Grand Tour Of South India
DAY 01 - ARRIVE CHENNAI
Arrive Chennai international airport
Meeting and assistance at the airport
Transfer by car to your hotel in Chennai
Check in and relax a bit after the long flight
In the afternoon we will start the tour with a visit to Government Bronze museum , drive along the old part of Chennai, a short walking tour of George Town and the surroundings, drive along Marina Beach, visit St. Thomas cathedral and late in the evening visit Kapaleeshwar temple and the market
In the evening you will get introduced to South India cuisine - the ideal place is the rain tree restaurant in Connemara hotel
Overnight at the hotel in Chennai
DAY 02 - CHENNAI / KANCHEEPURAM / MAHABALIPURAM
Breakfast at the hotel
You will have to start little early in the morning say around 0730 hrs as you need to cross the city to take the highway to Kancheepuram and morning traffic in Chennai sometimes would be heavy
Arrive Kancheepuram after two hours drive
Visit Ekambareshwar, Kailasanathar temple and Varatharaja Perumal temple
You can also have a look on how Kancheepuram silk sarees are weaved - the silk here is mostly used for sarees and are very detailed and elaborate
Drive to Mahabalipuram
On arrival check in at the beach resort in Mahabalipuram
In the evening walk around the main street
You can try a sea food dinner at one of the many restaurants on the main street
Overnight at the resort in Mahabalipuram
DAY 03 - MAHABALIPURAM
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning visit Arjuna Penance
Climb up the rock behind this monument to have a panoramic view of the seas
Later walk up to light house
Climb down the rock to visit Five Rathas
Return to the hotel
You can spend some time near the pool or on the beach
In the evening visit Shore Temple
Optional visit to a nearby hill lock to see the villages around Mahabalipuram
Overnight at the beach resort in Mahabalipuram
DAY 04 - MAHABALIPURAM / PONDIHCERRY
Breakfast at the beach resort
In the morning leave for Pondicherry
Arrive Pondicherry at noon
If you want to visit Auroville - you can start little early from Mahabalipuram and visit Auroville on the way - may be you can have lunch there
You will not be able to visit the meditation chambers at Matri Mandir but you can go on a guided visit of the gardens
Arrive Pondicherry and check in at the hotel
In the early evening walk along the old part of the town - which was once the main administrative city for the French in India
In the evening visit Aurbindo Ashram and later walk along the beach promenade
Overnight at the hotel in Pondicherry
DAY 05 - PONDICHERRY / TANJORE
This is a very long day but also an interesting day. As there is no good place or a convenient one in-between to stay, you will be doing this in one day -though you will be visiting very interesting temples enroute
After breakfast leave around 0730 hrs
Your first stop will be at Chidambaram to visit Natraja Temple
Later drive to Gangaikondacholapuram.
Continue your drive to Tanjore with a visit to Darasuram - an excellent example of Dravidian style temple
Arrive Tanjore and check in at the hotel
Evening free
Overnight at the hotel in Tanjore
DAY 06 - TANJORE / TRICHY
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning visit Brihadeeshwara Temple - an architectural marvel built more than 1000 years ago
Later visit the Government Bronze galley at the Palace
After lunch leave for Trichy - an hours drive
Arrive Trichy and check in at the hotel
In the evening visit Rock Fort temple and the market
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Trichy
DAY 07 - TRICHY / CHETTINADU / MADURAI
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning visit Amma mandapam on the banks of river Kaveri where you can witness Hindus performing religious rituals
Later visit Sriranganthaswamy temple complex
Drive to Chettinadu - a sleepy little town
You will have an authentic Chettinadu lunch at an old mansion now turned to a hotel and you will also marvel at the architecture of Chettinadu houses - each house is furnished with expensive teaks, rose woods, Italian marbles and Belgium glasses - there are more than 1000 palatial houses in this area
Drive to Madurai
Arrive Madurai and check in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel in Madurai
DAY 08 - MADURAI / PERIYAR
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning visit Meenakshi Amman temple and palace of Tirumalai Nayak
Drive to Periyar
Arrive Periyar in the evening and check in at the hotel
Visit Kalaripattu martial arts performance at the theatre
Overnight at the hotel in Periyar
DAY 09 - PERIYAR
Early morning boat ride or trekking to the forest
Return to the hotel for breakfast
In the afternoon spend couple of hours with an elephant and later visit spices garden
Overnight at the hotel in Periyar
DAY 10 - PERIYAR / ALLEPEY
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning leave for Alleppey
On arrival at Alleppey, transfer by small boat to an island village
Check in at a guest house in the island
Later in the evening proceed on a boat ride over small canals exploring the backwater life of Kerala
Overnight at the hotel in Alleppey
DAY 11 - ALLEPEY
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning walk around the village
Check out from the guest house and check in on board the house boat
Lunch on check in
Cruise along the backwaters - it is a unique experience spending a night on the house boat cruising along the backwaters
The boat will be anchored near a village at around 1700 hrs
Walk around the village
Dinner and overnight on board the house boat
DAY 12 - ALLEPEY / COCHIN
Breakfast on board the house boat
Check out and proceed to Cochin
You will drive on the coastal road from Allepey to Cochin
Beaches near Marari are absolutely stunning and you can spend some time on the beach
Arrive Cochin and check in at the hotel
In the evening visit Kathakali arts show at the theatre
Overnight at the hotel in Cochin
DAY 13 - COCHIN
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning leave for a sight seeing tour of Cochin.
Visit Dutch Palace and Jewish Synagogue.
Later walk around Jew Town.
You can either go to a market or to a sea food shop and shop for sea food
The sea food which you will buy will be cooked at a local restaurant for dinner
In the evening walk around Chinese fishing nets
Overnight at the hotel in Cochin
DAY 14 - COCHIN / METTUPALAYAM
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning you will be transferred by a local car to Cochin railway station where you will take a train to Coimbatore.
The best way to explore India is to travel by train. You will travel in an air-conditioned coach and you will not have any baggage to worry about. Just experience the train journey talking to the local people
Arrive Coimbatore and you will be met by your driver
After lunch in the city, you will arrive Mettupalayam
In the evening walk around the market
Overnight at the hotel in Mettupalayam
DAY 15 - METTUPALAYAM / OOTY
In the morning transfer to Mettupalayam railway station
You will board the UNESCO certified 125 years old steam engine pulled toy train which will take you up on the Nilgiri hills via enchanting views of the mountain
Arrive Coonoor railway station
You will be met by the driver and a local guide who will take you on a short tour to visit the traditional mountain people
Check in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel in Ooty
DAY 16 - OOTY / MYSORE
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning leave for Mysore
Arrive Mysore and check in at the hotel
In the evening visit Devaraja fruit and vegetable market - considered to be one of the most colourful markets in India
Overnight at the hotel in Mysore
DAY 17 - MYSORE
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning at around 0800hrs proceed to Somnathpur to visit the Hoysala type temple. When you drive back to Mysore you will see a lot of activities in the villages
Arrive Mysore and after lunch visit Maharaja Palace and the museum
In the evening visit Nandhi Hills and bull temple
This evening you can dine at Lalitha Mahal Palace
Overnight at the hotel in Mysore
DAY 18 - MYSORE / HASSAN
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning leave for Hassan
On the way you will visit Saravanabelagola. You need to climb up the hills - say around 20 minutes and on the top of the hill you will see a 16 meter naked statue of Lord Gomateeshwara - also you can see the rituals performed by the Jains
Drive to Hassan and check in at the hotel
In the evening visit Belur and Halebid
Overnight at the hotel in Hassan
DAY 19 - HASSAN / HAMPI
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning leave for Hassan
In the morning leave for Hampi
You will arrive Hampi late in the afternoon
Check in at the hotel in Hampi
You have to take note that there no good accommodation available at Hampi and hence you have to stay at Hospet or in Toranagallu - suggest staying at Toranagallu as it would be easier with less traffic to reach Hampi
On arrival check in at the hotel
In the evening visit Photo museum near the hotel on Hampi sites
Overnight at the hotel in Hampi
DAY 20 - HAMPI
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning leave for Hampi
Start the tour of Hampi empire ruins by visiting the sacred part and after lunch cover the Royal part of the ruins
Wait till evening to see the sun setting on the village. You can see the sunset from one of the boulders
Return to your hotel
Overnight at the hotel in Hampi
DAY 21 - HAMPI / BADAMI
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning leave for Badami
You will drive directly to Aihole and visit the temples.
You need to carry packed lunch as there are no good restaurants in Aihole
Later visit Patadkal
Arrive Badami late in the evening
Check in at the hotel
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Badami
DAY 22 - BADAMI / GOA
Before breakfast visit Badami caves with a guide
Return to the hotel for breakfast
After breakfast you will commence a very long drive say around 08 hours to Goa
Arrive Goa and check in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel in Goa
DAY 23 - GOA
Full day free at Goa
Overnight at the hotel in Goa
DAY 24 - GOA
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning drive to old Goa - visit old Goa
You can either return to the same hotel or stay near the airport depending your departure time the next day
Overnight at the hotel in Goa
DAY 25 - GOA / MUMBAI
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to the airport in time to connect your flight to Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai and check in at the hotel
In the evening proceed on a walking tour around Fort Mumbai
Dinner at a restaurant in the area of Coloba
Overnight at the hotel in Mumbai
DAY 26 - MUMBAI
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning, take the first boat to elephanta
Return to the main land
Lunch at Britannia - a very old Parsi restaurant in Fort Mumbai
Later in the afternoon proceed on a sight seeing tour of Mumbai
Overnight at the hotel in Mumbai
DAY 27 - MUMBAI - DEPARTURE
Note - Extension to Aurangabad to visit Ajantha and Ellora can be included in this tour The tour can be shortened without the visit of Mumbai