Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel by our
English speaking representative Overnight at the hotel
Day 2
Mumbai/ Aurangabad by flight
Packed breakfast from the hotel
Morning in time transfer to the airport to connect flight
Aurangabad:
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel
Rooms foreseen from 12 Noon onwards on this day
Morning visit of Ellora Caves (Ellora caves are closed on
Tuesdays): the temples of the Ellora caves and monasteries, are
excavated off the vertical face of a cliff, are 26 km north of
Aurangabad. Extend in a linear layout, the 34 caves contain Buddhist
chaityas or worship halls, and viharas or monasteries, and the Hindu
temples and spans a period of about 600 years, between 5 and 11
centuries, the first excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (cave 29).
The most impressive excavation is undoubtedly that of the magnificent
Kailasa temple (cave 16), which is the largest monolithic structure
in the world. Interestingly, Ellora unlike the site of Ajanta was
never 'rediscovered'. In ancient times, it has continually attracted
pilgrims through the centuries to this day.
Afternoon city tour visiting Biwi ka Maqbara which was built by
the son of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb late 17th century in memory of
his mother. The name of the monument literally translates as "tomb of
the lady", but has earned the nickname "Taj Pobre" because it was
made to compete with Taj Mahal. The tomb itself represents the
transition of the architecture of Akbar and Shah Jahan and the simple
architecture of the Mughals. Later visit the Panchakki or Water Mill,
in ingenious creation of the Mogul engineers who have used it to take
advantage of the water to run large grinding stones that served as a
flour mill.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 3
In Aurangabad– visit Ajanta
Breakfast at the hotel
In the morning visit of Ajanta caves (102 kms), about 400 kms
northeast of Mumbai near the city of Aurangabad, is one of the most
beautiful Buddhist caves of Ajanta. The carvings that represent
Buddha life fill these impressive caves, which originally dated back
to around 200 BC was only in the 19th century, that the group of
Ajanta Caves, located deep in the Sahyadri Hills, above the Waghora
River, were discovered by a group of British officers in a Tiger
hunt, who stumbled upon these ancient works of art.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 4
Aurangabad/ Chennai by flight / Mahabalipuram (40 kms/ 1½ hrs)
Cold breakfast at the hotel
Morning in time transfer to the airport to connect with flight for
Chennai via Hyderabad
Meeting and assistance on arrival in Chennai and transfer to
Mahabalipuram-a drive of around 1½ hours.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 5
Mahabalipuram- Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram
Breakfast at the hotel
After breakfast proceed for Kanchipuram- 86 Kms/ 1½-2 Hours.
Kanchipuram “The Golden City” has about 125 shrines, all of them
centuries old, dating back to the early Cholas of 200 B.C. It was
successively capital of the Cholas, the Pallavas and the Rayas of
Vijayanagara. The height of Kanchi’s glory was when it was capital of
the far-flung empire of the Pallavas from the 6th to the 8th
centuries when Mahabalipuram and Mylapore were its great ports. All
that is left are its magnificent temples. Kanchipuram’s other claim
to fame is its silk, renowned for more than four centuries. A unique
system of weavers makes and sells Kanchi saris which are the richest
saris in India and certainly the most sought after.
Later return to Mahabalipuram
Afternoon city tour- Mahabalipuram is a beautiful beach resort
which consists of a the tiny village by the sea in which all else is
dwarfed by a dream world of awesome Tamil art, an open air museum of
sculpture in living rock. The piece de resistance is Arjuna’s Penance
or the Descent of the Ganga, the world’s largest bas-relief, 764 ft.
by 288 ft. (27m by 9m). It is a beautiful composition of hundreds of
celestial beings, human and animals all hurrying to a natural rock
cleft that divides the giant stone. The best known landmark of
Mahabalipuram, is the Shore Temple which has stood by the sea for 12
centuries. Its twin spires are pure poetry in granite.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6
Mahabalipuram/ Tanjore by surface (310 kms/ 5½-6 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel
After breakfast proceed for Tanjore and on arrival check-in at the
hotel.
Afternoon visit of Thanjavur (Tanjore)-famous for the
Brihadeeswara Temple has gopurams over 90 ft. (27 m) high and are
exquisitely sculpted. They lead to a vast courtyard in which the main
temple stands guarded by two sentries carved out of single stones.
Facing the sanctum is a nandi (bull) Shiva’s favourite vehicle. The
corridors around the sanctum have many sculptures as well as Chola
frescoes which were recently discovered. The Palace and the remains
of the fort that surround it can still be seen. Members of the former
royal family of Thanjavur still occupy some apartments in the inner
recesses but the Palace is now mainly used as a art gallery.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 7
Tanjore / Trichy (65 kms)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Trichy- It is a historical town and
for a period the capital of the Chola rulers Visit the Rock Fort, 300
ft. (90 m) high, which dominates the landscape At its summit is a
Ganesha Temple, a popular place of worship inspite of the steep climb
involved- 434 steps. There is a 100-pillar mandapam which was used
for music concerts and religious discourses. A fine view of the city
can be had from the fort. Later check in at the hotel
Afternoon visit of Sri Rangnathswamy temple at Sri Rangam. It is
one of the largest living temple not only in India but of the world
as well. This temple was in the earlier times was not only a cultural
center but also a major hub for economic development and financed
many infrastructure projects from the donations it received and ran
charitable hospitals and other welfare activities of the society
Overnight at the hotel
Day 8
Trichy / Madurai (155 kms/ 2½-3 Hours)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Madurai, enroute visit of
Chettinadu Palace, Terrecota Horse Temple , Traditional tile making
factory (If open) in the Karaikudu region.
After the visit proceed onward for Madurai and on arrival check in
at the hotel.
Evening Aarti ceremony is basically the evening prayers performed
at the Meenakhsi temple. “Meenakshi” the main deity of the city and
wife of Shiva- the creative destroyer of the world as per the Hindu
Philosophy and the mythology. In the evening the Lord Shiva visits
the chamber of “Meenakshi” his wife to rest the night in her chamber.
The procession starts from the temple of Shiva and before reaching
the chambers of his consort he blesses his devotees. There are five
stops before he enters the chamber of his consort-the sanctum
sanctorum area. This Aarti ceremony is of approximately 30 minutes
and is observed from a distance by the visitors. For your information
non-Hindus are not allowed to go inside the sanctum sanctorum area.
This ceremony is one of the main attraction and gives an insight into
the Indian Philosophy where idols are considered to be living Gods
and they are given the rituals as any other common man in this world.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 9
Madurai
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning city tour Madurai- the `Temple City’ was the capital of
the Pandya kingdom but it was during the reign of the Nayaks (10th to
the 18th century) that the magnificent Meenakshi Temple and other
buildings were constructed. Visit the Madurai Temple, believed to
have 33 million sculptures. The four corner gopurams are the most
striking. The Meenakshi Nayakkar mandapam hall has 110 pillars and a
lamp holder with 1,008 lamps which are lit on festive occasions.
Later visit the Palace of Thirumalai Nayak, the most famous king of
the Nayak dynasty. It has a great audience hall, a three-sided
pavilion and a courtyard. Some of the original apartments still
remain and there is a museum in one of the halls. Yet another Nayakar
legacy is the Mariammam Teppakulam, a tank which was fed from the
waters of the river Vaigai, north of the city.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 10
Madurai/ Periyar (142 kms)
Breakfast at the hotel
After breakfast drive to Periyar. On arrival check in at the
hotel. Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady, is an example of nature’s
bounty, with great scenic charm, rich bio diversity and providing
veritable visitor satisfaction. Sprawled over an area of 925 Sq .km.,
Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. Zealously guarded
and efficiently managed reserve is a repository of rare, endemic and
endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two
important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and Pamba. Periyar National
Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (PNP) is a protected area in the
districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India. It is
notable as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve.
Afternoon visit of the sanctuary by boat (Managed by the forest
authorities). After the visit return to hotel
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11
Periyar/ Kumarakom (135 kms/ 3½-4 hours)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit of Spice Plantation. If desired a very short elephant
ride and later proceed for Kumarakom and on arrival check in at the
hotel.
Late afternoon sunset boat cruise in the Vembanad Lake
Overnight at the hotel
Day 12
In Kumarakom
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Cochin-a distance of around 65 Kms
and a drive of around 1½ hours and on arrival directly proceed for
the visit of Mattancherry Dutch Palace- open from 10.00 to 17.00 hrs
(closed on Fridays and public holidays), which was built by the
Portuguese in 1555 and renovated by the Dutch in 1663. In the ancient
rooms are 17th century murals that relate in vibrant colour the story
of the epic Ramayana (The visit takes around 30-45 min). Later visit
of a Jewish Synagogue-open 10.00 to 12.00 hrs. & 15.00 to 17.00 hrs
(closed on all Fridays/ Saturdays and Jewish holidays) in Jew Town
and Fort Cochin Area-legend dates Jewish trade with Kerala from the
times of King Solomon. There are a couple of streets of
picture-postcard houses out of another age, in 17th century Dutch and
traditional Kerala styles. (The visit takes around 30 min)
Later proceed for Alleppy which is around 60 Kms and a drive of
around 1½ hours. Board the houseboat for backwater boat cruise-
Allepey with its tranquil, deeply shaded maze of canals and
backwaters has rightly been called the Venice of the East.
Heavily-laden cargo wallams ply these waters, laboriously punted or
tugged by sails as heavily patched as counterpanes, sharing their
passage with fishing skiffs, ancient chugging ferries and paddled
dug-outs carrying goods to market. The beach here has dense palm
groves at one end and an ancient towering lighthouse at the other.
Allepey is also a centre for coir making.
Cruise down the centuries-old backwaters flanked by picture-book
towns and ancient trading ports. Palms meeting overhead are a green
canopy. Sail through the jade-smooth waters passing quacking
squadrons of ducks surrounding oared boats carrying cycles, bearded
Syrian Christian priests, newsboys and fishwives with an aromatic
baskets. People fish, swim, wash clothes with the squeaky-clean
perfection of Kerala.
Stream past slow boats with single sails made of old sacks
stitched together, laden with green mounds of coconuts or piles of
shells It is a languid, effortlessly unwinding cruise. Three drifting
hours later, white spires appear and you disembark in the Syrian
Christian stronghold known as the Rome of the East, Kottayam or
Kumarakom.
(Due to closing of monument on Friday/Saturday in Cochin we have
foreseen visit on this day. Also for the backwater the guest shall
reach by 1330 Hours and can do the cruise till 5 PM)
Overnight at the hotel in Kumarakom
Day 13
Kumarakom/ Cochin (65 kms/ 1½ Hours)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning at leisure
Late morning proceed by surface for Cochin and on arrival check in
at the hotel.
Afternoon visit of the Jew Town and Fort Cochin Area-legend dates
Jewish trade with Kerala from the times of King Solomon. There are a
couple of streets of picture-postcard houses out of another age, in
17th century Dutch and traditional Kerala styles. Visit St. Francis
Church-open from 09.00 to 13.00 hrs. and 14.30 to 17.30 hrs. (closed
for visitors on Sundays from 08.00 to 11.00 hrs.) the oldest European
Church in India. It has several antiquities including a wealth of
records. These include a palm-leaf title deed the local Raja gave the
Portuguese in 1503. See the Chinese Fishing Nets, unique to this part
of Kerala and living symbols of a centuries-old Chinese influence on
this coast.
Late afternoon visit to seen the Kathakali Dance show
Overnight at the hotel
Day 14
In Khajuraho
Leave Cochin
Rooms foreseen till 12 Noon on this day
In time transfer to the airport to connect flight for onward journey. Flight check in starts three hours before the scheduled departure flight timing
