|
Temple of Southern India
Tour
(Chennai
- Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Trichy - Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar -
Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore - Chennai)
(13 nights & 14
days)
 Day 01: Madras
Arrive
Madras and transfer to hotel
Day 02: Mahabalipuram/Kanchipuram
Full day tour of Mahabalipuram &
Kanchipuram (Checkout from the hotel at 1200 hrs).
Kanchipuram
(64 kms from 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 and has
paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Var adarajaswamy are of
interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.
The city of
Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on the seashore is an
interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are the examples of
Dravidian style of Architecture. Evening transfer to rail-station for
Trichy night train. Night on board.
Day 03: Trichy
Morning
arrive Trichy and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon tour of Trichy.
Trichy was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the medieval period. In the
18th century it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and
the English. Lord Robert Clive's house is still there to see and so is the
Danish Church. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. A climb of 434
steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top and a further climb
to a Shiva temple. Overnight Trichy.
 Day
04: Madurai
Morning drive to Madurai visiting Tanjore
enroute. At Tanjore, the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeshwara is capped
by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons
which was taken to the top withthe help of a 6 km long ramp, an old
technique used by the Egyptians forbuilding pyramids. Its bronzes and
handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India.
Overnight Madurai.
Day 05: Madurai
Morning
visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva
with its towering gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country
side). Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the
Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes &
arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple.
Afternoon free. Overnight Madurai.
Day
06: Periyar
Morning drive to Periyar National Park. Set up
in 1934,it extends to 777 square kms & forms part of the high mountain
ranges, the Western Ghats. Wild life can be seen while cruising on Periyar
Lake in a motor boat. Amongstthe animals which can be seen are elephants,
wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc. Overnight
Periyar.
Day 07: Cochin
Drive to Cochin.
Overnight Cochin.
Day 08: Cochin
Morning tour
of Cochin. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the famed underwater
Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the rougher the seas are
outside the calmer the waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama placed
it on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches,
mosques & Hindu temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Afternoon
free. Overnight Cochin.
Day 09: Bangalore/Mysore
Morning
transfer to airport for Bangalore flight. Arrive Bangalore and drive
directly to Mysore. Overnight Mysore.
Day 10: Mysore
Full
day excursion to Belur and Halebid. The Chenna Kesava temple of Belur
built 900 years ago is an exquisite example of Hoysala art. Halebid's 12th
century Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples are master pieces of Hindu
art. On the return, if time permits, visit Sravanbelgola. At
Sravanbelgola,hewn out of a single rock and visible from a distance of 25
kms is the statue Lord Gomteshwara which is bathed with milk and honey
once every 12 years. Overnight Mysore.
 Day
11: Mysore
Morning visit the palace of the Maharaja built in
1911 - 1912. The palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and
saracenic styles of architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades
and sculptures which are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto
Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore.
On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Afternoon free. Overnight Mysore.
Day 12: Madras
Transfer to rail-station for Madras
train. Arrive and transfer to Hotel. Overnight Madras.
Day
13: Morning free. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Transfer to airport for return
flight.
Click
Here For Reservation
|
