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13 nights: Highlights of South
India
Day
1: London – Chennai
Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Take an afternoon city tour of Chennai visiting 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).
Chennai – Kanchipuram – Covelong 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.
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.
Drive to Tanjore by AC car Approximately 90 kms 2 hrs.
In the late afternoon visit 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.
Day 6: Tanjore – Madurai Drive
to Madurai by AC car Approximately 170 kms 4 hrs
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.
In the afternoon visit 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.
Drive to Madurai by AC car Approximately 100 kms 3 hrs.
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.
Drive to Madurai by AC car Approximately 170 kms 4 hrs.
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.
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.
In the morning drive backwaters to board the Houseboat (Kettuvalam)
for the overnight stay on board 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 on Houseboat.
Day
12: Backwater - Cochin
Morning disembarks the Houseboat and drive to Cochin by AC car;
Approximately 50 kms - one hrs.
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.
Evening witness the Kathakali dance show - the mask dance theatre
which uses music, songs and mime to enact stories.
Morning sightseeing tour of Cochin includes a visit to 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.
Day
1: London – Chennai
Drive
to Madurai by AC car Approximately 170 kms 4 hrs
Drive to Madurai by AC car Approximately 100 kms 3 hrs.
Day
9: Periyar – Kumarakum
Day
11: Kumarakum - Backwaters 
Day
12: Backwater - Cochin 
Day
13: Cochin
