South India Program

Embark on South India Tours and Experience the extreme blond beaches and the enchanting backwaters of Kerala are well-known the worldwide for their convenience, rejuvenating, soothing and geniality. South India Tour Packages offer vacationers and tourists many exciting tourism options in southern region of India as it covers the most exhilarating tourist attractions and highlights the optimum and greatest assortments of southern region of India.

One of the Southern regions of India, Kerala is also famous as God’s Own County, has come up with a status as largest tourist destiny for the last couple of years because of its unmatched beauty, enthralling backwaters, gorgeous beaches along with the canopies of coconuts, lagoons, the shimmering waters, sanctuaries, canals, captivating hills, customs and its rich culture.

Proceed for sightseeing circuit of Fort Cochin, is based an ancient history of marine trade. Cochin comes under one of the finest natural ports in India. South India Tour offers you to visit the St. Francis Church, the Mattancherry Palace or “Dutch Palace”, Jew City with the Jewish Synagogue
After seeing all these numerous wonders of Southern region of India, South India Tours will take you to the Periyar National Park, a unique wildlife sanctuary and this tour gives you the golden opportunity to experience a bamboo rafting excursion in the river Periyar running through the National Park.

On the other hand South India Tours will also take you to a magnificent ritual tank of water called Mariamma with its temple in the middle, and also visit the Bridhadisvara temple in Tanjore which is tallest in India. South India Tour will remain engraved by visiting some of these enthralling places of south India. A large number of tourists and vacationers visit to south India for most incredible holidays of their life.

Program

Day 01 Cochin
Arrival in Cochin. On arrival meet and greet at the airport by our representative and transfer to your hotel.

Cochin has been variously hailed as Queen of the Arabian Sea, Venice of Orient, etc. Some choose to call it simply a museum city for its rich past and colorful present.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 02 Cochin
After breakfast sightseeing of Cochin, a city till today influenced by medieval Portugal, Holland and England. You visit St. Francis Church, the Mattancherry Palace or “Dutch Palace” (closed on Fridays). And the amazing Chinese fishing nets. You also see the Jew City with the Jewish Synagogue (closed on Fridays and Saturdays), constructed in 1568, with hand-painted, willow-pattern floor tiles brought from Canton in the mid-18th century by a Rabbi, who had trading interest in that city.

In the evening enthrall yourself with a special presentation of the colourfully costumed Kathakali Dance Drama in a local theatre.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 03 Cochin - Backwaters (surface - 65 kms / 1 hrs - 30 mins)
After breakfast drive to the jetty to board House boat (Kettuvallom) on the World famous Backwaters of Kerala.

"Kettu" literally means to tie up and "Vallom" means " boats". The boats played a major role in the economic development of ancient Kerala, moving cargo and men from the very nook and corner of otherwise unreachable area, cutting across the length and breadth of the land.

Enjoy your overnight stay in Kettuvallom.

Day 04  Backwaters - Periyar (surface - 120 kms / 3 hrs - 30 mins)
After breakfast on the rice boat (Kettuvallom) get down at Kumarakom and drive to Periyar National Park, which is a unique wildlife sanctuary and is about 780 sq. km centered around an artificial lake fed by the Periyar River. On arrival check in at the hotel.

In the evening, enjoy the visit to Spice Plantation.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 05  Periyar - Madurai ( surface - 160 kms / 4 hrs - 30 mins)
Today morning, visit elephant junction for the activities of 30 minutes elephant ride, elephant feeding, elephant-bathing. Later trek for an hour in the cardamom hills.

Later drive to Madurai.

Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamilnadu with the Dravidian culture reached its zenith in art, architecture, palaces and temple buildings. Once the capital of powerful Nayaka kings, a bustling city packed with pilgrims, businessmen, bullock carts and legions of rickshaw pullers.

On arrival transfer to the Hotel.

Day 06 Madurai
After breakfast visit the city that offers a grand ceremonial tank of water called Mariamma with its temple in the middle.

Also visit the famous Meenakshi Temple that is an outstanding example of Vijaynagar temple architecture.

Visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a palace in Indo Saracenic style built in 1636, with huge domes and 240 columns rising to 12 m, a beautiful garden and an attached museum.

In the evening, again visit Meenakshi temple to watch the night ceremony, which is a hive of activity, colorfully decorated temple elephant, flower sellers and performances by musicians.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 07  Madurai - Trichy (surface - 130 kms / 4 hrs )
After breakfast drive to Trichy. En-route visit Brihadisvara Temple in Tanjore, which is the Jewel of South India, built in 9th century. The magnificent main temple has a 62 meter high vimana (tallest in India), which is topped by dome carved from an 80 ton lock of granite. A 6.5-km long wooden ramp was built to climb it. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Proceed to Trichy, Check in at the hotel.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 08  Trichy - Mahabalipuram (by surface: aprox 270 Kms / 07 hrs)

 After breakfast visit the Rock Fort. On the way to Mahabalipuram visit Srirangam, the big temple city, which lies on an island on the Kaveri. After sightseeing drive to Mahabalipuram. Check in at the hotel.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 09  Mahabalipuram

After breakfast sightseeing of the magnificent rock temples and carvings. Visit Five Rathas, the Shore Temple & Bhagiratha’s Penance.

Rest of the day is free on beach.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 10   Mahabalipuram - Chennai (surface - 60 kms / 1 hr - 30 mins)

After breakfast drive to Chennai

In Chennai visit Kapaleshvara Temple dedicated to God Shiva and offers a good example of South Indian colourful temple architecture. Fort St. George & the 16th century Portuguese old Cathedral of St. Thomas Church in which the remnants of St. Thomas is buried who came to India in 52 AD.

Later transfer to the hotel.

Day 11  Chennai departure

On time transfer to the international airport to connect flight back home.

End of Services

Hotels

TOUR LODGING INFO: 10 Nights Hotels

*A/C in the rice boat is operational from 2100 hrs till 0600 hrs.

Rates

Tour Prices:

Prices: Valid from 01st April till 30th Sept 2012.

Package Inclusions:
• Single room. Double room on sharing basis
• Daily breakfast
• All transfer and sight seeing by air-conditioned transport
• Services of local English speaking guides for the sightseeing
• Kathakali Dance performance in Cochin
• 2.575% Service tax

Package Exclusions:
• Any airport taxes
• Any airfares
• Any new tax imposed by the Government
• Any expenditure of personal nature such as tips, drinks, telephone charges, laundry etc.
• Any cost for activities in Periyar
• Any entrances to the monuments

IMP

- Check in and Check out time is 1200 Hrs.