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| 12 Days Hidden Treasures of South India |
| 'PRIVATELY GUIDED' TOUR- TRAVEL ANY DAY |
Featuring Chennai- Mahabalipuram, Trichy, Tanjore, Karaikudi, Madurai, Munnar, Kumarakom Backwaters and Cochin
Extend your tour to Sri Lanka or Deccan India- Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan and Hampi
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The kings in South India patronized learning and the fine arts. A rich heritage is well preserved to sample even today. We will see the art of Chennai (Madras) and Mahabalipuram, the elaborate temples in Madurai, Tanjore and Trichy. Drive through the lush tea/spice hills of Kerala, the peaceful Backwaters and experience the Jewish Heritage in Cochin.
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Day 1
ARRIVE CHENNAI
Late night arrive into Southern India's largest city, Chennai (Madras), gateway to the sunny South. |
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Day 2
CHENNAI (B)
Tour includes visits to St. Thomas Cathedral which houses the grave of St. Thomas the Apostle and the Bronze Museum. |
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| Later a 37-mile drive to Mahabalipuram - the 'city of the seven pagodas'. See the breathtaking display of the pagodas, chiseled out of boulders in the form of temple chariots. The masterpiece is the 'Penance of Bhagirath' the world's largest bas-relief in stone.
Day 3
CHENNAI - TRICHY- TANJORE (B)
Fly to Trichy. Tour the Srirangam Temple, one of the largest and most interesting temple complexes in India. Continue drive to Tanjore (Thanjavur), home of the Chola rulers, the greatest temple builders in the south with rich heritage of Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance and traditional handicrafts. |
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Day 4
TANJORE (B)
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| Tour of Tanjore. The Brihadeeswara Temple built by Raja Chola is said to have been the tallest monument in ancient India, rising to a height of 241-ft in pyramidal form. It is rightly said of the Cholas that they conceived like giants and finished like jewelers |
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Day 5
TANJORE - KARAIKUDI (B)
Our next destination is the village of Karaikudi. Combined with 74 other villages, Karaikudi is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiars, a prosperous banking community. Their legacy is the amazing mansions built with simple materials.
Our visit also includes exploring a variety of local temples, watching the local craftsmen making the famous Chettinad tile and tasting the fabulous local cuisine.
Day 6
KARAIKUDI - MADURAI (B)
Drive to Madurai. The city planned out in the shape of a lotus with the famous Meenakshi Temple in the center. |
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| Tour of Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayak Palace and Madurai city. It is one of the biggest temple complexes in India. The five pagodas that surround the temple are known for their intricate stucco work and the 156-ft high southern gopuram is the tallest. Thirumalai Mahal Palace is constructed in Indo-Saracenic style. In the evening attend special temple prayer ceremonies. |
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Day 7
MADURAI - MUNNAR (B)
Drive today to Munnar. A misty, lush green hill station up in the Annamalai range of Kerala, Munnar (5,250 feet) is a tea plantation centre. Tea gardens, some of the highest in the world stretch up the sides of the hills and are interspersed with pockets of forest rich in wildlife.
Day 8
MUNNAR (B)
Full day explore the valley, spice and tea plantations
Day 9
MUNNAR - KUMARAKOM (BL)
Drive to the famous Kerala water canals in Kumarakom. The complex network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals form the |
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| basis of a distinct regional life-style and traveling by boat is the best way to view it. The boats cross shallow, palm-fringed lakes studded with Chinese fishing nets along narrow, shady canals where coir (coconut fiber), coconut and cashews are loaded on to boats. |
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Day 10
KUMARAKOM- COCHIN (B)
Enjoy a three-hour cruise on the Backwaters. Drive to Cochin. The Cochin harbor has been trading spices with the rest of the world for over 2000 years. In the evening witness a colorful Kathakali dance performance. |
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Day 11
COCHIN (B)
Tour of Cochin includes visit to the Jewish Synagogue, one of the oldest in India, Jewish town and the Dutch Palace, well known for its mural paintings. See the picturesque Chinese fishing nets in operation at the entrance of the Kochi Harbor; Chinese traders first brought them back from Kublai Khan's court. |
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Day 12
COCHIN - CHENNAI - HOMEBOUND (B)
Fly to Chennai and connect your homebound flight |
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Extend your tour to Sri Lanka- Dambulla/Habarana, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya
(6 Days) |
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Day 1
COCHIN - CHENNAI- COLOMBO- HABARANA or DAMBULLA
Fly to Chennai and connect flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Continue to Habarana, a small village centrally located for all the ancient city sites. One hour elephant back safari through the jungles of Habarana. |
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Day 2 HABARANA or DAMBULLA (B)
Excursion to Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first capital, founded in the 5th century B.C. Visit Mihintale, the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Day 3
HABARANA or DAMBULLA (B) |
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| Visit the rock fortress of Sigiriya, a mighty 600 ft high rock-fortress, famous for its entrancingly beautiful frescoes which are found in a sheltered pocket of the rock. Tour of the 11th to 13th century capital of Polonnaruwa. |
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Day 4 HABARANA or DAMBULLA- KANDY (B)
Drive today to Kandy visiting en route Dambulla cave temples. Continue on your drive and visit a spice garden and Batik Factory. Tour of the Temple of the much revered Temple of the Tooth relic. Also witness a Cultural Performance.
Day 5
KANDY- NUWARA ELIYA (B) |
| Tour of the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage. Drive to Nuwara Eliya stopping en route a tea factory. Tour of Nuwara Eliya. |
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Day 6 NUWARA ELIYA- COLOMBO- HOMEBOUND (B)
Drive today to Colombo airport and connect homebound flight.
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| Extend your tour to Deccan India- Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan and Hampi (6 Days) |
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Day 1
COCHIN - BANGALORE - MYSORE |
Fly to Bangalore, capital of Karnataka State. This well-planned city is home to India's main Information Technology hub, aircraft, telephone industries and is popularly known as the 'Silicon Valley' of India. Tour Bangalore and continue drive to Mysore, visiting en route the beautiful temple at Somnathpur. |
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Day 2 MYSORE (B)
Tour of the Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hill and visit the summer palace of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatnam.
Day 3
MYSORE - HASSAN (B) |
Drive to Hassan visiting en route Sravanabelagola, said to be the tallest monolithic structure in the world. Tour of Belur and Halebid temples. |
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Day 4 HASSAN - HOSPET (B)
Our next destination is Hospet, the base of our explorations into the Hampi ruins.
Day 5
HOSPET (B) |
Tour of the world heritage Hampi ruins. |
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Day 6 HOSPET - HUBLI - BANGALORE - HOMEBOUND (B)
Drive to Hubli airport for your flight to Bangalore and connect your homebound flight.
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| Click-here to see additional 'Tour Extension' ideas |
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