South India: 11 Days / 10 Nights

Arrive at Cochin airport and transfer to hotel. Kochi, also known as Cochin, is one of the most picturesque destinations on the southwest coastline of Kerala. An all-weather harbour and a grand seascape mark it as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea”. Cochin Port is a cruise port and has witnessed an encouraging growth with the arrival of luxury cruise liners to its shores. The peaceful city is also one of the leading commercial centres of southern India. It is the top supplier of aromatic spices to global markets, so if you’re looking for spices for your curries this is the place to buy them. Moreover, voyagers also coveted fine sandalwood, perfumes and gold that came from this market-town. Kochi kingdom dates to the 12th century. It is believed that Chinese and Arab traders were the first visitors to Kochi who paved the way for Portuguese and Dutch visitors, followed by the British Raj in this region. This place has been a haven for travel enthusiasts for several decades. Overnight at Hotel in Cochin.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning sightseeing tour of Cochin that includes visit to Fort Cochin, Santa Cruz Basilica, Dutch Palace (Closed on Friday and Saturday) at Mattacherry, St. Francis Church and Chinese fishing nets. Afternoon drive to Munnar A lovely hill station, filled with tea plantations and misty mountains. There is no place else quite like Munnar, that is why so many travellers love a holiday in Munnar and it tops their itinerary while travelling to Kerala. Munnar rises as three mountain streams merge, Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. It is 1,600 m above sea level, the hill station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picturesque towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji. This flower which bathes the hills in blue once in every twelve years. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2,695 m. Anamudi is an ideal spot for trekking. Overnight at Hotel in Munnar.

After breakfast at hotel, take a guided walk through the lush hills of Munnar, often shrouded in ethereal clouds. Be sure to have your camera ready as the beautiful scenery unfolds in front of you. Learn how Munnar's cool temperatures made the region a favorite summer retreat during the British colonial era. And in the afternoon, travel to the picturesque Mattupetty Dam, where you will find a beautiful man-made lake and spectacular views of the surrounding valleys. Here you will have the opportunity to take an optional speedboat ride around the lake. Later return to your hotel. Ovenight in Munnar.

After having your breakfast, head towards your next destination - Periyar. Drive through rubber and pineapple plantations to Thekkady and explore the Periyar National Park, perched lakeside in the ranges of the Western Ghats. The sanctuary surrounds a picturesque lake, which was formed because of a dam that was built in 1895. It ambles through the contours of the wooded hills and is a permanent source of water for local wildlife. Upon arrival check in to your hotel and take some rest.

Afternoon, take a tour of a local spice plantation. Overnight at Periyar.

After breakfsat, In the morning, take a guided nature walk in the acclaimed Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (approximately 3 hours). Encounters with animals in the wild are never guaranteed, and this is more of a jungle walk than an animal spotting tour, but look out for tiger tracks, spotted deer, or gaur – the world's largest species of buffalo. In the afternoon, unwind with an optional ayurvedic massage (on direct payment) or just relax in this scenic setting. Overnight at Hotel in Periyar.

After breakfast, continue drive towards Madurai. The oldest city existing in the Indian peninsula and one of the continuously inhabited cities in the world, Madurai is richly steeped in cultural heritage. It is called as Thoonga Nagaram that means a ‘city that never sleeps. The city, earlier known as Madhurapuri, grew around a huge temple built by Pandian King Kulasekhara 2,500 years ago. Madurai became famous during the Sangam period through the third and last conglomeration of Tamil scholars, which existed for more than 100 years. Historically it is also called as the Athens of the East.

Arrive Madurai and check-in at hotel.

Afternoon at lesiure for shopping and personal activities or take a walk-through town.

Overnight at Madurai.

After breakfast. Morning sightseeing of Madurai with local guide, including visits to the fruit and vegetable market, the Gandhi Museum and the famous ‘fish-eyed goddess’ Meenakshi Temple. The temple, which has 12 outer towers, decorated with literally hundreds of thousands of deities, plays a central role in the life of Madurai. After sightseeing, begin a 4–5-hour drive to Tanjore. Thanjavur is a city in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Its many temples include the 11th-century Brihadeeswarar Temple, a vast Chola dynasty–era complex with a frescoed interior. Thanjavur Maratha Palace is home to the centuries-old Saraswathi Mahal Library, with palm-leaf manuscripts, and Thanjavur Art Gallery, with bronze statues. Tamil University Museum displays coins, folk artifacts, and musical instruments. Overnight at Hotel.

After breakfast. Drive to Mahabalipuram. En-route visit Parasram and Chidambaram; Darasuram, the town is known for the Airavateswara temple constructed by the Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century CE. The temple is a recognised UNESCO World Heritage monument. Chidambaram, thillai Nataraja Temple, also referred as the Chidambaram Nataraja temple, is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Nataraja, form of Shiva as the Lord of dance. This temple is in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. This temple has ancient roots and a Shiva shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai. Later continue drive to Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram, is a town on a strip of land between the Bay of Bengal and the Great Salt Lake, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s known for its temples and monuments built by the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries. The seafront Shore Temple comprises 3 ornate granite shrines. Krishna’s Butter Ball is a massive boulder balanced on a small hill near the Ganesha Ratha stone temple.

Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Overnight at Hotel in Mahabalipuram.

After breakfast, visit the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is a collection of 7th- and 8th-century CE religious monuments in the coastal resort town of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, about 60 kilometres south of Chennai.

Later return to your hotel and Overnight at Hotel.

After breakfast. Depart towards Chennai visiting Kanchipuram en-route. Kanchipuram, also known as Kanchi, is an ancient city in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state. Considered a holy pilgrimage site by Hindus, it is home to many temples. The 8th-century Kailasanathar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a vast complex with intricate sandstone carvings. Ulagalanda Perumal Temple houses a huge statue of Lord Vishnu. A mango tree in the Ekambareswarar Temple courtyard is thought to be sacred. Later continue drive to Chennai. Called the ‘Cultural Capital of India’ for its deep-rooted traditions and age-old heritage, Chennai also has a young heart. It has grown into a charming city within a span of just over 350 years. Gaining recognition when, in 1639, Francis Day and Andrew Cogan, agents of the English East India Company, acquired a strip of land, called Chennapatnam on lease from the Vijayanagar King. Fort St. George that serves as the Government Secretariat today, was built to set up a factory serving as a nucleus for British settlements. The city was known as Madras till 1996 and later renamed as Chennai. Today this buoyant metropolis is a blend of the old and the new, the traditional and the modern. Spread over 200 sq km with the Bay of Bengal on the east, the city is the gateway to the rest of South India.

Arrive and check-in at Hotel. Overnight at Chennai.

In time transfer to Chennai International airport to connect flight for your onward Journey.