South India Heritage (Land Only) 11 days

DAY 1: ARRIVAL CHENNAI

Upon arrival our executive will meet you at the airport and transfer to Hotel.

Overnight in Chennai.

DAY 2: CHENNAI – MAMALLAPURAM – CHENNAI DAY EXCURSION

Morning proceed for day excursion to Mamallapuram. On arrival at Mamallapuram you will visit monuments from 7th century. This trip start at Arjuna's Penance (Bas Relief on the face of a huge rock), later to Five Rathas (architectural prototypes of Dravidian temples which symbolizes equality between man and woman), and end at Shore Temple (temple with 2 shrines, for Shiva and for Vishnu). Afternoon drive back to Chennai.

Overnight in Chennai

DAY 3: CHENNAI - TRICHY

Morning check out from hotel and transfer to railway station to board the train to Trichy. On arrival at Trichy railway station meet assist and transfer to hotel. Trichy – a town situated on the banks of river Cauvery. Afternoon proceed to visit sightseeing of Trichy. Visit the famous “Sriranganathaswami temple” at Srirangam - The most revered of the 108 pilgrimage shrines of Vishnu, and the largest temple complex in all India, it is surrounded by seven concentric walls (the outermost wall having a perimeter of over 3 kilometers) and 21 towers called “Gopuras”. The most attractive among the Gopuras is the one at the entrance with lot of colors and stands one of the tallest amongst many other temple towers in Tamil Nadu. Srirangam enshrines a statue of Vishnu reclining on a great serpent. Then on visit the local market (Gandhi Market) at the main town.

Overnight in Trichy

DAY 4: TRICHY - MADURAI

Check out from hotel after breakfast and drive to the old city of Tamil Nadu – Madurai. On arrival you will check in to hotel. In the late evening visit to Meenakshi temple for the night ceremony where God Shiva (Meenakshi’s husband) is taken in a palanquin to the bedroom of Meenakshi. This is a daily procession and next day early morning before sunrise God Shiva is brought back to his shrine with in the temple complex. God Shiva here is known as Sundareshwar. The temple has its full name as “Meenakshi Sundareshwar“ temple.

Overnight at Madurai

DAY 5: MADURAI (SIGHT SEEING)

Morning after breakfast you will go on a sightseeing tour of Madurai by Cycle Rickshaw. The Bi-Cycle Rickshaw tour of Madurai offers you a memorable experience of being in this old city. It takes you to the interesting narrow streets & lanes of Madurai showing the typical life of people in here. The Rickshaw pullers of Madurai were getting very unpopular with the locals, as the locals preferred the more modern mode of transport. The Cycle Rickshaw - the most eco friendly form of transport was fast being phased out, and the hundred and twenty rickshaw pullers of Madurai were being deprived of a lively hood as they were unable to buy the modern forms of transport like the auto rickshaw/taxi etc. To give these pullers another lease of life we at Hi-tours have designed this tour as part of our commitment to promote responsible tourism. By taking this tour you are supporting the rickshaw pullers and at the same time, encouraging the locals to use the rickshaws and all of this is in a very eco friendly way. By Cycle Rickshaw we visit - Meenakshi temple (one of the largest temple complexes in south India), Flower/Fruit & Spice Market, Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Gandhi Museum, Small scale Industry like Vessel making & Cloth making. Back to hotel.

Overnight in Madurai.

DAY 6: MADURAI - PERIYAR/THEKKADY

Check out from hotel after breakfast at 08.00am and drive to Periyar (also known as Thekkady). The name Periyar comes after the Dam made here by the English in 1895. A wild life reserve hence is an ideal place to track down wild life such as Elephants, Bison, Deer and numerous other varieties of birds. The landscape here is with very tropical and you will be surrounded by tea, coffee & other spices. On arrival you will check into hotel and at 16.00 hrs leave for a guided plantation tour to the nearby garden where in various species of spices and other aromatic plants are cultivated. The guide explains & clarifies your doubts on this tour. Enjoy the elephant ride.

Overnight in Periyar

DAY 7: PERIYAR/THEKKADY

Early morning at 06.00am you go on a Guided Jungle walk at the Periyar tiger reserve/national park. This 03hrs walk (not very hard) is very interesting and gives you the chance to see the wildlife life at a very close distance. If you are lucky you may even spot the rarely sighted leopards & tigers. Return to hotel and rest. OPTIONAL: At 15.30hrs we leave for the most popular boat trip at the National Park - the best way to observe game in wild is by boat. There are many animals to see, including herds of elephants, bison’s and packs of wild boars that roam through the woods and parade along the shores of the lake just before sunrise and sunset. You can also see also different species of apes. The golden langur monkey that lives here is rarely seen in the rest of India. Other animals in Periyar are otters and porcupines. Water turtles can often be seen sunning themselves on the pieces of wood that stick out of the water. Osprey and Cormorants belong to the most important species of birds in this area.

Overnight in Thekkady

DAY 8: PERIYAR TO ALLEPPEY

Depart from hotel and drive to reach the land of backwaters - Alleppey. In Alleppey you will go for a cruise on the traditional House Boat (Kettu Valam) of Kerala Style which brings you along the narrow, quiet, small villages over 900 km of the labyrinth water world, lined with coconut palms. On the House Boat you will experience the typical food of Kerala, sunbathing on the deck, staying away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. While this trip you can observe the daily activities of the village people, living in the Backwaters area making traditional boats, coconut oil and designing toys with coconut shells.

Overnight on a House Boat.

DAY 9: ALLEPPEY TO COCHIN

After breakfast checkout from houseboat and drive to Cochin. Upon arrival, check into hotel. In the afternoon by 1630 hrs, you will be taken to a place where you can experience wearing the traditional Indian (Kerala) costume. In the evening (5:45) you will visit the popular classical dance-drama of Kerala "Kathakali". This dramatized presentation of a play usually based on the Hindu epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas and has a unique combination of literature, music, painting, acting and dance. The great themes are covered righteousness, evil, frailty and courage, poverty and prosperity, war and peace. This dance drama is famous for amazing costumes, very extensive make-up, and explosive body movement and is performed exclusively by male.

Overnight in Cochin

DAY 10: PERIYAR-COCHIN

After breakfast you will go on a sightseeing tour around Cochin where you will visit the old part of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. First you will visit the Dutch Palace which was built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin King in the 16th century and the St. Francis Church - the oldest European church in India, Santa Cruz Basilica - built by Portuguese in the 16th century, the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue also built in 16th century, the fishing market and the famous Chinese fishing net - believed having been brought by trader from Kubla Khan's court in China. Later back to hotel. Rest of the day free to you. Walk around your hotel to explore local life of Cochin.

Overnight in Cochin.

DAY 11: COCHIN - DEPARTURE

Departure transfer to the Cochin airport for onward Journey to your Country.

• Accommodation on twin-sharing basis with daily breakfast at listed hotels or equivalent
• Transportation/ transfers/Sighseeing by A/C car for entire tour as per itinerary
• Services of an English-speaking local tour guide
• Entrances Fees to all major monuments in Mahabalipuram, Kumbakonam, Tanjore, Trichy, Madurai, Periyar & Cochin
• Boat Ride on Periyar Lake
• Cycle Rickshaw Tour in Madurai
• Kathakali dance performance

• International Flight
• Meals not mentioned in itinerary
• Camera fees
• Yoga/Ayurveda Massage Fee
• Personal expenses, tip,laundry,phone,etc
• Visa Processing Fee
• Departure Taxes & Anything that not mentioned in program