Best
of South India Tour
Places to Visit: Mumbai
- Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Madurai - Trivandrum - Alleppey
- Houseboat - Kumarakom - Cochin
Duration: 12 Nights/ 13 Days
Day 01 : Arrival Mumbai Morning Free , can walk around the local markets.
Late afternoon departure transfer to Airport to fly Mumbai, on arrival at Mumbai
transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02 : Mumbai – Chennai
Morning after Breakfast tour of Mumbai city including an excursion to Elephant
Island. Late afternoon departure to Airport to fly Chennai ( Madras ) .Arrive
Madras. Transfer to Hotel. Overnight Chennai (Madras).
Day 03 : Chennai
-- Mahabalipuram After breakfast leave for city tour of Madras. Later
drive to Kanchipuram. Visit Kanchipuram, the golden city was one of the seven
sacred cities of India and once had 1000 temples. Now only 200 remain.. Proceed
to Mahabalipuram. On arrival check-in hotel for overnight stay.
Day
04 : Mahabalipuram After breakfast visit Mahabalipuram, also known as
the seven Pagodas. The important monuments to be seen are the five Rathas, the
bas-relief on a huge rock popularly known as the Arjuna's penance. Evening free
to relax on the beach. Overnight in hotel.
Day 05 : Mahabalipuram
-- Pondicherry After breakfast drive to Pondicherry (168 kms / 4 hrs approx).
On arrival check-in hotel. Later sight-seeing of Pondicherry. Overnight in hotel.
Day 06 : Pondicherry -- Tanjore After breakfast drive to Tanjore
(177 kms / 5 hrs approx). Afternoon visit the famous 11th century Brihadeswara
temple and the saraswati library which has some rare collection of books and manuscripts.
Day
07 : Tanjore -- Madurai Morning after breakfast sight seeing of remaining
Tanjore , later on drive to Madurai, on arrival check inn at hotel. Overnight
stay at Madurai.
Day 08 : Madurai Morning visit the great
Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams
(rising high above the surrounding country side). Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak
Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco
work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran
Rock temple. Afternoon free. Overnight Madurai.
Day 09 : Madurai -
Trivandrum After breakfast we travel from Madurai to Trivandrum, in Kerala,
India, by road. The distance of 264 km, is covered in around 6 hours. Arrive in
Trivandrum and check in at the hotel where you will stay overnight.
Day
10 : Trivandrum - Alleppey - Houseboat After breakfast, start a tour of
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) visiting the Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, Napier
Museum, Chitralayam Arts Gallery, Zoological gardens, Reptile house, Observatory
and Kanakakunnu Palace. Travel to Alleppey, in Kerala, India, by road. The distance
of 200 km, is covered in around 5 hours. Arrive in Alleppey and board a houseboat
for a backwater cruise. Stay overnight on the houseboat.
Day 11 :
Houseboat / Kumarakom / Cochin Arrive Kumarakom in the morning, Morning
free to explore Kumarakom . Later on drive l to Cochin through the heartland of
South Kerala, Arrive in Cochin and check into the hotel. Enjoy a sunset cruise
in Cochin harbor. Enjoy Kathakali Dance show in the evening . Stay overnight at
Cochin.
Day
12 : Cochin Morning tour of Cochin. Cochin is the natural harbour created
by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the rougher
the seas are outside the calmer the waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama
placed it on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, mosques
& Hindu temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Afternoon free. Overnight
Cochin.
Day 13 : Cochin - Departure. Breakfast at hotel. Later
on departure to Airport for onward destination.
Suggested Hotels :
| Day | Place | Hotel | Category | Web
Site |
| 01 | Mumbai | Q.I. Parle Int. | 4
Star | www.choicehotels.com |
| 02 | Chennai | C.I.
Marina Tower | 3 Star | www.choicehotels.com |
| 03 | Mahabalipuram | Q.I.
MGM Resort | 4 Star | www.choicehotels.com |
| 04 | Mahabalipuram | Q.I.
MGM Resort | 4 Star | www.choicehotels.com |
| 05 | Pondicherry | Anandha
Inn | 3 Star | www.anandhainn.com |
| 06 | Tanjore | Hotel
Parisutham | 3 Star | www.hotelparisutham.com |
| 07 | Madurai | BW
Germanus | 3 Star | www.bestwesterngermanus.com |
| 08 | Madurai | BW
Germanus | 3 Star | www.bestwesterngermanus.com |
| 09 | Trivandrum | BW
Swagath Resort | 3 Star | www.swagathresorts.com |
| 10 | House
Boat | Through Local Agent | Deluxe | N/A |
| 11 | Cochin | BW
Avenue Regent | 3 Star | www.avenueregent.com |
| 12 | Cochin | BW
Avenue Regent | 3 Star | www.avenueregent.com |
Travel Plan :-
| From | To | By | Time
Period |
| Mumbai | Chennai | By Air | 1
hour 45 minutes |
| Chennai | Mahabalipuram | Surface | 2
hours :30 minutes |
| Mahabalipuram | Pondicherry | Surface | 4
hours |
| Pondicherry | Tanjore | Surface | 5
hours |
| Tanjore | Madurai | Surface | 6 hours |
| Madurai | Trivandrum | Surface | 7 hours |
| Trivandrum | Alleppey | Surface | 4 hours |
| Kumarakom | Cochin | Surface | 3 hours |
