Temple & Backwaters of South India
Duration : 16 Nights / 17DAY
Destinations : Bangalore - Hassan
- Hassan - Halebid & Belur - Hassan – Sravanabelgola – Mysore
- Somnathpur - Mysore - Ooty - Cochin - Allepey - Kumarakoan - Periyar - Madurai
– Trichy - Tanjore – Gangekondcholapuram – Chidambram –
Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram – Kanhcipuram – Chennai
Day 01. Bangalore
Fly from your country to Bombay or Bangalore. Arrive Bangalore & you will
be greeted at airport by our representative. Transfer to Hotel for overnight
stay.
Day 02. Bangalore - Hassan ( 200 Kms , 04Hours)
After Breakfast leave for the sightseeing of Bangalore ( city of gardens ),
visit most modern markets in India at M.G. Road, Brigade Road, Legislative Assembly.
Afterwards visit Lal Bagh garden laid out during the 18th century by Hyder Ali
and Tipu Sultan and cover an area of 240 acres. They contain one of the largest
collections of rare tropical and sub-tropical plants in India besides having
century-old trees, fountains, terraces, lotus pools, a rose garden and a deer
park. Afternoon Drive to Hassan . Arrive & Check - In to Hotel for Overnight
Day 03 Hassan - Halebid & Belur - Hassan
After Breakfast drive and visit Belur temple of Vishnu built in 1117A.D. by
the Hoyasala king Vishnuvardhan. Afterwards visit Helebid Shiva temple built
in 13th century. Both these temples are worth to see the stone art. Return to
Hassan for overnight stay.
Day 04. Hassan – Sravanabelgola – Mysore ( 150 Km, 04 hours
)
Morning leave for Mysore, enroute visit at Sravanabelgola Jain temple atop of
the hill with five hundred steps cut out of rock lead to the summit and the
colossal statue of Lord Gomateswara, which is 1705 meters high. It is nearly
eighteen hundred years old. Continue your drive to Mysore enroute visit at summer
palace of Tipu Sultan (tiger of Mysore). Continue your drive to Mysore, once
the capital and today the second most important city of Karnataka. Arrive &
check in at Hotel.
Day 05. Mysore - Somnathpur - Mysore 
After breakfast drive to Somnathpur to visit 13th century Shiva Temple built
by Hoyasala. Return Back to Mysore visit , one of the most impressive of Mysore’s
numerous monuments, the Maharaja’s Palace built in 1911 at the cost of
4.2 million Indian Rupees. One of the biggest in India, it is a harmonious synthesis
of the Hindu and Saracenic styles of architecture. Afterwards visit Chamunda
Devi temple on the hilltop, local elegant & exciting markets, on Sunday
The whole Maharaja Palace is lightened in the evening and it gives a great impression
of the palace. Return to Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 06 Mysore – Ooty ( 160 Km, 05 Hrs)
Morning leave for Ooty which is the most famous Hill Station of South India
at an altitude Of 2200 Mts. This wonderfull Hill Station is popularly known
as Queen of Blue Mountains & lot of Indian Movies are Shooted overthere.
Arrive & Check- In at the Hotel
Day 07 Ooty - Cochin ( 350 Kms, 7 Hrs ) 
Morning Drive to Cochin . Arrive and Check - In to Hotel . Cochin is divided
into three islands i.e. Willington Island, Ernakullam & Fort Kochi. Overnight
at Hotel
Day 08 Cochin
After breakfast leave hotel for sightseeing of Cochin, visiting 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 09 Cochin - Allepey ( 60 Kms 01 Hrs)
After Breakfast transfer to Allepy that is 60 Km & it will take you 01 hour
to board exclusive Houseboat cruise in the backwaters. This cruise is really
sensational & exciting to watch the Keralian life that lives on the banks
of backwaters. During the cruise you can watch rice paddies, mango trees, coconut
tees, Jack fruit trees around the banks of backwaters. Dinner & overnight
in the Houseboat.
Day 10 Kumarakoan - Periyar ( 125 Km , 04 Hrs) 
Houseboat cruise will drop you at Kumarakoan & you will board the car to
drive Periyar through the Jungles of rubber trees, Coco, trees, tea & coffee
plantations.On the way a special visit spice gardens will be organized to see
the spice plantation such as pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, coco,
tea & coffee plantations etc.
Arrive & check in at Hotel in Periyar. Afternoon visit Periyar Tiger reserve
by boat to watch so many varieties of animals such as tiger, panther, Leopard,
spotted & barking deer, you can also watch groups of elephants. Return to
Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 11. Periyar – Madurai ( 140 Km, 04 hours )
Morning leave for Madurai, arrive and check in at Hotel . 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 12. Madurai – Trichy - Tanjore ( 190 Km) 
Morning Leave for Tanjore enroute Trichy visiting Srirangam Vishnu temple which
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. Continue your Drive to Tanjore.arrive &
check in at Hotel. Afternoon 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
Day 13. Tanjore – Gangekondcholapuram – Chidambram –
Pondicherry
Morning leave for Pondicherry, enroute 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 Chidambrum golden Natraja temple.
Drive to Pondicherry. Arrive & Check - In At Hotel.
Day 14 Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram ( 120 Kms , 03 Hrs) 
Morning visit world famous Aurobindo Ashram who was a freedom fighter &
a Holy Man. After his death in 1950 the Ashram was run by his Mother who was
French. Afterwards Drive to Mahabalipuram . Arrive & Check-In to Hotel &
enjoy at Sea Beach
Day 15. 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 16. Mahabalipuram – Kanhcipuram – Chennai ( 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
Chennai, arrive & check in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 17. 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 ). evening
a farewell dinner will be Organized for you. After Dinner Transfer to Airport
to Board flight Back Home with sweet Indian Memories.
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