The Temple Trail with Backwaters !!

Arrive at Chennai.

You will be greeted on arrival at the Airport.

Our representative will help you with your transfer to your hotel where you can relax.

Briefing (Chennai): Chennai, formerly called Madras, has been present since times immemorial. Whatever is known about the capital city of Tamil Nadu, presently serves as the history of the modern city. Originally Chennai was a cluster of villages, perched amidst paddy fields, bordered by palm trees. The Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Vijaynagar Empire, all the popular dynasties of South India, have had an influence over the city. The origin of the metropolitan city started in 1639, when Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, two merchants of the East India Company, started a factory-cum-trading post here.The Fort House, which housed the Governor and his council, were added in the 17th Century, the Assembly Hall in 1910 and the Secretariat in 1925.

All the neighboring areas were merged into the city now known as Madras or as Chennai as it is officially known. Until Independence, Madras was the capital of what in British times was called the Madras Presidency, comprising nearly the whole of South India, including the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada speaking areas.

Check in at hotel and stay overnight.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the resort.

Proceed for city tour of Chennai in the morning after breakfast visiting Santhome Cathedral, Fort St. George, and Kapaleeswarar Temple.

Santhome Cathedral. Built by Portuguese in the 14th and 15th century, this Cathedral is named after St. Thomas. Historically important, it is one of the pilgrimages for the Christian community.

Fort St. George, one the first few bastions built by the east India company, marks the beginning of Chennai as a modern city. It occupies a place of pride and prominence in Chennai. This bastion achieved its name from St. George, the patron saint of England. The state legislature and the secretariat are located in Fort St. George. It houses the St. Mary's church the oldest Anglican Church in India which was built in 1680 and the tombstones in its
courtyardare the oldest British tombstones in India.

The Fort Museum, once a building that housed Chennai's first lighthouse, first commercial bank and first 'club', is now a well-kept repository of tangible memories of early Madras.

Kapaleeswarar Temple Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kapaleeswarar temple has inscriptions from the 13th century A.D. The temple 'Gopuram' (tower) is in the characteristic Dravidian style of architecture. The walls and pillars of temple have very delicate and intricate carvings which depict the scenes from Hindu mythology.

Return back to the hotel and overnight at Chennai.

By Road
Distance 76 kms / 2 hrs

Have a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel and later proceed for Mahabalipuram, en-route Kanchipuram.

Briefing (Kanchipuram): It is the ancient capital of the Pallavas and is famous as a city of 1000 Temples. It still consists of 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls.

Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.

Continue your drive to Mahabalipuram which is also known as Mamallapuram. Reach and check in at the hotel and spend sometime relaxing at the beach. 

Briefing (Mahabalipuram): A few miles south of Chennai, at Mahabalipuram, on the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal, a beautiful group of rock-cut monuments evokes the past. This ancient seaport was once the main harbor and naval base of the great Pallava Empire and is today the site of an enchanting seaside assemblage of temples and shrines. It was well known in the 1st century known to Greek traders, and was the Pallava’s second city. Though their power waned nearly 1200 years ago, they left a breathtaking legacy in four distinct kinds of sculpture, Rathas (temple chariots), bas-relief sculptural panels, rock-cut caves, and free standing temples.

Overnight will be at the Hotel.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

Later proceed for a sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram visiting the Caves, Krishna Mandapam, Arjuna’s Penance, the Five Rathas, and the Shore Temple.

CAVES: There are nine rock-cut temples. The Mahishasuramardhini cave, depicting the goddess fighting a demon on one side and Lord Vishnu's cosmic sleep on the other, is a particularly remarkable one.

KRISHNA MANDAPAM: A bas-relief, notable for its realistic representation. The panel relates to one of the stories of Lord Krishna.

ARJUNA’S PENANCE: This is the world's largest bas relief measuring 27m X 9m. This huge whale-backed rock contains figures of gods, demigods, men, beasts, birds and almost all of the entire creation. And, this is easily the pride of Mamallapuram.

THE FIVE RATHAS: There are the five monolithic temples, each created in a different style. They are also known as the Pancha Pandava Rathas – and four out of the five Rathas are supposed to have been carved out of a single rock.

THE SHORE TEMPLE: This is one of the oldest temples. Unique about this temple is the fact that it houses shrines for both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. This belongs to the early 8th century AD and it is a classic example of the first phase of structural temples constructed in pure Dravidian style.

Overnight will be at the hotel.

By Road
Distance 160 kms / 3 hrs

After breakfast proceed for the Tiruannamalai

Arrive at Tiruvannamalai and check in at hotel.

Later proceed for the sightseeing of Arnachala Temple and Girivalam Path.

Arunachala Temple is a living symbol of ancient Tamil architecture. The 11 tiered East Rajagopuram temple towers to a height of 217 feet, while the fortified walls pierced with 4 tower entrances offer a formidable look to this vast temple complex. The Pei Gopuram, Tirumanjana Gopuram and Ammanaiammal gopuram are the other three. The 1000 pillared hall and the temple tank were built by Krishna Deva Rayarar of Vijayanagar. Each of the prakarams has a huge Nandi and several towers such as the Vallala Maharaja Gopuram and KiliGopuram.

 Return back to the hotel.

Overnight will be at Tiruvannamalai.

By Road
Distance 150 Kms / 3 hrs.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

Later proceed for the drive of pondichery en route visiting Gingee.

Briefing (Pondicherry): The names referred such as ‘Quintessence of French Culture’, ‘India’s Little France’ and ‘The French Riviera of the East’. This territory was under the French rule for nearly 281 years. Still it has the French flavor in it as one can see by the grand colonial mansions, beautiful boulevards, and placid promenades, spellings on sign boards and buildings, names of roads and public places. Pondicherry is a well planned and well built town. This is a typical example as one can learn the way the French people gave importance to order and flair. They are known for their rich and quality living. The French too had an eye on the wealth and the fertility of India. Thus the French dream of Indian empire began and got over by establishing their supremacy in Pondicherry. The French constructed many buildings based on their craft and grand architecture. They developed an oval shaped, lovely ‘boulevard town’ – the French quarter.

Aurbindo Ashram: When a tourist visits Pondicherry he would surely never miss the opportunity of visiting the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. This world renowned ashram was founded in the year 1926, by Sri Aurobindo, a revolutionary turned Yogi from Bengal along with The Mother (Mira Alfassa) a French painter as well as a sculptor. It is indeed the best known landmark of Pondicherry and the ashram attracts people from all over the world. Here one experiences the serenity, the great peace and all the wisdom practiced by ancient saints and sages of India. The main ashram building is situated at the marine street just behind the Raj Nivas which is surrounded by several buildings involved with educational and cultural activities of the Aurobindo Society. The central courtyard of the main ashram building has the flower festooned memorials of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo under the frangipani tree. According to Sri Aurobindo – the first principle of true teaching is that nothing can be taught.

Overnight will be at Pondicherry.

By Road  
Distance 70 Kms/1.3 hrs

Enjoy a leisurely break fast at the hotel and proceed for Sightseeing of Lady Immaculate conception.

Lady Immaculate Conception (1791):  It was built on medieval architecture. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is built on the Gothic architectural styles. Englise De Notre Dame Das Anges which faces the sea at Rue Dumas was built in 1952 in Greeko Roman style.

Return back to the hotel have your lunch and later proceed for Chidambaram.

Chidambaram - A Paradise on Earth and to merit this eulogy a divine fragrance permeates the Tamil land. The town of Chidambaram is situated in the east-central part of Tamil Nadu state of southeastern India extending 11.24°N and 79.44°E. The town is in the Coleroon River Valley on the Madras - Thanjavur road and rail system.

Chidambaram (also Thillai) literally means the sky permeated by an atmosphere of intelligence and wisdom. According to legend, it was once a forest of tillai, a mangrove species of trees. It is believed that their penance attained fruition with the revelation of Shiva's cosmic dance by Lord Nataraja on the auspicious Thai Poosam day. The golden hall of dance was built and covered with gold plates by Jatavarman Sundra Pandya (AD 1251-1272).

The Nataraja Temple is about 43 km from Cuddalore and 45 km from Neyveli. The temple is located in the center of Chidambaram town and covers an area of 40 acres. The roof of the sanctum sanctorum is covered with gold plates. The presiding deity of the temple is represented by air, one of the five elements of the universe and is known as Akasa Lingam. This is the temple of the Cosmic Dancer, where the presiding deity is called Nataraja. This temple has five halls, of which two-the Kanaka Sabha and the Chit Sabha-have gold-plated roofs. The main icon of Nataraja is in the Kanaka Sabha.

Overnight will be at Chidambaram.

By Road
Distance 80 Kms/2 hrs

Enjoy a leisurely break fast at the hotel and proceed for sightseeing Thillaiamman Temple,
Brahmotsavam, Ani Thirumanjanam, Thai Poosam, and Arudra Dharshan Temple
The Thillaikaliamman Temple is on the northern end of the town. Kopperunjingan, who ruled between AD 1229 and 1278, built this temple. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. It is said that Goddess Kali's anger did not subside even after killing the demon Tarakasura. Hence, Lord Nataraja performed tandava dance to contain her anger. It is enjoined that all those who visit Chidambaram should pay a visit to Thillaikaliamman temple.
Vaitheeswaran Koil is about 24 km from Chidambaram. The place is famous for a Shiva temple dedicated to Vaidyanatheswarar, the healer of all diseases, and his consort Thaiyalnayaki. It is believed that a bath in the holy waters of the Siddhamirtham tank within the temple complex will cure all diseases.

Return back to the hotel and after lunch proceed for Tanjore.

Arrive at Tanjore and check in at the hotel.

Overnight at Tanjore

Briefing (Tanjore): Thanjavur (also known as Tanjore) is the royal city of the Cholas and Nayaks.  Thanjavur derives its name from Tanjan-an asura (giant), who according to local legend devastated the neighbourhood and was killed by Sri Anandavalli Amman and Vishnu. Sri Neelamegapperumal Tanjan's last request that the city might be named after him was granted. Tanjore is also known as the “Rice bowl” of India. Historians believe that Thanjavur was captured by Vijayalaya Cholan (AD 846-880) from Perumpidugu Muttaraiyan. From then till Rajaraja Cholan, Thanjavur was flourishing. Chola kings were ruling till 13th Century AD with Thanjavur as their capital. In 1799 AD Thanjavur became a British principality and its ruler Sarafoji II was given the fort of Thanjavur and an area outside it. Sivaji, his successor died in 1855 AD without an heir and after him Thanjavur passed directly under British. Its acquisition never costs the life of a single soldier, in the same manner as the Mahrattas had taken the country previously from the Nayaks.

Have a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel and later proceed for Brihadeswara Temple, Art Gallery, The Palace, Saraswati Mahal Library.

Brihadeswara Temple: The Brihadeswara temple lies to the southern part of the city of Tanjavur between the Grand anicut canal and the Vadavar River. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this magnificent temple was built in 1003 AD by the Chola king Rajaraja I. The temple is capped by a monolithic solid granite block 80 tons in weight. The temple, considered among the grandest temples of the Hindu religion is unique to itself. The vimana or the tower over the altar sours into the sky. Popular as the Temples of Temple, the Rajarajesvaram temple displays some of the best expressions of artistic excellence of the Chola period. The temples is bestowed with a unique structure, while the gopurams at the entrances are small the tower above the temple is 216 ft in height with 14 stories.

The Art Gallery and the Saraboji palace – The Art Gallery is another must see of Tanjore. It has a rich collection of 250 Chola Bronze statues and 150 stone statues dating from the 9th to 12th century. These statues belong to the many groups namely the Bhairava, Umasahita Shiva, Kali and the Rama Lakshmana. You can have a look at all these wonderful collections by paying a nominal entry fee. large and excellent collection of chola bronzes, granite pieces. look for bhairavas, umasahista Siva, kali, somaskandha and the Ramalakshmana group.

The Palace: The Palace of Tanjore also makes an important tourist destination. The royal Palace near the massive Brihadeshwara temple is characterized by its vast corridors, large halls, shady courtyards and observation and arsenal towers. Built by the Nayak in the mid-16th century, the Palace was completed by the Marathas. The Durbar Hall of the palace still retains the grandeur of the bygone era. The palace also functions as a Royal Museum housing a diverse collection of royal remnants, compilations of the early 19th century, the king’s slippers, head dresses and hunting tools.

Overnight will at the hotel.

By Road
Distance 64 Kms /1.5 hrs

Have a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel and later proceed for the sightseeing of Tanjore visiting Saraswathi Mahal library.

Saraswathi Mahal library – Located just by the side of the art gallery, the Saraswati Mahal Library has a huge collection of about 30,000 palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages. It also has some Tamil works including treatises on medicine, and commentaries on works from the Sangam period. It was built during 1700 AD. You can visit the nearby museum that houses some interesting exhibits like the entire range of the Ramayana written on palm leaf. Checkout the time and entry fee before you visit the Saraswati Mahal library.

Later drive to Trichy. 

Briefing (Trichy):  Tiruchirappalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas which later fell to the Pallavas. Trichy is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around the Rock Fort. Apart from the Fort, there are several Churches, Colleges and Missions dating back to the 1760s. The town and its fort, now in Trichy were built by the Nayaks of Madurai. This city has given great Tamil scholars whose contributions to the Tamil literature have been very significant. The most famous land mark of this bustling town is the Rock fort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city.

Rock Fort: The 83m high Rock Fort is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city. The rock is one of the oldest in the world-approximately 3.800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. The sheer abruptness of its rise is a thrill in itself, but the actual centre of attraction is not the fort itself, of which very little remains, but the temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where there are inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C.

Srirangam: The district's most important pilgrim centre is located in an island just 7 kms from Tiruchi. Srirangam, surrounded by the waters of river Cauveri on one side and its tributary kollidam on the other, is a 600 acre island-town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sriranganathaswami Temple.Most of it dates from the 14th to 17th centuries, and many people have had a hand in its construction, including the Cheras, Pandyas, Cholas, Hoysalas and rulers from Vijayanagar. The largest gopuram in the first wall on the southern side was completed as recently as 1987, and now measures 73m. The main temple is dedicated to Vishnu.

After the sightseeing tour of Trichy, you will return back to Tanjore.

Overnight will be at Tanjore.

By Road 
Distance 220 Kms/4hrs

Enjoy a leisurely break fast at the hotel and proceed for Madurai.

Briefing (Madurai): One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. It was the capital city for the great Pandya kings. The main temple is dedicated to Vishnu. Even muslims are said to have prayed here after the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire. Non-Hindus are not allowed into the gold - topped sanctum, but they are allowed into the sixth wall. The whole place is fascinating. Bazaars and Brahmins' houses fill the space between the outer four walls.  The Pandyan King Kulasekarar built a great temple and created a lotus shaped city around the temple. On the day the city was to be named, as Lord shiva blessed the land and its people, divine nectar (Madhu) was showered on the city from his matted locks. This city was henceforth known as Madhurapuri. Madurai is famous for Jasmine Flowers. Madurai’s Main attraction is the Famous Sri Meenakshi Amman temple a riotously baroque example of Dravidian architecture with Gopurams carved from top to bottom in a breathtaking profusion of multicolored images of Gods.

On arrival check in at hotel and relax later proceed for the sightseeing of Madurai visiting Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, Gandhi Museum

Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam: Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is a huge temple tank about 5 km east of the Meenakshi temple. The mandapam in the centre has an idol of Vigneshwara (Vinayaka). It is said to have been found when the earth was being dug out from here to build the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. So, the place attained sanctity and was converted into a Teppakulam (tank). This enormous temple tank is fed by water brought from the Vagai through an ingenious system of underground Channels, King Thirumalai Nayak born in 'Poosa' Star. So in commemorating the birth of the king “Float Festival” is conducted in Tamil Month 'Thai' (Jan/Feb) in the tank in a colorful way, which attracts thousands of tourists.

Gandhi Museum: The Gandhi Memorial Museum is one of the distinct places to be visited in Madurai. This Museum is one of the rare living memorials of "The Father of India". The Museum is set in relaxing grounds and has a clear historical account of India’s struggle for Independence.

In the evening visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva. Enjoy the EVENING AARTI.

Return to the hotel and spend night at Madurai.

By Road
Distance 150 kms / 3 hrs

Enjoy a leisurely break fast at the hotel.

Today we take you for sightseeing tour of the most wonderful architectural temple of Madurai visiting the Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple, and Thirumalai Nayak Palace

Sri Meenakshi Amman temple: dated back to 2000 Years back and designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayaka and built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayaka. The Temple occupies an area of six hectares. There are 12 temple towers (Gopurams). The outer towers are the landmarks of Madurai.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace: This Palace was built in 1636 by King Thirumalai Nayak with the help of an Italian Architect. The building we see today was the main Palace where the King lived. The original Palace Complex was four times bigger than the present structure. This palace consisted mainly of two parts, namely Swargavilasa and Rangavilasa.  In these two parts, there are royal residence, theatre, shrine, apartments, armoury, palanquin place, royal bandstand, quarters, pond and garden. King Thirumalai Nayak celebrated festivals like Scepter festival, Navarathri, Chithirai festival, Masi festival and the Float festival. He conducted daily dance and music performances in the palace. This palace was destroyed by his grandson Chokkanatha Nayak and the valuables were transferred to other places.

Later proceed for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Briefing (Periyar): Four hours drive southward lying close to the plantations, in the rich jungles of Periyar in Thekkady is one of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves - the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.  Spread across 777 sq.km, of which 360sq.km is thick evergreen forest.  The river Periyar is the longest river in Kerala. This is the only perennial river in South India with clean water. The river occupies an important place in the history of Kerala. In the Sangam age Tamil epics such as Chilapathikaram, ‘Akananuru’, ‘Purananuru’ etc much has been said about this mighty river, formerly known as the ‘Choorni Nadi’ or ‘Thamraparni Nadi’ (Sukasandesam –stanza 66). A land route existed in the Sangam age from Mussuris (present-day Kodungalloor) to Madurai, which passed near the banks of the river Periyar. Noted for its geomorphology, diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts visitors from all over the world. Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in Kerala, is the Periyar famous for its National Park. The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a perennial source of water for the local wildlife. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar adds to the charm of the park.  This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake.  The greatest attraction of Periyar, however, is the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.

From the safety of a boat you can witness herds of wild elephants coming down to water and swim. The other prominent fauna to be seen are Tiger, Sambar, Barking deer, Mouse deer, Nilgiri Tahr, Wild Pigs, Wild dogs, Porcupine, Lion-tailed macaque, Malabar Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Sloth Bear, Gaur and Black Langur (Monkey).

Overnight stay will be at Periyar

Have a leisurely breakfast at the Hotel.

Today you will start at 05:30 am with a day package at Periyar. Day package at Periyar will include a short jungle trek, paddle boating at Gavi Lake, and a jeep safari. Also visit the spice plantation and spice market.

Return back to the hotel and spend your night at Periyar.

By Road
Distance 130 kms / 2 hrs

Have a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel.

Later proceed for Kumarakom.

Briefing (Kumarakom): Kumarakom is one of the top most beautiful villages in the world. Foreign guests used to think that it is like a paradise. Kumarakom is a small village in Kerala, a group of little islands on the Vembanad Lake is an enchanting backwater destination and it forms a part of the Kuttanad Region. It is an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests with emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with excellent waterways and canals adorned with while lilies. The Vembanad Lake is locale for many marine and freshwater fish species and it teems with Karimeen (Pearl spot), shrimp and prawns. The bird sanctuary extends over 14 acres, and came into existence subsequent preservation hard work from the government. It is a main tourist attraction. Kumarakom is a bird watchers paradise as it is the home to lots of migratory and resident bird species.

The backwaters of Kerala are a unique product of Kerala and are found nowhere else in the world. Backwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries and deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The backwaters of Kerala are a self supporting Eco-system teeming with aquatic life. The canals connect the villages together and are still used for local transport. Over 900 km of this labyrinthine water world is navigable.

On arrival, we take you for a visit to the famous BIRD SANCTUARY and later proceed for the houseboat.

Check into a traditional houseboat of Kerala Style and go on a backwater cruise along the lake on a thatched houseboat. You will have lunch, dinner and breakfast in the Houseboat. A ride on the houseboat is a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters.

Cruise through the backwaters towards Alleppey. Lunch will be served on the boat. The menu is simple and traditional. The boat will be anchored in the backwaters along a paddy field and you can go for a stroll into the village or relax at the deck of the boat.

Dinner will be on the boat. Overnight will be at Houseboat.

By Road
Distance 60 kms / 1 hrs

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on board.

Later disembark the boat at Alleppey which is the finishing point.

Start your drive for Cochin.

(Cochin): The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD 1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, till then a land locked region, turning it into one of the finest natural harbors in the world. Kochi thus became a haven for seafaring visitors from all over the world and became the first European town-ship in India when the Portuguese settled here in the 15th century. The Dutch wrested Fort Kochi from the Portuguese in AD 1663 and later in the last phase of the colonial saga, the British took over, the town in 1795. During 1660's.
Spend night at the hotel

Later proceed visit the Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, VOC Gate; Bastion Bungalow etc. are also nice for sightseeing. Take a boat ride in the harbour watching the dolphins playing and enjoying the city from the water.

Overnight will be at Cochin.

Enjoy a leisurely break fast.

Later proceed for a sightseeing tour of Cochin visiting the Chinese Fishing Nets, and Jewish Synagogue.

Chinese Fishing Nets: The Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles work on the principle of balance. Records say they were first set up here between AD 1350 and 1450. Vasco Da Gama Square, the narrow promenade that parallels the beach, is the best place to watch the nets being lowered and pulled out of the sea.

JEWISH SYNAGOGUE: The Jewish community traces its history to nearly 2000 years ago. In 1948 the community numbered 2500 and today there are fewer that 30 people. The community is still centered round JEWTOWN where you will visit its crown Jewel, the Paradesi Synagogue. Built in 1568 and reconstructed after a Portuguese bombardment in 1662, the synagogue is distinguished by its tile roof and bell tower.

St. Francis Church: St. Francis Church in Kochi is one of the famous churches of Kerala. Built in European style of architecture, the St. Francis Church of Kochi was built in 1503. The wooden structure was established in 1503. It is believed that Vasco Da Gama breathed his last here and his remains were kept in this church for a few years before it was shifted to Portugal. The St. Francis Xavier’s Church in Kochi is considered to be the oldest European Church in Kochi. It was constructed by Portuguese Franciscan friars. In the year 1663, the Dutch converted St. Francis Church into a protestant church from a Catholic Church. It was under their rule till 1795 and then it was accepted into the Anglican Communion of the British. Right now the St. Francis Church is a part of the Protestant Church of South India.                                                                                                                   Inside the St. Francis Church of Kochi in Kerala, you can find several inscriptions which are the anecdotes of Portuguese and Dutch rulers. Originally this church was dedicated to Santo Antonio, a priest of Portugal and later on named as St. Francis Church.

Return back to the hotel for lunch and relax for sometime.

In the evening proceed for KATHAKALI DANCE PRESENTATION. Over night stay at hotel.

Start your day with a sumptuous break fast at the hotel.

Later proceed for the hill station Ooty.

Briefing (Ooty): Ootacamund, Ooty or more recently Udhagamandalam, call it what you like, still translates to a little town set on the stepped slopes of the Niligiris, the oldest mountain range in India. Located 2240 meters, above sea level, the soothing clime and rustic setting gift Ooty a charm of its own. The verdant tea gardens and the rolling hills exude a pleasantness that will calm the high-strung city dweller and soothe his senses with the fragrance of eucalyptus and sandalwood that hangs in the air.

Reach and check in at the hotel. Relax and overnight will be at Ooty.

Enjoy a leisurely break fast.

Later proceed for the sightseeing of Ooty

Botanical Gardens: The gardens consist of 22 hectares of beautifully maintained gardens which include numerous mature species as well as an Italian and a Japanese garden. A major attraction is the fossil tree trunk believed to be 20 million years old. The gardens host an annual flower show during the third weekend of May, when you can feast your eyes on a plethora of colour and buy exotic flower seeds at a bargain price. During this weekend, car parking is in a field a kilometer away, and is an uphill walk back.

St Stephen’s Church: This is the oldest church in Ooty and was consecrated in 1830. The huge wooden beams inside came from Tipu Sultan’s palace in Srirangapatnam 120km away, hauled by a team of elephants. The mortal remains of John Sullivan, the pioneer of Ooty, lie in the cemetery behind.

Return back to the hotel and overnight.

Enjoy a leisurely break fast.

Later proceed for Coonoor and enjoy a Toy Train ride.

Briefing (Coonoor): It is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiris. It stands on a lower ridge of the main plateau at an altitude of 1839 meters. Surrounding the town are many picnic spots. In the heart of Coonoor is "Sims Park". It is a park cum botanical garden. Many species of trees and shrubs not found in Ooty are grown here. It is at an elevation of 1880 meters and occupies 12 hectares of land.

Sim's Park - The Park is situated in a deep ravine on the Northern side of Coonoor Railway Station at an elevation of 1768 to 1798 mts. The park can be divided into eight major sections. The natural shola with winding footpaths all over the higher slopes of the park is the most distinctive and picturesque feature of this park. This apart a number of individual tree specimens planted in a scattered fashion all over the place, lend a special charm to the park especially when they bloom in different seasons throughout the year.

Pomological Station - This is one of the three experimental fruit gardens in the Nilgiris maintained by the Horticultural Department. The other two are Burliar and Kallar on the Coonoor - Mettupalayam ghat road. Apples, Plums, Peaches, Lemons, Apricots and Pomegranates are grown here for the purpose of research. Surplus fruits and fruit based jams are sold to the public.

Return back to Ooty and spend night.

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed to Mysore. Reach Mysore and check into the hotel.

Briefing (Mysore): Mysore capital city of the Wodeyars, Adobe of untold grandeur and glory, where the rich heritage of the Wodeyars is carefully preserved to this day in its magnificent places, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, board shady avenues and sacred temples. Mysore Dasara is the celebration of this victory of good over evil. Mysore also has associations with the Mahabharata and King Ashoka of the 3rd century B.C. during the Wodeyar rule Mysore reached the zenith of its glory as a fabled centre of oriental splendor. 

Reach Mysore and check in at the hotel. Relax for sometime.

Later proceed for a sightseeing tour of Mysore city visiting the Mysore Palace.

Mysore Palace: The Maharaja's Palace is one of the important sights in Mysore. Built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades,the Palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. Intricately carved doors open on to luxuriously furnished rooms. The majestic Durbar Hall has an ornate ceiling and many sculpted pillars. The magnificent jewel studded golden throne of the Wodeyars is displayed here during the Dasera festival. Illuminated on Sundays and public holidays, the palace presents a spectacle of breathtaking beauty.

St. Philomena's Church: A beautiful Cathedral, reminiscent of medieval architectural style,is one of the largest churches in the country. Was built between 1933 and 1941  in the gothic style, the Church is an imposing structure with stained glass window sand lofty towers this is a miniature replica of the Cologne Cathedral, the hall is huge with stained glass windows and soaring Gothic Revival arches. The biblical scenes adorn the stained glass windows. The main feature of this church is the reclining statue of St Philomena. The statue is taken out in a procession in the city streets during the fest.

The Art Gallery: The Jaganmohan Palace was converted into an art gallery in 1875 and exhibits paintings which date back to that period. The artists of that time used natural vegetable and mineral dyes. The famous traditional Mysore 'gold leaf ' paintings are also exhibited in the gallery, as are oil paintings of contemporary artist like Raja Ravi Varma and Svetoslav Roerich.

Return back to the hotel and overnight at Mysore.

By Road
Distance 130 kms / 3 hrs

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel.

Later proceed for sightseeing tour of Mysore visiting Chamundi Hills.

Chamundi Hills: A well known 335 metres high landmark, Chamundi Hill can be reached by a 13 km road or by climbing up the 1,000 steps laid out by the Mysore Maharaja in the 17th century. Half-way up along the stone steps is Nandi, Lord Shiva's Bull, a majestic 4.8 metre monolith. At the top is the 12th century temple of Chamundeshwari, the patron goddess of the Wodeyars. Close to the temple is the gigantic statue of the demon Mahishasura. The summit offers a panoramic view of Mysore's lakes, parks and palaces.

Later proceed to Hassan visiting Shravanbelagola enroute.

Shravanbelagola: Wedged between two stark rocky hills, this legendary pilgrim center and shrine of the Jain's since early times is 51 kms south-east of Hassan. The monolithic, 27 m. high statue of Lord Bahubali is situated here. The Mahamastakabhisheka festival, an elaborate ritual, held here once every 12 years attracts thousands of devotees. During the festival the 1000 year old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron, and gold coins. The last Mahamastakabhisheka was held in 2005 A.D. Just opposite to Shravanbelagola is the smaller Chandragiri hill, where some ancient Jain temples and the tomb of Chandragupta Maurya, a famous patron of Jainism reside.

Reach Hassan and check into the hotel.

Briefing (Hassan): The scenic hill town of Hassan is located in the heart of Malnad, and is about 195 km from the capital city of Bangalore. This picturesque town is a suitable base for those who want to visit the archaeological and religious sites of Belur, Halebid and Shravanabelgola, all situated in close vicinity. And all of these form an integral part of the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka. This city was earlier named Simhasanapura and with time this name got abridged to Hassan. There is a famous temple here, in the heart of the city, built in honour of the Goddess Hasanamba, this temple is opened for the public only once in a year. This district is rich with natural sceneries and too with cultural wealth. It happens to be the confluence of three verities of areas namely the mountainous, the semi mountainous and the open field areas (Malenadu, Are Malenadu, and Bayalu Seeme). The Nandas, the Mouryas, the Kadambas, the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, the Lords of Vijaya Nagar Empire, the Kings of Belur, and the Monarchs of Mysore - thus several dynasties had their dominions over this land.

Overnight will be at Hassan.

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed for an excursion to Belur & Halebid.

Belur:  Located on the banks of the river Yagachi, Belur is a quaint hamlet famous for its exquisite temples. In fact it is also known as Dakshina Varanasi or Southern Banaras. Its celebrated temple of Channakeshava was built by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 A.D. to commemorate his conversion from Jainism to Vaishnavism. Hassan City Information and it main structure of the temple, which is star-shaped, is a homogeneous architectural unit on a raised platform. Carved out of black stone the temple looks as if it had been skillfully crafed out of metal. At the entrance the winged figure of Lord Vishnu’s carrier Garuda stands guard and the 650 elephants on the frieze around the walls outside are all different from each other. The exotic bracket figures on the walls portray the artistic and architectural talent prevalent in India even all those centuries ago.

Halebid: Halebid 27 kms north-west of Hassan is popular for its strikingly beautiful Hoysala Temples and Jain shrines. This place was known as Dwara Samudra, the wealthy capital of the Hoysalas. The Hoysaleshwara temple stands on a platform like a casket and is richly endowed with some of the most detailed scrollwork in stone. Its walls are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple is guarded by a statue of Nandi the Bull. Despite 86 years of labour the construction of the temple never got completed. Another famous temple here is the Keddareshwara temple.

Overnight will be at Hassan.

Start your day with a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel.

Later proceed for Bangalore.

Briefing (Bangalore): Capital of the Southern state of Karnataka, Bangalore today is Asia's fastest growing cosmopolitan city. It is home to some of the most high tech industries in India. Bangalore is also home to some of India's premier scientific establishments. Blessed with a salubrious climate, gardens & parks, natural lakes, architectural landmarks, shopping malls, the best restaurants and pubs in this part of the globe, business opportunities, Bangalore is the ideal gateway to India and beyond. Bangalore offers something for everyone-music and dance concerts (Western and Indian), dramas, exhibitions, carnivals, conferences and more.

Reach and check in at the hotel rest of the time will be at your own leisure.

Overnight will be at Banglore  

Start sightseeing tour of the city after breakfast.

Vidhana Soubha: This splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon Park is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat. The massive sandalwood door of the Cabinet room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building. The Vidhana Soudha is bedecked in illuminated glory during special periods and is a sight worth viewing.

Cubbon Park: This wooded and be-flowered park was laid out in the heart of the cantonment in 1864. Since then, fairy fountains, an august bandstand and a wealth of atatury have been added. But the most important aspect of Cubbon Park is its newer buildings that have added beauty and cultural wealth. Lush green lawns, shady flowering trees, vibrant flower beds, make Cubbon Park an ideal place for morning joggers and alike.

Lal Bagh: Hyder Ali laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added horticultural wealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries. The garden today houses over 1000 species of flora which include rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. The Glass House, modelled along London's Crystal Palace, is the center of attraction in this 2400-acre park. Bi-annual flower shows attracting participants from all over India is held in the Glass House.

Start your day with a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel.

Later proceed for the rest of the sightseeing of Bangalore

Tipu’s Palace & Fort: The Bangalore Fort was built by Kempe Gowda and expanded by Tipu Sultan. Within its walls is the well preserved 16th century Ganapathi Temple.
The Bangalore Palace was built by a Wodeyar king in 1887. Inspired by the Windsor castle, this palace was built in the Tudor style, complete with Gothic windows, the foiled windows, battlements and turrets resembling the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatanam, this summer palace has been constructed largely of wood and is famous for it's carving and paintings.

Rest of the day at your own leisure to explore the city and in the evening you will be met and transferred to the airport to connect your flight back home.

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