Overview
Best of South India Tour – Chennai | Mahabalipuram | Kanchipuram | Pondicherry | Tanjore | Trichy | Madurai | Rameshwaram | Kanyakumari | Kovalam | Periyar | Alleppey | Cochin | Ooty | Mysore | Hassan | Bangalore | Mumbai
The Best of South India Tour is an extensive 20-night/21-day journey covering the finest temples, heritage sites, spiritual destinations, hill stations, wildlife, beaches, backwaters, royal cities, and cultural experiences across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, with the journey concluding in Mumbai. Begin in Chennai, the cultural gateway to Tamil Nadu, exploring Fort St. George, Marina Beach, San Thome Cathedral, museums, and other historic landmarks. Continue to Kanchipuram, an ancient temple city renowned for its magnificent Dravidian temples and traditional silk, followed by Mahabalipuram, famous for its remarkable Pallava-era rock-cut monuments and UNESCO-listed Shore Temple. Proceed to Pondicherry, where French colonial heritage blends with Indian traditions, including the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville. The journey then explores the magnificent Chola heritage of Chidambaram, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Swamimalai, Tanjore, and Trichy, including the spectacular Brihadeeswarar Temple, Srirangam Temple, and Rock Fort. Continue to Madurai, one of South India's most important spiritual and cultural cities, where the magnificent Meenakshi Temple and Tirumala Nayak Palace showcase the region's architectural and artistic heritage. Take an excursion to Rameshwaram, one of India's most sacred pilgrimage destinations and one of the twelve Jyotirlinga sites, before continuing to Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India where three major water bodies meet. Relax at Kovalam, Kerala's famous beach destination, before heading to Periyar, where a boat cruise through the wildlife sanctuary provides an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Western Ghats. One of the highlights of the tour is the Kerala backwater houseboat experience, cruising through the peaceful waterways of Alleppey amid paddy fields, villages, coconut palms, and traditional riverside life. Continue to Cochin, the historic “Queen of the Arabian Sea,” where Chinese fishing nets, Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, and Kathakali performances offer an insight into Kerala's multicultural heritage. The tour then moves towards Ooty, the “Queen of Southern Hill Resorts,” surrounded by tea plantations, misty mountains, and scenic Nilgiri landscapes, followed by Coonoor for its beautiful tea gardens and peaceful surroundings. Continue to Mysore, famous for its royal heritage and beautiful Brindavan Gardens, before exploring the historic sites of Srirangapatnam and Somnathpur. The journey then takes you to Hassan, where the magnificent temples of Belur and Halebid display some of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. Continue to Shravanabelagola, home to the enormous monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali, an important Jain pilgrimage and architectural marvel. Finally, arrive in Bangalore, the vibrant Garden City and technology hub of Karnataka, before flying to Mumbai, India's dynamic financial capital, where the tour concludes. This spectacular journey brings together the very best of South India's ancient temples, UNESCO heritage, royal architecture, spiritual traditions, wildlife, beaches, tea plantations, hill stations, backwaters, traditional arts, and local culture, making it an ideal choice for travelers who want to experience the incredible diversity of South India in one comprehensive tour.
Itinerary
* Arrive into Chennai. Welcome to 'Best of South India Tour'.
* On arrival in Chennai, you will be met and transfered by our representative to hotel.
* City tour of Chennai Visit Fort St. George, San Thome Cathedral and the museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery. (Closed on Fridays and Public holidays).
* High court, Marina Beach, San Thome Cathedral and Snake Park.
* Overnight : Hotel
* Kanchipuram Kanchipuram (70 kms from Chennai (Madras) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines.
* The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century & has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambareswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varada Raja swamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.
* Upon arrrival at Mahabalipuram check into your hotel.
* Later visit Mahabalipuram Mahabalipuram is (75Kms from Kanchipuram) famous for the 7th Century Temples.
* Here on the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture.
* Overnight : Hotel
* City tour of Pondicherry Places of interest are Sri Aurobindo Ashram Auroville - the brain child of the mother and designed by French Architect roger Anger, AuroVille was meant to be an experiment in international living where man and women could live in peace and progress harmony with each other above all creeds.
* Overnight : Hotel
* Swami Malai is a ethnic Village Resort.
* Overnight : Hotel
* Surrounded by the Kaveri water is a 600 acre island town enclosed within the seven walls on the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple.
* There are no less than 22 gopurams, one of which is the tallest in India. The 72 m high 13 tiered gopuram dominates the landscape for miles around.
* Later visit Trichy The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the Kaveri river, Trichy's most famed land mark is an 84 m high rock, one of the oldest in the world aprox.3,800 million years.
* The attraction is not for fort itself but the temple at the summit.
* 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where are the inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C.
* Later proceed on a City tour of Tanjore Tanjore (Thanjavur) is famous for Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance and traditional hadicrafts and the Brahadeeswarar Temple.
* The temple constructed more than a thousand years ago by the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect's marvel.
* Overnight: Hotel
* Madurai, known as Athens of the East, it is the second largest city on the banks of the River Vigai.
* The city believed to be more than 2500 yeras old.
* The city got its name from the drops of nectar (Mathuram) that fell from Shiva's locs when he came to bless its people for constructing a temple for him.
* City tour of Madurai Visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams – (rising high above the surrounding countryside).
* Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace – a gracious building in the Indo-Saracenic style, famous for the stucco work on its domes and arches.
* Overnight : Hotel
* Legend has it that Lord Rama sent Hanuman to Mount Kailash to bring a Lingam for worship when he set foot after defeating Ravana.
* As Hanuman did not return when the auspicious hour was approaching, Sita made a sand Lingam so that worship could be performed in time, which is where the present day Ramanatha Swamy Temple stands close to sea on the eastern side of the island.
* One of the twelve Jyotirlingam shrines is also well known for its magnificent corridors and the massive sculptured pillars lining them. In the evening return to Madurai
* Overnight : Hotel
* Rest of the day free at leisure
* Overnight : Hotel
* Kovalam, the international beach Resort with full of Coconut trees.
* It is an internationally renowned beach of Kerala, with three adjacent crescent beaches. Kovalam has been a favorite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s.
* A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful Bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing.
* The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse - sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programs, Catamaran cruising etc.
* Evening enjoy on the beach.
* Overnight : Hotel
* Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Periyar to view wildlife. Rest of the day at leisure.
* Overnight : Hotel
* Thereafter, switch over to the House Boat and cruise along the backwaters, passing through paddy fields, villages, market etc.
* The cruise is through `Kuttanad' literally meaning the land which is lower than the sea level but is kept intact by its bunds and dikes. It is the 'rice bowl' of Kerala.
* The rice fields are very beautiful and this lush land and surrounds governs the placid way of life of the people who live on the backwaters.
* Overnight: Houseboat
* Overnight : Hotel
* The Chinese fishing nets can be seen at the entrance of the harbour. The Chinese through trade contact taught this technique of catching fish.
* City tour of Cochin Visit the Dutch palace, Jewish Synagogue, chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Church. Also visit the Hill Palace Museum which displays articles of archeological importance Evening witness Kathakali Dance Show in a Theatre.
* Overnight : Hotel
* Also known as Udhagamandalam, it is known for its salubrious climate and scenic beauty, with breathtaking views of tea-plantations and undisturbed grassy meadows.
* Overnight: Hotel
* Rest of the day at leisure.
* Overnight: Hotel
* Afternoon depart for half-day city tour, visit Vrindavan Garden Like Mughal Pattern, Vrindavan Garden is built step by step below the dam.
* Fountain, Flower beds, topiary-all have made the environment beautiful and romantic.
* In the evening the garden is illuminated and it looks more beautiful and also the fountains of the garden are operated rhythmically with music.
* Overnight: Hotel
* Later visit Somnathpur Temple and Srirangapatnam.
* Rest of the day free at laisure
* Overnight : Hotel
* Later visit Belur and Halebid Temples.
* Overnight : Hotel
* The name conjures up images of great monolithic statue of Gomateshwara or Lord Bahubali.
* The colossal statue, carved from granite is the worlds tallest images creation of art which is 58.6 feet in high.
* Chavundandaraya, the Ganga general is said to have taken the enormous task in establishing the statue on the to of Vindhyagiri hills.
* The statue established around 1000 years back is a symbol of peace, tolerance and nonvoilsence. The statue is clearly visible from a distance of 15 km.
* One has to climb hundreds of steps chiseled out in the rock to reach the statue. There are two hillocks in Shravanabelagola- Vindhyagiri or Doddabetta and Chandragiri or Chikkabetta.
* Vindhyagiri is the larger of the two where the statue is located, over looks Chandragiri, where large number of basadies including Chavuvdaraya basadi, Chandragupta basadi, Parshwanatha basadi, Bhadrabahu cave, Mahanavami mantapa etc are situated.
* Overnight : Hotel
* On arrival at Mumbai transfer to hotel.
* Afternoon proceed on a city tour of Mumbai.
* Overnight : Hotel
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Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions | Exclusions |
|---|---|
Accommodation as pe itinerary | Airfare / Train |
Daily Breakfast | Lunch & Dinner |
Sightseeing as per the itinerary. | Boat cruise/boating charges at Periyar and other optional activities. |
Private AC Vehicle for Transfers & Sightseeing. | adventure Activities & Personal Expenses. |
Pickup & Drop from Delhi | Anything Not Mentioned Under Inclusions. |
Driver Allowance, Toll Tax & Parking. | Guide Charges. |
All Applicable Hotel Taxes. |
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Policy
- Neelam Holidays Journeys shall not be responsible for any delays or alterations in the program or indirectly incurred expenses in cases such as natural hazards, accidents, breakdown of machinery, weather conditions, landslides, political closure, or any untoward incidents.
- We do not provide any insurance policy to cover the expenditure on sickness or accidents or losses incurred due to theft or other reasons.
- Numerous factors such as weather and road conditions the physical ability of participants etc. may bring alteration in the itinerary. We reserve the right to make necessary changes in the schedule in the interest of safety, comfort, and general well-being!