South India Splendors
Destinations: Madras, Mamamallapuram, Pondicherry, Auroville, Tanjore, Trichy, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Munnar, Cochin
Fondly remembered experiences, unforgettable thrills and remarkable insights are to be gained from this comprehensive tour of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Beginning at historic Chennai and ending at endearing Cochin, Southern Splendors is like no other tour. Experience ancient culture and architecture on the Tamil Nadu leg. Feel invigorated by the backwaters and beaches in Kerala. With Hi-Life Tours, live your dreams.
Day 01: Arrive Chennai
Arrive
Chennai International airport. Upon arrival at International Airport, you
will be met by Our friendly Local Representative, after a traditional
'Swagat' (Indian welcome consisting of Aarti-Tikka and garlands) our
representative would assist you at airport & transfer to your beach
resort at historic Mamallapuram, just outside the city of Chennai. After
lunch and relaxation, set out to enjoy the seventh century town, which has
a vast beach line. On a sightseeing tour, marvel at the stone-made
sculptures, caves, chariots and temples of the Pallava period. You will
also visit Arjuna's Penance - the largest bas-relief in the world.
Day 02: Mamamallapura
After a
buffet breakfast, the day is free. Enjoy the sun and surf anywhere at the
twenty-kilometer stretch of Golden beach. Go to a crocodile farm and see
about 1500 of the amphibians flourish in captivity.
Day 03: Mamamallapuram to Pondicherry - Visit
Auroville Town
After breakfast, we drive to Pondicherry -
a city with a unique Anglo-French background. After lunch, visit the world
famous Aurobindo Ashram - abode of the twentieth century saint and
philosopher Sri Aurobindo. Later, visit Auroville town - an o asis of
peace and enlightenment designed by the French architect, Roger Anger. You
would find the town living up to its designer's mission of making people
realize the merits of human unity.
Day 04: Pondicherry to Tanjore - Visit a World
Heritage Monument
After breakfast, we drive to Tanjore,
the 'rice bowl' of Tamil Nadu. Arrive at Tanjore by afternoon and occupy
your resort. Relax. In the evening we take you on a tour of this historic
town. Ancient capital of the Cholas - one of the greatest dynasties of
South India - Tanjore is dotted with no fewer than seventy-four temples.
In the evening, we visit the Brahadeswara Temple - a World Heritage
Monument. Enjoy the architecture. Also be awed by the majesty of the
palaces and art gallery attached to this temple.
Day 05: Tanjore to Trichy - Visit Rock Fort
Temple
After breakfast drive to Trichy. Trichy is along
the beautiful Cauvery River; enjoy the landscapes on your route. Arrive by
afternoon in Trichy - the city blessed by a fine blend of history,
religion and commercial activity. In the evening, we visit Rock Fort
temple - a boulder of giant proportions perched on top of a hill, with
images carved into it. Take a deep breath and climb the 437 odd steps from
the entrance to the summit.
Day 06: Trichy - Visit Sri Rangam Temple
After breakfast, the day is free. Opt for a shopping tour in the city
where you are sure to find enough mementos with local flavor to take home.
Otherwise, just relax in the comforts of your resort.
In the evening, visit Sri Rangam Temple sprawled on an island in the river Cauvery. Gaze up at the twenty-one magnificent towers of the temple surrounded by seven walls. Mind you, this temple was built around the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
Day 07: Trichy to Madurai - Visit the amazing
Meenakshi Temple Complex
After breakfast, we set out to
Mad urai. You are about to enter a very special city. Madurai is over 2500
years old and is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu. Ancient seat of
learning, the city is planned in the shape of a lotus. Check in to your
hotel at Madurai by noon.
After lunch, in the afternoon, visit the famous Madurai Meenakshi Temple. There are four entrances to this amazing temple complex set in six hectares. Marvel at the truly majestic towers, twelve of them, pointing skywards at 45 to 50 metres. Beat some of the stone pillars in the complex with any hard object and feel incredible on hearing sweet metal sounds.
You now know why they are called musical pillars. By the way, the total
number of pillars in the temple is a staggering one thousand. Enjoy a
light and sound spectacle and back to the hotel by 8 p.m.
Day 08: Madurai to Kanyakumari - Watch Majestic Sunset
After an early breakfast, we drive to Kanyakumari - India's land's end.
You can enjoy the long drive in the air-conditioned comfort vehicle.
Arrive at Kanyaku mari - the confluence of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea
and the Bay of Bengal - by afternoon and check into your hotel. Leave your
hotel in time to watch the glorious sunset from the seashore. On a full
moon day, observe, with disbelief, the sunset and moonrise simultaneously.
This spectacle can be witnessed nowhere else in India.
Day 09: Kanyakumari to Kovalam
Awake in time to see the stunning sunrise view in the Bay of Bengal. After
breakfast, board a boat to the just offshore Vivekananda Memorial -
located on a huge rock, in memory of Swami Vivekananda, the Great Indian
spiritual leader. Back to the mainland by forenoon. Time to drive to
Kovalam - the famous palm-fringed beach. Arrive at Kovalam in the
afternoon and check into your beach resort.
Day 10: Kovalam
A full day at
the Kovalam beach. The day's plans are for you to chart. Shall we suggest
some: Kattamaram (traditional boat) fishing trip. Enjoy the hospitality
and overnight at your resort.
Day 11: Kollam Gateway - Cruise on a houseboat
to Kumarakom
After breakfast, we will take you to Kollam
- gateway to Ashtamudi backwaters - to start out on an enchanting,
exciting houseboat cruise to Kumarakom via Alappuzha.
Your houseboat is a typically huge traditional boat made of Anjili wood. It has two attached bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen, toilet, and balcony. On board, enjoy the scenery and serenity around while relishing a fine lunch by the chef of the boat. Glide through dreamy landscapes till nightfall.
Then, the boat casts anchor right in the middle of the romantic
waterway. Wow! It is cool blue waters, a blue sky and a starry night. This
is one of those moments when Hi-Life makes your dreams happen. It goes
without saying that you overnight on the boat.
Day 12: Onto Kumarakom - Still on the houseboat
At six 'o' clock in the morning there is slight ripple as your boat sets
sail again. Before long, the gong strikes to announce it is breakfast
time. You n ow meander through narrow canals, come across huge acres of
paddy fields, cause a flutter among children of a coir processing village,
take deviation to avoid a tiny island in the middle of your way, go past
Chinese Fishing Nets… Well, enter Kumarakom backwaters without
knowing that many hours have passed since the breakfast gong. Check into
the resort. Relax, if you need any more relaxation. In the evening, enjoy
a Kalaripayattu - martial arts - performance.
Day 13: Kumarakom to Thekkady
After an early breakfast, we drive you to t he Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Arrive at the Sanctuary by noon and check into your hotel. A little later,
we take you on a memorable boat ride through Lake Periyar in the heart of
the sanctuary. Come across elephants and bison grazing on the banks. You
can also opt for an elephant safari through the forest, if you are
interested.
Day 14: Thekkady to Munnar
After breakfast, we drive to picturesque Munnar - the tea
garden hill station. En-route you pass through one of the most scenic
landscapes in the world. Be enamored by the heavenly charm. Reach Munnar
by afternoon. Check into your resort. Relax. In the evening, we take you
for shopping in the provincial but exotic town centre. Fresh tea,
cardamom, pepper and other spices are available. Get back to the comforts
of your hotel by 8 p.m.
Day 15: Munnar - Visit Eravikulam National Park
After breakfast, we drive you in and around Munnar on a sight seeing tour.
Take a boat ride at Mattupetty dam.
Visit the Eravikulam National
Park to catch a glimpse of and endangered species of mountain goats called
Nilgiri Tahr. Take snaps. Visit sandalwood forests at Marayoor - the
highest peak in Munnar. Here, see valleys where Neelakurinji, a type of
violet flower (Strobilanthus) blooms once in twelve years.
Day 16: Munnar to Cochin
After
breakfast, we drive you to Cochin - 'the Queen of the Arabian Sea'. Arrive
by afternoon. Check into your hotel. Lunch, and have a siesta. In the
evening we take you on a downtown-shopping trip. Later, visit a Kathakali
centre to experience the most popular performing art of Kerala. There is
an enlightening 'Mudra (gestures) & Make-up' demonstration too.
Day 17: Experience Fascinating Cochin
Breakfast, and get ready for full day trip in and around Cochin. First,
you board a luxury boat that takes you to Fort Cochin and Mattancherry
where you can trace the past of Cochin. Visit the Jewish Synagogue at
Mattancherry, considered to be the oldest in India. At Fort Cochin see the
historic St. Francis Church built in 1510 by Portuguese priests. Back to
the mainland by noon. After lunch get ready for your final, and perhaps
the most unforgettable, experience at Cochin. Set out on a country craft
canal cruise. Amaze at life's pace (or lack of it) in rural Kerala. Get a
closer look at coir processing, duck farming and the tapping of toddy
(country liquor from coconut palms). Drink tender coconut water - perhaps
the world's healthiest and sweetest natural drink. Or, get tipsy with a
bottle of toddy.
Day 18: Depart Cochin
Tour
concludes. T4U thank you for your patronage and ensure a punctual transfer
to International Airport to catch the flight back home
