1

Morning arrival at Chennai airport and brief city tour of Chennai if time permits. Later drive to Mahabalipuram and upon arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day is free. Overnight stay.

2

Morning arrival at Chennai airport and brief city tour of Chennai if time permits. Later drive to Mahabalipuram and upon arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day is free. Overnight stay.

Morning depart for Kanchipuram. It was the historical capital of the Pallavas during the 7th – 9th centuries. Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities of India. It is also famous for hand-woven silk fabrics and saris. Then return to Mamallapuram to visit Shore Temple which includes many bas reliefs including one 100 ft. long and 45 ft. high carved out of granite. It was built in the early 8^th century. Then visit Arjuna’s Penance. The sculpture is carved at the back portion of the whale shaped stone. It measures 27 meters in length and 9 meters in height with a crack in the middle of the rock. Overnight stay.

3

Morning leave for Chidambaram. Visit Nataraja temple in Chidambaram. The magnificent Temple was guilt in 7th century A.D. It is beautiful polygonal dome enshrines Lord Vishnu and Shiva. Later visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram which is one of the very ancient temples of Tamil Nadu, built in the Chola style. Gangai Konda Chola Puram, “The City of the Chola who took the Ganges”, was the capital of powerful Chola dynasty. After the visit, drive to Kumbakonam and after arrival check in at hotel. Kumbakonam, called the temple city of South India is not only known for its temples, but also for the carved panchloha idols, brasswares, silk and betel leaves. Overnight stay.

4

Morning visit Darasuram to visit Airavatesvara temple which is also popularly known as Darasuram Temple.  The temple is named after the elephants carved on the balustrades around the steps that make it feel as if the temple is being carried on their backs. There are also galloping horses with wheels carved behind them also carved on the walls, making the temple look like a chariot. Later drive back to Kumbakonam which has a number of beautiful Temples sprinkled all over the town, most of them are very ancient temples. Afternoon go for a village walk with a village temple visit. A peeping into a village house seeing the hutment and a bullock cart ride around the village will be a wonderful experience to cherish forever. Overnight stay.

5

Morning leave for Tanjore and visit Brihadeshwara Temple which was built in the 10th century. This is the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture. The dome on top of the apex of the 63 metre high temple, is a single piece of granite weighing an estimated 81 tons which was put in place by hauling it along an earthwork ramp six km long in a similar manner to which the Egyptian pyramids were built. Later drive to Trichy. The city is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around the Rock Fort. Visit The most famous land mark of this bustling town, Rockfort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. Also visit Srirangam Temple which consists of 7 concentric walls and 21 towers or gopurams. Continue drive to Chettinadu which is rich in cultural heritage, art and architecture, and is well known for its houses, embellished with marble and Burma teak, wide courtyards, spacious rooms, and for its 18th century mansions. Arrival and check in at hotel for overnight stay.

6

Morning Visit Chettinad Palace; the 110-year-old Palace is an outstanding specimen of the Chettinad architecture. The oldest surviving building of this style, also visit Chettinad houses; Most of the Chettiyar’s house consists of thousands of windows, hundreds of wooden pillars, door frames with Gajalakshmi who symbolize Goddess of wealth and a Kumbam (brass pot) with sprouting leaves engraved on them to symbolize wealth. Later leave to Madurai which is one of the oldest cities in South India, Madurai has been the centre of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. The architectural marvels of the temples and the exquisite sculptures fascinate all visitors. The most beautiful among those is Meenakshi Temple complex which houses 14 splendid Gopurams including two golden Gopurams for the main deities – Meenakshi and Sundareshwar. The temple complex is richly sculptured and painted. The outer Gopurams or towers are major landmarks of Madurai City, the cultural capitals of South India. They are East Gopuram, West Gopuram, North Gopuram and Sough Gopuram. Each outer Gopuram has nine storeys and are elaborately sculptured and colored. Thousand  Pillar Hall is one of the major attractions of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple Complex besides gigantic gateway which is 49 meter high.  Also visit Tirumala Naik Palace and Gandhi Museum. In the evening witness Thirukalayanam (divine marriage ceremony of Hindu God Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati) inside Meenakashi Temple complex. Overnight stay at hotel.

7

Morning before leaving for Thekkay. You may again visit Meenakshi Temple and then driev to Periyar National Park. Upon arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon go for spice plantation tour. Thekkady is no doubt the heartland of spices. Enjoy the real spice tour through the real spice city of Kerala. There are many factors that make the plantation experience a memorable one. For some, it could be the unassuming beauty of the tiny flowers of the cardamom that grow at the base of the plant; for others, the tantalising aroma of cinnamon or cloves, and for some others, the cool breeze that lovingly strokes the green plantations and everything in it. Overnight stay at hotel.

8

Morning enjoy Boat cruise which is the best option to experience the wilds of Periyar Sanctuary. Enjoy wild life and watch the wild elephants in their natural habitat. Another unique activity in the Periyar National Park is a hiking trip through the deep jungles of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.The trip begins with a 2-3 hour trek through the Jungles very close to the edges of the Periyar lake. This gives an opportunity to really experience the forest , and to see animals like elephant, gaur and sambar. In the evening enjoy Kalaripayattu – the oldest of martial art show. It is a gift to the modern world and known as the mother of all martial arts. Legend traces the 3000-year old art form to sage Parasurama-the master of all martial art forms and credited to be the re-claimer of  Kerala from the arabian sea. Kalaripayattu originated in ancient south India. Kung-fu, popularized by the monks of the shaoline temple traces its ancestry to Bodhi Dharma-an Indian Buddhist monk and Kalaripayattu master. Overnight stay at hotel.

9

Morning leave for Cohcin. Upon arrival check in at hotel. Here you can see the St Francis Church, the oldest Church in India, 500 year old Portuguese Houses, and Chinese fishing nets, 16th century Synagogue, Jew Town and Mattancherry Palace, built by Portuguese, this Palace contains some of India’s most beautiful murals. In the evening you may enjoy one of the classical dances of South India which is known as Kathakali. Overnight stay.

10

After breakfast drive to Alleppey to go for a canoe boat tour on enchanting backwaters to explore its breathtakingly beautiful surroundings and the fascinating Kerala countryside. Travelling through palm-fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of lush paddy fields and the unique tiny hamlets lined up all along on the edges of the waterways are sights one can never forget. After boat tour continue drive to Kumarakom. Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets. The whole atmosphere spells peace, bliss and tranquility. On arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon free to relax on the lake side or go for Ayurveda massage. Overnight stay.

11

Morning drive to Kovalam. On arrival check in at the resort. The boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf at the feet of the stalwart palms and the rocky promontories, makes Kovalam a beach paradise. Rest of the day is free to relax on beach. Overnight stay.

12

The entire day is free to relax on beach or optional ayurveda massage. Overnight stay.

13

Transfer to Trivandrum airport to catch flight for onwards destination.