Leisure Tour of South India

On arrival at Chennai International Airport, our representative will meet you and take you to your hotel in Mamallapuram, also called Mahabalipuram.Les reliefs of the seventh and eighth centuries, the temples carved into the rock, the rock temples and temples in the form of chariots, carved in the mass of the golden stone of the Coromandel coast have made Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, a surprising area listed as UNESCO heritage.

There is a wonderful temple in town on the beach ("Shore Temple") dedicated to Lord Vishnu, built by grateful traders. There are also temples carved into the rocks, more than a dozen cave temples, stone built temples and exquisite reliefs - including the largest in the world, "Penance of Arjuna".

Overight stay is scheduled i Mahabalipuram hotel.

Getting refuelled with an energetic breakfast, start a spectacular walk through the history of Mamallapuram. Each of these cave temples, these monolithic chariots (I Saskrit called ‘Rath’), reliefs and structural temples has its own story to tell. The city of the seventh cetury, which has the oldest existing remnants of Dravidian architecture, will enchant you with its scenic beauty and timeless stories. In the evening, take a boat trip with traditional fisherman boat- Kattumaram ride. Overnight stay will be Mahabalipuram hotel.

This morning, take pleasure of a visit of a village by autorickshaw. The villages are the best places to get to know Indian culture and traditions. That may be why Mahatma Gandhi said: "The villages are the heart of our nation." This visit wil be by autorickshaw, the famous three-wheeled vehiclesheeted India. Village exploration includes a walk around the village where you will see small mud huts with their kitches & thus cooking outside. Watch schools of "panchayat" of the village. Many a times you can find that the classes take place in the shade of a tree or within the campuses of small temples. As local craftsmanship, sit aside pottery making wheels where one can listen to one or two stories as the potter turns his wheel. You will also discover the lush farmland that will give you an authentic experience of an Indian village. In the afternoon, we go to the Crocodile Park. The "Madras Crocodile Bank Trust" and Herpetology Centre are one of the largest zoos of reptiles in the world. This institution covers more than three hectares and houses over 2,500 reptiles. It is very interesting to watch the feeding session, and if you're lucky, you can even play with a baby crocodile. Overnight stay will be at Mamallapuram.

You will go by road to Chennai to take the plane that will take you to Bangalore. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the evening you will be free to stroll the shopping streets of Bangalore such as "Commercial Street" and visit local markets.

After breakfast, proceed for Mysore by road. You will be enchanted by the quaint grandeur of Mysore, the ancient capital of the beloved Wodeyar dynasty that has reigned since the sixteenth century. This city has a rich heritage. Do not miss its royal palaces, sacred temples and majestic buildings, but keep time to stroll through its parks and gardens or along a boulevard lined evening arbres.During the course, you walk through the Devaraj market, the colorful local markets. It is famous among photographers as the place is chosen to observe the fruit and vegetable stalls, and rub shoulders with the affable merchants in a particularly turbulent atmosphere. Overnight stay has been scheduled in Mysore hotel.

In the morning we head to the hill of Chamundi to discover the panoramic views of the city below, and visit the beautiful perched temple on the top of the hill dedicated to Goddess Chamundi, dominated by a tower (gopuram) as high as 40 meters. On the way down, stop for a while with the huge statue of Nandi, the bull vehicle of Lord Shiva. Afater that, explore the Mysore Palace. This huge palace is sure to impress you with its towers, domes, arches and rich interior, trimmed doors to complex sculptures, not to mention its ceilings ... Walk through the lavishly furnished rooms, formerly apartments the royal family, and enjoy this treasure of masterpieces from around the world. Enjoy this evening having a ride through "the royal tonga ride" in rough and colorful streets of Mysore. Overnight stay has been scheduled in Mysore.

After breakfast, depart for the floral and animal reserves of Bandipur. This reserve is a perfect playground for wildlife, with elephants in the list. Get ready for an unforgettable experience: you might see a tiger hunting in the middle of the vegetation, deciduous or evergreen bush, with picturesque backdrop of misty peaks of spellbinding mountains of the Nilgiris. Bandipur was once the private hunting ground of the Maharaja of Mysore. It was included in the tiger reserve under the auspices of Project Tiger in 1973. It is one of the best game reserves in India which allows to observe and photograph the animals up close. The temple, at the top of the hill Himad Gopalaswamy, the highest peak in the Bandipur chain, is a must see attraction. Overnight stay has been planned in Bandipur.

During these two days in Bandipur, we will do trekking and participate in a jeep safari in the Bandipur tiger reserve. Night stay is scheduled in the reserve resort.

After breakfast, drive to Ooty, which is located at an altitude of 2,240 meters. First inhabited by the Todas, this region came under the administration of "East India Company" in the late eighteenth century. The city is connected by road along ghats of the Nilgiris and the mountain railway of the Nilgiris. Its natural beauty attracts many tourists and makes it a preferred destination for the holiday lovers.After traversing road having hairpin like dends, reach the botanical garden of Ooty. Stroll through the hanging gardens which are of classic style that boasts to have lotus ponds, immaculate lawns, flower beds filled with shrubs & medicinal plants. Then you will be taken to orchards. Thereafter, board the toy train to Coonoor. It’s about an hour long jouney. Travel to Conoor by the incredibly slow train, the "Blue Nilgiris Mountain Railway". This slow journey will give you time to appreciate the primary forests, tea plantations and the stunning view as one approaches Coonoor. Overnight stay has been planned in Coonoor hotel.

After breakfast, take the road to get to Coimbatore to take the train to Kochi. This trip by local train is a wonderful experience that you will enjoy the show and the sounds shared by the local population in everyday life. Kochi is a port city whose colonial varied architecture recalls the merchants of spices that went there in succession. Portuguese, Dutch and British have left their mark in this cosmopolitan city with undeniable charm. Overnight stay will be in Cochin hotel.

After breakfast, we leave to the discovery of Fort Kochi. We walk through the alleys of the old city, in the neighborhoods of Mattanchery and Fort Kochi. You will see the imprint still visible, left by the Europeans, including the homes of merchants and old warehouses along the waterfront and narrow streets. We then visit the Paradesi synagogue in the neighborhood Jew Town, St. Francis Church (the oldest European church in India), the Dutch Palace, which dates from the sixteenth century, not forgetting to stop at the famous Chinese fishing nets, certainly one of the most photographed tourist attractions. En evening we will see, in an auditorium, a martial art of Kerala called Kalaripayattu show. It is considered the oldest martial art because it is more than 2000 years and is supposed to be the origin of Chinese martial arts. Indeed, it would be the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma who had brought with him the knowledge of India to China. Overnight stay is scheduled in Cochin.

After breakfast in Cochin hotel, move towards Alleppey for a cruise in the backwaters. Climb aboard a houseboat (house boat) for a few hours lazing while weaving through the long waterways amidst coconut plantations and a patchwork of green rice paddies and remote villages where daily life is punctuated by water. Look at the passing boats laden with provisions and fishermen cast their nets from their small boats, without forgetting the small ferries that ply these rivers. Local boats of all types roam the waterways loaded with passengers of all sections of Kerala rural life like passing by fishermen to local politicians, to priests and guests who come in numbers to a wedding or local festive occassions. This is a unique kind experience because you could not be closer to the swirling rural life in the country that God has done His. Later, in the evening come back to the hotel to relax. Overnight stay is scheduled at Cochin hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Cochin airport for your return flight.