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Day
01- PICK UPCHENNAI AIRPORT AND TRANSFER TO HOTEL (30
KMS - 30Minutes)
Pick up from airport and transfer to hotel. We stay at
the Ideal Beach Resort.
Day 02 - MORNING KANCHIPURAM SIGHT
SEEING. AFTERNOON MAMALLAPURAM SIGHT SEEING (150 KMS
/06HRS)
Morning after break fast will drive to excursion to
temple town of south India (kanchipuram). On arrival
at Kancheepuram we visit the
three famous temples namely VARADARAJA PERUMAL,
EKAMBARESHWAR AND KAILASANATHAR. The Varadaraja
perumal temple is dedicated to god VISHNU and was
built in the 7th century. The major attraction here is
the 100-pillared hall, were the wall sculptures depict
the historical events of the temple. After visiting
this temple we go to visit the Ekambareshwar temple.
Ekambareshwar temple is dedicated to god SHIVA and is
one of the largest temples of Kancheepuram. The
temples name is said to be derived from “Eka Ambar
Nathar” (Lord of Mango Tree). The temple houses a
mango tree about 3500 years old and its believed so
that the four branches of this tree represent the four
VEDAS (sacred Hindu texts). Further on we move to the
Kailasanathar temple, which are the oldest and the
most beautiful temple of Kancheepuram. Pallava king
built the temple in the 7th century giving great
importance to the Dravidian architecture. We will have
break for lunch at Beach resort in Mamallapuram.
Afternoon sight seeing to Mamallapuram where you visit
the Famous world heritage monuments of The Shore
Temple (built in 7th century), The Arjuna`s Penance
(Bass Relief), Five Rathas (symbolizes equality of men
& women) and many cave temples. Dinner at Ideal
Beach Resort with cultural events.
Day 03 MORNING DRIVE TO TANJORE (VIA -
G.K.PURAM & DHARASURAM) (240 KMS / 06 HRS)
Morning after breakfast will drive Tanjore, en route
visit to Gangaikondacholapuram & Dharasuram.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram (famous Shiva temple) with its
beautiful high towers full with many small sculptures
depicting stories of old epics. Proceed to Kumbakonam
for lunch break in village resort after lunch will
drive to Darasuram temple (built in memory of the
White elephant - AIRAVATH from the gods family), the
temple has its original name as “Airavatheshwar
temple”. Further head to Tanjore and Check-in to
hotel Parisutham and Dinner l served on poolside .
Day 04 MORNING TANJORE SIGHT SEEING (3
HRS) & AFTERNOON TRICHY SIGHT SEEING (110 KMS - 05
HRS)
Morning visit the world famous Brihadeshwar temple
(houses one of Asia’s biggest nandi -the bull). The
temple built by the cholas is very special for its
architecture. The most exiting is that the temple does
not have a shadow falling on ground at any time of day
but falls on its own body. Then visit the Bronze
gallery at palace museum and proceed to hotel for
lunch break after lunch will drive to Trichy the town
situated on the bank of river Cauvery. Srirangam
temple is one of the largest temple complex in India,
lies on an island on the Kauvery River, on the
northern side of this chaotic city. The most important
entrance gate is more than ninety metres high. Twenty
thousand people live and work within the labyrinths of
the temple and every day there’s a large stream of
pilgrims. There are seven temple walls around the
complex. You can find all kinds of shops within the
walls, as well as the houses of Brahmans and other
temple people. The building only begins to look like a
temple when you are inside of the fourth wall, outside
of that it looks more like a city. The holiest of holy
places in the temple has a gold roof. Festivals are
almost continually celebrated in the temples and along
the shores of the river. We will drive back to hotel.
Evening live south Indian classical music performance
over dinner.
Day 05 TAJORE TO MADURAI (180 KMS / 04
HRS)
Morning after breakfast will drive to Madurai. The
name Madurai reminds the city of the legend that a
drop of sweet nectar from the hair of the god Shiva
fell to earth here. ‘Madhurai’ means ‘sweet’
in Sanskrit. It is possible that Madurai is the oldest
city in India. There is proof that three thousand
years ago there was already a considerable settlement
here and the Roman emperors had an ambassador here. On
arrival at Madurai check in to Taj garden retreat.
Afternoon leisure. Dinner at hotel.
Day 06 - MADURAI SIGHT SEEING
Morning after breakfast will visit Sri Meenakshi
temple. The city completely revolves around the
Meenakshi Temple, where thousands of priests and
worshippers come daily, temple elephant people are
blessed and astrologists read the stars and hands. You
can also get your fortune read by parrots that pick
tarot cards out of a pile. All the believers bathe
themselves in the temple baths. The temple also has a
museum with beautiful bronze statues. In the evening
sermons are held within the walls of the temple and
concerts are often given in honor of the gods. The one
thing that you must not miss is the evening ceremony
with a fanfare, where the god Shiva is lead to the
bedroom of his wife, Meenakshi. Madurai is also a
great place to look for bronze statues, carpets or
other souvenirs. Over night at theTaj Garden Retreat
hotel.
Day 07: MADURAI TO PERIYAR (160 KMS /
04 HRS)
Checking out from the hotel after breakfast travel to
a lower lying part of the mountain range where
tropical rainforest still holds its own in the Periyar
National Park. Just before the end of the four-hour
journey you pass a real border with barriers: the
border with the federal state of Kerala. Afternoon
Plantation tour, this tour is to introduce you to the
numerous variety of spices that this country is famous
for. A good explanation of the native spices, tea and
coffee will given by the guide who will be accompany
the tour. If you are interested a visit to the local
tea factory can be organized. Dinner at Spice Village
Resort.
Day 09 - MORNING BOAT TRIP AT PERIYAR
LAKE AND AFTERNOON LEIUSRE.
Morning will take boat trip at Periyar Lake; this is
the best place to observe the game. There are many
animals to see, including herds of elephants,
bison’s and packs of wild boars that roam through
the woods and parade along the shores of the lake just
before sunrise and sunset. Afternoon leisure. Dinner
at Hotel.
Day 10 - PERIYAR TO KUMARAKOM
(120KMS/03 HRS)
Depart from hotel after breakfast we drive through
magnificent mountain country with jungle, palm forests
and all sorts of plantations for tea and coffee. We
slowly descend to a green area where cocoa, rubber and
spices grown. On arrival at Kumarakom check in to
hotel and leisure. Dinner at Coconut Lagoon Lake
Resort.
Day 11 -MORNING VISIT BOAT RACE &
EVENING DRIVE TO COCHIN (65KMS / 02 HRS)
You will watch the boat race on a private boat.
Snake Boat Race: This most colorful water sport in
Kerala, is conducted at PUNNAMADA LAKE in Alappuzha on
the second Saturday of every August. This prestigious
cultural event of Kerala, which has been drawing
people from all over the world. Nehru Trophy Boat Race
is a festival for the people of Alappuzha. Though it
is a festival, the attraction about this is the
sportive sprits among the participants of the race.
Several Boat races are taking place in several parts
of Kuttanad and other parts of Alappuzha. But today
despite all the other water festivals and functions
this particular event has gained popularity and
attraction for many people.
How it all started: Started in the year 1952 this
event was kicked started by the then prime minister
Shri .Jawaharlal Nehru also known as Punditji. In the
year 1952, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru visited the
erstwhile Travancore - Cochin. On his way to Alappuzha
from Kottayam the people of Alappuzha, escorted by the
huge snake-boats, gave him a roaring reception. Having
gone through the tremendous excitement of sailing in a
snake-boat popularly known as Chundan, Jawaharlal
Nehru donated a rolling trophy to be awarded to the
winner. The trophy is a replica of a snake-boat in
silver, placed on wooden abacus on which the following
words of Punditji are inscribed above his signature.
"To the winner of the boat-race which is a unique
feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin".
This trophy was later christened, 'Nehru Trophy'. The
first race was an ‘impromptu’ one held in the
honour of Panditji. During that period occasion Ten
Snake boats were present and Nedubhagam Chundan won
the race. In order to commemorate the occasion every
year "Nehru Trophy Boat Race" is conducted
in all respect by the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society.
What are Snake boats The boats of Kerala are known
after their shapes, sizes or purposes. The
Chundaanvallam is so called because of its pointed
prow. The term snake boat comes from its stern, which
represents the raised, the hood of a nake and its
length . The front end of this type of boat will be
tapering in shape and the rear end will be very high
from the water level. They have a length of about
60-65 meters and a capacity carrying hundred to
hundred and ten people during the race time. The stern
is majestically caparisoned and decorated with a flag
and brass ornaments. Silken parasols are arrayed along
the entire length of the boat. There will be almost 95
oarsman, 5 Amarakkar (Controllers) and 10 'Nilakkar'
(persons supposed to enhance the vigour and enthusiasm
of the articipating oarsman). It has got a resemblance
to the shape of a snake, when it advances in a
competition and hence became popular as snake boats.
Snake boats are the traditional battle vessels of
Kerala known as Chundan vallams. They were originally
designed as a naval vessel used for battle
Magnificent fiestas that brings alive the tranquil
backwaters. Snake boat races are held in connection
with ONAM festival. Scores of long snake boats and
other smaller crafts participate in these events. The
largest team sport in the world, the snake boat races
are preceded by colorful water parades. Usually a
snake boat is manned by four helmsmen, 25 singers and
100-125 oarsmen who row in unison to the fast rhythm
of the Vanchipattu (Song of the boatman). Thousand of
people crowd the water’s adge to cheer the huge
black crafts as they slice through the waters to a
spectacular finish. The oldest of these events have
curious legends and myths attached to their origin.
Myths closely linked to the rustic people and their
beliefs. After boat race visit will drive two hrs to
reach Cochin. On arrival at Cochin check in to hotel.
Dinner at Hotel.
Day 12 COCHIN SIGHT SEEING (30 KMS -
06 HRS)
Morning after breakfast will visit to Dutch palace; it
is very beautiful murals, which depict different
episodes in Hindu myths and a 16 the century Jewish
synagogue and the only Jewish neighborhood in India.
The Jewish community originally consisted of black and
white Jews. In the Dutch cemetery and in two churches
you can see many Dutch gravestones. The ten-meter high
Chinese fishnets that Marco Polo mentioned are
wonderful to see. In Kerala this method of fishing
using the nets, which originates from the 11th
century, can still be seen. The Bolgatty palace on the
island of the same name is the stately official
residence of the former Dutch governor of Cochin and
is a great place for lunch under the tropical trees of
the lagoon. Evening leisure. Dinner at hotel.
Day 13 - DRIVE TO ALLEPPEY AND CHECK
IN TO HOUSE BOAT STAY ON FULL BOARD BASIS (65 KMS / 02
HRS)
Morning after breakfast will drive to Alleppey and
check in to houseboat on full board basis. We will
having lunch in House boat, The house boat will take
you through the backwaters, this trip you will enjoy
with a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves.
You can sunbathe on the roof or observe the landscape
from the protection of the cabin. The population’s
whole life takes place here on the water. The people
sail, fish, swim and bathe here. They do their washing
and their washing up. They are so adapted to the water
that you can see people talking for an hour, while
they are up to their necks in water. Peddlers take
care of the supplies and the public transport goes on
the water. Countless water birds wait for their chance
to catch a fish. The trip goes through a wonderful
area full of palm trees, rice fields and floating
water plants that surround the boat like emerald Green
Island. Also the trip will take you to the narrow
canals and through the legendary Punnamada lake/
Virgin village to know at first hand the fascinating
local life / paddy fields / historical places like a
visit to the 400 year old church / village temples /
stop at the Snake Boat (110 ft. long) / stop at toddy
tapers place (coconut beer) / Kuttanad Village /
Chavara fishing area / night stay at middle of the
romantic lake at Vattakayal. Dinner will served as
desired by you.
Day 14: PICK UP FROM HOUSE BOAT AND
TRANSFER TO MARARAI BEACH (35 KMS - 01 HRS)
Morning after breakfast will pick you up from
houseboat and transfer to Mararaibeach. Where you can
unwind, eat some good food, swim and sunbathe. Dinner
at Mararai Beach Resort.
Day 15 - LEISURE DAY - MARARAI BEACH.
Day 16 - THE TOUR ENDS AFTER
BREAKFAST.
Today the tour ends after breakfast, will drop you
Cochin airport / Cochin railway station according to
your travel plans.
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