Explore South India's Rich Heritage: A Cultural and Historical Tour

Once you land in Chennai, one of our representatives will receive you and assist you for a smooth check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at your leisure. You can either relax in the room or explore around the region by walk. Overnight stay at Chennai

Post breakfast, start for Chennai sightseeing. Visit Fort St. George and the Government Museum. After lunch, resume your drive to visit Dakshina Chitra Musuem, where you can witness the modal houses exhibiting the culture and heritage of all the South Indian States. Explore through the exhibits and continue your drive to Mahabalipuram, the most frequented South Indian coastal city. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Mahabalipuram.

This day will be for visiting the iconic locations of Mahabalipuram, flooded with tourists round the year. The stone wonders dating back to the Pallava Dynasty are depicted in the shore temples and the monolithic monuments like Arjuna’s penance keeps you spell bound with its intricate designs and extensive art works. The group of monuments at Mahabalipuram is listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. After spending your quality time visiting those monuments and the sandy shores, resume your drive to Pondicherry. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.

This day is for Pondicherry sightseeing. Post breakfast, start to visit the French Quarters of Pondicherry. Marvel the architectures with an imposing French style as an impact of the French colonial powers here. Also visit the museum where the history stands still. Explore the places around before returning to hotel. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.

Post breakfast, check out from the hotel and start your drive to the temple city Kumbakonam. En route visit Briahdeeswarar temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. This magnificent temple was built by King Rajendra Chola, son of the Great Emperor Raja Raja Chola I. The huge Linga idol in the sanctum, the number of figurines and statues in the temple can be witnessed without any hassle. Resume your drive to Darasuram Airavateeswarar temple, built in the form of a chariot. The intricate designs of the stone sculptures are truly marvellous to watch. Both these temples are listed under the Great Living Chola Temples by UNESCO. Continue your drive to Kumbakonam. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.

This day is for Kumbakonam sightseeing. Kumbakonam is a land of temples with magnificent structures dotted across. Kumbakonam is equally popular for making of bronze statue, bronze lamps and pottery. Take a look at how these crafts are being made. Visit the popular temples nearby before returning to hotel. Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.

Post breakfast, check out from the hotel and start your drive to Tanjore. Visit the world renowned Brihadeeswara temple built by the great Emperor Raja Raja Chola I. The temple is still an engineering mystery for its huge linga and the bull idols, the tallest sanctum tower and a monolithic stone weighing 80 tonnes atop the tower and because of the magnificence in every aspect, the temple is called as “Big Temple”. After thoroughly enjoying the architectural excellence, visit Museum and Palace, the icons of Maratha rulers in Tanjore. Continue your drive to Karaikudi. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Karaikudi.

Post breakfast, start for a sightseeing tour of Karaikudi, which is best known as the region of Chettiars, the business community of Tamil Nadu. The massive palatial residence and the exclusive cuisines are the icons of Karaikudi. There are houses even with thousand windows and it is customary for the Chettiar community even today to conduct functions like weddings in their native houses. As many of them migrated to foreign countries, the huge residences are partially modified as Heritage Homes frequented by the global travellers. Visit one such building called Chettinad House. Marvel the excellent architecture with spacious halls, central squares and other aesthetically built rooms, before resuming your drive to Madurai. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay at Madurai.

This day will be for a sightseeing tour of Madurai city. Check out from the hotel and start your visit with Meenakshi Amman temple. Madurai is world’s one of the oldest cities with longest surviving civilizations. The grand Meenakshi Amman temple is at the exact centre of the city around which the entire city is built as concentric squares. Also visit Tirumalai Nayakar Mahal and Gandhi Museum, the iconic locations of Madurai. After exploring the city, resume your drive to Kovalam, the exotic beach destination of Kerala. En-route, you can visit Padmanabhapuram Teak Palace. Reach Kovalam and after checking into the hotel, the rest of the day is at you leisure. Overnight at Kovalam.

This full day is for rejuvenating yourself at the pristine beaches of Kovalam. Spend the enthralling moments with the uninterrupted waves touching your feet and the gentle wind whispering into your ears. Return to the hotel after thoroughly enjoying the abundant beauty of nature. Overnight stay at Kovalam.

Post breakfast, check out from the hotel and start your drive to Alleppey, known as “Venice of the East”. The wonderful water networks connecting the regions is amazing to watch. Embark into a cosily designed houseboat and start your cruise. Enjoy your stay in the houseboat moving across the shallow backwaters. Also relish the gorgeous cuisines freshly prepared by the crew on board using authentic Kerala recipes. Once the houseboat gets anchored, zoom into the lives of the natives at the banks of the backwaters. Get back and spend your night in the houseboat.

Post breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and continue your drive to Cochin, Check into the hotel and relax for a while. Later, your post lunch session will be visiting Fort Cochin, Jew Town and Mattancherry Palace. Later in the evening, enjoy the artists performing Kathakali, the ancient art form of Kerala. Kathakali is a form of dance drama, enacting the scenes from the popular Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha. The highlights of this show are, there are no females casting in this show, only the costumes, makeups and the majestic headgears represent the glory of the characters. The make up for Kathakali is so significant that it takes four hours to get into the skin of the character for every artiste. Enjoy the vibrant show before returning to hotel. Overnight stay at Cochin.

This day is for visiting some of the iconic locations of Cochin like Hilltop palace. Stroll around the shopping areas of Cochin and get some souvenirs to take back. Later in the evening, enjoy the martial art form of Kerala, Kalaripayattu. The show is performed with a vigour and it is truly a unique one for this region. Witness the brave movements of the artistes performing with utmost dedication. Overnight stay at Cochin.

Post breakfast, check out from the hotel. Based on your departure schedule, you will be assisted to board your flight at Cochin airport.Tour ends with beautiful memories of South India and its rich historic heritage!