Ancient Memories of South India
Duration : 14 Nights / 15 Days
Destinations : Chennai - Kahcipuram
– Mahaballipuram – Chidambram – Gangekondcholapuram –
Tanjore - Trichy – Madurai– Periyar - Houseboat Cruise – Allepy
– Cochin - Kovalam (Trivandrum) – Chennai
Day 01. Chennai
Fly from your country to Chennai, You will received & greeted by Travel
Horizon representative. Arrive & check in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02. Chennai
Breakfast & leave for sightseeing of Chennai, the first British major
settlement in India. Visit Kapleshwara temple, St. Thomas Church, Art Gallery,
St. George Fort, Marina beach (2nd longest beach of the world after California). Return to Hotel for overnight.
Day 03. Chennai – Kahcipuram – Mahaballipuram (130 Km,
05 hours)
Morning leave for Mahaballipuram enroute Kanchipuram, once the Golden city
of India to visit Shiv Kanchi and Vishnu Kanchi temples. Continue your drive
to Mahaballipuram, arrive & check in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 04. Mahaballipuram
Morning visit 6-8th century Pallave rock cut caves, Panch Ratha temple, 7th
century shore temple where both Vishnu & Shiva are enshrined under one
roof and soap stone workers in the market who designs and made sculptures
by chisel & hammer. This is very special to see. Afternoon free to enjoy
at sea beach. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 05. Mahaballipuram – Chidambram 
–
Gangekondcholapuram – Tanjore
Morning leave for Tanjore, your first stop will be at Chidambrum golden Natraja
temple. Afterwards drive to Gangekondcholapuram exciting Shiva temple built
from 1012-1044 AD by Kind Rajendra I. The speciality of the temple and 1000
years engineering is the rays of sun falls on Nandi (bull) and it reflects
and give light to the Shiva Lingam since sun rise to sun set. Your next stop
will be at Kumbakonam water tank, it is believed that after every 12years
9 scared holy rivers including holy Ganges are meeting here. During those
Days thousands of pilgrims dip into the tank to wash their sins. Next stop
at 13th century Shiva temple at Darasuram. Finally reach to Tanjore, arrive
and check in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 06 Tanjore – Trichy (56 Km, 01.1/2 hours)
Morning sightseeing of Tanjore visiting Brideshwarar Shiva Temple was built
by King Raja Rajan from the year 985 – 1010 AD. As usual South Indian
temples have big Gopurmas (towers) but this temple is parameter shaped,
65 meters high from the ground. This is one of the superb temple architect
of the Chola dynasty. Afterwards visit Raja Rajan art gallery to see bronze
statures of 9-16th century. Return back to Hotel and after some rest drive
to Trichy, arrive & check in at Hotel. Afternoon visit Srirangam Vishnu
temple has 21 gopurmas (towers), one of the gopurma is 73 meters highest
in India. Afterwards visit Rock Fort 83 meters above the ground having 344
steps to reach on the top to see Vinayaka temple. Return back to your Hotel
for overnight stay.
Day 07. Trichy – Madurai (131 Km, 03 hours) 
Morning leave for Madurai, arrive and check in at Hotel Taj Garden Retreat
similar. Afternoon visit 16th century Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Afterwards
visit biggest Meenakshi temple, the temple has two main shrines one is dedicated
to goddess Parvati (Meenakshi) and another to Sunereshwara (Shiva). The
doms of both the shrines are covered with heavy gold plates. You can also
see 1000 pillars hall built in 16th century by Nayakas by pure granite stones.
Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 08. Madurai – Periyar (140 Km, 04 hours)
Breakfast at Hotel and leaver for Periyar, arrive and check in at Hotel Spice
Village Holiday Resort. Afternoon a special visit to the spices Garden to
watch different varieties of spice plantations such as cardamom, cinnamon,
peeper, clove, vanilla, ginger, tea and coffee plantations etc. Periyar is
on 1000 meters above sea level and is rich in spice growing. 95% pepper in
India is produced from here. Vaskodegama was the first European landed at
Malabar coast in 1498 A.D. in search of spices. Those Days pepper was exported
against the equal weight of gold, so in the beginning of 15th century pepper
was called black gold. Afterwards visit Periyar Tiger Reserve by boat to watch
different varieties of animals such as tiger, panther, leopard, bison spotted
deer, barking deer, wild boar, groups of wild elephants and many birds. Return
to Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 09. Periyar – Houseboat Cruise
After breakfast drive to Kumarakon to board houseboat Cruise to enjoy the
cruise in backwaters. This cruise is very exciting and sensational to watch
the real traditional Kerlan life who lives on the banks of backwaters. Overnight
with full meals at Houseboat cruise.
Day 10. Houseboat Cruise – Allepy – Cochin (60 Km, 01.1/2
hours)
Houseboat will drop you at Allepy to board your vehicle & drive to Cochin.
Arrive and check in at Hotel Casino or similar, afternoon visit Dutch Palace,
Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets and St. Francis Church, one of the oldest
Church built by the Europeans in 1503 A.D.Late afternoon visit to watch traditional
Kerlan Kathakali dances. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 11. Cochin – Kovalam (235 Km, 05 hours)
Morning leave for Kovalam, arrive & check in at Hotel Samudra (KTDC) to enjoy at sea beach till day 15.
Day 15. Kovalam (Trivandrum) – Chennai (By Flight)
Transfer to Trivandrum airport to board flight for Chennai. After little sightseeing
& dinner transfer to Chennai International airport to board flight back
to your country with pleasant memories of South India.
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