Chennai / Day 1

Arrive in Chennai, asn erstwhile trading port at Fort St. George, near the village of Madraspatnam, from where the city got its first name, Madras. Now, it is one of the leading metros of India.

Chennai and Kanchipuram / Day 2

Drive to the outskirts to a small temple town called Kanchipuram, for the Ekambaranathar temple Brahmotsavam, a 14 day festival. Scores of devotees throng the streets to pull the vadam or the temple chariot. The 63 feet high chariot has four iron framed wheels worth Rs.1.35 crore.

Visit the following temples in the town; Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kailasnath Temple, Sri Ekambarnath Temple. Also see some of the weaving centres of the town, where the famous silk saris are produced.

Overnight in Chennai.

Chennai and Kanchipuram / Day 3 - 4

Drive again to Kanchipuram for another day of the festival. Take your time to take photographs and interact with the locals.

Overnight in Chennai.

Spend the morning in the Mylapore area of the city, where the famous Arupathimoovar festival is conducted. The term Arubathimoovar refers to the 63 saints of Lord Shiva who surrendered their lives to complete devotion and penance.

Visit the Kapaleeshwar Temple which is home to bronze figures of these 63 saints. The temple is exemplary of Dravidian style of architecture with an enormous and intricately designed gopuram. The festival attracts millions of devotees from far and wide. During the months of March and April, the bronze idols are carried in a colorful procession along the streets of Mylapore.

Overnight in Chennai.

Madurai / Day 5 - 7

Spend some time at the festival again before taking a flight to the city of Madurai. Overnight in Madurai. Another festival awaits on this day. Enjoy the Palani Car Festival, where thousands of devotees from various places in and around the district come together. Amid chanting of holy hymns and singing of Thevaram songs, hundreds of devotees pull the car from its base at 4.30 p.m The temple elephant pushes the car from behind for smooth passage on the concrete road. Here lies many photo opportunities. Overnight in Madurai. Keep this day for visiting the two main sights of the town; Meenakshi Temple and Tirumalai Nayak Mahal. The Meenakshi Temple is nearly 2000 years old placed in the heart of the old town - a splendid example of Dravidian architecture. The present temple was designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak and subsequently built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak. There are four entrances to the temple with an area of six hectares. Each of its 12 towers has the height of 45 to 50 meters. Tirumalai Nayak Mahal is an Indo-Saracenic building that was constructed in 1523 and was originally four times larger. The Sound and light show on the life of the Tirumalai Nayak and the story of the Silapathikaram are conduced daily. In the evening visit the Meenakshi Temple to attend the evening ceremony known as the ‘bedtime of the God’. A colourful procession, in which the image of Shiva is carried, accompanied by musicians, temple singers and priests from his shrine to his consort, Parvati’s. Overnight in Madurai.

Madurai and Chettinadu / Day 8

Drive to Chettinadu, a region which includes Karaikudi and 74 other villages in southern Tamil Nadu state. Karaikudi is known as the capital of Chettinadu. Chettinadu is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiars, a prosperous banking and business community, many of whose members migrated to South and Southeast Asia in the 19th centuary. Chettinadu is famous for culinary delicacies, Chettinadu mansions which are rich in cultural heritage, art and architecture, antique shopping and also famous for temples originally built by early Tamil dynasties like the Cholas.

Sightseeing include visit to Chettinadu palace, Tirumayam fort, Chettinadu Museum, visit to near by temples like Kunakudi, Nemam, and Pillayarpetti, visit to the weekly Chettinadu Shandy, the local market and a shopping trip to Karaikudi where antiques, Chettinadu sarees and silver wear is sold.

Overnight in Madurai.

Madurai / Day 9

This day is reserved for another temple immersion. Thiruparankundram Temple ranks next to Meenakshi Temple in sanctity and religious significance. While the Meenakshi Amman Temple is at the heart of Madurai, Thirupparankundram Temple is located 8 kms from the city center. One of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya, also known as Lord Muruga (son of Lord Shiva), Thiruparankundram is a rock-cut temple thronged by devotees all round the year.

Madurai and Periyar / Day 10

This day is used to drive to the adjoining state of Kerala, to a place called Periyar, famous for the namesake national park. Periyar National Park is situated in the hills of the Western Ghats. The centre piece of Periyar National park is the 5,500-hectare Periyar lake formed by the construction of a dam on the Periyar river in 1895. The dam submerged low-lying forest whose dead tree trunks still jut out of the waters. Along the fringes of the lake are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the richest habitats of large mammals, as it provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses.

Arrive Periyar and transfer to the Hotel.

Later visit a spice plantation. You will walk through the aromatic spice gardens where the air is laden with fragrance.

Overnight in Periyar.

Periyar and Alleppey / Day 11

Enjoy a boat ride in the Periyar National Park in the morning and then drive to the backwater haven of Alleppey. Here board a house-boat (Kettuvallom) for a day and night of cruising through the network of canals. The boats played a major role in the economic development of ancient Kerala, moving cargo and men from the every nook and corner of otherwise unreachable areas, cutting across the length and breadth of the land. These backwaters are unique to Kerala, and found nowhere else in the world. You will sail past thatched houseboats with modern conveniences in the waterways and canals. Today the canals connect villages in a self-supporting ecosystem teeming with aquatic life.

Dinner and overnight on houseboat.

Alleppey and Cochin / Day 12

After breakfast on board the jetty, drive to Cochin and transfer to the hotel. Cochin or Kochi, as it is called now, is till date influenced by medieval Portugal, Holland and England. The city displays a blend of different people and architecture and it is one place where you can see a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, Dutch architecture, Mosques, Hindu Temples and Chinese fishing nets.

The rest of the day is spent in sightseeing, walking through the atmospheric lanes of this small town and stopping by for a rich cup of coffee to take a break.

In the evening, enthrall yourself with a special presentation of the colorfully costumed Kathakali Dance Drama. This mask dance form is originally from Kerala and 1500 years old. This classical dance has 24 mudras expressing the nine emotions of serenity, wonder, kindness, love, velour, fear, contempt, loathing and anger. It is usually performed by males.

Overnight in Cochin.

Cochin and Mararikulam / Day 13 - 15

For the next three days relax in the beachside village of Mararikualm, enjoying village walks, local cuisine and Ayurvedic massages.

Cochin / Day 16

Flight back.