South India Special

Breakfast. In the morning, sightseeing tour of Chennai.
In the afternoon, excursion to Kanchipuram. KANCHIPURAM is one of the seven holy cities of India. Located 71 km from Chennai and 74 km from Mahabalipuram, it was the capital of the flourishing Payaba kingdom and later maintained its spiritual hegemony under Chola rule. Kanchipuram (Kanchi) is interesting not only for its temples; in this city, the magnificent silks used to make the most exclusive saris in all of India are handcrafted. After the visit, return to Chennai.

Breakfast. In the morning, departure by road to Mahabalipuram (55 kms / 1½ hrs.). Upon arrival, visit Mahabalipuram "the City of the Seven Pagodas". Visit the Temple of the Shore, and the gigantic monumental frieze "The Descent of the Ganges", we will also see the group of Five Rathas, monolithic temples carved from individual rocks. After the visit, departure by road to Pondicherry.Accommodation at the Hotel.

Breakfast. In the morning visitthe city ofPondicherry,a city very different from all those we have seen so far. Formerly a French colony, Pondicherry only became part of India in the 1950s. French is still the most common language here and the streets and houses of Pondicherry are more reminiscent of the South of France than the South of India.

In the afternoon, visit Auroville Ashram, one of the most famous sites in South India. The name Auroville refers both to the Hindu mystic Sri Aurobindo and to the 'City of Dawn' (in French). The city was inaugurated in 1968 in the presence of the President of India and representatives of 124 other countries; each of them threw a handful of soil from their country of origin into an urn that is buried in the centre of Auroville, thus symbolising universal brotherhood. In the centre of Auroville is the Matrimandir, 'Temple of the Mother', a building considered to be its nucleus.

Breakfast.Departure by road toKumbakonam.We will visit the Brihadeeshwara Temple in Chindambaram, the sanctuary of Shiva Natharaja, declared a World Heritage Site and considered the most perfect of the Dravidian school. Continuation toGangaikondacholapuramwhere we will admire theBrahadeeswar stone temple, built by the Chola king in the 10th century. We will visit the Arravatesvara Temple in DarasuramBuilt by Raja Chola II in the 12th century with noble sculptures decorating the temple's surroundings. Continued toKumbakunamto see its temples ending the day with arrival at the Hotel. Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast.Departure by road to Chetiinad. Visiting the city of Tanjore and Trichy en route. In Trichy, we will climb the Rock Fort, with the Passage of the Hundred Columns, crowned by the temple dedicated to the God Vinayaka. In the Srirangam Island, on the Kaveri River, We will visit the great Ranganathswami temple surrounded by seven concentric walls, with 21 access doors and sanctuaries and rooms, some of them with up to a thousand columns. After the visit, we head out by road to Chettinad.Accommodation at the Hotel.

Breakfast.Departure by road to Periyar (Thekkady). Visiting the city of en routeMadurai. We will see the Meenakshi Temple, with its hall of more than 1,000 pillars and the Tirumal Nayak Palace, built in the 17th century, a monument with a great deal of decoration. Its enormous arched roof is supported by 15-metre-high stone pillars. Continue by road to Thekkady,Located in the Nilgri Hills, full of plantations of spicesArrival and accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast.In the morning, we will have aboat tour on periyar lake, an animal life reserve in the state of Kerala, where we can admire its flora and fauna,a stop will be made at the tea factory/plantation. In the afternoon, transfer to an elephant camp where you can watch these gigantic animals bathe and take an elephant ride through the forest/species garden.

Breakfast. Departure from Periyar Lake towards the famous Kerala backwaters “Kumarakom”. Arrival and walk to Kettuvalam (boat house). This boat trip allows you to enjoy an extraordinary landscape. Huge lagoons give way to narrow canals almost covered by a canopy of lush tropical vegetation. Lunch, Dinner and Accommodation on the boat.

Breakfast.10:00 am - Disembarkationand Departure by road to Cochin. Arrival in Cochin "a group of islands connected by bridges where we can admire the traces of Portuguese, Dutch and English colonization." and transfer to the Hotel 1430 hrs -City tourin which the following stand out:The Jewish Synagogue, the Church of San Francisco, the Dutch Palace and the famous Chinese fishing nets. Accommodation at the hotel.