Mahabalipuram
Day 1 Depart U.S.
Day 2 Arrival Chennai
Day 3 Chennai – Mahabalipuram
Day 4 Mahabalipuram
Day 5 Mahabalipuram
Chennai is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. With six million inhabitants this city is the fourth largest in India after Delhi, Mumbay and Calcutta. Chennai used to be known under the name of Madras. It is a busy but pleasant city and traces of the British influence are still apparent. The most important sights in this city are Fort Saint George and the Kapelesswarar Temple. In the afternoon we will travel by bus to Mahabalipuram. In his relaxed harbor town at the Gulf of Bengal you will find beautiful beaches, unusual temples right on the coast and the well-known 98 Foot long Bas Relief named Arjuna’s Penance. During your stay in Mahabalipuram you will be able to go on an excursion to Kanchipuram. This is one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus. It is also one of the oldest cities in India, where you may visit a large number of magnificent temples from the 6th and 7th century such as the 607 Foot high Ekambareswara. For obvious reasons Kanchipuram is also named ”Golden City with Thousand Temples”.
Pondicherry, Thanjavur
Day 6 Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry
Day 7 Pondicherry – Thanjavur
Day 8 Thanjavur
From Mahabalipuram we will travel south to the former French colony of Pondicherry that still has French street names. The wide boulevard, the policemen with the French kepis and the many bistros will remind you of a town at the Riviera. In “Pondy” you will have the time to taste the atmosphere of this unique place. Over the past few years Pondy mainly became known for the Aurobindo Ashram, where many travelers go to meditate. Via the villages of Chidambaram and Dharasuram we will drive by a beautiful rural route to reach Thaniavur. The enormous Nataraja Temple dominates Chidambaram. Daily believers come to this sacred place for the evening rituals. Inside the complex you may quietly take a seat and observe the various actions. Thanjavur, formerly known as Taniore, is located in a very fertile region due to the presence of the Kauvery River. The Tamils view this river as the Ganges of the south. The 10th century Brihadishvara Temple for Shiva is the most important temple of the city. Two demon-looking temple guards watch the gates and on the temple grounds stands an enormous statue of Nandi, the bull on which Shiva rides. The top of the temple is a stone block of about 80 tons. In the center of the city you may visit the museum with a special collection of bronze that belongs to the 17th century palace of the Navaka Dynasty.
Madurai
Day 9 Thanjavur – Madurai
Day 10 Madurai
From Thanjavur it’s a short drive to Trichy. “Rock Fort” dominates the skyline of this city. The fort stands on a 272 Foot high sacred rock that’s 3.8 billion years old, the oldest in the world. A beautiful road leads you to Madurai, which is the oldest city of South India according to some scientists. This lively ancient city filled with pilgrims and brisk trade is one huge bazaar packed with shops, street vendors, shrines and restaurants. Madurai has a very medieval appearance. Several travelers feel that this is the most spectacular city of the south. The undisputed highlight and center of all activity is the Shree Meenakshi Temple. Shiva is brought to the bedroom of Meenakshi every night and returned every morning accompanied by old Tamil hymns. Religious followers, Sadhus and many priests attend this daily ritual again and again.
Periyar, Kovalam
Day 11 Madurai – Periyar
Day 12 Periyar NP
Day 13 Periyar – Kovalam
Day 14 Kovalam
On the day that we travel to Perivar National Park we will leave the state of Tamil Nadu and continue to travel through the smaller state of Kerala. The park, which is also called Thekkady, is one of the nicest and most important wild parks of South India. It offers a welcome natural diversion to the previously visited temple cities. Wildlife there primarily consists of elephants, deer, antelopes and swine. Thanks to “Project Tiger” tigers too have a chance to survive there, but it is rather unlikely that you will encounter a live tiger. The park also has a very unusual population of birds. You may explore the park by foot with a guide or you may go on a boat tour on the reservoir in the middle of the park. As a change of pace after the park visit and all the temple visits with so many impressions, you will have time to spend in one of the nicest shore towns of India: Kovalam. The beaches are around a rock on top of which there is a former palace of one of the kings of Travancore. Now it is a very luxurious hotel. In Kovalam you will find the welcome relaxation that will allow you to sort all your latest impressions. Kovalam is also the preferred place to undergo a traditional Ayurveda treatment, a massage therapy with spiced oils.
Cochin, Coorg
Day 15 Kovalam – boat tour of Backwaters
Day 16 Cochin
Day 17 Cochin - Coorg
Day 18 Coorg
Aleppev is the start point of a splendid boat tour through the Backwaters, a region of lagoons, canals, rivers and lakes with water plants interspersed with narrow green islands. Rice fields, palm trees and small villages will leave an unforgettable impression of rural life in India. On our romantic private house boat we will go on an unforgettable tour through this beautiful environment. We will spend one night on these boats that have a minimum of three simple bedrooms per boat. A cook on board will prepare delicious meals, which are included. When we arrive on land the next day we will continue our trip by bus to Cochin. In the center of this old city you will find many traces of the colonial period of the rule of the United Dutch East Asia Company, a 17th century Dutch trading giant. The old harbor part of town with Fort Cochin, the typical Chinese fishing nets, the old synagogue and the Dutch palace are the highlights of the town. Furthermore there are many antique shops in this old town that will easily keep you entertained for an afternoon. Cochin is famous for the “Kathakali Dance”, characterized by grotesque gestures and very elaborate make-up. It will be possible to attend one of those performances in the evening.
We will take a magnificent drive through the mountains to the region of Coorg, also known as Kodagu. In the hilly region of Coorg, in order to escape the heat of the countryside, the British built several hill stations in beautiful green surroundings. If there is enough interest we may stop at a coffee plantation to have lunch at one of the plantations. It’s a very nice environment for a nice walk or to relax.
Mysore
Day 19 Coorg – Mysore
Day 20 Mysore
Mysore is a center for silk and all sorts of products made of sandalwood, perfume and incense. The most important sight is the enormous palace of the maharaja. This luxurious structure lies in the center of this tranquil orderly green city with markets full of fruit and flowers. On Chamundi Hill, south of the city, you will find a temple for Shiva that you may walk to. At the edge of the city you may have tea or swim in the beautifully designed garden of the country house of the maharaja that has been converted to a hotel. Maybe now is the time to see a beautiful melodramatic Indian movie in one of the large movie theaters within walking distance from the hotel. You may also visit the temples of Somnathur situated outside of the city.
Bangalore
Day 21 Mysore Bangalore
Day 22 Bangalore Arrival U.S. West Coast flights
+1 Day Arrival U.S. East Coast flights
Finally it will be a short ride to our last stop on this diverse tour: Bangalore. Bangalore is known as the most important computer center and is also the conclusion of this trip. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. After one more “Thali” you will fly back to the United States.
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