South India Tour with Goa

Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Room from 12:00 Noon

 Overnight stay in Hotel

Full day excursion to Mahabalipuram, & Kanchipuarm Mahabalipuram:

Mahabalipuram, also known as the Seven Pagodas, is a pleasant resort on the coast 85 kilometers from Madras. Today the central fascination of the spot to the vacationer lies in the magnificent solid landmarks and stone figures of the antiquated Pallava Tradition of Lords who managed a significant part of the domain currently known as Tamil Nadu, from the sixteenth-century Promotion. The significant landmarks to be seen are the Five Rathas, the bas-help on immense stone prominently known as Arjuna's Atonement, the Mahisasura Mandapam, the Krishna Mandapam, and the shore Sanctuary.

Kanchipuram: "The golden city of a thousand temples" one of Hinduism's seven most sacred cities, dates back to the early Cholas in the second century. The main temple complexes are very big, and the town is pretty quiet unless there are a lot of pilgrims there. Visit Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple and Ekambareswara Temple; Sri Kailasenath sanctuary; Sri Vaikuntha Temple, for example

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Munnar

After breakfast, take a city tour of Chennai that includes the Kapaleeshwarar temple, which was built in the 16th century and is sacred to Tamil Shivaties. Only the outer courtyard is accessible to people who are not Hindu. Drive past Marina Beach, San Thome Cathedral, and Fort St. George.

After that, go to Dakshina Chitra, which is a center for India's living traditions of art, folk performing arts, craft, and architecture, with a focus on South Indian traditions. At Muttukadu, 25 kilometers south of Chennai, the center occupies ten undulating acres with views of the Bay of Bengal.

In the evening transfer to the Railway station to board an overnight train to Madurai Overnight will be on TRAIN.

 Breakfast

 Overnight will be on Train

Arrival in Madurai and meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.

After breakfast sightseeing tour of Madurai City mainly Meenakshi Temple.

Meenakshi Temple: This is a dazzling illustration of Sanctuaries worked by the Pandyan Rulers. The main entrance is from the east, and there are up to 11 majestic towers. Sundreswarar's and Meenakshi's respective Shrines are the only two that exist. Kampathadi Mandapam is the name of the hall that stands in front of the Sundareswarar shrine. On the hall's pillars, Lord Shiva's various manifestations are depicted. The corridor of thousand support points is the most intriguing component. In the 16th century, this remarkable structure was constructed.

The support points here have a rehashed theme of the Adapted Mythical Serpent. There are melodic support points in one of the external nooks. When struck, each pillar produces a distinct sound. Inside, a pillared Colonnade encompasses the holy Brilliant Lotus Tank. This tank was once used to evaluate Tamil literary works, according to a legend.

Manuscripts of great worth would float on its discerning waters, while those lacking in merit would sink. Witness the Pooja (Worship) ceremony in the evening.

Breakfast

Overnight stay in Hotel

After breakfast drive to Periyar. On arrival check-in at Hotel.

Later in the evening, proceed with a boat ride at Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary. Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady, is an example of nature’s bounty, with great scenic charm, rich biodiversity, and providing veritable visitor satisfaction. Sprawled over an area of 777 sq .km.

Periyar is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. Zealously guarded and efficiently managed reserve is a repository of rare, endemic, and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar and Pamba. Proceed with a boat ride at Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary.

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

Morning enjoys 02 ½ hour guided Jungle safari walk with Naturalist. (Timings: 07:00-09:30 Hours).

Return back to the hotel for breakfast.

Later in the afternoon, visit a small family-owned spice plantation and learn how spices grow before enjoying a lunch prepared by the host family.

In the evening, enjoy the Kalaripayattu performance. It’s a gift to the modern world and is known as the mother of all martial arts. Kalaripayattu originated in ancient South India. Kalaripayattu is a Dravidian martial art from the Indian state of Kerala. One of the oldest fighting systems in existence, it is practiced in Kerala and by the Nadars, Ezhavas as well as Mappilas and Syrian Malabar Nasranis. Kalarippayattu includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry, and healing methods.

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

Drive to Alleppey and check in at the houseboat before noon.

Kettuvallam: Kerala's kettuvallam is among the best. Adjusted and modernized from the conventional kettuvallam of Kerala, the Vembanad Kettuvallam is an involvement with itself. You could not ask for more spacious and comfortable amenities. A sundeck where you can laze on wicker seats as you watch the world go by. The Vembanad Kettuvallam comes equipped with a full-time chef who will prepare the catch of the day or whatever else piques your interest, as well as an attendant who will always be available to you.

Your home boat conveys you gradually down palm-hung streams, past backwater settlements of covered and tiled cabins, brilliant with containers and hibiscus. You control the pace: halting where you like, resting when you like, and entertaining yourself with the freshest of food sources purchased from the ranchers and anglers on the banks of the backwaters. You are consistently inside the range of others and yet nobody can barge into your lives in the event that you don't need them to.

Your houseboat connects to a shore supply for electricity when night falls and the stars shoot silver spears into the gloomy waters. You don't require it when you are cruising in the cool, concealed, backwaters. The fact that your crew sleeps in the lounge reassures you.

Lunch and overnight at the houseboat

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Houseboat

Early in the morning, you can have a panoramic view of sunrise from your houseboat….After breakfast disembark your houseboat and drive to Cochin.

On arrival check in at the hotel.

Evening: Witness Kathakali Dance show - The picturesque state of Kerala gifts India with a dance drama, which is really embedded in stories from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata and from the Puranas (ancient scriptures).

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

Morning you proceed to Nimmy & Paul Kerala home in Cochin, Syrian Christian Cooking demo with 3 different varieties (She is a renowned cooking teacher and recently traveled to the USA for cooking classes). Enjoy lunch (Home cooked Food) with the family.

Later in the afternoon, your city tour begins with a visit to Fort Cochin, where you'll first see India's oldest European-built church, St. Francis. Continue on to the enormous Santa Cruz Basilica, which has pastel colors. The cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, which are strung out along the tip of Fort Cochin, are an interesting sight. The Mattanchery palace, where the former Raja of Cochin lived, is the next stop on your tour of Cochin. A fascinating collection of murals from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and other epics can be found in the palace. The Jewish Synagogue, also known as the Magen David Synagogue, will be your final stop on your tour of Cochin. This is the Commonwealth's oldest synagogue, built in 1568.

Breakfast

Overnight stay in Hotel

After breakfast drive to Ooty. On arrival check-in hotel.

Ooty: Ooty is the leading hill resort in south India. Situated in the heart of the Nilgiris (Blue Mountains), at a height of 2,287 m. (7,500ft.), to the northwest of Ooty do splendid towns resemble those of Sussex. The terraced botanical gardens, which are a landmark in Ooty, have many rare trees and flowering plants. Ooty is also known for its tea and coffee plantations and there are hundreds of tea estates in and around this hill resort.

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

After breakfast visit the beautiful hill station of Ooty, Tea Estates, the botanical garden, walk in local bazars etc.

TAKE A RIDE IN A TOY TRAIN FROM OOTY TO COONOOR

Our driver shall meet pax at Coonoor railway station, time for a local visit to Conoor

Return back to Ooty for an overnight stay

ENJOY CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATIONS

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

After breakfast drive to Ooty/Mysore (4 Hours).On arrival check in at Hotel

Evening: Brindavan gardens: 17 km from Mysore, the Brindavan gardens have been laid out by the side of the Krishna raja Sagar dam with beautiful lawns and beds of flowers, fragrant shrubs, cascades and fountains. Designed and built by dv. M. Visweswariati in 1932, the dam was built over three rivers- Kaveri, Hemavath, and Lakshmanathirtha.

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Houseboat

After breakfast proceed with the city sightseeing tour of Mysore visiting the Maharaja’s Palace- a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim styles Gateways, domes, arches, turrets, colonnades, and sculpture- all are here in magnificent profusion Continue on to Chamundi Hill named after the Royal Family’s patron goddess and the site of summer palaces, an ancient temple and the 16-foot Nandi (Siva’s bull) carved out of a single huge boulder The view from the hill offers a beautiful panorama of not only all Mysore but also ranges of hills, lakes and the turrets of temples and churches.

Later visit Srirangapatnam: 16 km. North of Mysore Srirangapatnam meaning "port of the lord of the world" is an ancient religious site on an island in the River Cauvery. The summer palace of Tipu Sultan, Srirangapatnam is known for its fortress and tomb of the famous warrior king. The summer palace has some beautiful paintings depicting Tipu’s various battles with the British army.

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

After breakfast drive to Hassan visiting Sravenbelgoa en route. Sravena belgola: A center of Digambar Jains. Bhadra bahu, a sage who died here in the 4th century B.C. was one of the six desceptes of Mahavir, the founder of the Jain sect. The rock is presided over by a colossal statue, 57 feet high (ad 983) of Jain Saint Gomateswara. It is nude. The face has the calm look usual in Jain & Buddhist statues. The stone looks as fresh as if newly quarried, due to its being profusely anointed at intervals of 25 years.

Continue drive to Hassan & check-in at Hotel

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

After breakfast visit Belur & Halebid temples

BELUR & HALEBID: situated on the banks of river yagachi, Belur was the capital Hoysala Empire 800 years ago before it was shifted to nearby Halebid. Also visit the Hoysaleswara temple at Halebid, one of the finest examples of temple architecture.

Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid, one of the finest examples of temple architecture; you will be struck by the close attention to detail paid by the artisans! Experience this magnificent creation of the human mind and hands.

Later drive to Bangalore for an overnight stay

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

After breakfast proceed with a half-day tour of Bangalore.

Bangalore City: The capital of Karnataka State & India’s Silicon Valley is a former, British Garrison town with its wide avenues, classical bungalows and Gothic Churches. Visit Lalbagh Botanical Gardens: Nandi (Bull) temple was built by Kempe Gowda; Tipu's palace and fort - It provides an interesting study of the military architecture of the 18th century.

Later transfer to airport to board late afternoon or evening flight to Goa.

Meeting assistance at Goa airport and transfer to hotel

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

After breakfast at proceed with a half Day Old Goa Sightseeing.

Half day sightseeing starts from the slopes of Altinho Hill for a breathtaking view of Panjim and river Mandovi. Arrive to Donapaula for a view of India's largest natural harbour Marmgoa. Proceed to Old Goa to visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus wherein is enshrined the body of St. Francis Xavier in a silver ornate casket. Then to St. Cathedra, the biggest church in the East. St. Cajetan built like St. Peters (Rome), Church of Lady Rosary and St. Monica

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

Free at leisure

ENJOY NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Houseboat

Breakfast at the hotel followed by time at leisure.

Transfer to the airport to board an afternoon flight to Mumbai. On arrival at Mumbai transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast

Overnight stay in Hotel

Proceed with a city tour of Mumbai.

The Gateway of India is Mumbai's most famous landmark. In 1924, in honor of King George V's 1911 visit to Mumbai, this yellow basalt arch was constructed on the waterfront. Drive along Marine Drive, also known as the "Queen's Necklace," passing the Maharashtra Government Secretariat. Go to Mani Bhavan, the place where Mahatma Gandhi stayed when he went to Mumbai.

Drive past the Victoria End, the main rail routes station of Mumbai, a delightful structure that represents the ethos of Edwardian engineering, certainly worth a photograph stop. At the Congregation entryway station see the Dabbawala's-a remarkable tiffin conveyance administration show to more than 5000 semiskilled specialists of conveying lunch to corporate chiefs from their homes. Visit the "Dhobi Ghat," a public laundry where Mumbai's "dirties" are scrubbed, beaten, dyed, and hung to dry. This is a nice place to take pictures and is well worth the trip. Visit the ISKON Sanctuary committed to Ruler Krishna in time for the early afternoon aarti and afterward proceed to the brilliant Crawford market and Verdure wellspring an enormous clamoring square, in the core of the city.

Late afternoon at leisure to explore.

 Breakfast

 Overnight stay in Hotel

Breakfast at the hotel (Room till 1200 Noon)

In the time transfer to Mumbai International Airport to board on flight to onward destination.

 Breakfast