Classic South India

Your guide and driver will meet you at the  Chennai International Airport for a traditional welcome ‘Swagat’  and transfer to the hotel in Mahabalipuram.

Let Adventure Asia be your guide to the wonders of India!

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and discover Mahabalipuram, a small village formerly dedicated to sacrifices to the goddess Durga (The invincible). This village is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its countless sculptures and superb temples, including the Shore Temple.

Our tour of Mahabalipuram takes you through rock temples and mandapas cut into rocks depicting incidents of legends, Hindu epics, and mythology. The Shore Temple built in freestone has bass reliefs, one of 100 m long and 45 feet high, carved in granite.

Then, departure for the old French counter of Pondicherry.

Later in the day, towards Kanchipuram. Discovery of Kanchipuram, the "golden city", the ancient capital of the Pavalla civilized. Kanchipuram is one of the 07 sacred cities of India. Visit the temples of the city. We would also witness a workshop where men sit at a loom, weaving fabrics that you will recognize immediately as "Madras cotton". We could visit a factory where all the processes of spinning, dyeing, and weaving take place.

Following the visit, departure to Mahabalipuram. On arrival, transfer, and check-in at the hotel.

(Mahabalipuram is an eclectic combination of 7th to 8th century Pallava temples & carvings, and beaches. This World Heritage Site has four kinds of rock structures: cutout monolithic rock temples, each from a single rock; cut-in cave temples; temples built from multiple pieces and materials; and bass relief sculptures carved on large rocks).

Check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel, we will take a 1-2 hour bike ride of the Kokilanedu village. Situated a few km from the world heritage site, Mamallapuram is the picturesque village of Kokolanedu. Witness rock carvings in the city and after that, we will drive to the old French counter in Pondicherry. Upon arrival, we will check-in at the hotel. Later, you have an option to stroll nearby and explore.

Pondicherry is an interesting coastal city and a former French colony. The town has a grid layout, split north-south by a canal that once divided the French quarter (edging the sea) from the Indian quarter inland. The French quarter has interesting historic buildings, including ornate Catholic churches.

Check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel, Today, we proceed to Pondicherry which retains a strong sense of the former French presence in India: grid pattern streets, distinctive police uniforms and the occasional colonial building around everywhere. We embark on a sightseeing tour of the town to explore its Gallic heritage. Places of tourist interest include the Sree Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, the French Institute and Colony, Museum and Church.

Later, we will discover the White City, with its old French Quarter and the Church of the Sacred Heart. Rickshaw ride through the old colonial district. Free time for you to discover at your own pace, the treasures of the city and the market Goubert that offers fabrics, vegetables, flowers, meat in its crowded alleys. Walk in the Muslim neighborhood where most of the shops are and the big central daily market.

Check-in at the hotel.

(For the philosophically or spiritually inclined, there is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where the inmates practice an integral Yoga. Also nearby is the beautifully landscaped international township of Auroville. Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a major attraction of Pondicherry. Pondicherry Museum has a collection of architecture and sculpture. Pondicherry is also famous for its beach alongside promenade and historical monuments.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel, we drive to Gangaikonda Cholapuram Shiva Temple and Chidambaram Temple. Later, we will drive to Tanjore. En-route, we visit the famous Darasuram Temple in Kumbakonam, a superb example of 12th century Chola architecture. This temple is a house of art and architecture. The height of the Vimana is 85 feet. The Temple also has some beautiful stone carvings. Then, we will continue our drive to Tanjore. Upon arrival, we check-in at the hotel. In the evening, we will visit the Brihadeeswarar Temple.

Check-in at the hotel.

(Gangai Konda Chola Puram is also known as the capital of the Chola rulers by Rajendra Chola I at the beginning of the 11th century AD. Gangaikonda Cholapuram was the major headquarter for controlling political affairs for 250 years. Now, this place is famous for its history and architecture. It also has a Shiv Temple and this makes it a religious site too. This ancient temple is a perfect example of extraordinary craftsmanship of the Chola period. This site has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Darasuram or Dharasuram is a panchayat town, which is known for the Airavateswara temple constructed by the Raja Raja Chola II in the 12th century AD. The temple is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage monument.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel, we drive to Gangaikonda Cholapuram Shiva Temple and Chidambaram Temple. Later, we will drive to Tanjore. En-route, we visit the famous Darasuram Temple in Kumbakonam, a superb example of 12th century Chola architecture. This temple is a house of art and architecture. The height of the Vimana is 85 feet. The Temple also has some beautiful stone carvings. Then, we will continue our drive to Tanjore. Upon arrival, we check-in at the hotel. In the evening, we will visit the Brihadeeswarar Temple.

Check-in at the hotel.

(Gangai Konda Chola Puram is also known as the capital of the Chola rulers by Rajendra Chola I at the beginning of the 11th century AD. Gangaikonda Cholapuram was the major headquarter for controlling political affairs for 250 years. Now, this place is famous for its history and architecture. It also has a Shiv Temple and this makes it a religious site too. This ancient temple is a perfect example of extraordinary craftsmanship of the Chola period. This site has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Darasuram or Dharasuram is a panchayat town, which is known for the Airavateswara temple constructed by the Raja Raja Chola II in the 12th century AD. The temple is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage monument.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and we will visit the Chettinadu area - the Chettinad Museum next to the palace to discover the making of the famous Athangudi tiles. Then, visit Devakottai and its streets lined with ancient houses of Chettinad, visiting Chettinad Kundrakudi temples, Murugan Kovil Arulthiru, Shanmuganathan Holy. Later, we will visit the weaving center, beautiful Chettinadu saris are available at Kanadukathan. Following the tour of Chettinad, we will drive to Madurai.

Madurai is one of the oldest cities in south India and had originally been designed in a lotus motif. It is an extremely sacred city and here lies the renowned Meenakshi Temple. The vast walled complex of the temple with its shadowy chambers, tank, carved columns, shrines and courtyards built between twelve towering gopurams, is considered south India’s finest example of Dravidian architecture.

Check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel, we will visit the temple of Meenakshi, a Hindu temple. Dedicated to Meenakshi, a form of Parvati (the wife of Shiva), in its Sundareshwarar form, it comprises two shrines, one for each of the gods. Then, we visit the Thirumalai Nayaka Palace, built-in 1636 in Indo-Mughal style by the Nayaka Dynasty. We will also have a rickshaw ride to the Madurai local area. In the evening, visit the Meenakshi Temple, where you will attend the evening ceremony, (Aarti: the "Shiva Sunset" ceremony carried on a palanquin to join Meenakshi). Night at the hotel.

(Meenakshi Temple is an outstanding example of Vijaynagar temple architecture. The gopurams that surround the temple are known for their colorful stucco images of Gods, Goddesses, and animals. The main temple is dedicated to Meenakshi, the ‘fish-eyed Goddess’ and consort of Shiva.)

Check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel, we will drive to Thekkady, where we re-enter the state of Kerala. The drive is spectacular as the road climbs through the Western Ghats and commands fantastic views across Tamil Nadu, with a chance for brief stops at some local markets and grape plantations on our way.

We arrive in the small bustling village of Thekkady and check into the hotel. This whole area is a spice growing center.

Check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and we will proceed for a Half day jungle walk in Periyar National Park, to admire its abundant birdlife – kingfishers, storks, and hornbills, followed by a bamboo rafting. This is a dawn to dusk range hiking and rafting program through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Starting at 7 am from the boat landing, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts made of bamboos. The forests are rich in birdlife and arboreal animals like giant squirrel and Nilgiri Langur.

After lunch, we take a short walk through a spice garden, where we can see a large variety of live spice plants. Periyar has one of the major spice plantations in Kerala. The tour is all about explaining the history, growth, and development of wonder spices like, cardamom and pepper. Other crops include tea, coffee, and vanilla. It is very exciting to see all these, as most of the world has seen this only on the supermarket shelves as a packed product.

Check-in at the hotel.

(Periyar National Park is situated in the hills of the Western Ghats. The centerpiece of the Park is the 5500-hectare Periyar Lake. Periyar has one of the richest habitats for large mammals, as it provides both excellent cover and nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. Here, it is possible to see large herds of Indian Elephant as well as Nilgiri Langur. There are more than 30 species of mammals, including Tiger, Gaur (Indian Bison), Sloth Bear, etc., as also a very rich birdlife including the Great Indian Hornbill. To maintain the sanctity of the Park, game viewing is only allowed by boat rides on the lake).

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel then depart to Kumarakom. Upon arrival, we check-in at the hotel. We walk through the surrounding tribal villages. If offers a mix of natural beauty and rural lifestyle.

Check-in at the hotel.

(Kumarakom is a village on the Vembanad Lake in the backwaters of Kerala, southern India. It’s laced with canals, where houseboats ply the waters. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is home to many species, including cuckoos and Siberian storks. Nearby, the Bay Island Driftwood Museum displays wooden sculptures. In the lake, Pathiramanal Island is a haven for rare migratory birds. The Ancient Thazhathangady Mosque is east of Kumarakom.)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel. Today, we are heading to Alleppey. Upon arrival, we board a kettuvallams, a sort of "boat houses" with furniture, running water, bathroom, bedroom and living room. These are flat-bottomed barges, traditionally known as rice boats, as they were used to transport tons of materials across the kingdom with a bamboo and coir-covered portion that serves as a rest and kitchen area for the crew. This kettuvallams will take us to discover the amazing backwater lagoon world.

The Kerala Backwaters are a network of canals and lagoons where small fishing and farming villages are nestled, as well as rubber and spice plantations.

Among the agricultural activities of the region, there is also the coir industry, coarse fiber forming the coconut shell.

After breakfast, we disembark the Houseboat to Alleppey and drive to Mararikulam. Upon arrival, check-in at a hotel at Marari Beach. Enjoy the sunset at Marari beach. Night stay at your hotel.

Mararikulam is a beach village in the district of Alappuzha. When you are not busy at the beach, you could spare a gaze at the many other interesting activities around. Plan a bicycle tour to the many villages where people make handspun coir, take a look at the arts and crafts at the village markets or stop by a beachside eatery to sample the spicy fresh fish menu that Marari is famous for!)

Check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and we drive to Cochin. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Our city tour begins with a visit to the Fort Kochi area. The true character of the town is found in the old Fort Cochin area. It has been unchanged for 1000 years. Warehouses filled with the smell of tea and spices, lime-washed bright green, yellow and blue; rickety old bikes and hand-painted trucks piled high with goods that fill the narrow streets, and food stalls at every corner is a common sight. The fishing community of Cochin is also very interesting. We will explore the sights of Photographic as well as cultural interest.

Later, visit St. Francis CSI Church, the oldest European church in India, built-in 1503. Follow your local journey with a tuk-tuk ride – the most popular mode of transport among the localities, go along with your local tour and stop at the Dhobi Khana (laundry station). Continue through the small streets of Mattancherry. We will visit Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese as a gift for the king of Kochi, Jewish Synagogue and Spice market, where the air is filled with the pungent smell of spices.

The cultural evening of Kathakali dance: This evening, enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance performance (Suggest an early arrival to witness the paintwork on the artist’s body). ‘Kathakali’, is an important genre in the Indian classical dance form, and is associated with the storytelling form of this art. The story in ‘Kathakali’ is communicated to the audience through excellent footwork and impressive gestures of face and hands complimented with music and vocal performance.

Cochin has a history stretching back to the time of King Solomon when it was known as ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. Arabian, Phoenician and Chinese traders all stopped here in search of spices, silks, and sandalwood. Marco Polo and Vasco da Gama followed, as did the Dutch East India Company and later the British. Today, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus still live side by side, and Chinese fishing nets, introduced by merchants from the court of Kublai Khan, continue to haul in Fish. The adjoining backwaters make it a popular destination.

Transfer to the airport for your next destination.