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Day 01: Arrival - Madras
Meeting with our representative for assistance
at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Afternoon, sightseeing tour of Madras city.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02: Madras
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Full day excursion to Mahabalipuram &
Kanchipuram. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03: Madras - Madurai
Morning transfer to the airport in time for
morning flight to Madurai. Meeting and assistance
at the airport. Sightseeing tour of Madurai. In
the evening visit the Meenakshi Temple to attend
the "Aarti" ceremony. Overnight at the hotel.
Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India, with
a history dating all the way back to the Sangam
period of the pre Christian era. The glory of
Madurai returned in a diminished form in the
earlier part of this millennium; it later on came
under the rule of the Vijayanagar kingdom after
its ransack by the ravaging armies of Delhi (Malik
Kafur). During the 16th and 18th centuries,
Madurai was ruled by the Nayak Emperors, the
foremost of whom was Tirumalai Nayakar. The Sangam
period poet Nakkeerar is associated with some of
the Tiruvilayaadal episodes of Sundareswarar -
that are enacted as a part of temple festival
traditions even today.
Day 04: Madurai - Periyar
In the morning drive to Periyar and upon
arrival, check in at the hotel. Afternoon,
sightseeing by boat over Lake Periyar to view the
wild life. Overnight at the hotel.
Periyar: 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 forest here, slopes
into the manmade lake at the bottom of the hill.
This lake serves as the waterhole for the animals
and they come here to drink or take a dip.
Elephants, Gaur, Sambhar and even tigers can be
spotted here. There are boat services which takes
the visitor around the lake. The best season to
visit the park is between October and June. Spread
over 777 sq.km of the Cardamom Hills of Western
Ghats, the Periyar sanctuary is located 137 km
from Madurai. Although an excursion on the
splendid artificial lake is the standard way to
experience the sanctuary, you can also walk around
with the local guide in a small group. Wild
Elephant herds come to the lake to frolic in the
water. Other attractions of the sanctuary are the
Sambhar, Bison, Spotted Deer, Tigers, Leopards,
Malabar Flying Squirrels, Stripe necked Mongooses,
etc. There are over 260 species of birds here,
including Nilgiri Wood Pigeons, blue-winged
Parakeets, White bellied Tree Pies, laughing
Thrushes and Fly Catchers.
Day 05: Periyar - Kumarakom
Morning drive to boat landing point from where
the hotel's courtesy boat will take passengers to
Kumarakom. Rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel. Kumarakom slumbers on the
banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part
of Kuttanad ('granary' of Kerala). The Vembanad
Lake with its majestic canals, streams and
distributaries along its banks weave an intricate
and enchantingly beautiful web. The gorgeous green
of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and
blend into wavelets. The entire state of Kerala is
blessed with plenty of rivers and the resources of
many are still untapped. The waterways of Kerala
which play a main role in the economy of the state
links remote villages and islands with the main
land. The water ways provide a cheap and
economical mode of transport. The water ways of
Kuttanad is now a big attraction for tourist. It
is incredibly different experience to cruise in
the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the
beauty of Kerala villages. The scenery flashes up
vivid contrasts of breath-taking greens and deep
blues. Boat rides are available for tourist and
others at nominal rates.
Day 06: Kumarakom - Cochin
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Morning, backwater cruise to Alleppey and
back. Later drive to Cochin. Upon arrival, check
in at the hotel. Cochin set on a cluster of
islands and narrow peninsulas, the port city of
Cochin (Kochi) (Queen of Arabia) reflects the
eclecticism of Kerala perfectly. With a rich past
and a bustling present, it has been the business
hub of the region from the very early days after
Alleppey (Alappuzha) Cochin consists of mainland
Ernakulam, the islands of Willington, Bolgatty and
Gundu in the harbour, Fort Cochin and Mattancherry
on the southern peninsula, and Vypeen Island north
of Fort Cochin, all was linked by ferry but now
some islands have bridges. The influence of
Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans is evident in
Cochin and its people. The oldest church in India,
500-year-old Portugese houses, old tiled houses
built in the Chinese pagoda style, the famous
Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community whose
roots go back to the Diaspora, synagogues and
mosques all tell the fascinating story of this
harbour town. The harbour is still at the heart of
the city and pepper, sea food, rubber and coir
mats and matting are exported from here. Despite
this, Cochin is an attractive city with serene
creak & lagoons overhung with feathery coconut
palms and picturesque islands. The older parts of
Fort Cochin and Mattanchery are an unlikely blend
of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English
country village grafted onto the troppical Malabar
coast. Cochin is one of India's largest ports and
a major naval base.
Day 07: Cochin - Back Home
Morning sightseeing tour of Cochin. Later
transfer to the airport in time for afternoon
flight to Back Home. |
