South India Historic Tour - South India Historical Tour Package

Day 01: Chennai

Arrive Chennai from your country, check in at Hotel for overnight stay.

Day 02: Chennai

Leave after breakfast for Chennai sightseeing - the first British major settlement in India. Visit Kapleshwara Temple, St. Thomas Church, Art Gallery, St. George Fort, Marina beach (2nd longest beach of the world after California). Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 03: Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (130 km, 05 hours)

Morning leave for Mahabalipuram via Kanchipuram, once the Golden city of India, to visit Shiv Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi temples. Carry on the journey to Mahabalipuram, arrive and check in at hotel for overnight stay.

Day 04: Mahabalipuram

Morning visit at Pallave (6th-8th century) rock cut caves, Panch Ratha Temple, 7th century shore temple. Here both Vishnu and Shiva are enshrined under one-roof and soap stone workers in the market who designs and made sculptures by chisel and hammer. Afternoon hang out at sea beach. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05: Mahabalipuram - Chidambram - Gangekondcholapuram - Tanjore

Morning leave for Tanjore, first stop at Chidambrum golden Natraja temple. Then drive to Gangekondcholapuram, exciting Shiva Temple built between 1012 AD and 1044 AD by King Rajendra I. The speciality of this temple and 1000 years engineering is the rays of sun falls on Nandi (bull) and it reflects and give light to the Shiva Lingam since sun rise to sun set. Next stop is at Kumbakonam water tank; it is believed that after every 12 years, 9 sacred holy rivers including holy Ganges are meeting here. During those days, thousands of pilgrims dip into the tank to wash their sins. Next stop at 13th century Shiva temple at Darasuram. Finally reaches Tanjore, arrive and check in at Hotel for overnight stay.

Day 06: Tanjore - Trichy (56 Km, 01.1/2 hours)

Morning Tanjore sightseeing - visit Brideshwarar Shiva Temple, built by King Raja Rajan from the year 985 AD - 1010 AD. South Indian temples usually have big gopurmas (towers), but this temple is parameter shaped, 65 meters high from the ground. This is one of the superb temple architects of the Chola dynasty. Then visit Raja Rajan art gallery to see bronze statures of 9th-16th century. Return to hotel. Drive to Trichy after a brief rest, arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon visit to Srirangam Vishnu temple. It has 21 gopurmas (towers); one of the gopurma is 73 meters, highest in India. Afterwards visit Rock Fort 83 meters above the ground having 344 steps to reach on the top to see Vinayaka Temple. Return back to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 07: Trichy - Madurai (131 km, 3 hours)

Morning leave for Madurai, arrive and check in at Hotel Taj Garden Retreat or similar hotel. Afternoon visit at 16th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Then visit to Meenakshi Temple; it has two main shrines; one is dedicated to goddess Parvati (Meenakshi) and another to Sunereshwara (Shiva). The domes of both the shrines are covered with heavy gold plates. Tourists can also see 1000 pillars hall built in 16th century by Nayakas with pure granite stones. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 08: Madurai - Periyar (140 km, 4 hours)

Leave for Periyar after breakfast at Hotel, arrive and check in at Hotel Spice Village Holiday Resort. Afternoon a special visit to the spices Garden to watch different varieties of spice plantations such as cardamom, cinnamon, peeper, clove, vanilla, ginger, tea and coffee plantations etc. Periyar is on 1000 meters above the sea level and is rich in spice growing. 95% pepper in India is produced from here. Vaskodegama was the first European landed at Malabar Coast in 1498 A.D. in search of spices. Those days pepper was exported against the equal weight of gold, so in the beginning of 15th century pepper was called black gold. Afterwards visit Periyar Tiger Reserve by boat to watch different varieties of animals such as tiger, panther, leopard, bison spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar, groups of wild elephants and many birds. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 09: Periyar - Houseboat Cruise - Kumarakom

After breakfast drive to Kumarakon to board houseboat cruise to enjoy the cruise in backwaters. This cruise is very exciting and sensational to watch the real traditional Kerlan life that lives on the banks of backwaters. Overnight with full meals at Houseboat cruise.

Day 10: Houseboat Cruise - Alleppey - Cochin (60 km, 01.1/2 hours)

Houseboat will drop you at Alleppey to board your vehicle and drive to Cochin. Arrive and check in at Hotel Casino or similar, afternoon visit Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets and St. Francis Church, one of the oldest Church built by the Europeans in 1503 A.D. Late afternoon visit to watch traditional Kerlan Kathakali dances. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 11: Cochin - Kovalam (235 km, 5 hours)

Morning leave for Kovalam, arrive and check in at Hotel to enjoy at sea beach till day 15.

Day 15: Kovalam (Trivandrum) - Chennai (By Flight)

Transfer to Trivandrum airport to board flight for Chennai. After little sightseeing and dinner, transfer to Chennai International airport to board flight back to your country with pleasant memories of South India.