Best of South India

Day 03 : Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry
This morning after breakfast, drive to Pondicherry and transfer to hotel.
City tour of Pondicherry
Places of interest are Sri Aurobindo Ashram Auroville - the brain child of the mother and designed by French Architect roger Anger, AuroVille was meant to be an experiment in international living where man and women could live in peace and progress harmony with each other above all creeds.
Overnight : Hotel.

Day 04 : Pondicherry - Swami Malai
This morning after breakfast, drive to Swami Malai and enroute visit Chidambram, Gangaikonda, Cholapuram and upon arrival, check into the hotel.
Swami Malai is a ethnic Village Resort.
Overnight : Hotel.

Day 05 : Swami Malai - Tanjore - Trichy
This morning after breakfast drive to Tanjore visiting enroute Srirangam & Trichy and upon arrival, check into the hotel.
Srirangam: 5 kms from Trichy, located in an island is Srirangam. Surrounded by the Kaveri water is a 600 acre island town enclosed within the seven walls on the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple. There are no less than 22 gopurams, one of which is the tallest in India. The 72 m high 13 tiered gopuram dominates the landscape for miles around. Later visit Trichy

The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the Kaveri river, Trichy's most famed land mark is an 84 m high rock, one of the oldest in the world aprox.3,800 million years. The attraction is not for fort itself but the temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where are the inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C.
Later proceed on a City tour of Tanjore
Tanjore (Thanjavur) is famous for Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance and traditional hadicrafts and the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect's marvel.
Overnight : Hotel.

Day 06 : Trichy - Madurai
This morning after breakfast, drive to Madurai and transfer to hotel.
Madurai, known as Athens of the East, it is the second largest city on the banks of the River Vigai. The city believed to be more than 2500 yeras old. The city got its name from the drops of nectar (Mathuram) that fell from Shiva's locs when he came to bless its people for constructing a temple for him.
City tour of Madurai
Visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams – (rising high above the surrounding countryside). Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace – a gracious building in the Indo-Saracenic style, famous for the stucco work on its domes and arches.
Overnight : Hotel.

Day 07 : Madurai - Rameshwaram or Kodaikanal - Madurai
This morning after breakfast proceed to Rameshwaram- the most sacred temple town of India is an island hallowed by the epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama is said to have visited before going into battle of Srilanka. Legend has it that Lord Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash to bring a Lingam for worship when he set foot after defeating Ravana. As Hanuman did not return when the auspicious hour was approaching, Sita made a sand Lingam so that worship could be performed in time, which is where the present day Ramanatha Swamy Temple stands close to sea on the eastern side of the island. One of the twelve Jyotirlingam shrines is also well known for its magnificent corridors and the massive sculptured pillars lining them.
In the evening return to Madurai
Overnight : Hotel.

Day 08 : Madurai - Kanya Kumari - Kovalam
This morning after breakfast drive to Kovalam visiting enroute Kanya Kumari and upon arrival, check into the hotel
Kanya Kumari(Cape Comorin), the last end of India where three Oceans meet.
Rest of the day free at leisure
Overnight : Hotel

Day 09: Kovalam
This morning proceed on a city sightseeing tour.
Kovalam, the international beach Resort with full of Coconut trees. It is an internationally renowned beach of Kerala, with three adjacent crescent beaches. Kovalam has been a favorite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful Bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse - sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programs, Catamaran cruising etc.
Evening enjoy on the beach.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 10: Kovalam - Periyar
This morning after breakfast drive to Periyar and upon arrival, check into the hotel.
Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Periyar to view wildlife.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 11: Periyar - Kottayam
This morning after breakfast drive to Alleppey and upon arrival, check into the houseboat.
Thereafter, switch over to the House Boat and cruise along the backwaters, passing through paddy fields, villages, market etc. The cruise is through `Kuttanad' literally meaning the land which is lower than the sea level but is kept intact by its bunds and dikes. It is the 'rice bowl' of Kerala. The rice fields are very beautiful and this lush land and surrounds governs the placid way of life of the people who live on the backwaters.
Overnight : Houseboat

Day 12: Alleppey - Cochin
This morning after breakfast drive to Cochin and upon arrival, check into the hotel
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 13: Cochin
Cochin - the palmgreen commercial town of Kerala has one of the finest natural harbours in the world.
The Chinese fishing nets can be seen at the entrance of the harbour. The Chinese through trade contact taught this technique of catching fish.
City tour of Cochin
Visit the Dutch palace, Jewish Synagogue, chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Church. Also visit the Hill Palace Museum which displays articles of archeological importance
Evening witness Kathakali Dance Show in a Theatre.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 14: Cochin - Ooty (280 Kms / 7-8 Hrs)
After breakfast drive to Ooty and upon arrival check in to Hotel.
Ooty : The 'Queen of southern hill resorts', is a hill station situated at a height of 7349 feet above sea level in the Nilgiri mountain ranges in Tamil Nadu. Also known as Udhagamandalam, it is known for its salubrious climate and scenic beauty, with breathtaking views of tea-plantations and undisturbed grassy meadows.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 15: Ooty - Coonoor
After breakfast visit the Tea plantations and cherish the scenic beauty of Ooty "The Queen of southern hill resorts".
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 16: Ooty - Mysore
This morning drive to Mysore and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon depart for half-day city tour, visit Vrindavan Garden Like Mughal Pattern, Vrindavan Garden is built step by step below the dam. Fountain, Flower beds, topiary-all have made the environment beautiful and romantic. In the evening the garden is illuminated and it looks more beautiful and also the fountains of the garden are operated rhythymically with music.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 17: Mysore - Srirangapatnam
This morning drive to Srirangapatnam and transfer to hotel.
Later visit Somnathpur Temple and Srirangapatnam.
Rest of the day free at laisure
Overnight : Hotel

Day 18: Mysore - Hassan
This morning after breakfast drive to Hassan and check into hotel.
Later visit Belur and Halebid Temples.
Overnight :Hotel

Day 19: Hassan - Sravanbelgola-Bangalore
After breakfast drive to Bangalore and enroute visit Shravanbelgola and upon arrival, check into the hotel.
The name conjures up images of great monolithic statue of Gomateshwara or Lord Bahubali. The colossal statue, carved from granite is the worlds tallest images creation of art which is 58.6 feet in high. Chavundandaraya, the Ganga general is said to have taken the enormous task in establishing the statue on the to of Vindhyagiri hills. The statue established around 1000 years back is a symbol of peace, tolerance and nonvoilsence. The statue is clearly visible from a distance of 15 km. One has to climb hundreds of steps chiseled out in the rock to reach the statue. There are two hillocks in Shravanabelagola- Vindhyagiri or Doddabetta and Chandragiri or Chikkabetta. Vindhyagiri is the larger of the two where the statue is located, over looks Chandragiri, where large number of basadies including Chavuvdaraya basadi, Chandragupta basadi, Parshwanatha basadi, Bhadrabahu cave, Mahanavami mantapa etc are situated.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 20: Bangalore - Mumbai
This morning after breakfast Transfer to Bangalore airport to board the flight to Mumbai. On arrival at Mumbai transfer to hotel. Afternoon proceed on a city tour of Mumbai.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 21: Mumbai
In time transfer to airport to board the flight for your onward journey to back home with sweet and unforgettable memories of your Vardhman's 'Best of South India Tour' escorted by Vardhman Vacations.