Best of Southern India
Duration : 14 Nights / 15 daysTour Destination : Kochi - Alleppey - Periyar National Park - Madurai - Tanjore (Thanjavur )/Tiruchirappalli - Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) - Mysore - Ootacamund (Ooty) - Coimbatore - Kochi
Day 1 : Arrive Kochi
Arrive in Kochi at any time.
Day 2 : Kochi
Relive the days of the colonial era on your first day in Kochi. Tour Fort Kochi, sip tea on the veranda of an oh-so-British hotel or tour the city’s perfectly restored Dutch palace.
Day 3 : Alleppey
Slip silently through sleepy canals on a boat, as the timeless landscape of Kerala’s backwaters slides by. Savour this idyllic region, where boats are the main transport, the humid climate is warm year-round, and signs of modern life are few and far between.
Day 4-5 : Periyar National Park
Travel a bumpy road from the coast through plantations of spice, tea, rubber and coffee before entering the realm of one of India’s most enduring symbols, the tiger. Periyar NP is one of the few habitats remaining for wild tigers in the world.
Day 6 : Madurai
Cross the border today into the state of Tamil Nadu en route to busy and colourful Madurai. Join a guided tour of the temple complex, shop for handicrafts or tailored clothing, and be sure to try one of Madurai’s popular sweet drinks, including carumbu (sugarcane) juice.
Day 7 : Tanjore (Thanjavur )/TiruchirappalliTravel north to the two famous temple cities of Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli (a.k.a. Tanjore and Trichy). Climb the Rock Fortress of Trichy, built on one of the oldest rocks in the world, for a view over the city and river. At the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple (Srirangam), gaze over the seemingly endless expanse of towers and carvings at the largest temple complex in the world.
Day 8-9 Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram)
Discover another of India’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Explore the 7th centure Shore Temple by bicycle or on foot. After you are done, relax with a cold Indian beer on the beach.
Day 10-11 : Mysore
Join the throngs of pilgrims at Chamundi Hills, with its Chamundeswari Temple on top and Nandi the Bull (the white bull the god Shiva rides) below. Mysore is a popular destination for spiritual tourism, with many yoga instructors, teachers of Sanskrit, kirtan chant, Ayurveda and other yogic forms congregating in its midst.
Day 12 : Ootacamund (Ooty)
Climb into the misty Nilgiri to the famous hill station of Ootacamund (Ooty), covered in tea plantations, grape gardens and eucalyptus trees. Hike through the plantations, learn how tea is grown, and see railways maintained almost exactly as they were 100 years ago. not to mention take a much needed break from the heat!
Day 13 : Coimbatore
Coimbatore, also known as Kovai, is one of the major industrial cities of South India, and one of the country’s top 10 fastest growing cities. It is a major producer of textiles, and known as the motor sports capital of India.
Day 14 : Kochi
Travel by express bus back to our starting point at Kochi. Spend the afternoon shopping or sightseeing before gathering for a farewell dinner in the evening.
Day 15 : Depart Kochi.
