Duration : 15 Nights / 16 Days
Places Covered : Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry -
Gangakondacholapuram - Darasuram - Swamimalai - Dindugal - Madurai - Kovalam
- Kumarakom - Cochin
Day 01 : Chennai
Arrival
at Chennai and transfer to Hotel Taj Connemara.
Day 02 : Chennai - Mahabalipuram
Visit Chennai city, Fort St George and Museum. Afternoon to Dakshinachitra
Cultural Village and O/N at Mahabalipuram.
Day 03 : Mahabalipuram
Morning sightseeing of Mahabalipuram's 7th century rock cut shore temples.
Afternoon drive to Pondicherry. O/N at Le Dupleix/ De L Orient,
Day 04 : Pondicherry
Morning city tour covering the French Quarter of Pondicherry and Museum.
O/N at Le Dupleix / De L Orient
Day 05 : Gangakondacholapuram - Darasuram
Drive to Gangakondacholapuram and Darasuram 10th Century Temples. O/N at
Swamimalai Heritage Resort
Day 06 : Swamimalai
Day at Swamimalai experiencing traditional crafts such as bronze statue
making and pottery. Evening Cultural Programme. O/N at Swamimalai.
Day 07 : Karaikudi
Visit Pullamangai Temple, Tanjore Temple and Museum. Drive to Karaikudi
district to visit old merchants houses build in traditional style. You can
also visit the Chettinad Palace O/N at Mansion Mansion.
Day 08 : Dindugal
Drive
3 hrs to Dindugal and check into Cardamom House, a quiet traditional home on
the banks of the Kamaraj Lake at the foot of the Western Ghats. The nearby
village offers the opportunity to see
Day to
Day life of Tamil people. O/N at Cardamom House.
Day 09 : Madurai
Drive to Madurai and check into Taj Garden / Fortune Pandiyan Retreat.
Afternoon visit Nayak Palace, Gandhi Museum and Meenakshi Temple.
Day 10 : Kovalam
Drive to Kovalam en route visiting Padmanabapuram Teak Palace, the only
Teak palace in India. O/N at Chowra Beach near Kovalam at Travancore
Heritage.
Day 11 : Kovalam
Relax at the Beach. O/N at Travancore Heritage.
Day 12 : Thottapally
Morning drive to Thottapally, enroute visiting Krishnapuram Palace and
check into your traditional Kettuvallam Houseboat. Travel through the lush
green backwaters of Kerala observing the traditional lifestyle of the
Keralites. You will see Temples, fishing, people tending their crops and
coconut plantations as you drift through the canals. A unique and totally
relaxing experience. O/N on board the houseboat.
Day 13 : Kerala
Your houseboat will drop you at Coconut Lagoon Backwater Resort on the
banks of the backwaters. Traditional Keralan cottages have been
reconstructed in this secluded spot. O/N at Coconut Lagoon.
Day 14 : Alleppey - Cochin
Transfer
by motor boat to Alleppey and drive to Cochin. Afternoon sightseeing of Fort
Cochin, Jewtown, Mattancherry Palace. Evening Kathakali Dance Performance
O/N Heritage Fort - / Malabar House / Brunton Boatyard.
Day 15 : Cochin
Morning visit the Hilltop Palace and have a traditional lunch at the home
of renowned Malabar Chef Mrs Nimmy Paul. In the evening watch a
demonstration of Kalaripayyatu traditional Keralan Martial Arts. Overnight
in Cochin
Day 16 : Cochin
Departure transfer to Cochin airport for onward journey.
