Southern Granduer Holiday

Tour Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Chennai

Arrive Chennai Airport. You will be met by your driver and representative and transferred to hotel.
Stay at Hotel for one night.
Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Chennai with a guide. You will visit places like St. Thomas Cathedral, Fort St. George, Marina beach, markets etc.

Day 02: Chennai – Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry

Morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and leave for sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram with a guide (2 Hrs). This lovely seaside capital was the capital of the Pallavas dynasty. You could visit the shore temple, the largest bas-relief in the world called Arjuna’s Penance and the famous and beautiful Five Rathas (Chariots) are what will be most eye-catching. Arjuna’s Penance, a complicated piece of work on a vertical rock is one of the best preserved. Later drive to Pondicherry (2 Hrs).
Stay at Hotel for 2 nights.
Rest of the day at leisure.
The capital of the Union Territory of Puducherry, Pondicherry is a former French colony and is now among the chief tourist destinations of South India. This coastal town was a French colony till 1954 and still retains many colonial buildings, churches, statues and the systematic town planning by the French and is often called the Europe of India because of its town planning. Although a small town, the town contains an interesting mix of Indian and French colonial heritage and a number of tourist destinations.

Day 03: Pondicherry

Morning enjoy a guided walking tour of Pondicherry. You will visit Sri Arabindo Ashram and Handmade paper making factory, Pondicherry Museum, Church of Sacred Heart Jesus and later enjoy a stroll through the beach road and old streets of town.

Day 04: Pondicherry - Salem

After an early breakfast drive to Salem (6 Hrs).
Stay at Hotel for 2 nights.

Day 05: Salem

Today you visit Don Bosco project where your son is volunteering.

Day 06: Salem - Trichy

Morning after breakfast drive to Trichy (2 Hrs). The historical city of Tiruchirappalli, popularly known as Trichy, is situated on the banks of the Kaveri River (also Cauvery) in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
Stay at Hotel for the night.
Afternoon visit Srirangam Temple and Rock Fort Temple with a guide.

Day 07: Trichy - Chettinadu

Morning after breakfast drive to Chettinadu (2 Hrs).
Stay at Hotel for one night.
Chettinadu is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiyar, a prosperous banking and business community, many of whose members migrated to South and Southeast Asia, in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Chettinadu is well known for its Chettinadu cuisine, Mansions, and Temples. Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of the local town. You could visit the Chettinadu Bungalows, local handmade tile making, Saree Weaving and a daily local market.

Day 08: Chettinadu - Madurai

Morning drive to Madurai (2 Hrs). Madurai is famous for Meenakshi Temple, the largest temple in South India. The city of Madurai was originally built in the shape of a lotus flower, centred on the celebrated Sri
Meenakshi Temple. The rich cultural heritage and striking architectural leads many Indians to refer to the city as the 'Athens of the East'. You will also visit Teppakulam tank, remains of palace, cloth bazaar etc.
Stay at Hotel for one night.
Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Madurai with a guide. You will see the famous Meenakshi Temple, the largest temple in South India, Madurai Palace remains, Gandhi Museum & Teppakulam tank.

Day 09: Madurai-Munnar

Morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (5 Hrs).
Stay at Hotel for one night.
Afternoon you will visit the Tea museum and a tea factory to see the processing of tea; it also has the history of tea in the region.

Day 10: Munnar - Top Station

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Top Station (1 Hr). You will be met by the trek leader for 2 days tented camping and trekking through Top Station, Vattavada, Pampadum Shola National Park etc
Overnight stay at Pampadum Shola Log Hut.

Day 11: Top Station – Day Trek – Yellappetty

Morning after breakfast enjoy 6 hour trek through tea plantations to reach Yellappatty.
Overnight stay at tents.

Day 12: Yellappetty - Thattekad

Morning after breakfast enjoy a shot trek to the main road (1Hr). You will be met by driver and transferred to Thattekad (4 Hrs).
Stay at Hornbill Camp for 2 nights.
The Hornbill Camp overlooks the lowland forests of the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thattekad in Kerala which is home to about 340 species of birds including migratory and endemic ones. Salim Ali, the legendary ornithologist, identified Thattekad as having the richest concentrations of bird diversity in the country. Set on the banks of the Periyar River amidst a lush coconut grove, the Hornbill Camp houses 20 well-appointed A/C tented cottages built on raised platforms and with private balconies overlooking the river & forest.

Day 13: Thattekad

Morning after breakfast enjoys 45 mins kayaking with guide. Afternoon enjoy birding sightseeing tour with guide to see the highly endangered bird of the region called Ceylon Frog Mouth.

Day 14: Thattekad - Alleppey

Morning drive to Alleppey (4 Hrs). By noon board your one bedroom House boat (AC Deluxe, All Meals) for overnight cruise on the Vembanad Lake. These boats are made in the traditional style but have modern en-suite facilities. This cruise on the Backwaters of the Vembanad Lake lets you have a look at the vast expanse of waterways and the village life. Lunch Dinner and breakfast will be served on the board. The boat anchors by 1800 Hrs and it will be stationary till next day early morning. They switch on the air-conditioning during the bed time from 2000- 0630 Hrs.
Overnight on boat.

Day 15: Alleppey - Mararikulam

Morning after breakfast you will be dropped at boat jetty. You will be met and transferred to Mararikulam (1 Hr). Mararikulam is a beach village in the district of Alappuzha. It was rated as one of the world’s top five HAMMOCK BEACH by National Geographic survey.
Stay at Beach Resort for 2 nights.

Day 16: Mararikulam

Full day at leisure by the beach

Day 17: Mararikulam - Fort Cochin

Morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Fort Cochin ( 2 Hrs). Fort Cochin is the home to some of the oldest European architecture in India and has been a significant settlement ever since Cochin Harbour was discovered. Unlike the bustling Ernakulum, the twin cities of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry have preserved an extraordinary wealth of early colonial architecture spanning the Portuguese, Dutch and the British eras a crop
unparalleled in India.
Stay at Hotel for 2 nights.
Rest of the day at leisure

Day 18: Cochin

Enjoy a guided sight-seeing tour of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. You will visit St. Francis Church, the oldest church built by Europeans in India where the Vasco Da Gama was buried, Chinese fishing nets, Fish markets and later you go to Mattancherry to see the Jewish Synagogue, quarters, old spice markets and spice warehouses. Evening enjoy a Kathakali Dance performance in a near-by theatre. Kathakali dance performance, the ancient pantomime dance drama of Kerala. The performance is for about 2 and half hours, with an hour of make-up, a short introduction about the dance and an hour of dance performance.

Day 19: Cochin - Parambikulam

Morning after breakfast get ready for a long drive to Parambikulam (6 hrs). Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is a well-protected ecological portion in the Nelliampathy - Anamalai landscape of the Southern Western Ghats in India. It is located in the Palakkad District of Kerala. It is one of the biodiversity hot spot in the world supports diverse habitat types and endemism. Considering its biological richness, abundance of wildlife and landscape beauty makes Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is one of the most attractive places in the entire stretch of Western Ghats.
Stay at Tented Niche for 1 nights.
Evening enjoy a bus safari through the sanctuary

Day 20: Parambikulam - Coimbatore - Mettuppalayam

Morning enjoy Bamboo rafting and short bird watching walk through the reserve. Later check out and drive to Coimbatore (3 Hrs). You will son will return to Salem today and you will drive further to Mettuppalayam (1 Hr).
Stay at Hotel for the night.

Day 21: Mettuppalayam - Toy Train - Ooty

Early morning you will be transferred to Mettuppalayam railway station 0board the toy train to Ooty that departs at 07 am. Arrive Ooty at 11 am. You will be met by driver and transferred to hotel. is the second largest hill station known for its tea estates located in the Nilgiri hills. It is famous for its verdant environs and for a variety of wildflowers and birds. Sims Park is major attraction with rare variety of plant species.
Stay at Resort for the night.

Day 22: Ooty - Mysore

Morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Mysore (4 Hrs). Mysore, the capital city of the Wodeyar Dynasty has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. There's an old world charm about the city that reaches out and leaves no one untouched.
Stay at Hotel for 2 nights.
Evening visit the famous Devaraja daily vegetable and fruits market with your driver. Devaraja market is an apt place to get a flavour of the local people’s daily life. With more than 100 years of history, this market is well knitted into the heritage of Mysore. This is a good sample of a traditional Indian market place that is colourful, noisy, vibrant and a tad chaotic. There is no concept of ‘cold storage’ here; everything is raw, straight from the farm to the market to the homes.

Day 23: Mysore

Morning leave for guided sightseeing tour of Mysore. You will visit the magnificent Mysore Palace-a kaleidoscope of stained glass, mirrors & gaudy colours, Chamundi hill and the Nandi Bull. The tour also includes visit to Srirangapatanam to see Tipu Sultans Summer Palace & Fort.

Day 24: Mysore - Kabini

Morning after breakfast drive to Kabini (3 Hrs). Kabini was a popular hunting hotspot for British Viceroys and Indian royalty. Now it is considered to be one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka, famous for its spectacular wildlife and bird life, by the backwaters of the Kabini River, a tributary of Cauvery.
Stay at Resort for 2 nights.
Enjoy an evening vehicle Safari to spot wild animals.

Day 25: Kabini

Morning at leisure.
Afternoon, enjoy another Jeep Safari or Coracle ride in the Kabini Dam.

Day 26: Kabini - Hassan

Morning after breakfast drive to Hassan (4 Hrs). Hassan is the 4th largest city in Karnataka and situated in the southern part of the state. Hassan is a base point to visit the 15th century Channakeshava temple at Belur and Hoysaleswara temple of Halebid another landmark in Hoysala architecture with sculptures of gods, animals and danseuses.
Stay at Resort for the night.

Day 27: Hassan

Morning enjoy a tour of Belur and Halebid temples with a guide. Belur and Halebid are two tiny but beautiful temple towns 16 km apart in the southern state of Karnataka. Once at the centre of a great empire ruled by Hoysala in the 12th century, Belur and Halebid are heritage towns and are home to several exquisite temples which reveal the artistry of Indian sculptors and the mastery of the temple builders of yore.

Day 28: Hassan - Bangalore

Moring after breakfast you will be transferred to Bangalore (4 Hrs).
Stay at Hotel for the night.
Evening enjoy an orientation tour of Bangalore city with your driver.

Day 29: Bangalore Airport Departure

Like all good things, your magnificent tour of South India comes to an end but you will always carry with you memories of this unique and unforgettable holiday experience. Morning you will be transferred (1 Hrs) to Bangalore Airport to board your flight back home.

The Tour Ends!!