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HIGHLIGHTS
OF SOUTH INDIA |
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| Day 7 Madurai – Thekkady
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Morning drive to Thekkady by AC car Approximately
100 kms 3 hours.
In the afternoon enjoy a visit to Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary in Thekkady, one of the most important
National Parks in India. The sanctuary is spread
across 777 sq km, of which much is thick evergreen
forest. The splendid artificial Periyar Lake adds
to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary
in India where you can view wildlife at close
quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake.
The greatest attraction of Periyar is the herds
of wild elephants that come down to play in the
lake. Other inhabitants of Periyar include the
leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri
langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines,
squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar and
sloth bear. The latest reports suggest that there
are also approximately 40 tigers in the area.
Overnight at your Hotel
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| Day 6 Tanjore – Madurai
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Morning
drive to Madurai by AC car Approximately 170 kms
4 hours.
Afternoon visit to the Meenakshi Temple.
Situated on the banks of the river Vaigai, Madurai
is also known as the Athens of the East. Madurai,
once the seat of Tamil learning and still the
place where Tamil language is spoken in its purest
form, is planned in the shape of a lotus. An ancient
city, more than 2,500 years old, Madurai is said
to have got its name from the drops of nectar
(Mathuram) that fell from Shivas locks.
The Meenakshi Temple, which is an excellent example
of Dravidian architecture, covered from top to
bottom, in images of gods, goddesses, animals
and mythical figures. The enormous temple complex
is dedicated to Shiva, known here as his consort
Parvati or Meenakshi (the fish eyed Goddess).
Also visit Sundareswarar Temple. The high point
of the temple is the Hall of a Thousand Pillars,
was built around 1560. This hall adorned with
985 elaborately carved pillars, some of which
sound like metal when hit with an object and are
commonly referred to as the metal stone or musical
pillars.
For photography permission is required from the
main office, when the temple is open. Timings
are from 1230 to 1600 hours, only.
Overnight at your Hotel. |
| Day 5 Pondichery –
Tanjore :: |
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After Breakfast drive to Tanjore by AC car Approximately
90 kms 2 hours.
Visit the Brihadisvara temple and the Raja Chola
Art Gallery
The Brihadisvara temple, capped by a monolithic
cupola made of a single gigantic granite block
weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with
the help of a 6 km ramp, an old technique used
by the Egyptians for building Pyramids. Built
from 1003 to 1010. It is the greatest of Chola
temples, and was one of the largest structures
in the world at the time. Its thirteen-storied
tower (all temple towers in India have an odd
number of stories) is about 66m (200ft) tall.
The temple is dedicated to the worship of Shiva.
The tower is a testimony to the engineering skill
of the Chola architects who planned its construction
in such a way that the shadow of the cupola never
falls on the ground.
The Raja Raja Chola Art Gallery has some fine
pieces of stone and bronze sculptures from the
9th and 12th centuries. Over 30,000 Indian and
European manuscripts written on palm leaf and
paper are preserved in the Saraswathi Mahal Library.
Overnight at your Hotel |
| Day 4 Covelong – Pondichery
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After
Breakfast Drive to Pondichery by AC car approximately
80 kms 2 hours.
Remainder of the day at leisure to explore this
quaint old French town in India
Pondicherry still retains something of its French
flavor in its street names, policemen’s
kepis, spellings of names, and the French accent,
which shows through in the pronunciation of English
and Tamil words.
Pondicherry has a long history dating back 2000
years when it was an important Roman trading post.
Francois Martin, a Frenchman, established the
modern city of Pondicherry between 1673 and 1680
when most of the trade with France was through
this port. The French established their supremacy
in this area by waging several battles against
Dutch, the English and the Caranatic Nawabs.
Pondicherry is also the place where Sri Aurobindo,
a well known philosopher, patriot and savant established
his Ashram, which today is an important landmark
added to the itinerary of every tourist visiting
Pondicherry.
Overnight at your Hotel |
| Day 9 Thekkady – Kumarakom
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After breakfast drive to Kumarakom by AC car Approximately
170 kms 4 hours.
Remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy the famous
backwaters of Kerala
Bordered by the lofty Western Ghats on the east
and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad
on the west, Kottayam is a land of unique characteristics.
Panoramic backwater stretches, lush paddy fields,
highlands, extensive rubber plantations and a
totally literate people have given this district
the enviable title: The land of letters, latex
and lakes.
Overnight at your Hotel |
| Day 12 Backwater - Cochin
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Morning disembark the Houseboat and drive to Cochin
by AC car; Approximately 50 kms - one hour
Evening enjoy a Kathakali dance show, the mask
dance theatre which uses music, songs and mime
to enact stories.
One of the finest natural harbors on the Arabian
Sea coast, Kochi earlier known as Cochin, is the
oldest European settlement in India. Many influences
including Chinese, Arab, Jewish, British, French
& Portuguese, are contained within its environment.
Giant Chinese fishing nets that billow from massive
teak & bamboo poles dot the entrance to the
harbor. Kochi’s cosmopolitan character is
reflected in the buildings & structures representing
different regions of the world. A city of peninsulas
& islands, today Kochi is Kerelas commercial
hub |
| Day 13 Cochin - Periyar
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After a leisurely breakfast enjoy a morning sightseeing
tour of Cochin
Remainder of the day at leisure
Visit the Dutch Palace originally built by the
Portuguese, which houses a fine collection of
mural paintings. Near the Dutch Palace is the
Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568 & magnificently
decorated with Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers.
Visit the St. Francis Church, which is the oldest
church, built by Europeans in India. On his 3rd
visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portugese
trader, fell ill and died in Kochi; He was buried
in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were
taken back to Portugal.
See the Chinese Fishing nets that line the tip
of Fort Cochin & are the only ones of their
kind in India. It is believed that traders from
the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced
these nets here. Finally visit the Hill Palace
Museum (closed on Mondays), which displays articles
of archeological importance.
Overnight
at your Hotel |
| Day 1 London – Chennai
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Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Take an afternoon city tour of Chennai. Visit
the Government Museum and Art Gallery, which
has an interesting archaeological section and
a bronze gallery (Closed on public holidays).
Drive through the Flower & Fruit Market;
visit the Fort St. George, which once served
as the very first bastion of the East India
Company, Now it houses the Secretariat and the
Legislative Assembly. The 46 meter high flagstaff,
that adorns the front of the structure, is actually
a mast salvaged from a 17th century shipwreck.
The Fort Museum has a remarkable collection
of rare exhibits of weapons, uniforms, coins,
costumes, medals and some other artifacts dating
back to the days of the Raj. Within the Fort
complex, is also the oldest Anglican Church
in India, St Marys Church, built in 1678-1680.
It also happens to be the oldest surviving British
construction.
Drive along the Marina Beach, (which is the
second longest beach in the world and runs to
a length of 12 km.) to visit San Thome Cathedral,
which is said to contain the remains of St.
Thomas the Apostle (Doubting Thomas).
Overnight at your Hotel
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| PRICE:: |
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Highlights
of South India (13 nights/14 days )
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Chennai
– Covelong – Pondicherry –
Tanjore – Madurai – Periyar
– Kumarakom – Allepey - Cochin |
Tour
Price |
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3
Star |
4
Star |
5
Star |
| 01 Nov – 30 Nov 06 |
GBP £ 1179 |
GBP £ 1339 |
GBP £ 1499 |
Accommodation
Details |
| Chennai |
Radha Park Inn |
Trident Hilton |
Taj Connemara |
| Covelong |
Fisherman’s
Cove |
Fisherman’s
Cove |
Fisherman’s
Cove |
| Pondicherry |
De L’Orient |
Promenade |
Le Duplex Park Plaza |
| Tanjore |
Ideal River View |
Oriental Towers |
Oriental Towers |
| Madurai |
Madura Park Inn |
Fortune Pandian |
Taj Garden Retreat |
| Periyar |
Tree Top |
Cardamom County |
Spice Village |
| Kumarakom |
Abad Whispering Palms |
Taj Garden Retreat |
Coconut Lagoon |
| Allepey |
On Board Houseboat |
On Board Houseboat |
On Board Houseboat |
| Cochin |
Gokulam Park Inn |
Casino |
Brunton Boatyard |
Price
Includes
- All prices are per person.
- International Flights and All Taxes.
- Featured hotels, on twin sharing room
with daily breakfast using base category
rooms.
- Highlights of the tour are: stay at
Fisherman’s Cove, Covelong –
a beautiful beach view resort, visit
to Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, visit
to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary with a
naturalist, overnight stay at houseboat
in Allepey – meals included, visit
to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, boat-cruise
to visit Chinese Fishing Nets in Cochin.
- All surface transfers, sightseeing
and excursions by an exclusive air-conditioned
car as per the itinerary.
- Sightseeing by English speaking local
guides and monument fees, as per itinerary.
- Hotel extensions and other programs
can be added on request at extra cost.
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TOUR
PRICES |
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This tour offers a panorama of
Southern India taking you on a fascinating journey from
coast to coast, covering the highlights across Tamilnadu
and into Kerela
Day 1 London – Chennai
Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Take an afternoon city tour of Chennai. Visit the Government
Museum
and Art Gallery, which has an interesting archaeological
section
and a bronze gallery (Closed on public holidays).
Overnight at your Hotel
(More Info)
Day 2 Chennai – Kanchipuram – Covelong
After Breakfast drive to Covelong by AC car approximately
80 kms 2 hrs.
En-route visiting Kanchipuram and visit the golden city
famous
for its temples and Silk Sarees. Afternoon at leisure
at Covelong beach.
Overnight at your Hotel
Day 3 Covelong
Morning excursion to Mahabalipuram’s important rock-cut
temples and bas-reliefs showing the ancient style of Indian
worship.
Afternoon at leisure at Covelong beach.
Overnight at your Hotel.
Day 4 Covelong – Pondichery
After Breakfast Drive to Pondichery by AC car
approximately 80 kms 2 hours.Remainder of the day at leisure
to
explore this quaint old French town in India.
Overnight at your Hotel
(More
Info)
Day 5 Pondichery – Tanjore
After Breakfast drive to Tanjore by AC car
Approximately 90 kms 2 hours.
Visit the Brihadisvara temple and the Raja Chola Art Gallery
The Brihadisvara temple, capped by a monolithic cupola
made
of a single gigantic granite block weighing 80 tons which
was taken
to the top with the help of a 6 km ramp, an old technique
used
by the Egyptians for building Pyramids. Built from 1003
to 1010.
Overnight at your Hotel
(More
Info)
Day 6 Tanjore – Madurai
Morning drive to Madurai by AC car Approximately 170 kms
4 hours.
Afternoon visit to the Meenakshi Temple
Overnight at your Hotel
(More
Info)
Day 7 Madurai – Thekkady
Morning drive to Thekkady by AC car
Approximately 100 kms 3 hours.
In the afternoon enjoy a visit to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
in Thekkady, one of the most important National Parks
in India.
Overnight at your Hotel
(More
Info)
Day 8 Thekkady
Day at leisure to explore the plantations surrounding
the beautiful spice centre.
Overnight at your Hotel
Day 9 Thekkady – Kumarakom
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom by AC car
Approximately 170 kms 4 hours. Remainder of the day at
leisure
to enjoy the famous backwaters of Kerala
(More
Info)
Day 10 Kumarakom
In the morning take a walking tour of the Kumarakom Bird
Sanctuary, situated on the banks of the Vembanand Lake
is known for its varied avian population. Local varieties
such
as waterfowls, cuckoos and owls, as well as the migratory
Siberian Cranes can be viewed here. The sanctuary is
open 10 AM to 6 PM.
Overnight at your Hotel
Day 11 Kumarakom - Houseboat
In the morning transfer to board the Houseboat (Kettuvalam)
for the overnight stay and cruise on the backwaters of
Kerala.
The Backwaters are a maze of bridge and canals set in
a labyrinth of backwater channels laced with endless stretches
of lakes and lagoons.
Over 900 km of this intricate network is navigable.
This is the best place to explore the unspoilt countryside
of Kerala.
Overnight at your Hotel
Day 12 Backwater - Cochin
Morning disembark the Houseboat and drive to
Cochin by AC car; Approximately 50 kms - one hour
Evening enjoy a Kathakali dance show, the mask dance
theatre which uses music, songs and mime to enact stories.
Overnight at your Hotel
(More
Info)
Day 13 Cochin
After a leisurely breakfast enjoy a morning sightseeing
tour of Cochin
Remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight at your Hotel
(More Info)
Day 14 Cochin
After a leisurely breakfast enjoy a morning sightseeing
tour of Cochin
Remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight at your Hotel |
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