Kerala Cultural Tour
Duration: 24 Days & 23 Nights!
Destinations Covered: Chennai– Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry – Tanjore – Karaikudi – Trichy – Madurai – Thekkadhy – Alleppey – Cochin – ooty – Mysore – Hassan – Hospet – Badami – Goa.
The Tour ‘Kerala Cultural Tour’ gives you a chance to see the Real India. During this tour of Kerala Cultural Tour you will visit few of the best destinations, Monuments, forts and Palaces and temples of India.
Day 01: Arrive Chennai: Arrive Chennai transfer to your hotel after noon half a day tour of Chennai visiting Kapaleeswara Temple, Parthasarathy Temple and visit Fort St. George, The Fort is endowed with granite exterior finishing that houses the barracks for the British army along with a parade ground. The oldest church of Chennai, the St Mary's Church is also home to this fort overnight in Chennai
Day 02: Chennai – Mahabalipuram 65kms / 1.5hours: After breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram enroute visiting theosophical society check into your hotel after noon visit Shore Temple, Arjuna's Penance - biggest bas relief in the world and leisure walk to Five Rathas witness the craftsmen making statues in stones overnight in Mahabalipuram
Day 03: Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry 90kms / 2hours: After breakfast drive to Pondicherry (formerly a French town) check into your hotel after noon visit Sri Aurobindo ashram and its various working units and visit Manakula Vinayagar Temple overnight in Pondicherry
Day 04: Pondicherry: Day explore French colony or option to visit Auroville overnight in Pondicherry
Day 05: Pondicherry – Tanjore 180kms / 4.5hours: After breakfast drive to Tanjore enroute Chidambaram, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram temples on arrival in Tanjore check into your hotel rest of the day free overnight in Tanjore
Day 06: Tanjore – Karaikudi 85kms / 2hours: Morning visit the Brahadeeswara temple which was built by Chola King Raja Raja and is termed as the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture, listed in world heritage monuments and also visit the Tanjore Palace which was constructed in 16th Century and has huge corridors, spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers later drive to Karaikudi check into your hotel after lunch visit to Chettinad Palace and visit local market to view the colourful arrangement of vegetables, fruits, snacks, Chettinad baskets and other rural produce overnight in Karaikudi
Day 07: Karaikudi – Trichy 85kms / 2hours: After breakfast drive to Trichy check into your hotel after noon visit the Srirangam Temple, superb temple complex is surrounded by seven concentric walls with 21 gopurams and is probably the largest in India and visit Rock Fort Temple - dedicated to Lord Ganesha and explore the market area around the temple overnight in Trichy
Day 08: Trichy – Madurai 135kms / 3hours: After breakfast drive to Madurai one of the oldest cities in South India and has been a centre of learning & pilgrimage for centuries check into your hotel after noon visit Sri Meenakshi temple which attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India and also visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace overnight in Madurai
Day 09: Madurai – Thekkady 150kms / 3.5hours: After breakfast drive to Thekkady check into your hotel after noon boat safari on the lake of Periyar to view the wild life and take spice plantations tour overnight in Thekkady
Day 10: Thekkady: Morning take bullock cart ride at 6.00am to visit the farmlands of a village hidden in the valley behind the mountains of Periyar Tiger Reserve after noon free overnight in Thekkady
Day 11: Thekkady – Alleppey 150kms / 3.5hours: After breakfast drive to Alleppey board your air conditioned houseboat at 12.30pm you will glide through the narrow canals of the lake to view the traditional Keralan village life and culture remind unchanged for many years, here your crew will prepare you delicious Keralan meal on board overnight in Houseboat
Day 12: Alleppey – Cochin 65kms / 1.5hours: After breakfast disembark from the houseboat at 9.30am car will pick you and drive to Cochin check into your hotel evening witness classical Kathakali Dance Show and the make up demonstration - Kathakali is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata overnight in Cochin
Day 13: Cochin: Morning tour of Fort Cochin influenced by many international cultures such as Portuguese, Chinese and Dutch visit St. Francis Church where Portuguese sailor Vasco Da Gama buried and visit Jewish synagogue – decorated by large Belgian chandeliers and hand painted Chinese tiles later visit to Dutch Palace which houses lots of mural paintings and visit Chinese Fishing Nets introduced by Chinese traders long ago still available in Kerala backwaters as a traditional way of fishing after noon free overnight in Cochin
Day 14: Cochin – Ooty 300kms / 6hours: After breakfast drive to Ooty - known as queen of hill stations check into your hotel rest of the day free overnight in Ooty
Day 15: Ooty – Mysore 160kms / 3.5hours: Morning tour of Ooty visiting botanical garden, boating on the lake and explore the tea plantations later drive to Mysore check into your hotel evening visit to famous Devraja Fruit and Flower market overnight in Mysore
Day 16: Mysore: Morning visit the Mysore Palace, this palace was the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore and visit Chamundi Hill - overlooking Mysore from 1062m summit of the hill is the Sri Chamundeeswari temple and the Brindhavan Gardens overnight in Mysore
Day 17: Mysore – Hassan 140kms / 3hours: After breakfast drive to Hassan, enroute visiting Sravanabelagola, one of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centers in India, and the site of the 17m high statue of Gomateshwara, said to the world's tallest monolithic statue arrive Hassan and check into your hotel after noon excursions to Hoysala Temples at Belur and Halebid overnight at Hassan
Day 18: Hassan – Hospet 280kms / 6hours: Full day drive to Hospet check into your hotel rest of the day free overnight in Hospet
Day 19: Hospet: Day tour of Hampi visit the UNESCO heritage site overnight in Hospet
Day 20: Hospet – Badami 165kms / 4hours: Drive to Badami check into your hotel after noon visit Aihole and Pattadakal caves overnight in Badami
Day 21: Badami – Goa 275kms / 6hours: Full day drive to Goa check into your hotel rest of the day free overnight in Goa
Day 22, 23: Goa: Day free and relax in the beach overnight in Goa.
Day 24: Departure: Transfer to Goa airport board flight for onward destination. The tour ends.