DEPART AMERICA :

EN ROUTE :

Relax and enjoy the in flight service en route to India. Cross the international dateline and lose a day.

ARRIVE COCHIN:

Arrive in Cochin, the capital city of Kerala. You will be greeted with a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure.

COCHIN TOURING:

City Tour of Cochin includes the Mattancherry Palace, St. Francis Church, The Jewish Synagogue. Walk around the Jewish Street to do some shopping of antiques and coir made stuff. Late visit the Cotton Weaving Village. Proceed to the Chinese Fishing nets. This evening enjoy the Kathakali Dance performance.

COCHIN/ALLEPPEY/KUMARAKOM:

This morning drive to Alleppey. On arrival embark on a boat and go through the narrow backwater canals to arrive in Kumarakom.

KUMARAKOM/PERIYAR:

Drive overland to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for the Indian Tuskers (Elephants) and a wide array of animals and birds. Arrive and check in to the hotel. Take a boat ride on the lake to see the wildlife of Periyar Sanctuary.

PERIYAR/MADURAI:

Morning take a nature walk to see the spice plantations. Drive overland to Madurai. Visit the famous Meenakshi Temple (named after one of the daughters of a Pandyan King who had 3 breasts). The temple is spread over 6 hectares and its enormous towers covered with gaily colored statues, and are visible from a great distance.

: MADURAI TOURING :

Today visit the Tirumalayak Palace, The Tamukkam Palace, the Government Museums. Re-visit the Meenakshi Temple in the evening to witness the prayer ceremony and meet with the Temple priest.

MADURAI/TANJORE:

Drive overland to Tanjore. Tour of Tanjore includes the magnificent Brihadeshwara Temple and the adjoining Museum.

TANJORE – CHIDAMBARM – PONDICHERRY :

Drive overland to Pondicherry. Enroute visit Dharasurm, Gangaikondacholapuram and Chidambaram.

PONDICHERRY:

Next day Visit Auroville an international commune founded by the ‘mother’ where large number of people from different parts of the world live and work together. The other attraction is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram

PONDICHERRY/ KANCHIPURAM- MAHABALIPURAM :

Drive overland to Mahabalipuram. Visit the textile and temple town of Kanchipuram, sometimes known as Siva Visnu Kanchi, one of the holiest Hindu cities and famous for its spectacular temple. Many of the temples are the work of the later Cholas and the Vijaynagar kings. Kanchipuram is also famous for hand woven silk fabrics

MAHABALIPURAM :

Visit the world famous shore temples at Mahabalipuram. This was the second capital and sea port of the Pallava Kings of Kanchipuram. The first Tamil dynasty of any real consequence emerged after the fall of the Gupta dynasty. The shore temples in particular strike a very romantic theme and are some of the most photographed monuments in India. The sculpture here is particularly interesting because it shows scenes of day to day life.

MAHABALIPURAM/ CHENNAI :

You will be driven to Chennai this morning. Afternoon tour of Chennai includes The Fort St, George, St. Mary’s Church, The Fort Museum, The Parthasarthy Temple 7 the Kapaleeshwara Temple.

CHENNAI DEPARTURE :

TA Classic Tours representative will assist you for transfer to the Airport to fly for North America

ARRIVE HOME :