South India & Mumbai

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- Return flights into Chennai & out of Mumbai
- Internal flight from Cochin to Mumbai
- Pre-payable airport/security taxes
- Return airport/hotel transfers
- 2 nights 4* hotel accommodation in Chennai
- 1 night 4* hotel accommodation in Mahabalipuram
- 1 night 4* hotel accommodation in Pondicherry
- 1 night 4* hotel accommodation in Trichy
- 2 nights 4* hotel accommodation in Madurai
- 2 nights 4* hotel accommodation in Kovalam
- 1 night on-board a house boat in Alleppey
- 2 nights 4* hotel accommodation in Cochin
- 2 nights 4* hotel accommodation in Mumbai
- Breakfast daily
- Assistance of a guide
- Touring by air-conditioned vehicle
- Visits to monuments as per the itinerary (excludes entrance fee sto be paid direct)
- Visit Chennai-M'puram-Pondicherry-Trichy-Madurai-Kanyakumari-Kovalam-Alleppey-Cochin-MumbaiDelhi, Agra, Jaipur, Goa & Mumbai

Arrive Chennai

Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.

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Chennai

Morning half day sightseeing tour of Chennai visiting museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery. (Closed on Fridays and Public holidays). Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, San thome Cathedral. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.

 
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Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahablaipuram (73 Km)

Morning depart for Mahabalipuram visiting temples at Kanchipuram enroute. Kanchipuram the Golden city was one of the seven sacred cities of India and once had 1000 temples.  Now only 200 remains. It is also famed for it’s hand-woven cottons and Kanjivaram silk. On arrival check-in at hotel. Mahabalipuram was the main port of the Pallava dynasty and has exquisite rock-cut monuments, monolithic structures and bas reliefs. It is also a beach resort. Afternoon visit the beach temple. Overnight at hotel.
 
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Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry  (138 Km)
Morning depart for Podicherry by surface and on arrival check-in at hotel. Afternoon half day city tour of Pondicherry whose association traces its
Origin to saint Agasthya, the revered sage of the south. Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram – the final Resting place of Sri Auribindo, a saint-cum-yogi who synthesized yoga and modern science. Also visit the Museum which has rooms furnished with period furniture of French India : church of Sacred Heart of Jesus. Overnight at hotel.
 
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Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Trichy (219 Km)

Morning depart for Trichy by surface visiting Chidambaram enroute. On arrival check-in at hotel. Afternoon half day city tour visiting the citadel of  the Chola Dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the carnatic wars of  thought between the French  & the English, Lord Olive’s house is still there to see and so is the Danish Church. The Rock-Fort is the Landmark of Trichy.  A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top and further climb to a Shiva temple. Overnight at hotel.
 
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Trichy - Tanjore - Madurai (142 Km)

Morning depart by surface for Madurai enroute visiting Tanjore, the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeshwara, Its bronzes & handicrafts make
Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit of the South. It is also famous for its silk, one of the best in India. On arrival check-in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
 
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Madurai

 Morning visit the beautiful Great Meenaskhi Temple Dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towersing Gopurams, rising high above the surrounding township. Later visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - a gracious biulding in the Indo-Saracenic style, famous for the stucco work in its domes and arches. Overnight at hotel.
 
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Madurai - Kanyakumari (235 Km) & Kanyakumari - Kovalam (75 Km)

Morning depart for Kovalam by surface visiting Kanyakumari enroute. Visit the beach, temple and the Vivekananda Memorial at Kanyakumari and then continue drive to Kovalam. Overnight at hotel.

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Kovalam

Day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

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Kovalam - Alleppey (By surface, approx 5 Hrs)

Morning depart for Alleppey by surface and on arrival board a houseboat. Cruise around Alleppey, the backwaters cruise takes off through a network of canals with a back drop of villages and coconut trees on the shores. Overnight on board the houseboat.

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Alleppey - Cochin (By Surface, approx 1.5 Hrs)

Morning depart for Cochin by surface and on arrival check-in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

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Cochin

Morning sightseeing of Cochin, a city till today influenced by medieval Portugal, Holland and England. You visit St. Francis Church, built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars where Vasco da Gama was buried for 14 years before his remains were transferred to Lisbon. His tombstone still stands. Nearby is the Mattancherry Palace or “Dutch Palace”. The central hall on the Ist floor was the coronation hall of the rajas of Cochin. Other rooms depict scenes from the Ramayana and Puranic legends connected with Hindu gods. Amazing are the Chinese fishing nets. These cantilevered fishing nets line the entrance to the harbour mouth. They were introduced by traders from the courts of Kublai Khan. You also see the Jew City with the Jewish Synagogue, constructed in 1568, with hand-painted, willow-pattern floor tiles brought from Canton in the mid-18th century by a Rabbi, who had trading interest in that city.  Overnight at hotel.

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Cochin - Mumbai (by flight)

In time transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

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Mumbai

Morning breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast have half day visit to Gateway of India, Mumbai's principle landmark.  This arch of yellow basalt was erected on the waterfront in 1924 to commemorate King George V's visit to Mumbai in 1911.  Drive pass the  Secretariat of Maharashtra Government and along the Marine Drive which is fondly known as the 'Queen's Necklace'.  Visit Mani Bhavan, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his visits to Mumbai.  Drive past the Victoria Terminus, the principal railways station of Mumbai, a beautiful building that symbolise the ethos of the Edwardian architecture, well worth a  photo stop. At the Church gate station  see the Dabbawala’s- a unique tiffin delivery service run by over 5000 semiskilled workers of delivering lunch to corporate executives from their homes. Visit the 'Dhobi Ghat', an open laundry  where Mumbai's 'dirties' are scrubbed, bashed, dyed and hung out to dry -  a nice photography stop well worth a visit.   Visit the ISKON Temple devoted to Lord Krishna in time for the noon aarti and then continue to the colourful Crawford market and Flora fountain a large bustling square, in the heart of the city. Overnight at hotel.

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Leave Mumbai
In time transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
         

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