Traditional South India

15 days

Heritage Walking Tour

Sightseeing

Culinary experience

Wild life

14 Nights accommodation on Twin sharing basis.

Breakfast on all days except the day of arrival.

All three major meals (Lunch, Dinner & Breakfast) during stay at Rajakkadu and on board house boat.

£

3350.00
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What's Included

-14 Nights accommodation on Twin sharing basis.

- Breakfast on all days except the day of arrival.

- All three major meals (Lunch, Dinner & Breakfast) during stay at Rajakkadu and on board house boat.

-  English speaking Local guide for Sightseeing of Mahabalipuram ,Kancheepuram, Pondichery, Tanjore, Chettinadu , Madurai & Cochin inclusive of Monument entrances.

- Local assistance for the visits of Chidambaram , Darasuram & Trichy.

- Rikshaw ride at Pondichery.

- Bullock cart ride at Chettinadu.

- Night ceremony at Meenakhi temple Madurai.

- Common boatride at Periyar.

- Kalaripyattu – martial art show at Periyar.

- Halfday visit to Kmbam at Periyar.

- Kathakali dance show at a local theatre in Cochin.

- Cooking demonstration followed by dinner with local family in Cochin.

- All transfers and sightseeing using AC Innova for 02 – 03 Pax , AC Tempo traveller fro 04-07 Pax.

- Assistance on arrival and departure at Chennai & Cochin airport.

- 02 Bottles (500 Ml) of packaged drinking water during all transfers and sightseeing.

- Currently applicable taxes.

What's Not Included

No airfare is included in the quote.

No vehicle at disposal while on board house boat.

All Visits in the itinerary may vary subject to local conditions / festivals / holidays of the day of operations.

No meals envisaged on day 01.

Availability

All year

Contact us today to personalise this tour

Itinerary

Day One:

Arrive Chennai. Transfer to Mahabalipuram

Morning: Arrive Chennai by flight, you will be welcomed by our representative at the airport and whisked away to your waiting transport and proceed to Hotel in Mahabalipuram.

Afternoon: Afternoon visit Shore Temple, one of the oldest temples in South India and other stone carvings and rock-cut temples - Arjuna`s Penance- the largest Bas Relief whale-back shaped rock which has figures of Gods, demigods, men, beasts, birds and infants carved into it, representing the entire creation. Visit the Five Rathas. At the end of the tour, as a special activity we will also visit a sculpture studio to know more in detail about sculpturing.

Evening: Over night at Mahabalipuram

Day Two:

Mahabalipuram – Kancheepuram – Mahabalipuram

Morning: After breakfast drive to Kancheepuram. The City of Thousand Temples is one of the seven sacred cities and considered as the second holiest place in India. The great Buddhist Vhikku Bodhidharma lived and worked here. Kancheepuram is also famous for its hand-woven silk fabrics.

Afternoon: Enjoy a lunch at Kanchi Kudil, a traditional house, a typical South Indian meal served (vegetarian). Afternoon return to Mahabalipuram.

Evening: At the beaches / own. Over night at hotel.

Day Three:

Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry

Morning and Afternoon: After breakfast proceed to Pondichery. Enroute you may visit the town of Auroville, an oasis of peace and enlightenment.

Evening: Overnight at Pondicherry.

Day Four:

AM Heritage walking tour; Evening Rikshaw ride

Morning and Afternoon: The heritage walk was designed to highlight Pondicherry’s rich architectural heritage. Today, tourists and residents can still enjoy this exploration of the Tamil and French Quarters. The French Heritage walk takes you through streets that are laid out in a well planned grid pattern. The buildings in the French section are easily recognizable by their ornate gateways arches, garden courtyards with multicoloured bougainvilleas and the buildings painted in pleasant hues of lime and peach. The grand French names through unpronounceable, adds a certain charm.

Evening: In the evening stroll through the French street of Pondicherry by Bi-Cycle Rickshaw. Overnight at Pondicherry.

Day Five:

Pondichery to Tanjore via Chidambaram and Darasuram

Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to Tanjore via Chidambaram and Darasuram. Take around the surround and proceed to Darasuram. Visit Swamimalai bronze gallery and Darasuram weavers. Later drive to Tanjavur.

Afternoon: Late afternoon visit the most spectacular of Tanjore temples, the Brihadishwara capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite rock weighing 80 tons.Also visit Saraswati Mahal Library and Art Gallery with a large collection of Chola bronzes- a unique example of Hindu architecture.

Evening: Overnight at Tanjor-e.

Day Six:

Tajore to Chettinadu / Karaikudi

Morning: After breakfast proceed to Chettinadu.

Afternoon: Afternoon visit the Chettinad Palace and Temples. Also it is worth visiting Athangudi tiles factory and the local cottage industries. Opportunity to experience a bullock cart ride at Karaikudi.

Evening: Over night at Chettinad.

Day Seven:

Chettinadu / Karaikudi to Madurai – Afternoon Sightseeing and Night ceremony

Morning: After breakfast, by 10am, drive to Madurai (80 km / 2 hrs).

Afternoon: Visit the Tirumalanayak palace and Gandhi Museum.

Evening: In the evening witness night ceremony at Meenakhi Temple. Overnight at Madurai.

Day Eight:

Madurai to Rajakkad

Morning and Afternoon: Drive to Rajakkad Estate at Manjelparappu near Dindigul. Visit the Pallam Palace. Pallam Palace is the house that sits at the heart of the old Rajakkad plantation. A small garden hotel with 7 unique bedrooms within an 18th century wooden structure that perfectly expresses its rich architectural heritage. At 1000 meters above sea level and set in the foothills of the Western Ghats, Rajakkad Estate offers a sense of serenity and tranquillity. For the traveller seeking a world apart or for the explorer in search of adventure there can be no better setting. As for those in search of peace, look no further.

Evening: Overnight at Cochin.

Day Nine:

Rajakkad Estate, Manjelparappu

Day: Day at leisure to enjoy the nature or there are a number of excursions - accompanied by the estate guide: walks up the river through rocky gorges, beneath the spreading canopy of the trees and over escarpments with views in all directions; visits the nearby coffee plantation and the surrounding hills with waterfalls and quiet pools where one can swim and enjoy total peace. Lunch at Rajakkad Estate.

Night: Dinner and Overnight at Rajakkad Estate.

Day Ten:

Rajakkad Estate ,Manjelparappu /Periyar

Morning: Drive to Periyar. Periyar is South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary, encompassing an area of 777 sq km. Set on the attractive man-made Periyar Lake; it attracts over 300,000 visitors a year. Though the sanctuary was made a part of Project Tiger in 1973, it is better known for its elephants.

Afternoon: Enjoy common boat ride at Lake Periyar.

Evening: Witness Kalaripayattu show - It’s a gift to the modern world and known as the mother of all martial arts.Overnight at Periyar.

Day Eleven:

Periyar/ Kambam village experience/Periyar

Morning: Pick up from Hotel.  Start your 10 KM, downhill cycling or travel by vehicle towards Tamilnadu lowlands. 7 Km ride through Vegetable Farm lands, stop at Vine yards, Your expedition manager will explain you about the cycle of crops used, yield, Market for products, supports by govt etc. The local life in Tamilnadu highly depends on agriculture and the produce is sold to other states, Including Kerala. Later Leave your cycles on the Rack and drive 18 Km towards farmers Market. Stop at a Typical Tamil Restaurant for breakfast have a go on the local delicacy or have your packed Breakfast. Reach Farmers Market, Enjoy the sight of fair trade and understand the magnitude of the business. Pick up vegetables from the market to cook your salad for Lunch.

Afternoon: Walk through the Tamil streets to see the beautiful ‘ Kolam’ drawn at the front of every house, you will be explained on the tradition and significance of the culture. Later visit Krishna Coffee –a local coffee grinding center. You could pick up coffee powder from hear. Visit Local Govt Kindergarten. Walk through the Bazaar. You will be shifted to a Bullock cart for a 3 Km cart ride through the vegetable farms to reach the farm house. Welcome drink will be served to and later you can freshen up at the farm house. Prepare your own salad and later enjoy typical Tamil Lunch at the farm house. You will reach back Periyar by 1430 hrs. Rest of the day at leisure.

Evening: Overnight at Periyar.

Day Twelve:

Periyar to Back waters – Overnight on House boat

Morning: After a leisurely breakfast proceed to Back waters. After breakfast proceed to Alleppey to Board the Houseboat by noon and cruise through the tranquil backwaters, wider and narrow canals passing by lush green paddy fields, villages, temples, churches, rustic houses etc. giving you opportunity to view the life on the backwaters –it beats at its own gentle rhythm. You will step into a different world altogether – this will surely be one of the wonderful experience of the tour. HOUSEBOATS, popularly known as “Kettuvalam” is converted from a traditional rice barge. While cruising through the backwaters you will see the glimpses of village life of the people living around the backwater area. You may watch palm-lined bank and narrow strips of land that separate the waterways and the constant quiet traffic of vallam (small boats) are typical.

Afternoon: Traditional Kerala cuisine will be served on board.

Evening: Dinner onboard. Overnight onboard house boat.

Day Thirteen:

Disembark from house boat and drive to Cochin

Morning and Afternoon: After breakfast disembark from house boat at Kumarakom hotel by 09 AM. Drive to Cochin (65 Km / 02 Hrs)

Evening: Visit to a nearby theatre to witness Kathakali dance. The Kathakali is the famous art form of Kerala with elaborate make up for the artists, each performance based on a story. It will be interesting to watch from the time the artist starts the makeup. Overnight at the hotel.

Day Fourteen:

Sightseeing of Cochin and evening cooking demonstration followed by Dinner with a Family

Morning: In the morning, your guide takes you to Fort Cochin to visit The St Francis Church, the oldest European Church in India ,where Vasco de Gama the first European traveller to India was originally buried here. Also visit the Chinese fishing nets believed to be brought to Kochi by the Chinese Traders.. After Fort cochin , take an Autorikshaw ride (commonly known as Tuk Tuk) to Mattancherry (10 minutes).Dutch Palace (Closed on Fridays) at Mattancherry is renowned for its wall murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana. The Jewish Synagogue (Friday and Saturday closed) at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town. A walk through the jew street is a pleasing experience.

Afternoon: Afternoon at Leisure / time to stroll around the colonial city of Fort Kochi.

Evening: Drive to a Syrian Christian family to experience a traditional Kerala cuisine with a cooking demonstration. This evening you will have Sea food dining experience with  the traditional flavours and preparations of Kerala Cuisine. Overnight at Cochin.

Day 15 Cochin to Cochin airport (45 Km / 01.5 Hrs)

After breakfast in time transfer to Cochin international airport.

Tour Ends

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