of richly carved temples,
imposing mosques and trappings of a royal past.
Bangalore today is a major industrial and commercial
center and, is also well known for being the
“Silicon Valley” of India because
of the concentration of major IT companies here. |
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