Enchanting India with all its beautiful colors always is in search of an opportunity to shatter its varied colors in the form of festivals is what the fascinating experience is all about during this expedition. Begin your journey with a wholesome Harvest festival lasting for three days and explore the vast expanse of traditions, varied culture and conclude with a majestic and spectacular festival at Sree Parthasarathy temple Adoor.
The peregrination continues by witnessing the glorious and tremendous architecture, saporous traditional food, mesmerizing landscapes, unmatchable and grandeur accommodations at all the destinations, history walks with surprise elements en route are few best raw experience elements spicing up the tour.
This itinerary has been crafted by our Local Agency with one idea in mind: to inspire you. Every element can be adapted to your needs and your interests, from duration to accommodation and activities.
On arrival at Chennai International airport, our
representative will meet you at the Airport and
escort you to your hotel in Mamallapuram.
Mamallapuram alias Mahabalipuram - Seventh and eighth-century reliefs, rock temples, cave temples and "chariot" temples carved into the golden stone of the Coromandel Coast have mad e Mahabalipuram , also called Mamallapuram,an astonishing UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town has a wonderful Shore Temple to Vishnu, built by the grateful merchants, as well as rock temples, over a dozen cave temples, constructed stone temples and some fine bas-reliefs - including the world's largest, the Penance of Arjuna.
Chennai Airport to Mamallapuram – 1.15 hr
Overnight at MamallapuramMeals included:- Dinner
Today morning you will be taken around the
village to explore the Pongal festival. A festival
that symbolizes the arrival of sun in the southern
hemisphere, Pongal is celebrated as a harvest
festival in Tamil Nadu. It is like a thanksgiving to
God, the cattle, sun and earth. 'Pongal' is derived
from the word ‘ponga’ that factually connotes
'boil' and therefore Pongal means 'spillover' or
something that is 'overflowing'.
Relish an experiential traditional lunch on
banana leaf. India has a long-standing tradition
of serving food on banana leaves. Especially in
South India, eating food on banana leaf is
considered quite healthy and auspicious. Most
people use banana leaf to serve an authentic
south Indian spread on festivals and family get-
togethers. Banana leaves are loaded with
nutrients we bet you didn't know about. Food
when served on banana leaves gets enriched
with several nutrients that we would otherwise
miss.
After enjoying one such beautiful experience of
traditional lunch you will embark on a
spectacular cycle ride through history of
Mamallapuram. Each of the cave temples,
monolithic chariots, sculpted reliefs and
structural temples has its own story to tell. The
7th Century town, which is the oldest existing
remains of the Dravidian architecture, will have
your hearts captured with its quaint beauty and
timeless stories.
Overnight at Mamallapuram.
Meals included: - Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast travel to Pondicherry. On the way to Pondicherry visit the harmonious community of Auroville, inspired by The Mother as a place where people can come together, regardless of nationality, belief or color, to live a meaningful life. After lunch hours you will be taken for Heritage walk to explore this historical town with modern look. Like so many Indian cities, Pondicherry is particularly spiritual. Well known for the ShriAurobindo Ashram, it was set up by one of his disciples, a Parisian known as The Mother, in his memory and is one of the most active ashrams in India. Then you will explore Gandhi statue, In contrast experience the calmness of the Church of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, one of the finest French churches in town and the Hindu temple to Ganesh whose walls are embellished with a wonderful series of paintings of Ganesh in various forms.
Note: Today you will see the celebration of Mattu Pongal. In Tamil, the word "Mattu" means bull and this day of Pongal is for celebration of the cattle,particularly bulls that play a vital role by working hard to help the farmers to raise crops on their fields, falls on the following day,
Mamallapuram to Pondicherry – 2 hrs
Overnight at Pondicherry
Meals included: - Breakfast and Dinner
Proceed to Tanjore. A bustling market town in one of the main rice-growing regions of Tamil Nadu, Tanjore was once the capital of the Chola Empireand, although many buildings from that period no longer survive, the town is still full of lovely temples. On the way visit Darasuram. Darasuram is known for the Airavateswara temple constructed by the Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century AD. The temple is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage monument. This temple is a storehouse of art and architecture. The vimana is 85 feet high. The front mandapam itself is in the form of a huge chariot drawn by horses. The temple has some exquisite stone carvings. In the same village you can study silk weaving in the local houses.3
Pondicherry to Tanjore – 4 hrs
Meals included: - Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast drive to Brihadeshwara Temple.
This magnificent temple, over 1000 years old andnow a UNESCO World Heritage Site, evokes thepower of the Chola kings as it towers over the town. Study the detailed inscriptions which depict temple life and the dancers, musicians, potters, goldsmiths and astrologers who lived there.
Enter the pavilion in the main courtyard to view the shining black Nandi statue, one of the largest in India, and weighing an astonishing 25 tons. Our next stop is at The Thanjavur Art Gallery. This gallery was built in the beautiful Thanjavur Royal Palace of the Nayaks built in 1600 A.D. The walls of the art gallery adorn painting and sculptures of South India that prevailed during the peak of the Tamil history.
Then we proceed to the village to explore bronzecasting and Tanjore paintings. With a history oftraditional bronze casting take the opportunity toview the masters at work using the lost-waxmethod. This method, used to create sacred temple bronzes during the Chola period, is still practiced today and is being passed down through the generations to ensure that bronze casting continues to thrive.
Then we are proceeding to Madurai. This vast,pulsating city, one of the oldest cities in South India, dating back 2500 years, sprawls along the banks of the River Vaigai. Wander through the fun, packed streets, which are full of pilgrims, wandering cows,open-air kitchens and colorful bazaars.
Tanjore to Madurai – 4 hrs
Meals included: - Breakfast and Dinner
Today you are going to starts your day with
celebrated Meenakshi Amman temple. This ancient temple is a maze of lamp-lit corridors. Something is always happening here – ceremonies, musicians playing, weddings, prostrating pilgrims and festivals – making it a compelling place to spend time and enjoy the sights of temple life. Our next stop is at the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, an example of architectural grandeur. It was built by King Thirumalai Nayak in 1636 AD.
The palace was designed by an Italian Architect and served as the residence of the King. Get right under the skin of this fascinating city and take a leisurely rickshaw ride, with a friendly rickshaw wallah driving you, through the maze ofstreets. Take in the sights and smells that surround you; pass through vegetable markets and see the locals haggling over the price; stop at the dhobi ghats where the city's laundry is done in the river; and spend time in the Gandhi Museum which charts India's freedom struggle.
Overnight at Madurai
Meals included: - Breakfast and Dinner
Today drive to Munnar a hill station located 1600
meters above sea level. Once the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in South India it still retains its colonial charm and is famous for its tea plantations, most of which are privately owned.
After lunch hours you are proceeding for Nature walk to enjoy the sprawling tea estates, rolling hills, picture postcard hamlets and undulating valleys.
Madurai to Munnar – 5 hrs
Overnight at Munnar
Meals included: - Breakfast and Dinner
Drive to Cochin. Kochi is a colonial port town of Kerala whose diverse architecture acts as a reminder of the foreign traders who came over the centuries to buy spices. Portuguese, Dutch and British influences combine to bring a colonial twist
to a city that is cosmopolitan and absorbing.
In the evening, the epic Ramayana comes to life at a Kathakali performance, traditional Keralan dance, where the characters use larger than life gestures, wear outrageous costumes and dramatic make up.
Munnar to Cochin – 5 hrs
Overnight at Cochin
Meals included: - Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast you are proceeding for Guided tour of Fort Kochi. Meander through the old districts of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin where the various European influences are most apparent with merchant houses and old warehouses cramming the waterfront and narrow streets. Take in the Pardesi Synagogue in Jew Town (closed on Friday& Saturday), St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, and the highly decorated Santa Cruz Basilica. Allow time to admire the colorful murals, including depictions of the Ramayana, in the 16th century Dutch Palace. Linger in the colorful, pungent spice markets before moving on to the much-photographed Chinese nets that line the shore of Fort Cochin.
Enjoy special cooking demo with dinner to enjoy
Kerala cuisine.
Overnight at Cochin
Meals included: - Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast you are proceeding to Alleppey boat jetty to do House boat cruise. House boat is waiting to take you on a tour through the backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the landscape from the protection of the cabin. The population’s whole life takes place here on the water. The people sail, fish, swim and bathe here.
They do their washing and their washing up. They are so adapted to the water that you can see people talking for an hour, while they are up to their necks in water. Peddlers take care of the supplies and the public transport goes on the water. Countless water birds wait for their chance to catch a fish. The trip goes through a wonderful area full of palm trees, rice fields and floating water plants that surround the boat like emerald Green Island.
Cochin to Alleppey – 2 hrs
Overnight at Alleppey
Accommodation at House boat
Meals included: - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast proceeding to Kollam, on the way
you are going explore the festival called "Gajamela Adoor". The Adoor Gajamela is celebrated on the last day of the ten day long annual festival at Sree Parthasarathy temple Adoor. The elephant is the most well loved and the revered animal in South India and more so in Kerala. Any temple or religious festivity without elephants does not achieve their desired altitude. Gaja is Sanskrit means elephant and mela means a fair. The Adoor Gajamela is therefore a fair of elephants.
Alleppey to Kollam – 3 hrs
Overnight at Kollam
Meals included: - Breakfast and Dinner
Leisure day. Overnight at Kollam.
Meals included: - Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast it's time to bid farewell to India. You will be dropped at the Trivandrum airport to connect your onward flight.
Kollam to Trivandrum airport – 2 hrs
The price reflects this specific itinerary and is designed to give you an idea of the budget required for this destination. Throughout the trip-planning process, our local agency will tailor your itinerary around your budget.
Price Per Person in Double Room |
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Price for 2 Travelers |
Single Supplement |