Day 1
Arrive in Chennai. Transfer to hotel and relax for rest of the day
Hotel – Chennai
Day 2
Full day guided Chennai sightseeing
Hotel – Chennai
Day 3
Visit World Heritage site of Mahabalipuram with a local guide, who will help interpret the architecture and religious mythology of this site.
Drive south to Pondicherry
Hotel – Pondicherry
Day 4
Full day guided tour of Pondicherry
Hotel – Pondicherry
Day 5
An early morning start (around 0900), driving south to Thanjavur, stopping at World Heritage Chola Temples enroute. These grand temples were built in the 11-12th centuries by the great Chola kings. The temples testify to the brilliant achievements of the Cholas in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.
The first stop will be Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the ‘City of the Chola who conquered the Ganges’ where you’ll visit the 1000 yr old Brihadishvara Temple (with local guide).
The nearby small town of Kumbakonam has several Chola temples including the Nageshvara Temple which has some of the finest early Chola sculptures. You can explore these independently.
A little further south at Darasuram, the Airavateshvara temple, a late Chola masterpiece is the second World Heritage Site. (A local guide will accompany you here)
Hotel – Thanjavur
Day 6
Full day guided city tour of Thanjavur including temples and monuments
The city of Thanjavur is dominated by the Brihadishvara temple of Thanjavur, not to be confused with the equally grand temple of the same name visited the day before. This is the third of the ‘Great Living Chola Temples’ World Heritage Sites.
The vast compound is entered via one of South India’ earliest monumental tower gates (gopurams).
Visit a local workshop to observe bronze making and glass painting.
If you have time, you can visit the museum in the Thanjavur Palace, which houses a fine collection of Chola sculpture, including bronzes.
Hotel – Thanjavur
Day 7
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to Chettinad, a region famous for its aromatic and spicy cuisine, and its unique architectural style.
After checking into your 120yr old heritage hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps take a evening walk near the hotel.
Hotel – Chettinad
Day 8
This morning, along with your guide, you will visit some of the famed mansions of the region, including Athangudi Palace, an ornately built mansion house with lavish interiors.
One of the specialities of the Chettinad region is the art of making tiles. The process is totally manual, and having lost ground to factory made tiles for a while, the traditional tiles are making a comeback with eco-conscious designers.
Visit the Athangudi Tile Factory where you can see local artisans use traditional techniques and tools to create tiles.
Hotel – Chettinad
Day 9
After breakfast, drive to Madurai, considered by many to be the archetypal South Indian Temple town. A local guide will give you a tour of the city today.
The vast 17th century Meenakshi Temple complex has towering gateways covered with religious figures in spectacular colours. Although non-Hindus are not allowed within the sanctum, there is plenty to admire from the outer areas.
Your next stop is hardly a stone’s throw away from the Meenakshi temple, the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a mix of architectural styles – Italian, Indo-Saracenic and Gothic.
If time permits, Madurai is a good place to shop for handicrafts including wood, brass and stone curios. The Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium is especially recommended.
Enjoy the dusk/night prayer ceremony at Meenakshi temple with your guide to end your day and return to the hotel to relax.
Hotel – Madurai
Day 10
After breakfast, drive from Madurai to Periyar Tiger Reserve (4 hrs), which is surrounded by lush rolling hills, where the British introduced tea and spice plantations.
Check in at your hotel and enjoy lunch. The afternoon is at leisure to explore locally or relax.
At night, embark on a night patrol with a forest guide from the local community for a safe and unique way to explore the forests. Gaur and deer are often spotted resting, smaller mammals and birds can be seen – the guides will carry torches.
Hotel – Periyar
Day 11
This morning, embark on a very special half-day expedition into the wilds of Periyar – a combination of walking and bamboo rafting will immerse you in the pristine rain forest at close quarters. The rain forests at Periyar are some of the densest in India. Gaur, sloth bear and elephants are often sighted apart from birds and butterflies. You’ll be accompanied by guides and forest guards to ensure safety and comfort.
Drive to Munnar (3 hrs). Check into your hotel.
Hotel – Munnar
Day 12
Explore Eravikulam National Park – looking for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and other wildlife.
Hotel – Munnar
Day 13
Explore Munnar – there are opportunities to hike through tea estates, visit the tea factory/museum, spice plantations and the local market to shop for tea/spices to bring home.
Drive to Cochin (4 hrs). Check into your heritage hotel, situated right at the heart of the historic Fort Cochin.
Rest of the day is at leisure to explore or relax.
Hotel – Cochin
Day 14
Enjoy a full day guided tour of Fort Cochin after breakfast.
Visit the Old Jew town, with the Jewish Synagogue at its heart. Explore old churches, colonial remnants of fortifications, and the Dutch Palace with its beautiful mural paintings from the 17th century.
Late evening we go to watch the famous classical Indian dance-drama Kathakali in dance centre to enjoy the Kathakali dance show followed by dinner.
Kathakali is a stylized classical Indian dance noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movement presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion.
Hotel – Cochin
Day 15
Day trip to Vaikom Village
Reception will be arranged in a traditional house and further enjoy the lifestyle of the villagers and village backwater cruise through narrow canals for 3 hours with a local guide.
En-route visit coconut farms, Coir villages, spices and herbal farms, bird watching and other village activities.
Since there are no industries here, the village is free from all types of pollution. The main occupation of the villagers is making ropes with coconut fiber, mat weaving with leaves of wild-pineapple, pottery, traditional coconut processing, collecting sand from riverbed, fishing, farming, etc.
The cruise will bet through the narrow canals of 4 feet in depth and the boat passes through coconut palm groves like a canopy, providing a cool atmosphere. We conclude this excursion by enjoying a ‘Sadya’ -solemn lunch served during Kerala’s regional festival ONAM and Hindu marriage functions.
This is served on banana leaves with different curries.
Return from Vaikom village to Cochin.
In the evening, explore the vibrant Fort Cochin streets around your hotel, or relax.
Hotel – Cochin
Day 16
After a leisurely breakfast, around 1000 drive to Alleppey (1.5 hrs) – embark on your one-bedroom luxury Rice boat for an overnight cruise on the famed Kerala backwaters of Lake Vembanad.
The cruise takes you through narrow canals where you can watch life of the backwater people go by women pound their washing, families work in the fields, ducks being reared, men collecting shells for making local ‘cement’ or linger at the local ‘chai’ shop, and canoes and ferry boats.
Hotel – Houseboat
Day 17
After breakfast on your boat, upon disembarking, your vehicle will drop you to Marari Beach (0.5 hr). Check into your beachfront resort and enjoy the beach for the rest of the day.
Hotel – Marari
Day 18
Marari Beach at leisure all day.
Hotel – Marari
Day 19
Marari Beach at leisure all day
Hotel – Marari
Day 20
Departure from Cochin Airport
