SOUTH INDIA WITH BACKWATERS & FESTIVAL EXTENSION

Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Chennai
Day 2: Chennai / Mahabalipuram
Day 3: Mahabalipuram / Kanchipuram / Mahabalipuram
Day 4: Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry
Day 5: Pondicherry / Tanjore
Day 6: Tanjore / Madurai
Day 7: Madurai
Day 8: Madurai / Periyar
Day 9: Periyar / Backwaters (Houseboat)
Day 10: Backwaters (Houseboat)
Day 11: Backwaters (Houseboat) / Cochin
Day 12: Cochin
Day 13: Departure Cochin

Post Tour Extension: Festivals
Day 11: Backwaters (Houseboat) / Festival Ground
Day 12: Festival Ground / Cochin
Day 13: Cochin
Day 14: Departure Cochin

Day 1: Arrive Chennai 

After clearing immigration and customs, our representative will meet you at the receiving area and escort you to your hotel. Thereafter, arrive at the hotel and check-in to the hotel.

Overnight at Hotel (B)

Day 2: Chennai / Mahabalipuram (Approx 36 miles / 58 kms / 1 hr 30 min). 

After breakfast, you will be shown around the Fort St. George which was built by the British East India Company and also houses a small quaint museum known as the Fort Museum. Later on, drive to Mahabalipuram en route visiting the Cholamandal Art Village, a cooperative effort with houses of some 30 artists and sculptors.

Overnight at Hotel (B)

Day 3: Mahabalipuram / Kanchipuram (Approx 41 miles / 65 Kms / 1 hr 30 min)

Embark on a half-day excursion to Kanchipuram, also known as the, ‘City of a thousand temples.’ The most famous of these are the Ekambeshwara temple and the Varaderajaswamy temple. Drive back to Mahabalipuram to explore its five ‘Pagodas,’ or chariots.   

Overnight at Hotel (B)

Day 4: Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry (Approx 86miles /138kms / 3hrs, 30 minutes)

Drive to Pondicherry after breakfast and check-in to the hotel. Discover the huge cream-and-brown Sacred Heart of Jesus, one of Pondicherry’s finest Catholic churches. You are sure to be enthralled as you survey the stone sculptures, bronze weapons and paintings at your next stop which is the Pondicherry museum.

Overnight at Hotel (B)

Day 5: Pondicherry / Tanjore (Approx 111miles / 177 kms / 5 hrs approx)

In the morning, drive to Tanjore. Explore the Brihadeeswara Temple, the main attraction of Tanjore. Enjoy a journey through the rich collection of bronze and stone statues, dating from the 9th to the 12th century at the Art Gallery. A visit to the Saraswati Mahal Library which contains a huge collection of about 30,000 palm leaves and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages is the perfect end to the day.

Overnight at Hotel (B)

Day 6: Tanjore / Trichy / Madurai (Approx 94miles / 150 kms / 5 hrs)

In the morning, leave for Madurai, via Trichy and visit Rock temple and Sri Rangnathaswamy Temple. Later drive to Madurai. Madurai also known as the Temple City is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. The evening will be spent at the Meenakshi temple to witness the Arti ceremony.

Overnight at Hotel (B)

Day 7: Madurai                                

After breakfast, visit the Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple and add on to the experience by visiting the famous weavers of Madurai. Later in the afternoon visit the Gandhi Museum and explore the Tirumalai Nayak Mahal. The Sound and light show at the Palace narrates the beautiful history of the Palace. Explore the colorful markets of Madurai.

Overnight at Hotel (B)

: Madurai / Periyar (Approx 91miles / 145 kms / 4 hrs 30 min)

After Breakfast, drive to Periyar and check-in to the hotel. A pleasant boat ride thereafter would be a perfect way of observing the wildlife in their natural habitat.     

Overnight at Hotel (B)                                                          

Day 9: Periyar / Backwaters (Houseboat) (Approx 134miles / 215 kms / 5 hrs)

In the morning, visit the Spice Plantation and later drive to the starting point of our boating trip to board the luxury houseboat.  Traditionally called a Kettuvallom, or rice barge, the shallow and rounded hull of the boat is made without using a single nail. The first and only one of its kind, our luxury 9 room houseboat is named the “Vaikundum.”

Overnight Onboard (B, L, D)

Day 10: Backwaters (Houseboat)

On this comfortable floating home you may spend your day relaxing and unwinding. As you slowly cruise along the backwater canals of the Arabian Sea, you may choose to stop and explore some of the many small villages, farmlands, old temples and churches that you come across.

Overnight On board (B, L, D)

Day 11: Backwaters (Houseboat) / Cochin (Approx 56 miles / 90 kms / 2 ½ hrs)

After breakfast, drive to Cochin and check-in to the hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring Cochin. In the evening watch a Kathakali dance performance, the most developed dance-drama art of India.

Overnight at Hotel (B)

Day 12: Cochin

After breakfast, enjoy a tour of Cochin. Fort Cochin, your first stop, where the Portuguese flag was first hoisted is also believed to be the oldest settlement in India. Thereafter, visit the St Francis Church, built in 1510 by friars brought to India by Vasco da Gama. The gorgeous view of the ocean from the beach enhanced by the Chinese fishing nets, first erected between 1350 and 1450 AD makes extremely picturesque sight only to be followed by a visit to the Jewish Synagogue (closed to non-Jews on Fridays and Saturdays). Depart for the Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays) which contains mythological murals and traditional Keralite flooring. Finally, wrap up your experience with a traditional cooking demonstration and dinner with Nimmy, a professional cookery instructor and her stockbroker husband, Paul.

Overnight at Hotel (B, D)

Day 13: Departure Cochin

You will be escorted to the International airport to board your outgoing flight.

EXTENSION -FESTIVALS

NOTE:   The exact dates and sequence of events of the festivals at the local temples in South India are not predictable and more often they change with very little or no notice.  We may thus adjust the itinerary in order to accommodate the festival.

Day 11: Backwaters (Houseboat) / Festival Ground (Approx 156 miles / 250 kms / 5 hrs)

After breakfast, disembark the houseboat and drive to the festival grounds. On arrival, check-in to the Hotel. The festival is an expression of the rich cultural traditions of the area.

Overnight at Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 12: Festival Ground / Cochin (Approx 94 miles / 150 kms / 3 ½ hrs)

After breakfast, witness the morning activities at the festival grounds. Later, drive back to Cochin and check-in to the hotel. In the evening enjoy a Kathakali dance performance, the most developed dance-drama art of India.

Overnight at Hotel (B)

Day 13: Cochin

After breakfast, attend a tour of Cochin. Fort Cochin, your first stop, where the Portuguese flag was first hoisted is also believed to be the oldest settlement in India. Thereafter, visit the St. Francis church, built in 1510 by friars brought to India by Vasco da Gama. The gorgeous view of the ocean from the beach enhanced by the Chinese fishing nets, first erected between 1350 and 1450 AD makes extremely picturesque sight only to be followed by a visit to the Jewish Synagogue (closed to non-Jews Fridays and Saturdays). Depart for the Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays) which contains mythological murals and traditional Keralite flooring. Finally, wrap up your experience with a traditional cooking demonstration and dinner with Nimmy, a professional cookery instructor and her stockbroker husband, Paul. 

Overnight at Hotel (B, D)

Day 14: Departure Cochin

You will be escorted to the International airport to board your onward flight.

Price Chart-South India with Backwaters

A: Luxury Modern Resorts and combination

B: First Class Hotels and combination

C: Budget Class Hotels and combination

Hotels included with the Meal Plan for Main tour

Hotels included with the Meal Plan for Festival Extension Post tour

Land Prices Validity as indicated below except from the peak period of 20th December’12 to 20th January’13 (For which supplements will be advised later)

All prices in INR per person on twin share basis

WINTER SEASON

Prices valid from 1st October to 16th April

(Except from 20th Dec – 20th Jan)

OUR QUOTE INCLUDES:

• Accommodation on twin sharing basis as per the above mentioned hotels in base category rooms as per above mentioned meal plan.
• Home hosted dinner at Cochin.
• All Entrance fees at the Monuments as per the itinerary.
• One boat ride at Periyar.
• Services of English speaking Local guide during sightseeing at all the places as per the itinerary.
• All arrival & departure assistance transfers with representative at the airports and railway station.
• Assistance and porterage at the airports/railway station.
• All Arrival & Departure transfers with Representative at the airport and Land transport by exclusive using:
• 2 Pax : Air-conditioned Indigo Car
• 3 Pax : Air-conditioned Innova Car
• 4 – 6 Pax : Air-conditioned Tempo Traveler
• 7 – 9 Pax : Air-conditioned Mini Coach
• 10 – 30 Pax : Air-conditioned Large Coach
• All currently applicable taxes.

THE ABOVE COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: –

• Expense of personal nature like laundry, telephone/fax calls, alcoholic beverages, camera/video camera fee at monuments, medical expenses, airport departure tax etc.
• Any Insurance
• Accompanying English speaking Tour Leader.
• Any tipping.
• Any meals or beverages that are not specified on the above inclusions.
• Christmas & New Year Evening dinner supplement.
• International & Domestic Air fares.
• Expenses caused by factors beyond our control like rail and air plane delays, roadblocks, vehicle malfunctions, political disturbances, taxes, lost luggage, etc.
• Any other services not mentioned in the inclusions.
• Any further tax levied by the government of India.

SPECIAL NOTES

• Hotel Check-In 1400 hours, Check-out time 1200 NOON
• Prices are subject to change with any increase in the cost.
• Rates include only those items specified in your itinerary.
• In case on any currency fluctuations or amendment in local Government taxes, or any fuel hike, we intimate you of the supplement price.

*** Important Notes/Disclaimer:

Additional services, if any, during the trip have to be paid for by the clients. Kindly note that names of hotels mentioned above only indicate that our rates have been based on usage of these hotels, and it is not to be construed that accommodation is confirmed at these hotels until and unless we convey such confirmation to you. In the event of any of the above-mentioned hotels not becoming available, we shall book alternate accommodation at a similar or next best available hotel and shall pass on the difference of rates (supplement/reduction whatever applicable) to you.