15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS
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Explore India’s Southern Peninsular region, home to World famous temples, lush green forests, and pristine beaches, besides coastal cuisine, this tour has it all, we will see top cities in the region and will have a chance to see the local culture on 2 of southern states, Tamil Nadu & Kerala, and finally flying back home after relaxing at the beach in Kovalam.
14 Nights 15 Days Visitng : Chennai / Mamlapuram / Trichy / Thanjavur / Madurai / Periyar / Cochin / Kovalam / Kanya Kumari
Pre-departure planning is important. Here are certain things you should watch for and plan for.
Visas
Check with the Indian consulate or embassy in your country to find out if you will need a visa to visit the country of your destination, especially for an extended period of time. Some countries have extremely detailed and complicated entry/departure laws and treat visits of a week or two very differently from longer stays.
Money
If you’re traveling to one area, check the cost of living there. If it’s high you’ll probably want to budget more carefully and save some money before leaving. The lower the cost of living the less you’ll have to save, but be sure to have a backup reserve in emergency cases.
General Tips
Talk to other people who have done a similar trip.
If you don’t know anyone personally, try any of the dozens of online travel websites full of first-person travel stories covering every possible type of trip.
Plan big and loose. Read everything you can about the area.
There may be sights and attractions you didn’t know about. A rough outline of your trip might have three or four target points and a variety of ways to get between them.
You don’t want to find out that the weather isn’t what you thought, or the guide book was incorrect, after committing to 6 weeks in a specific spot.
Some trips will allow you more leeway than others. Travel plans in Asia can often be made day-by-day while summer travel in Europe should be organized at least a few weeks ahead unless you’re prepared to hunt around for hotel rooms and train seats.
Set up a pre-trip timeline so you don’t end up with a full to-do list during your last week of work or school.
Things to consider are doctor’s visits for a check-up, inoculations, and prescription refills; purchasing plane tickets; renewing passports and obtaining visas and other documents.
Check your insurance coverage abroad and purchasing additional travel insurance if needed. Don’t forget visiting friends and family members!e
The longer the trip, the lighter you should pack. This might seem strange, but it’s true you can afford to lug a heavy bag around for a week or two, but do you want to have anything extra for a year?
Stick to the absolute basics and know what you can and cannot buy at your destination(s). There’s no point in bringing 6 months of toothpaste to Europe or buying a sarong at home to take to the tropics. If you are visiting several climates, try to arrange it so you visit the warmer places first and the coldest last. That way you can purchase sweaters and long pants and not have to carry them any more than needed. Alternately, visit cold climates first and then ship unneeded layers home or sell them off.
A good rule of thumb is to bring one outfit for the hottest day you’re likely to encounter, one for an average day, and one for the coldest.
Make sure everything goes with everything else (if that’s important to you), and remember that layers are always best.
Be prepared for uncomfortable trips. You will often find yourself in a busy, cramped, economy class environment and it could be for many hours – especially long plane trips.
If you want to arrive at your destination refreshed and able to enjoy the sights, then try a good quality travel pillow to support your head, some earplugs to block out the screaming babies, and an eye cover to block out the sun or cabin lights.
Just avoid those cheap U-shaped pillows from airport shops – your head drops forward and you wake up with a stiff neck.
Make contact with the locals before you go.
Maybe you have a friend-of-a-friend or a foreign exchange student from high school you remember, or just found a friend through a travel website; almost everyone is happy to welcome a foreign visitor to their hometown. This might be as elaborate as a homestay for a few weeks, or just coffee in their hometown or dinner at a local restaurant.
Getting Around
Make your own way or if there are too many great things to see, follow the lead of a guided tour.
A perfect city for exploring on foot with a shop around every corner. Much of the inner city can be walked without trouble, however, in parts walking includes crowds, uneven streets, heavy traffic, and skinny sidewalks. If that’s a problem, there are plenty of taxis to ride in and scooters to rent.
How to Travel
- Subway – The metro is the fastest transportation. Running 5 am to 10 pm every day in all the Major Cities of India.
- Bus & Train – Operated by an independent organization, buses, and trains include wifi access for the public. You can take any bus or train marked with the (B Public) sign for free.
- Taxi – Available in all parts of the city. From a restaurant or hotel, you can have them call the city taxi service.
- Car – Rental cars are easy to get and hotels have good parking prices. Once in the main city, you can often walk so we suggest returning the when you arrive.
- Bike – The best way to get around, other than walking, is by bike. If you don’t mind hills, you can bike anywhere. If that’s not for you, stick to the inner city with your bike.
Mini Trips
Just a few miles away you can explore the history and legacy, drink wine and relax. You can wander the hills or be lulled by the fountains. If you have time, the attractions can fill 3 days. We’ve highlighted the best ones here.
Tours
Because of the number of sights to see, some first-time visitors should start with an organized tour. Some things can be covered in-depth, others are just useful for getting your bearings.
The leading tour operators use local historians to lead their tours. Guides offer walking tours, including visits to monuments, museums, and historic locations, as well as eating tours. Tour prices can be high, but most participants consider them a trip highlight. In addition, there are many family related tours, sights, and more appealing activities for children.
Walking tours, like the 3-hour ghost tour, is exclusive in the early evening. A bus excursion ruins special tours as you’ve never seen. Also worth consideration, a group of art historians and architects do a theatrical retelling of dramatic scripts. Go on a tour, and expect guides to break out into a rendition of “Singing in the Rain”, it’s a lot of fun.
Enjoy Local Cuisine
Madurai Temple
Enjoy a Boat ride on Backwater
Kathakali Dance Cochin
Relax at Beach in Kovalam
T ravel Resources
Travel planning is about more than just knowing where you’re going. Prepares to navigate, take control and be ready for anything. This section helps you steer clear of disaster and stay open to enjoy the unexpected.
Quick Tips
- Banks – Open Monday to Friday 9 am to 2 pm. Some banks are closed for lunch.
- Emergencies – For police, dial a local phone number; for an ambulance call a hospital.
- Internet Access – Wifi is standard in most hotels and free in many coffee shops.
- Mail – Buy stamps at the Post Office. Convenient post offices are located in all cities. Most are open Monday to Friday 9 am to 3 pm.
- Safety – Pickpocketing can be a common problem. It is suggested for men to keep wallets in their front pockets. Purse snatching also occurs at times.
Visitor Information
This site contains information with a very personal and friendly structure. It also has great links to other related sites online.
Information, internet access, maps, and train passes are available at local Tourist Information terminals. These are located at various sites around the city. Expect a wait if you arrive late in the afternoon or during lunchtime. Local travel agencies are also helpful for quick information and finding hotels. There is no service charge for these services. Hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.
Transportation
Getting in from the airport and other arrival locations. Travel planning is about more than just knowing where you’re going. Prepares to navigate, take control and be ready for anything. This section helps you steer clear of disaster and stay open to enjoy the unexpected.
- Plane – Flights arrive at the main airport near the city center. If flying from European cities, you might land at a connecting airport. There is a tourist information office at the Terminal E, international arrivals, open 8 am to 6 pm.
- Train – A train station is on the lower level of the airport. To get into the city, follow the marked signs.
- Taxi – From the airport, there is a flat rate for the 1-hour trip, depending on traffic.
- Train & Bus – Trains and buses arrive at the city center. This is the transportation hub for the city and is surrounded by hotels.
A perfect place for exploring on foot, with local shops around every corner. You will eventually walk somewhere, it’s just going to happen. If you don’t like crowds, uneven cobblestones, heavy traffic, or narrow sidewalks, take a taxi or rent a scooter.
Day 01: Chennai
Namaste! Welcome to the city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras. After clearing immigration and customs transferred to your hotel. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 02: Chennai
Today take an excursion to the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram. This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel Coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous ‘Descent of the Ganges’, and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva. On our return, we tour Chennai, culturally one of the richest cities in South India. Visit the Kapaleeswarar, the ancient Shiva Temple, Santhome Church, and the bazaar. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 03: Chennai – Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) (flight)
A short flight gets you to Tiruchirapalli – Trichy, a town deeply immersed in Hindu religion and home to some outstanding Dravidian temple architecture. Here start your tour with a visit to the Rock Fort Temple, the maze of the Mathurubhuteshwar Shrine, and other local temples after which visit some local villages and see the rural life of Southern India. Stay overnight at Hotel. Tiruchirapalli (2 nights) .
Day 04 : Thanjavur (Tanjore)
Enjoy a day trip to Thanjavur, to visit the Brihadisvara Temple, a World Heritage Site, which was built between 1003 A.D. and 1010 A.D. in the reign of the great King Rajaraja, founder of the Chola Empire that stretched over all of South India and neighboring islands in South East Asia. Surrounded by two rectangular enclosures, Brihadisvar is crowned with a 13-story pyramidal tower that stands 61m / 67yards high and is topped with a bulb-shaped monolith. The walls of the temple are covered with rich sculptural decorations. Evening, enjoy a treat with a typical South Indian dinner and a Bharat Natyam show. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 05: Trichy – Madurai (Drive 128kms / 79miles)
Today drive to Madurai, one of the oldest cities in the South. En route stop to enjoy a traditional Puppet show. The life of Madurai revolves around the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. This magnificently carved temple is the main attraction of Madurai and its huge Gopurams tower over the city. The Meenakshi Temple has a thousand pillared ‘Mandapam’. There are precisely 985 pillars and each of them is delicately and exquisitely carved. Among these are the musical pillars that produce music when tapped. Surprisingly, these musical pillars are carved of single granite rock. The temple has been a hub of Tamil culture and has sponsored the creation of great literature, art, music, and dance in the region for a long time. The city, apart from the temple, is crammed with shops, street markets, pilgrims, hotels, and restaurants. This is certainly a lively and culturally rich city! Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 06: Madurai – Kodaikanal (Drive 166kms /102 miles)
A scenic and refreshing drive to the peaceful hill station of Kodaikanal located at the top of the Palani Hills. Upon arrival, we take a boat ride on the Kodaikanal Lake giving us a unique opportunity to experience the landscape. Evening, we spend time with the local people. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 07 : Kodaikanal – Periyar (Drive 150kms / 90 miles)
An interesting day ahead as you drive through beautiful spice and tea gardens. Stop to see the tea estates and learn about the process of growing tea. Later drive to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Periyar where the experience of the wildlife of India begins. Afternoon, start with a boat tour for a first-class game viewing experience. The forest here slopes into the manmade lake at the bottom of the hill and the lake serves as the waterhole/swimming hole for the animals. Elephants, Gaur, Sambhar, and even tigers can be spotted. The reserve is famous for the Indian elephants, gaur, and a host of water birds. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 08: Periyar
A full day at Periyar sanctuary game viewing. One of the well-known wildlife sanctuaries in the south, Periyar sanctuary attracts a large number of nature lovers every year. Also called the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, this place is ideal for watching the animals in their natural habitat. The evening is at your leisure. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 09: Periyar – Cochin (Drive 185kms / 114 miles)
After a short drive to Changanacherry takes a small cruise through the famous backwaters of Kerala. Fringing the coast of Kerala and winding far inland is an intricate network of innumerable lagoons, Lakes, Canals, Estuaries, and the Deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. These Backwaters are both the basis of a distinct lifestyle and a fascinating thoroughfare and traveling by boat along the Backwaters is one of the highlights of the tour. This afternoon arrives in Cochin. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 10: Cochin
Today explore Cochin, the commercial capital of Kerala, with one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Ancient mariners from Arabia, China, Holland, Britain, and Portugal have all left their mark on this beautiful island city, often referred to as the Venice of the East. Here tour the Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, and the Jewish Quarter with its old synagogue, and take a boat tour to visit the Bolghatty Palace and observe the fascinating Chinese fishing nets in action. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 11 : Cochin – Kovalam (Drive 250kms – 154miles)
A scenic and easy drive get you to the beautiful Kovalam Beach on the Malabar Coast near Trivandrum. The palm-fringed bays and secluded coconut groves, promise a relaxed stay. The boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf at the feet of the stalwart palms and the rocky promontories make this beach an incredible paradise. Arrive in the afternoon and take the rest of the day off to enjoy our beautiful surroundings. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 12: Kovalam
Today enjoy a visit to the “Lands End” of India: Kanya Kumari is the southernmost tip of peninsular India where the waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea meet. A place from where one can see spectacular sunrises and also colourful sunsets. On balmy evenings, one can watch the sunset while the full moon is rising in another part of the sky! Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 13: Trivandrum
Day at Thiruvananthapuram, earlier known as Trivandrum, is the capital city of Kerala. The name literally splits into “Tiru”, “Anantha” and “Puram” meaning “the town of Lord Anantha”. The temple of Lord Anantha is at the heart of the town and for generations, the kings have called themselves “Padmanabha-Dasa” or the “servants of Lord Ananthapadmanabha”, and ruled the state as the representatives of Lord Anantha-Padmanabha. Visit the beautiful Temple of Padmanabhaswamy, the Chitra Art Gallery, Napier Museum, and the local market. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 14: Kovalam
At the end of the tour, an amazing treat! You will be driven to Somatheeram, a resort specializing in world-renowned Indian Ayurvedic massages. Here you can enjoy the many ayurvedic treatments, including a rejuvenating massage.
Day 15: Kovalam – Departure (flight)
Day at leisure to explore on your own this typically styled Kerala resort. An ideal opportunity to enjoy the other amenities at this health resort including yoga. After an interesting insight into the colourful and mystical Dravidian India, bid farewell to Your journey of South India Spices and are transferred for Your flight back home.
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