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South India Pilgrimage Tour

Duration : 14 Nights / 15 Days
Destinaions Covered : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Chidambram - Gangekondcholapuram - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Kochi- Kovalam - Chennai

Day 01 : Chennai

Fly from your country to Chennai, arrive and check in at the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 02 : Chennai

After breakfast leave for a sightseeing tour of Chennai, the first major British settlement in India. Visit Kapleshwara temple, St. Thomas Church, Art Gallery, St. George Fort, Marina beach (the second longest beach of the world after California). Return to the hotel for the night.

Day 03 : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram

In the morning leave for Mahabalipuram en route stop at Kanchipuram, once the Golden city of India, to visit Shiv Kanchi and Vishnu kanchi temples. Continue your drive to Mahabalipuram, arrive and check in at the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 04 : Mahabalipuram

In the morning visit the rock cut caves built by the Pallavas between the 6th -8th centuries, Panch Ratha temple and the 7th century Shore Temple where both Vishnu and Shiva are enshrined under one roof. Also visit the soap stone workers in the market who design and make sculptures using a chisel and a hammer. You can enjoy your afternoon on the beach. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 05 : Mahabalipuram - Chidambram - Gangekondcholapuram - Tanjore

In the morning leave for Tanjore, your first stop will be at Chidambrum Golden Natraja temple. Then travel to Gangekondcholapuram to visit the Shiva temple built between 1012-1044 AD by King Rajendra I. The specialty of this temple and of the engineering that is more than a 1000 years old is that, the rays of the sun fall on the Nandi (bull) and this is reflected on to the Shiva Lingam and provides it with light from dawn to dusk. Your next stop will be the Kumbakonam water tank. It is believed that after every 12 years, the waters of the 9 sacred rivers including the Ganga meet here. And when this happens thousands of pilgrims take a dip in the tank to wash away their sins. The next stop is the 13th century Shiva temple at Darasuram. Reach Tanjore check in at the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 06 : Tanjaore - Trichy

In the morning visit the Brideshwarar Shiva Temple at Tanjore that was build by King Raja Raja Chola between the years 985-1010 AD. This temple is an example of the excellent architecture of the Chola dynasty. Then visit the Raja Raja Chola art gallery to view the bronze and stone sculptures made between the 9th-16th centuries. Return to the hotel and after a short rest drive to Trichy. Arrive and check in at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the Srirangam Vishnu temple that has 21 gopurams (towers). The Rajagopuram that was built in 1983 is 236 ft. tall and is the tallest temple tower in the world. Then visit the Rock Fort that is 83 meters above the ground and has 344 steps to the top. On the top there is a Vinayaka temple. Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 7 : Trichy - Madurai

In the morning leave for Madurai, arrive and check in at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the 16th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace. The visit the enormous Meenakshi temple, the temple has two main shrines, one is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati (Meenakshi) and the other to Sunereshwara (Shiva). The gopurams of both the shrines are gold plated. Visit the 1000 pillared hall built by the Nayaka in the 16th century. The pillars are of pure granite. Return to the hotel to spend the night.

Day 08 : Madurai - Periyar

After breakfast leave for Periyar, arrive and check in at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the different spice plantations like cardamom, cinnamon, peeper, clove and ginger. There will be a visit to tea, coffee and vanilla plantations as well. Periyar is about 1000 meters above seal level and spices are its main crop. 95% of the peeper grown in India is produced here. Then visit the Periyar Tiger Reserve by boat to watch a variety of animals like tigers, panthers, bison, wild elephants and a wide variety of birds.

Day 09 : Periyar - Kumarakom

After breakfast drive to Kumarakom to board the Houseboat Cruise. Take this cruise to enjoy the backwaters of Kerala. Cruise through the splendid greenery of God's Own Country and catch a glimpse of the daily routine of those who live on the banks of the Backwaters. Dinner and night stay on the Houseboat Cruise.

Day 10 : Houseboat Cruise - Alleppey - Kochi

The Houseboat Cruise will drop you off at Alleppey to board your vehicle & drive to Kochi. Arrive and check in at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets and St. Francis Church, which is one of the oldest Churches built by the Europeans in 1503 AD. Late in the afternoon watch the traditional dance of Kerala- the Kathakali. Spend the night at the hotel.

Day 11 to 14 : Kochi - Kovalam

In the morning leave for Kovalam, arrive and check in at the hotel. Relax and enjoy the sun-bathed beaches till day 15.

Day 15 : Kovalam(Trivandrum) - Chennai

Transfer to Trivandrum airport to board flight for Chennai. In Chennai after a little sightseeing and dinner transfer to Chennai International airport to board the flight back to your country.

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