Elegant Tours India

Elegant Tours India

Heritage Tour of South India

16 Nights / 17 Days

Destinations : Chennai – Mahabalipuram – Kanchipuram – Pondicherry – Tanjore – Trichy – Madurai – Thekkady – Alleppey – Cochin – Bengaluru – Hassan – Mysore – Bengaluru

Inclusions
Tour Details :
Day 01. Arrive Chennai

Upon arrival in Chennai, meet and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02. Chennai

After breakfast, Chennai city tour with a visit to British established Fort St. George, Government Museum, the Snake Park, Kapalishvara Temple, Elliot’s Beach and Marina Beach. These are some of the most outstanding specimens of Chennai’s best-kept heritage. Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03. Chennai - Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram

After breakfast, drive to Kanchipuram. This is city sacred to Hindus and revered at par with the likes of Varanasi, Ujjain and Ayodhya. Such is the glory of the city of thousand temples that still have shrines more than hundred in its heritage trove.

The tour to Kanchipuram takes a traveller through the Kailasanatha Temple. This is the finest structural Pallava temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Ekambareshwarar temple is next in the series, showcasing the popular Gopurams gateway tower architecture. The temple gopuram is 59 m tall, making it one of the tallest gopurams in the country. Further in the city, visit Vaikunta Perumal temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This Pallava is also one of the 108 Divya Desam dedicated to the lord. After lunch in Kanchipuram, drive towards Mahabalipuram. Upon arrival, check in the hotel. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04. Mahabalipuram

After breakfast, sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram, where the first world heritage site can be seen in great zeal. Rising from the sand, this town served the Pallava dynasty in the sixth century as an important coastal port where ships with spices and silk were sailed across the Bay of Bengal to the islands of Java, Sumatra and Cambodia. This is also an interesting destination for heritage lovers.

Visit Shore Temple perched on rocky outcrop stands on the shoreline as the landmark structure of Mahabalipuram. Also visit the famous rock bas reliefs of Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna’s Butterball, Five Rathas or Chariots and mandapas as a part of Mahabalipuram tour. Also visit Dakshinachitra, a 10 acre heritage museum where the prime heritage of South India, its art, village crafts and sculptures from the four southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala are displayed. Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05. Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry

After breakfast, drive to Pondicherry / Puducherry. This was formerly a French colony and now a resplendent tourist attraction famous for the Aurobindo Ashram. This retreat was founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926. Also, visit Manakula Vinayagar Temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. In the evening, experience the French culture etched in Pondicherry with an observation tour through the region’s French buildings. Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06. Pondicherry - Tanjore

After breakfast, drive to Tanjore. The city holds prominence to the south Indian culture. here, a tourist can view the world’s finest Chola bronze collection and even visit the breathtaking Brihadishwara Temple, the most outstanding Chola contribution to the region’s architectural legacy.
Upon arrival in Tanjore or Thanjavur, check in the hotel. Later visit the Brihadishwara Temple, the world heritage site as the Great Living Chola Temples. Entirely made of granite, this temple is the crowning glory of temple architecture established by the Chola rulers.
Later visit to the Tanjore Palace. Constructed in 16th century, the palace is distinctively known for its huge corridors, spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07. Tanjore - Trichy

After breakfast, drive to Trichy. Upon arrival, check in the hotel. Later visit Trichy or Tiruchirapalli as locally known is famous for Rock Fort and Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam. This is the large temple complex known for its courtyard and surrounded by seven concentric walls with 21 gopurams. In the evening, visit Rock Fort Temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. A visit to the local markets around the temple can be done in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08. Trichy - Madurai

After breakfast, drive to Madurai. This is one of the oldest cities, not only in the South India, but in the world and has been a centre of learning & pilgrimage for centuries. Upon arrival, check in the hotel.
Afternoon visit Sri Meenakshi Temple, attracting thousands of pilgrims from the country. Later visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09. Madurai - Thekkady

After breakfast, leave for Thekkady. Thekkady is bestowed with great natural heritage in the form of spice forests and wildlife cover. Upon arrival here, check in the hotel.
Afternoon, begin boat safari on the Periyar Lake and spot the natural wildlife and take spice tour. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10. Thekkady - Kumarakom - Alleppey

After breakfast, drive to Alleppey. Enroute stop over at Vembanad Lake for boat ride. This is one of the most popular man made bird sanctuaries surrounded by the backwaters on the Vembanad island. After the boating, continue towards Alleppey. Upon arrival, check in the backwater resort. Enjoy the luxury of life at the Backwater Resort. Overnight at the Backwater Resort.

Day 11. Alleppey

After breakfast, free at leisure in the backwater resort. Option for explore the backwater villages by country boat is there. After excursion, return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12. Alleppey - Cochin / Kochi

After breakfast, drive to Cochin / Kochi. The commercial capital of Kerala, also known as the Queen of Arabian Sea is rich in tourism potentials. Dotted with rich heritage of the modern history, Kochi city tour includes a visit to Fort Cochin.
Later visit the St. Francis Church, which is the oldest European Church in India built in 1503 by Portuguese. Further, visit the most prominent attraction of Kochi, the Chinese Fishing Nets, where the traditional way of fishing can be still observed.
Evening, witness the spectacular Kathakali Dance Show, the living heritage of Kerala. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13. Kochi - Bengaluru (flight)

After breakfast, transfer to airport for a flight towards Bengaluru / Bengaluru. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel.
Afternoon, Bengaluru city tour with a visit to the Vidhan Soudha, largest monolithic Nandi statue Temple, popularly known as the Bull temple and option for shopping at MG Road. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14. Bengaluru - Hassan

After breakfast, drive to Hassan. This is also addressed as the temple-architectural capital of Karnataka.

Enroute visit Sravanabelagola. This is one of the oldest and the most important Jain pilgrimage centers in India dedicated to Bahubali Gomateshwara. The saint is worshipped in the form of 17m high statue, said to the world’s tallest monolithic statue. After the stopover, continue to Hassan, the heritage gateway of Karnataka. Upon arrival, check in the hotel. Evening visit heritage of Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid. Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15. Hassan - Mysore

After breakfast, drive to Mysore. Upon arrival, check in at hotel.
Afternoon, visit the Mysore Palace, resonating with the royal heritage of the land. This palace was once the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore. Visit Chamundi Hill and Chamundeshwari temple atop the summit of the peak. Later experience the Brindavan Gardens. Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 16. Mysore

After breakfast, Day is free for at discretion or shopping in Mysore. The destination is known for finest silks, sandalwood and rich handicrafts. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 17. Mysore - Bengaluru

After breakfast, drive to Bengaluru to board your flight for onward journey.

heritage tour of south india

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