Places to See : Mumbai - Bangalore - Mysore - Hassan - Coorg - Calicut
- Cochin - Kottayam - Kovalam - Periyar - Maduri - Thanjavur - Pondicherry -
Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Chennai
Duration : 17 Nights / 18 Days
Day 01: Arrive Mumbai
Arrival
in Mumbai (Bombay)Transfer to Hotel
Day 02: Mumbai (Bombay)
In the morning drive to Gateway of India to board a ferry to visit Elephanta.
While you are here you will see this beautiful landmark of Bombay which was
built to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1905 and is a unique example of Indo
Saracenic architecture. At Elephanta you will be visiting the caves carved in
Granite Rocks. They date from 450 to 750 AD. The visit includes Mahadeva Trimurti
and the Ardhanarishvara sculptures, famous icnogarphical representations of
Lord Shiva. In the afternoon we have a guided city tour which will take you
to the Mani Bhawan, the house where Ghandi stayed and started his Satyagrah
movement, the Malabar Hills with its tower of silence, Hanging Gardens and the
Prince of Wales Museum, largest fine art Museum in India.
Day 03: Bangalore
Flight IC 109 1000 /1130 or 9W 443 -- 1015 /1150 On arrival check-in at your
hotel. In the afternoon, we visit the Vidhan Saudha, Government Secretariat
- this imposing edifice built with Banagalore granite is a tribute to temple
architecture of the state. The Lal Bagh, spread over 240 acres is a beautiful
botanical Garden opposite the Vidhan Saudha. The Botanical Garden is the largest
in the region where one can see hundreds of species of plants.
Day 04: Bangalore - Mysore
In
the morning drive to Mysore, enroute visit Srirangapatnam, the Summer Palace
of Tipu Sultan built in 1784 AD. Srirangapatnam is set in exquisite gardens.
Also of note are the Tomb & the mosque attached to it. Here lie buried the
father & the mother of the great ruler.
Day 05: Mysore
After breakfast visit Mysore Palace. This beautiful Indo-Saracenic Palace dominates
the city`s skyline. It was built in 1911-12 at a cost of 4.2 million Rupees
to replace the former Palace which was burnt down. We have a guided tour of
the Palace. In the evening we take an excursion to Chamudi hills to visit Sri
Chamundeswari Temple, huge in structure with a seven story Gopuram 40 meters
high. On the way up to the hill we see the famous Nandi (Shiva`s Bull) carved
out of solid rock and, at five meters high, perhaps the largest.
Day 06: Mysore - Hassan
Today we drive to Hassan, enroute we visit Shravanabelagola. Shravanabelagola
is one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centres in India. The
site of the huge statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshvara), which at 17 meters
high and carved out of a single piece of rock, is the world`s tallest monolithic
statue. Drive further to Hassan. Afternoon: visit Belur and Halebid temple complexes
(12th-14th century). Built by the Hoysala kings, the temples at Belur and Halebid
are the cream of what remains of one of the most artistically exuberant periods
of Hindu Cultural development. The wealth of sculptural details found on the
exterior and interior of these temples at Halebid & Belur makes them the
most outstanding example of Hoysala sculptural art.
Day
07: Hassan - Coorg
Morning drive to Coorg also known as the Scotland of India, where we visit a
coffee plantation. The Coorgies are known to be the descendents of Greek soldiers.
Day 08: Coorg - Calicut ( 280 kms )
After breakfast we drive through the thickest rainforest of India, to Calicut
(Kozhikode), which means literally "cock rowing". The town Calicut
played a major role in Kerala's history as the capital of the Zamorin Rajas
( rulers). Its name during the British period was given to the calico cloth,
a block printed cotton exported round the world. Today Kozhikode is a major
commercial center for North Kerala. Calicut is famous for traditional martial
arts ( an optional show can be arranged ). Evening at leisure.
Day 09: Calicut - Cochin ( 240 kms )
After breakfast drive to Kochi, enroute visiting the construction of DHOW, a
typical Kerela hand made boat. Kerala, apart from being very green, is also
very colorful and the traditional culture remains intact here. Young girls dressed
in traditonal dresses with their long black hair tighed in two plaits is a very
common sight. The Lorries in this state are all painted in bright colors. We
will travel along the coast line and cross various water streams running into
the ocean and the back waters coming into the land. The drive is a very eventful
one. Evening at leisure.
Day 10: Cochin
The
influence of medieval Portugal, Holland and England can still be seen in this
fast growing coastal city. It is also known as the spice city of India. Most
of the exports of spices are done from here. Our morning tour will include the
St. Francis Church, where Vasco da Gama was buried for 14 years before his remains
were transferred to Lisbon. His tombstone still stands here. The church was
built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars. Nearby are the Chinese Fishing
Nets along Vypeen Island (set up between 1350 - 1450 AD), The Mattancherry Palace
or "Dutch Palace" built in 1557 AD ( closed on Fridays) and behind
the Palace is the Jewish Synagogue, constructed 1568 AD, with hand-painted willow-pattern
floor tiles brought from Canton in the mid-18th century by a Rabbi, who had
trading interests there. In the evening we enjoy Kathakali, an ancient religious
dance drama of Kerala. This is generally performed in the temples and is said
to have been performed for the past 1,500 years.
Day 11: Cochin - Kottayam- Rice Boat (147 kms. 3 hrs
drive)
We drive through the countryside to a jetty near Kottayam to board the Riceboat.
These riceboats are made by using the local bamboo sticks and husk of coconut.
The boats float on the backwaters through thick coconut palms, banana plantationsand
lush green paddy fields. It is interesting to see how people live on narrow
splits of land which are only a few meters wide and still manage to keep cows,
pigs, chicken and ducks and cultivate small vegetable gardens. This life is
described in the award-winning novel "GOD OF SMALL THINGS" by Arundhathi
Roy. Overnight on traditional Kerala rice boat.
Day 12: Kottayam - Kovalam
After
breakfast on riceboat drive further on to Kovalam. Afternoon & evening at
leisure to enjoy one of the finest beaches in the area.
Day 13: Kovalam - Periyar (272 kms. 8 hrs drive).
Drive to Periyar, the most famous wild life sanctuary of South India. As you
drive through the Blue Hills you will see thick rubber plantations, tea plantations,
and cardamom & pepper growing all along the road side. Enjoy the winding
roads and the landscape.
Day 14: Madurai (160 kms. 4 hrs drive)
Early morning walk in the jungle is optional. After breakfast drive to Madurai.
In the aftrenoon visit the Sri Meenakshi Temple built in the Dravidian architecture
form of temple architecture. The Gopurams are covered from top to bottom with
profuse multi-coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures.
The main temple has long galleries and large halls supported by columns. The
Hall of 1000 Columns has musical pillars. Other places of interest are the Nayyaka-
Palace built in 1636 in the Indo-Saracenic style. A special visit back to the
temple inthe evening, after early dinner, is a must. This time you will be taken
to the temple complex on cycle-rickshaws to witness the evening spiritual ceremony
in which Lord Shiva is carried in a palanquin accompanied by musicians, temple
singers and priests to the temple of his consort Parvati to spend the night.
He is brought to his temple in the morning.
Day 15: Madurai - Thanjavur - Pondicherry (180 kms.
5hrs drive)
Morning
depart for Thanjavur to visit the famous Brihadeshwara temple constructed by
the Chola King in the 10th cent AD. The dome on top of the 63 meter high temple
is a single piece of granite weighing an estimated 81 tons and the huge Nandi
is carved out of a single piece of rock. We also visit the Museum which has
one of the finest Bronze collections. We continue onward to Pondicherry.
Day 16: Pondicherry - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
(230 kms. 6 hrs drive)
After breakfast we drive to Kanchipuram the erstwhile capital of the Pallava
and Chola rulers. These two powerful ruling dynasties gave the city its numerous
temples and water tanks. The temple city is one of the 7holy cities of India
and has over 150 active temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses. The
various temples you will visit are Kailashnatha, Vaikun Thaperumal, Vishnu Temple,
Shiva Natraja, Vardaraja Vishnu Temple, Ekambeshwara Shiva Temple and Ekambeshwara
Shiva temple. The Vardaraja Temple has an ancient mango tree. Its four branches
are said to represent the four Vedas. Each branch is said to contain fruits
with different flavors. Later drive to Mahabaluipuram.
Day 17: Mahabalipuram
This town was the port city of the Pallava Kings (7 cent. AD). After breakfast
you visit the Group of five Rathas Temples, rock-cut monoliths named after the
heroes of the Epic - Mahabharata. The rock carving depicting the penance of
Shiva is one of the finest peace of stone carving and end the visit at the Shore
Temple. Afternoon independent.
Day 18 - Chennai
Morning is free to relax and enjoy the beach. After lunch, drive to Chennai
and visit the Saint Thomas (the first apostle) Cathedral, Fort St. George (now
the secretariat) and the High Court buildings. We end our tour at the Connemara
Hotel for a farewell dinner at the Rain Forest Restaurant. Later transfer to
the international airport for flight home.
