Duration:13 Nights & 14 Days
Destination Covered: Chennai - Mahabalipuram -Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar- Cochin - Goa - Mumbai
Arrive Chennai, after your traditional 'Swagat' (Welcome) our representative would support you at the airport & to our hotel for check in.
Chennai (formerly known as Madras), is known for its cultural heritage & temple architecture. The region was served as an important administrative, military, & economic centre dating back to the 1st century.
Overnight Hotel - Chennai (B)
today you will enjoy your tour of Chennai, visiting Fort St. George, the first bastion of British power in India & built in the year 1640 AD by the British East India Company. Within the Fort we visit St. Mary's Church, built in the year 1680 & oldest Protestant Church in the East. Fort Museum has 10 galleries & displays armory, old uniforms, crockery & silverware, coins, palanquins, paintings, letters, old prints, etc. San Thome Cathedral, built in 1504, is said to house the remains of St. Thomas the Apostle.
National Art Gallery, recognized in the year 1857, is definitely one of the country's finest museums. It has sections devoted to geology, archaeology, anthropology, botany, zoology, sculpture & numismatics. Government Museum has a fine archaeological section representing all the major South Indian periods including Chola, Vijaynagar, Hoysala & Chaulakya.
Later you will drive to Mahabalipuram, town of temples, sand & sea. It is world renowned for its beautiful Shore Temple & other temples. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries) & giant open-air bas-reliefs & has been categorised as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight Hotel - Mahabalipuram (B)
Today you will enjoy your guided tour of Mahabalipuram, visiting Shore Temple, one of the oldest temples in South India.
Arjuna's Penance, world's largest bas-relief. This huge whale-back shaped rock contains figures of gods, demigods, men, beasts, & birds & in fact can be said to represent creation itself. Later you will visit Rathas, monolithic temples fashioned as chariots.
Later you will proceed for your day excursion to Kanchipuram, is one of the seven holy cities in the country. It was a city of learning for both Tamil & Sanskrit, & was believed to be visited by Hsuan Tsang.
Late you will visit Kailasanatha Temple, It is built in the typical Pallava style, with a pyramidal tower. The temple is famous for exquisite carvings & attracts devotees & tourists alike.
Next you will visit Ekambaranatha, ancient temple devoted to lord Shiva. The 57 metres high Raj Gopuram is one of the tallest towers in South India. Later we you explore the visit of Kamakshi Amman, built in 12th century AD, as an important Shakthisthalam, known as Parabrahmaroonpini.
Overnight Hotel - Mahabalipuram (B)
Today after breakfast you will drive to Tanjore, succeeded during the rule of the Nayaks & Mahrattas. It has been the treasure house of art for centuries. It is called the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu.
Later you will explore Brihadeshwara temple, also known as Big Temple, built by Rajaraja Chola I was completed around 1010 CE.
Overnight Hotel - Tanjore (B)
Today after breakfast you will proceed for Madurai, rich cultural heritage passed for more than 2500 years old & has been an important commercial centre as early as 550 AD. It is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu & was originally known as Kadambavanamor the forest of Kadamba.
En route you will stop at Trichy, which has very historic temples & monuments. We start with Srirangam Temple, surrounded by the waters of the River Kaveri on one side & its tributary Kollidam on the other. Later you will visit Rockfort most famed landmark is an 83 m high rock which is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city.
Overnight Hotel - Madurai (B)
today after breakfast you will visit to Meenakshi Sundareshwar, first built 2000 years ago & was substantially expanded between the years (1623-55 AD).
Later you will leave to Periyar, Set on an attractive lakeside, it is South India's most popular Wildlife Sanctuary. Later you will explore the sanctuary to experience the beauty & ecological pattern.
Option Tour - Spice Plantation
Overnight Hotel - Periyar (B)
Early morning when sun rises you will take a boat ride to view wildlife in the sanctuary on Lake Periyar. After two to three hours of wildlife viewing you will return back to the hotel for breakfast.
Later you will drive to Cochin always had a very popular & historical sea trade connection with Middle East, Mediterranean Europe & Dutch. Later we you will enjoy Kerala's most popular classical dance performance, Kathakali by local artist.
Overnight Hotel - Cochin (B)
Today after breakfast you will take a tour of Cochin, visiting St. Francis' Church, built in the year 1503 by Portuguese Francisan Friars & known to be the oldest European church in India. Vasco da Gama's remains were buried here in 1524 & later moved to Lisbon, Portugal. You will visit Dutch Palace, originally built by the Portuguese.
Later we visit Jew Town, synagogue, built in the year 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles & Belgian chandeliers. Chinese fishing nets, (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here.
Optional- Boat Cruise
Overnight Hotel - Cochin (B)
Today after breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Goa, once a part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BC. From 580-750 AD the Chalukyas of Badami had their sway over Goa. \
Overnight Hotel - Goa (B)
Day will be at leisure or free for personal activities.
OR
Full Day Tour
Today you may take an Optional tour of Goa, Visiting old Goa Churches; Basilica of Boom Jesus, built in 16th century dedicated to Infant Jesus is the most popular & famous of all churches in Goa. The mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, kept in a silver casket, are enshrined here. Sri Mangueas Temple, surrounded by rolling green hills & dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the most important of all temples in Goa & is located at Priol in Ponda Taluka. Dona Paula, a village named after Dona Paula de Menezes, Miramar Beach, an urban beach where the Mandovi River meets the Arabian Sea, a point that offers the best location to watch enchanting sunsets.
Overnight Hotel - Goa (B)
Day will be at Leisure or for personal activities, enjoying the golden beaches, lavish casinos & flowing spirits in Goa.
Overnight Hotel - Goa (B)
Depart Mumbai - Next Destination
Our tour concludes: India Tour Makers thanks you for your support & look forward serve you again in near future.