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Malabar Coast to Spice Village 10 Nights / 11 Days
Destinations covered: Chennai - Covelong - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar - Thekkady - Cochin - Kumarakom - Kovalam - TrivandrumDay 01: Arrive Chennai
On arrival Transfer to Cove long. Remainder of the day is at leisure to explore city. Overnight at hotel in Chennai.
Chennai is the fifth largest city in India and the capital city of the Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandal coast of the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the Musical and Cultural Capital of India. The city is known for its classical dance shows and Hindu temples. The Tamil film industry, known as Kollywood, the second largest after movie industry (after Bollywood) in India, is based in the city.
Day 02: Chennai - Covelong (40 km -1 hr drive by road)
After breakfast transfer to resort at Covelong beach. Silver waves washes shore again and again seems greeting and inviting to relish the picturesque view of swaying palms and cool azure water .This beach is well suited for beach surfing, swimming and basking on beach. A short is enough to realise the tranquillity and invisible charm of this place. This all makes it a cherish tourist destination of coromandal coast. Remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy beach. Overnight at resort.
Mahabalipuram - A UNESCO World Heritage site is a architectural marvel of Dravidian style incorporating Buddhist elements. These rock cut and monolithic monuments constitutes cave temples and monolithic chariots (Rathas). A walk around these monuments inspires to connect a bond with thousands of years old royal dynasty of Pallava.
Day 03: Covelong - Pondicherry
After breakfast proceed for Pondicherry en route visit Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram -A UNESCO World Heritage site is a architectural marvel of Dravidian style incorporating Buddhist elements. These rock cut and monolithic monuments constitutes cave temples and monolithic chariots (Rathas). A walk around these monuments inspires to connect a bond with thousands of years old royal dynasty of Pallava. On arrival check in resort and Evening is at leisure to explore city.Pondicherry - "The French Riviera of the East" -Puducherry, till recently known as Pondicherry used to be a French colony. It was finally ceded to the Indian federation in 1962, Puducherry or Pondicherry is a beautiful and well planned city. The French element is noticeable everywhere in the city, and gives a distinctive look. The colonial government buildings, the beautiful avenues and the old cottages make this otherwise modern city exude a colonial charm shared by very few other Indian cities. The major tourist spots to be visited during the tours of Puducherry include the beach, Auriobindo ashram, Auroville, the museum, botanical gardens, and the Anglo-French textile mills.
Day 04: Pondicherry
After breakfast proceed for city tour visit paradise beach, serenity beach, karaikal beach Auriobindo ashram, Auroville, the museum, botanical gardens, and the Anglo-French textile mills. Paradise beach is renowned for dolphins and beautiful crescent shaped beach. Just revive your spirit for full day unfettered fun and relaxation.
Day 05: Pondicherry to Tanjore (190 kms / 5 hrs drive by road)
After breakfast proceed for Tanjore enroute visit Rock Fort Temple in Trichy.On arrival check in hotel. Remainder of the day is free to take a retrospect of history of Tanjore and explore its grandeur. Tanjore is the "Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu" and famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple was constructed more than thousand years ago by the King Rajarajan, is an architect's marvel. It is a flourishing centre for bronze sculpture and painting. The pastimes and life of Lord Krishna are seen in Tanjore paintings. The uniqueness of the Tanjore paintings is their extraordinary gold leaf work, attractive jewellery with stones, dazzling color design, and eye catching engraved glasses.The laissez-faire application of gold leaf and precious and semi-precious stones like rubies and diamonds speaks the greatness of the adroit artists of those times. The characteristic of Thanjavur painting is that the figures in the paintings have a round body and egg shaped effulgent eyes and are surrounded by curtains and arch. These paintings will illuminate in the dark room.
Day 06: Pondicherry to Tanjore (190 kms / 5 hrs drive by road)
After breakfast visit Brihadeeswarar temple originally called as Peruvudaiyar Koil in Tamil, is an ancient Hindu temple located at Tanjore in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. This 10th century CE temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples", is a prominent example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. The central temple known as the Periya Kovil (Big Temple) stands within a fort, whose walls were later additions built during the 16th century. The name periya kovil came from its original name "periya aavudayar kovil" (aavudayar being a local name of Lord Shiva). This awe inspiring temple has many especial feature in its architectural marvel one of them is the sky touching vimana (main tower) of the temple is approximately 65 m (215 ft) high and is the tallest in the world. It was so designed that the vimana never casts a shadow at noon during any period of the year.
Day 07: Tanjore - Madurai(200 Kms-6 hrs drive by road)
Morning arrive Madurai and check in to hotel. Madurai: One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. It was the capital city for the great Pandya kings. After breakfast visit the great Tirumala Nayak Palace, Alagar Hills, Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Spare your evening to immerse in divine beauty of Meenakshi Temple. Over night at Madurai.
Day 08: Madurai - Thekkady (137 Kms, 3 hours drive by road)
After breakfast check out of hotel and start for Thekkady. Drive through paddy fields and vast spice plantation. On arrival at Thekkady check into hotel. Thekkady - one of India's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, where you can watch wildlife at close range. The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied that it does not bear semblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Even a casual visitor to this place will not fail to observe the special ecological pattern of Thekkady. Afternoon experience the mind bowing view of calm crystal clear periyar lake to view the wildlife. Overnight stay at Thekkady.
Day 09: Thekkady - Kumarakom (128 km, 3 hours drive by road)
After early morning breakfast and start for Kumarakom. Arrive Kumarakom and check in at resort. Kumarakom - When nature is all you need to recuperate, Kumarakom is undoubtedly the most invigorating, fascinating paradise in Kerala, God's own country. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. That is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom. Visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. In the evening canoe down the narrow canals. Join the evening sunset cruise or enjoy the beauty of backwater by just relaxing near Vembanadu Lake.. Overnight stay at the resort.
Day 10: Kumarakom - Cochin (90 Kms, 2 hours drive by road)
Disembark from house boat and proceed for cochin. On arrival transfer to hotel. Relax for the rest of the day or take a walk along the historic colonial streets of Fort Cochin. Watch a Kathakali Show(Traditional art performance of Kerala). Overnight at hotel in Cochin
Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.
Day 11: Cochin
After breakfast proceed for a guided tour of Fort Cochin and the Jew Street in Mattancherry. Visit the synagogue, century’s old churches and palaces, colonial buildings, Chinese fishing net etc. Spend your evening on the nearby Fort Cochin beach or ferryacross to Cherai Beach which is half an hour away. Come back to the hotel or visit Ernakulam city for souvenir and other shopping on Mahatma Gandhi Road. Overnight stay at the hotel. Late evening transfer to railway-station for overnight journey to Bangalore (535 Kms drive by train).