Trails of South India

Upon arrival at Chennai International airport, meet and assistance by our office representative, followed by a transfer to Mahababalipuram. Check-in your hotel, Evening spent at the beach. Overnight stay.

After breakfast explore the seaside town of Mahabalipuram, port of the Pallava kings in the 5th to 8th centuries. Along the shore lies a stunning series of temples and sculptures, carved from the living rock 1,200 years ago. Unlike many Hindu temples, the rocks show scenes of everyday life. Check-in your hotel and later go visit with your guide the magnificent Shore temple, symbolising the heights of Pallava architecture and the maritime ambitions of their kings. Go explore the masterpiece of Mahabalipuram’s Rock cut caves representing the scenes of Hindu myths and finish by the site of the Five Rathas. Each of these temples were named after one of the Pandavas, the five hero-brothers of the epic Mahabharata. Afternoon at leisure, evening explore the seafood in local restaurants. Overnight stay.

After breakfast check-out, head to Pondicherry. Settled by the French in the 18th century, this colonial town retains a tranquil atmosphere with some French architecture aesthetic. En-route guided tour at Auroville, situated outskirts of the town, this spiritual community was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and a French-born woman known as ‘the Mother’. You will be taken through the visitor’s center and a few of the Auroville units which innovatively work on paper, textile, bamboo and stones. Pass by the Matri mandir (the meditation centre) and learn from those who choose to join, build and live this unique lifestyle. Enjoy a lunch at Solar kitchen - the community Kitchen for the inmates and understand the unique living here, based on universal harmony. Evening at Leisure, explore the town on your own. Overnight stay at Hotel.

After breakfast, take a Guided stroll through the street of Pondicherry, passing through the French, Tamil and Ashram quarter. The wide mix of culture has created a fusion of diversity in the air of Pondy, rooted deep within its stories, its fine architecture and friendly people. The culinary landscape of Pondicherry is therefore highly colourful, tasty and eclectic, but still remain the traces of tradition, see the Ganesha temple around or search for inspiration at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram bookshop. Hotel Check-out, Afternoon Board your train from Villupuram railway station to Madurai.

Pick up from Madurai railway station , Check-in your hotel. Evening leave the hotel by auto-rickshaw, take a visit of the temple and attend the night ceremony when the temple bronze of Lord Shiva is carried to the bed chamber of Parvati. Have a dinner on a roof-top with views on the Gopurams of the Meenakshi temple. Return to your hotel. Overnight stay.

After breakfast, Start your day with a guided walking tour and go deep into the real life of this Tamil rooted oldest city. Walk in the narrow streets flanked by flowers and bananas stands, interact with local people, watch people milking cows by hand and stroll down in the bazaars. Learn with your guide the 5000 years old legends of this busting city while having a meter tea from the corner tea stall. On your way pass by the biggest flower market in the southern region which transacts as much as 10 tons of flowers in a day, mainly the reputed Madurai malli (Jasmine). Followed by visit the sprawling Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, 17th century palace of the emperor of the Nayak dynasty and capture its hybrid Dravidian-Islamic style. Follow with a meaty feast at the local spot Kumar Mess and try their spicy Biryani. Afternoon at Leisure, Overnight stay at Hotel.

After your breakfast at your hotel and check-out, take a beautiful drive to Thekkady, down to the green mountains of the Nilgiris, rubber, coffee and cardamom plantations will follow. Check-in your hotel. Late afternoon enjoy a spice plantation tour, Followed by Elephant ride in the plantation. There are many factors that make the plantation experience a memorable one, it could be the unassuming beauty of the tiny flowers of the cardamom that grow at the base of the plant, the tantalising aroma of cinnamon or cloves, and the cool breeze that lovingly strokes the green plantations. Overnight stay at Hotel.

After breakfast enjoy a boat ride at Periyar tiger reserve, visitors stand a better chance of viewing wildlife as the animals come to the lake frequently for drinking water. You may be able to spot herds of Gaur, Sambar and wild boars in the grasslands adjacent to the shores. A variety of avian fauna such as darters, egrets and kingfishers can be seen resting on dead tree trunks that stick out over the lake. This afternoon explore the neighbouring villages and plantation of Theykkady on a guided Bicycle tour. Back to hotel, Overnights stay at Hotel.

Breakfast at hotel, Check-out and proceed to Alleppey, board your private Houseboat by noon, for an enchanting cruise through the Backwaters. These boats are a reworked version of kettuvallams of olden times -once used to carry tons of rice and spices, today are converted into comfortable floating accommodation. Cruise through the palm fringed canals enjoying the beauty of rural village life. A sumptuous Keralan Meal is served on board. The trip continues through a wonderful area of the lush green vegetation of Kerala backwaters. Tea and Local snacks are served. Dinner and overnight stay on Board

Breakfast on board, Check-out and proceed to Cochin. Check-in hotel, Afternoon you will experience the real local life of Cochin during an Ethnic tour – start with the visit of the famous Chinese Fishing Nets of Cochin. The huge cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that droop towards the waters like over-sized hammocks have become a hallmark that represents Fort Kochi on every postcard... Next visit is at the St. Francis CSI Church, the oldest European church in India built in 1503, where the Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama was originally buried and pass by the finest Santa cruz Basilica. Take a tuk tuk – the most popular mode of transport among the localities, go along with your local tour and stop at the Dhobi Khana (laundry station), once throbbing with activity, it is now a picture of slow extinction. Continue through the small streets of Mattanchery, and arrive at the Fruit market on Palace road where locals get a variety of fresh and organic produces at bargains prices. Don’t miss a stop at the Spice Market, where exotic odors of the finest ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric and pepper emanate from the spice warehouses lining the street. Visit the Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town, and finally stop at the Dutch Palace with its beautiful mural paintings from the 17th century. Later in the evening, discover the famous dance drama of Kerala, the “Kathakali”. This dance can be characterized by grotesque gesticulations, amazing costumes and very extensive make-up. The stories are mostly taken from the epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Overnight stay at the hotel

Time to say good bye. After breakfast transfer to the Cochin International airport to connect your flight back home.