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ne more India exists south of Vindhyachal
range. Here, paddy fields sweep the horizon and spices grow like wild bushes. Temples are bigger than towns and music plays in every home. Cinestars are revered as
demi-gods and appreciating fine arts is the way of living. This too is India, just one more India. And this is one truly complete tour of South India.
- Day 01: Bombay (Mumbai): Arrive at the commercial capital of India and check in. Rest of the day free for leisure.
- Day 02: Bombay: Half day trip to Elephanta cave island for astonishing ancient sculptures. Later during the day visit notable attractions of the city which includes Dhobi Ghat, Crawford market, Marine drive and old mansions of Colaba area.
- Day 03: Kochi: Take flight to Kochi. On arrival after leisure in your hotel proceed for a short
sightseeing tour of this heritage town. Visit the Mattancherry palace, Jewish synagogue, Jew town, old
spice markets, St. Francis church, Santa Cruz Basilica and
Chinese fishing nets.
- Day 0
4: Houseboat: Transfer to Alleppey by road. Board your exclusive houseboat that will quietly sail through the
backwater canals all day and night, a tropical sojourn not to be missed!
- Day 05: Kumarakom: Alight your houseboat and check in your resort at Kumarakom. Kumarakom is an island with a beautiful bird-sanctuary and extremely serene atmosphere. Stay at Taj Garden Retreat - a wonderful resort providing restored tharawads as idyllic rooms.
- Day 06: Periyar: Drive uphill through beautiful spice plantations and finally reach
Periyar National Park - One of the best jungles in India to see wild
elephants. Day free to explore on own.
- D
ay 07: Periyar: Visit the National Park on boat over Periyar lake where several wild animals congregate at different times.
- Day 08: Madurai: Drive out of Kerala hills and reach Tamilnadu plains-
the Dravidian heartland. Visit the Thirumal Nayaka Palace and the Dravidian masterpiece
Meenakshi Sundereshwar temple which makes the city of Madurai so famous and pulsate with festivities.
- Day 09: Thanjavur: Driving down to fertile rice growing plains of Cauvery reach Tiruchirapally. Nearby visit the enormous
Srirangam temple and then continue to the Chola citadel of Tanjore. Visit the World heritage
Bri
hadishvara temple- simply unparalleled!
- Day 10: Pondicherry: Reach the erstwhile French colony Pondicherry of beautiful boulevards, gothic structures and quiet beaches. Day free to relax and unwind.
- Day 11: Pondicherry: Morning head out for boat trips to see
dolphins. During the day visit Auroville (city of dawn) - the famous center for spiritual
learning and meditation named after Guru Sri Aurobindo
Ghosh.
- Day 12: Mahabalipuram: Driving through fertile Coromondal coastline, reach
Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram (Mammalapuram) is famous for it’s
shore temples and other monuments which are in a form of epic recreated on stone.
- Day 13: Chennai: Morning walk over the seashore and explore the temples on own. Later drive towards Chennai and enroute
visit
Dakshinchitra- an art and craft heritage center. Da
y free to move around in Chennai for the enormous shopping opportunity it offers. Also visit one of the many famous
auditoriums for live performance of Indian classical dances.
- Day 14: Chennai: Sightseeing trip of the city. Also visit Kalakshetra, the world famous cultural center founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale and Theosophical society with its huge
Banyan tree (Theosophical society of India was founded by Dr.Annie Besant).
- Day 15: Bangalore: Board the morning Shatabdi Express train to Bangalore and reach there by noon. At Bangalore visit Cubbon Park, Lal Baug and interesting public
bui
ldings within Cubbon
Park.
- Day 16: Bangalore: Excursion to Nrityagram- a center for learning of Indian classical dances set up by noted
Odissi dancer Protima Bedi. Rest of day left free to move around at M.G.Road area. Board the overnight Hampi Express.
- Day 17: Hampi: Reach Hospet railway Station in the morning. Visit
Hampi that has extraordinary remnants of once great city
Vijayanagara. The sheer size and majestic appearance of this historical site is amazing! Day free to explore around the great monuments that dot the
whole area.
- Day 18: Hampi: In the morning take a walking tour of the Hampi bazaar and temples. Cross the picturesque
Tungabhadra River on a primitively designed corracle- a very different experience!
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Day 19: Goa: Drive towards India’s western coastline and reach Goa- the exotic
tropical beach destination.
Day free to walk around the beaches.
- Day 20: Goa: Sightseeing tour of Old Goa and Panjim for beautiful
churches and cathedrals.
Mandovi River cruise.
- Day 21: Goa: Day completely at discretion in the tropical paradise known as Goa.
- Day 22: Mumbai: Fly back to Mumbai. After checking in, day kept at discretion to indulge in last day’s shopping or to enjoy the pulsating nightlife of Bombay.
- Day 23: Departure: Day free till the time of departure. At appropriate time, transfer to airport to catch the flight back home.
Tour ends.
| Proposed Hotels: | | Mumbai | Sahara Star | | Kochi | Casino | | Kumarakom | Coconut Lagoons | | Periyar | Taj Garden Retreat | | Madurai | Sangam | | Thanjavur | Ideal River View Resort | | Pondicherry | De L'Orient | | Chennai | Green Park | | Bangalore | Taj Residency | | Hampi | Boulders Resort | | Goa | Taj Holiday Village | Tour Price per person: | | Basic cost | US$ 5,276 | |
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