SPECTACULAR SOUTH

ITINERARY

Day 1 BANGALORE
You will be met on arrival in Bangalore and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 2 BANGALORE -BELUR -HALEBID -CHIKMAGALUR (265 kms, 6 hrs)
Today’s highlight will be a visit to the exquisite Hoysala Temples of Belur and Halebid. Overnight stay in a coffee plantation town in the hills. (B)

Day 3 CHIKMAGALUR -SRAVANA BELGOLA-SRIRANGAPATTANA -MYSORE (150 kms, 3½ hrs)
Drive to Mysore for a 2 night stay. On the way stops will be made at Sravana Belgola and Srirangapattana. (B)

Sravana Belgola is one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage sites in India. It boasts a 1000 year old, 17m high naked statue of Prince Bahubali, who stood in meditation for so long that plants grew up around him. It is the tallest monolithic statue in the world.

The palace of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapattana was completed in 1791. This palace was originally a summer retreat and it took ten years to plan and complete the construction. It is a two-storeyed ornate wooden structure with pillars, arches and balconies flanked by gardens on either side leading to the palace. An inscription on the wooden screen describes the palace as the ‘Abode of happiness’.

Day 4 MYSORE
Mysore is a city of grand and imposing palaces, majestic temples and gardens, which leave an everlasting impression on the visitor. A city tour of Mysore will include the Nandi “Bull Temple” with its giant bull (4.6 metres tall), carved out of a single boulder – a sculptural masterpiece, and Mysore Palace. Built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes turrets, arches and colonnades, the palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. The intricately carved doors open into luxuriously decorated rooms. Mysore is also known the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich silks. The tour will also include visits to silk and sandalwood factories, with lunch in a local restaurant. (B/L)

Day 5 MYSORE-CHENNAI-COVELONG/MAMALLAPURAM
Free morning to relax, or you may like to go downtown to have a further look at the magnificent silks. You will be transferred to the railway station early afternoon for your train to Chennai, departing at 2.20 p.m. and arriving at 9.25 p.m**. Dinner will be served on the train (at your own expense). On arrival at Chennai you will be transferred to your hotel at Mamallapuram or Covelong Beach (30kms from Chennai), where you will spend the next 2 nights in one of the finest beach resorts in Southern India. (B)

Day 6 COVELONG/MAMALLAPURAM-KANCHIPURAM
Free morning. This afternoon, visit nearby (30kms) Kanchipuram – a spectacular city with its noted temples and thriving handloom industry. Kanchipuram, along with Mysore, are 2 of the 3 main centres in India for the silk industry, so time will be allowed to view silk-making. Return to Covelong or Mamallapuram to overnight. (B)

Day 7 COVELONG/MAMALLAPURAM-PONDICHERRY (165 kms, 3 hrs)
This morning a visit will be made to the world famous weathered 7th century temple with its monolithic “rathas” (shrines carved out of rock), on the seashore at Mamallapuram. The romantic theme of the shore temple is simply fabulous, and is one of the most photographed monuments of India. The carvings depict scenes from day to day life. These rock carvings and temples lack grandeur, yet, it is their simplicity that captivates every eye. Sixteen man-made caves in different stages of completion are also seen, scattered through the area. Lunch on the way, then continue on to Pondicherry to overnight. (B/L)

The seaside resort of Pondicherry has a special ambience, not felt anywhere else in India. It is a blend of spiritual aura, French colonial heritage, Tamil culture and the cosmopolitan flair of many nationalities in a small but varied town. Colonial buildings, tracing back to the 18th century flank the seashore boulevard, and the Government Park forms the centre, around which most of the government buildings are situated. This bustling, yet tranquil town has quiet beaches and peaceful resorts to the north and south.

The 18th century Eglise de Notre Dame de la Conception Immaculée is one of several large churches in Pondicherry. The statues of Francois Dupleix and Joan of Arc are presentative of several remaining French monuments and statues. The French War memorial is another link to the French past.

Day 8 PONDICHERRY-TANJORE (231kms – 4½ hrs)
Visit Pondicherry this morning, then you will be driven to Tanjore. Thanjavur, popularly known as Tanjore, is one of the most enchanting places in South India. It is located on the eastern coast of central Tamil Nadu. It also has the reputation of being the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. The city is set on a fertile delta; agriculture is the principal industry here and makes Thanjavur a great place to be during Pongal (harvest) celebrations in January. (B)

Day 9 TANJORE-CHETTINAD-MADURAI (210kms – 5 hrs)
Drive to Madurai, enroute visiting the fabulous Chettiar MaH)nsions. Not yet discovered by the world, Chettinad is a rural area certain to surprise even the most discerning traveller, with its opulence of a bygone era. The Chettiars were a prosperous banking community who made their wealth from trading in the east, and it is estimated that just one of the Chettiar mansions – often with as many as 200 rooms and 995 windows, used 300 tonnes of satinwood and Burma teak in its construction. Apart from the houses, Karaikudi offers extensive antique shopping, a number of temples, visits to Craftmen working with wood and metal, silversmiths and goldsmiths, attractive textiles and exciting Chettiar cuisine.

Enjoy typical Chettiar cuisine for lunch, at a charming 75 year old Chettinad Bungalow that has been restored and converted into a heritage guest house, belonging to a Chettiar Family. This evening you will be able to witness the closing ceremony at Meenakshi Temple. Overnight Madurai. (B/L)

One of South India’s great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of the river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. It was the capital city for the great Pandya kings

Day 10 MADURAI
You will discover the main highlights of Madurai on a half day city tour this morning, visiting Meenakshi Temple, Tirumala Nayak Palace and other places of interest. In the afternoon, you will be taken to the Tailor’s Market, where tailor-made clothes in silk or cotton can be made up for you in as little as one hour. This evening enjoy the Sound & Light performance at the Thirumalai Nayaka Palace. Overnight Madurai. (B)

Day 11 MADURAI-PERIYAR (186 kms, 4 hrs)
Drive up into the hills to Periyar today. Take a late afternoon boat cruise on Periyar Lake to see the wildlife in the sanctuary. (B)

Lying close to the plantations nearby, you can see one of the most fascinating wild life reserves in India – The Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary and The Periyar Lake, home to a variety of wildlife including tigers, elephants, and deer. The only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters. From the safety of a boat on the lake.

Day 12 PERIYAR
Free day to relax and enjoy your thatched cottage set in the heart of the Cardamom hills.

Take a nature walk around the spice gardens and perhaps enjoy some Ayurvedic treatments. B

Day 13 PERIYAR/KUMARAKOM
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom. Rest of the day at leisure. (B)

Kumarakom (78kms from Cochin) is located on the eastern shore of lake Vembanad at the mouth of the Kavanar River, in the heart of the fascinating backwaters, giving visitors an authentic
insight into Kuttanad life. Kerala’s famous backwaters comprise of vast lakes and a system of narrow canals and waterways linking them to one another. Not so long ago, these waterways served as the backbone of Kerala’s transportation. And Kumarakom is the ideal place to experience the backwaters.

Day 14 KUMARAKOM/HOUSEBOAT
Spend a peaceful day on board a Kettuvallam houseboat today, exploring the peaceful back-waters (canals). The serene waterways are fringed by palm grove and paddy fields and offer a striking spectacle of the rustic life. Overnight on the boat. (B/L/D)

Day 15 ALLEPPEY/COCHIN (35kms –45 mins)
After breakfast on the houseboat drive to Cochin.Today you will be taken on a half day city tour of Cochin visiting The Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue and Chinese Fishing Nets. Overnight in Cochin. (B)

Take a cluster of beautiful islands and narrow peninsulas surrounded by sparkling, azure water. Carpet them with mile after mile of unending lush, green paddy fields and towering coconut trees. In a touch of divine whimsy, throw in the oldest European church in India; a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora; cantilevered Chinese fishing nets; 100 foot long snake boats;winding roads crammed with 500-year-old Portuguese houses; a Dutch Palace containing breath-taking murals depicting scenes from the great Indian mythological epics.>

Day 16 COCHIN
Your tour ends after breakfast today. You will be transferred to the airport for your onward or homeward flight. (B)

**TRAIN Does not operate on Tuesdays.

SPECTACULAR SOUTH Tour Costs Include
• Transportation in private vehicle with chauffeur
• English speaking local guides for sightseeing
• Train Tickets where applicable
• Accommodation for the mentioned number of nights
• Daily breakfast
• Porterage
• Entrance fees at monuments & places of visit
• All sightseeing and tours – including a full or half day city tour at each major destination

COST PER PERSON – Land Only – Daily Departure

BOOK DURING FEBRUARY 2010 AND SAVE 5% ON THE PRICE BELOW