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Cultural
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16 Days Best of South India Tours |
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| Mumbai (2n) >> Mahabalipurm (2n) >> Tanjore (1n) >> Madurai (2n) >> Thekkady (1n) >> Cochin (2n) >> Houseboat (1n) >> Kovalam (2n) >> Mumbai (1n). |
| Tour
Duration |
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16 Days / 14 Nights. |
| Accommodation |
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Deluxe Hotels/ Heritage Properties / Houseboat. |
| Transport |
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Air-conditioned car & AC houseboat on backwaters. |
| Laundry |
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Available at all locations, except on houseboat. |
| Trip Style |
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Independent. |
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| DAY
01 |
Abroad >> Mumbai.. Day of Journey. Reception at Sahar Int’l airport by our
representative & transfer to nearby hotel. The hotel is about 30 minutes drive from the airport, with excellent views of the Arabian Sea.
Overnight in Hotel Sun N Sand.
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| DAY
02 |
Mumbai. Initially a string of seven islands inhabited by Koli fishermen, Bombay passed
on to the British as Catherine of Braganza’s marriage to Charles I in 1661. The islands were
Reclaimed & Mumbai, as it is called today looks like a thin isthmus. The opening of the Suez
Canal (1870), brought it’s bounty of commerce & ever since Mumbai remains the main
commercial centre.
Full day sightseeing after B’fast, to include a visit to :
Gateway of India, in Indo-Saracenic style designed by George Wittet to commemorate the visit of
George V & Queen Mary in 1911. It is modeled in honey-coloured basalt on 16th century Gujrati
work. It consists of an archway with halls on the sides to accommodate 600 guests at important
receptions.
The Afghan Church is at the northern edge of Colaba. It is early English in style, with a 58 meter
Spire, built to commemorate the soldiers fighting the Anglo-afghan war of 1919.
Victoria Terminus (1878-87), the most remarkable example of Victorian Gothic style. The frontage
is symmetrical with large central dome flanked by two wings. The booking hall with it’s arcades,
Stained glass and glazed tiles was inspired by London’s St. Pancras station. The VT area also
has some very fine British buildings, to name a few, like the Grand Municipal buildings, Police
Courts, St. Xavier’s College & Elphinston High School.
Marine Drive, or the Queen’s necklace and the Churchgate to witness the ‘Dabbawallahs”, ferrying, unfailing, thousands of the lunch packets to their clients, a supreme example of Indian division of labour & a centre of inquisitive interest in the modern Business schools like Stanford & Harvard!
Overnight in your hotel. (B).
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| DAY
03 |
Mumbai >> Chennai (By air) >> Mahabalipuram (40 miles – by road). After B’fast, this morning transfer to the domestic airport to catch the morning King Fisher flight at 9:10 am. On arrival at 10:55 am, in Chennai (Madras), you shall be met by our representative & driver. Drive to Mahabalipuram.
The road to Mahabalipuram (Mamallpuram) passes through some fascinating rural sceneries. The suburbs of Madras give way to Casuarina groves & the coconut fringed coast. It is a temple town & an ancient port (7th century), containing 14 cave temples & 9 monolithic chariot (Rathas) shrines, 3 stone temples & 4 relief sculptured rock panels. These are dedicated to either Shiva or Vishnu.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Hotel Ideal Beach Resort (B).
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| DAY
04 |
Mahabalipuram. Full day sight seeing to include a visit to the Sea Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance, Ganesha Ratha, Trimurti Cave Temples Mandapans & 5 Rathas.
Overnight in your hotel (B).
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| DAY
05 |
Mahabalipuram >> Tanjore (156miles). After B’fast this morning drive to Tanjore. Evenings at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel Ideal River View Resort (B).
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| DAY
06 |
Tanjore >> Madurai (140miles). After B’fast this morning, visit the Brihadishwara Temple. Constructed from a single piece of granite, has several pillared halls & shrines. The central tower over the sanctum sanctorum is 13 storey, 66 meters.
Drive on to Madurai.
Overnight at Hotel Taj Gateway (B).
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| DAY
07 |
Madurai . Madurai lies on the Vaigai river & is an important town of the southern Madras region, being a cultural centre of some repute, 2500 years old.
The major attraction being the Meenakshi Temple, Vijaynagram architecture, which you shall visit today. The towers are profusely decorated including an encyclopedia of dance poses. It is dedicated to the consort of lord Shiva, the ‘Fish-eyed’ Goddess. The temple’s 9 towering gopurams standout with their colourful stucco images og gods, goddesses & animals.
The temple is a hive of activity, with a colourful temple elephant, flower sellers & proformances by musicians!
Visit the Madurai market in the evenings. It is a labyrinth of bustling laneways strewn with aromatic herbs, flower sellers selling heaps of marigold & jasmine for the temple activities!!
Overnight in your hotel (B).
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| DAY
08 |
Madurai >> Thekkady (91miles). Drive to Thekkady, after B&rsquofast. Located in the shades
of Cardamom Hills, it is a beautiful area of winding jungle roads.
Optional: This afternoon catch a boat-ride to view the wildlife around the Periyar Lake, home to Elephants, Wild Boars, Deer & an occasional Tiger.
Overnight in Hotel Cardamom County (B).
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| DAY
09 |
Thekkady . Morning Ayurvedic Massage. Visit the spice plantations around the resort. After lunch proceed to Periyar WL sanctuary in a boat.
Overnight in hotel (B).
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| DAY
10 |
Thekkady >> Cochin (72 miles). After B’fast drive to Kochi.
Cochin is one of the most interesting towns in S. India. A trading port since the Roman empire, it has been on the main route between Europe & China. The mixture of Indo-European culture in unmistakable.
Overnight in Hotel Old Harbour (B).
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| DAY
11 |
Cochin . Full day sight seeing, after B’fast to include a visit to Mattancheri Palace; Jewish Synagogue; St. Francis Church & the Fishing Nets.
Mattancherri Palace: Originally built by the Portuguese in 1557 to celebrate the grant of trading rights to them. It has some great murals on wooden walls. Some of the paintings depict the life & coronation of Lord Rama, the Hindu God and general scenes from the epic Ramayana, " All the panels here like Shiva dallying with Mohini, Krishna & Gopis and others charged with an undercurrent of sensuousness in spite of themes being mythological".
Jewish Synagogue: The Jews probably have arrived in Cochin 2500 years back. The white & black jews traded with china & Babylon. The 18th century synagogue has unmistakable influences of the trade ties.
In the evening another special attraction awaits you: a performance of the Kathakali dance that is famous in this region.
Overnight in your hotel (B).
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| DAY
12 |
Cochin >> Allepey (32miles) >> Kumarakom (By Boat). After B’fast drive to Allepey. Catch the houseboat (at Allepey) for backwater cruise enjoying a lifestyle, which is primitive but most thrilling. The boat carries you in the various rivers forming the backwaters. Boat cruise along the backwaters provide one of the most delightful tours in India. It gives an almost uniquely quiet view of Kerala village life. From the houseboat you see the coconut, papaya, mangoes & jack fruit plantations.
The houseboat itself is rebuilt from the goods carriers of yesteryears. It has a bedroom, ensuite washroom/wc, an open lounge & a kitchen at the back. The houseboat sails slowly in the back water channels / lagoons & after sunset anchors in the Wembanad Lake for an overnight.
Dinner & overnight in AC Houseboat / premium category. Drop off at Kumarakom in the morning. (B,L, D).
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| DAY
13 |
Kumarakom >> Kovalam (110miles - Kovalam Beach). After B’fast, drive to Kovalam.
Overnight in Hotel Taj Green Cove (B).
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| DAY
14 |
Kovalam. This morning after B’fast, drive to Padmanabhanpuram. Visit Padbhanaban Palace, the residence of the Travancore kings from 1550 till 1750, contains some fascinating architecture & paintings. There are some exquisite stone-sculpted figures & frescoes.
Return to Kovalam for overnight (B).
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| DAY
15 |
Kovalam >> Trivandrum (22miles by road) >> Mumbai (By air). Check out at leisure. Shopping for silk & spices at Trivandrum. Catch the afternoon flight to Mumbai. On arrival at Mumbai, you shall be received & transferred to the hotel.
Overnight in Hotel Sun n sand (B).
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| DAY
21 |
Catch flight to next destination.
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