Breakfast will be served at the hotel.

This morning start the tour with a visit to the Koyambedu Vegetable & Flower Markets (possibly the largest perishable market in Asia).

After market visit, proceed for the city tour.

The Neo-Gothic San Thome Basilica is one of the only three basilicas in the world said to contain the relics of an apostle of Christ and is an important Christian pilgrimage. Built over the tomb of St. Thomas, the original building was said to have been established by the apostle himself.

Founded in 1644 by the British East India Company, Fort St George was the engine of trade and commerce that transformed a beachfront hamlet into a modern city. Fittingly, it is now the seat of the legislative assembly of the state of Tamil Nadu. The Fort Museum located in the oldest surviving building of the fortress is of particular interest to tourists and has an impressive collection of exhibits spread over ten galleries.

Rippon Building: Another pride of Chennai city, this 100 year old building was named after Governor Lord Rippon, the father of self-government in India. The Chennai Corporation and its council are functioning in this building. (Entry time – 10 am to 03 pm)

The buzzing Kapaleeswarar Temple with its proud 120 feet tall exquisitely engraved Gopuram is one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture. Inscriptions from the 13th century and highly ornate stucco work adorn its walls. It’s also the site for the spectacular annual Arupathimoovar festival, during which a gigantic wooden chariot carrying the main deity is pulled along the roads by hundreds and thousands of frenzied devotees, followed by a procession of gods involving sixty three idols on palanquins. Students of cinema may recall this festival from French master Louis Malle’s Cinema Verite´ venture, Phantom India.

Theosophical society: Founded by Madam Blavatsky and Colosker of the USA to study the religion and philosophy. In 1892 the society moved to Chennai and was set amidst a vast expanse of woods on the estuary of Adyar. Above all the largest banyan tree, several hundred years old is found in the campus. It spreads its branches and roots covering 40,000 sq. ft. giving a serene ambiance.

St. Thomas Mount: It is a small hillock situated south of Chennai, where St. Thomas the apostle of Jesus preached the Christianity. It’s interesting to note that the bleeding cross said to be carved in stone by St. Thomas was found here and installed in the alter of the church of Our Lady of expectation. The mysterious Bloodstains on the bleeding cross remain for years even after deliberate Scrubbing and the wear and tear of centuries. This church also holds fascinating paintings of holy mother and the infant Jesus, said to have been painted by the apostle St. Thomas himself during the 1st century AD.

Central Railway station: A red, massive British structure is another landmark of this metro, has been the gateway connecting the state with the rest of the nation. This Railway station forms part of the city’s treasure of heritage buildings, worth a visit. Visitors must take platform tickets.

Overnight will be at Chennai.

After breakfast drive to Madurai.

Drive to Mamallapooram (Mahabalipuram) visiting Kanchipuram enroute.

Once a capital of the Pallava Kings, the thousand year old city of Kanchipuram was famous in the ancient world as a seat of learning. Temples and shrines dating back to the 7th century dot the city, making it an important pilgrimage for both the Shaivaite and Vaishnav sects of Hindusim. Today, Kanchipuram is known the world over for its gorgeous hand woven silk. These exquisite silk saris, or Kanjivarams, are the toast of the cocktail circuit from Kashmir to the Kanyakumari.

Continue drive to Mamallapooram (Mahabalipuram) and check in at hotel.

Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) was once the main seaport of the Pallava Empire and is famous for its medieval sculptures, in particular, a series of spectacular freestanding boulders on the beach, carved to resemble small temples and animals.

According to legend, Mahabalipuram was such a beautiful city that envious gods sent down floods to submerge six out of the seven pagodas the city was known for, leaving behind only the structure known today as the Shore Temple. Onlookers swear that when the seawaters receded just before the tragic 2004 tsunami, the lost pagodas of Mahabalipuram became visible for a few moments before disappearing under the rush of oncoming tidal waves. While there is no scientific evidence to corroborate their claim, initial explorations have revealed the possibility of underwater ruins off the coastline.

Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO designated world heritage site and one of the highlights of your luxury holiday in exotic South India.

Proceed for the city sightseeing.

The Mahabalipuram Caves are temples cut out of solid rock. The interior walls are adorned with sculpted scenes from mythological battles, Gods, demons and beasts both real and mythical. Don’t miss the Mahisamardini Cave depicting the Goddess Durga’s battle with Mahisasur, a Minotaur-like buffalo demon.

Krishna Mandapam is the largest rock-cut temple of the area with exquisite bas relief work depicting the life of Krishna, as well as scenes from the daily lives of ordinary people.

The magnificent giant bas relief work of Arjuna’s Penance depicts a scene from the Hindu epic Mahabharata where the hero, Arjuna, performs penance on a river bank in order to win the devastating Pasupata weapon from Shiva. A cleft in the rock has been cleverly used to depict the river. It’s possible to spend hours examining the extremely detailed figures of gods, men, birds and animals that populate the sculpture.

A group of five intricately carved monolithic temples, the Pancha Rathas or five chariots are named after their resemblance to ceremonial temple chariots (rathas). According to the Archeological Survey of India, the naming of this group of temples after the Pandavas, the five heroes of the Mahabharata, is a more recent phenomenon. The structures are probably Buddhist in origin. In spite of their huge size, each ratha is carved from a single rock.

One of the oldest temples in Mahabalipuram, the spectacular, brooding Shore Temple on the edge of the sea houses shrines to both Shiva and Vishnu and is one of the earliest examples of the pure Dravidian style of architecture.

Overnight will be at Mahabalipuram.

After breakfast drive to Tiruvannamallai (112kms/03hrs) - a pilgrim center with an ancient temple of Lord Shiva.

After lunch proceed to Thanjavur. Reach and check into the hotel.

Tanjore or Thanjavur was the capital of the Chola empire from the 10th century to the 14th century A.D. and was for long periods the political and cultural nerve center of the region. The Great Living Chola Temples that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site are located around Thanjavur, also home to the distinctive Tanjore style of Painting.

Overnight will be at Thanjavur.

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Enjoy the city sightseeing.

The magnificent Brihadisvara Temple is an architectural marvel and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Vimana atop the temple is a 60.95m high 13-storey pyramidal tower, in turn crowned by a 70 tonne stone domed monolith. The inner walls are adorned with murals of Shiva in the 108 mudras, or poses, of Bharatanatyam, the classical Indian dance form.

The 16th century Palace of Thanjavur is spacious with large halls, shady courtyards, endless corridors, tall observation posts and a ornate bell tower. It is also home to the Royal Museum as well as the iconic Saraswati Mahal Library.

Saraswathi Mahal Library, established in the early 18th century houses a wealth of manuscripts dating back to the Nayak Kings of Tanjore and its subsequent Maratha rulers. Also of interest are rare European manuscripts like Lavoisier’s Traité Élémentaire de Chimie or Elements of Chemistry and Charles Le Brun’s pictorial charts depicting the evolution of man.

The Thanjavur Art Gallery is also worth a visit for its impressive collection of 250 Chola Bronze statues and 150 stone statues dating from the 9th to 12th century.

After lunch, proceed for an excursion to Trichy.

Situated on the banks of river Kaveri, Tiruchirapalli or Trichy is one of the largest cities in the state of Tamil Nadu. In the course of its long and checkered history, Trichy has changed hands many a time, starting off as the capital of the Chola Kings, falling later to the Pallavas and eventually to the Nayaks of Madurai, the Marathas, the Sultanate and finally the British. Each successive ruling dynasty left their indelible mark on the city, and contributed towards its growth as the flourishing, eclectic urban center that it is today.

Rock Fort temple or Malaikottai is a temple carved out of an 80m high rock, the rock itself being of prehistoric vintage and older than the Himalayas.

The riverine island of Srirangam with its seven-walled Vishnu Temple is also worth a visit.

Later drive back to Thanjavur. Spend evening in leisure.

Overnight will be at Thanjavur.

Breakfast will be served at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Chettinad / Karaikudi.

Reach Chettinad and check into your hotel.

Chettinad is a region of over 75 villages that is famous for its mansions and culinary delicacies. The Chettiars were a prosperous banking community who mostly migrated to South East Asia during the 19th century. They built opulent mansions of marble, granite and Burmese teak, incorporating elaborate pillars, gates and inner courtyards. You will spend the day leisurely exploring these mansions, as well as temples and village markets where you will witness local craftsmen working with wood, metal, silver and textiles.

For lunch you can enjoy a cooking demonstration and authentic Chettinad feast. This regional cuisine is characterized by its liberal use of oils and spices such as peppercorn, cardamom, cinnamon and red and green chilies. It is well known for producing some of the country’s best chutneys and softest idlis (a steamed rice cake popular throughout the south).

The city of Chettinad located along the coast of Tamil Nadu is also renowned for its rich Cultural Heritage and is one of the major Tourist Destinations in South India. The architectural grandeur of the place is worth mention and one cannot deny the exquisite array of cultural extravaganza that lures the tourist to this destination. The splendid mansions, ancient houses stand boldly exhibiting the magnificent architectural skill of the people of Chettinad.

The houses in Chettinad has been erected on a rectangular plot, across two streets, they have superb interior planning. If you come to see one of these buildings you would wonder at the architectural skill of the ancient artists who had the talent to erect such magnificent structures without the aid of the Interior Decorators! The 100 years old Chettinad Palace is a special Tourist Attraction at this place and one can hardly deny the splendor of the artifact. It has been constructed with materials brought from Italy and Burma, Indonesia and Belgium.

Overnight will be at Chettinad.

After breakfast drive to Madurai

The ancient temple town of Madurai traces its history as far back as the 3rd century BC, and finds mention in the writings of Greek explorer Megasthenes.

The breathtaking Sri Meenakshi Amman temple, a mini-city in its own right, dominates the Madurai skyline. One of the finest living examples of Dravidian art and architecture, its towering gopurams loom over the city, every inch of its outer surface crowded with multicolored carvings of gods, goddesses and beasts of mythology. One of the highlights of your luxury holiday in exotic South India.

Visit temple during the evening Aarti ceremony.

According to local lore, the foundations of the Sri Meenakshi Amman temple date back to well over two thousand years. Successive generations of rulers built over and added to the work of their predecessors until the compound grew to its current sprawling size of the 65000 square meters. The square-shaped temple grounds are surrounded by high walls with twelve stupendous Gopurams (temple towers) bidding entry to visitors.

Overnight will be at Madurai.

Breakfast will be served at the hotel.

Enjoy the sightseeing of the temple town.

Inside, defying description, lies the Hall of Thousand Pillars, each pillar adorned by exquisitely detailed sculptures of celestial beings. A marvel of ancient Indian design, the pillars align in perfect straight lines no matter which angle they are viewed from. Outside the hall, a corridor is lined by the temple’s famed musical pillars, each of which produces a unique musical note when tapped.

Don’t miss the Thousand Pillar Museum in the temple complex.

The spacious Gandhi Memorial Museum chronicles in loving detail the history of India’s independence movement. The museum organizes regular seminars on Gandhi and his principle of non-violence or ahimsa.

Located a few minutes from Madurai, the Vishnu Temple is one of the most important temples of South India and is unique in the layout of its three altars, arranged as they are one on top of one another. Each altar shows the Lord Vishnu in a different posture. The seated Vishnu on the middle altar, Koodal Alagar, is the main deity of the temple. The temple’s exterior too, covered with beautiful carvings depicting celestial beings, is well worth the traveller’s time.

Built by King Thirumalai Nayak in 1636, the eponymous Thirumalai Nayak Palace fell to ruin after the king’s demise and was restored only partially by the British. Still, the present day structure gives the visitor a good idea of its grandeur in its heydays. Look out for the intricate stucco work on its arches and pillars and the astonishing Sorgavilasam or Celestial Pavilion, a 1300 square meter free-standing structure, unsupported by any pillar or girder.

Built by King Thirumalai Nayak in 1636, the eponymous Thirumalai Nayak Palace fell to ruin after the king’s demise and was restored only partially by the British. Still, the present day structure gives the visitor a good idea of its grandeur in its heydays. Look out for the intricate stucco work on its arches and pillars and the astonishing Sorgavilasam or Celestial Pavilion, a 1300 square meter free-standing structure, unsupported by any pillar or girder.

In the evening visit the Vegetable & Flower market.

Overnight will be at Madurai.

Breakfast will be served at the hotel.

On the banks of the Periyar river, amidst coffee plantations and the fragrant cardamom hills, lies the Periyar National Park, one of India’s major wildlife reserves. Look out for the Asian elephant, antelope, the Indian bison, the elusive Bengal tiger, the dhole or wild dog, and the extremely rare and endangered Nilgiri Tahr, a species of ibex native to the region.

Birdwatchers may be rewarded with sightings of greater hornbills, darters, herons, egrets, owls and brightly coloured kingfishers.

Not to be missed, a bamboo rafting excursion down the river. The raft offers a great opportunity to watch animals, particularly elephants, as they come down to the waters to cool off in the daytime. You may also be able to spot sambars, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pigs, porcupines, lion-tailed macaques, the Malabar Squirrel and sloth bears. Tigers and Leopards are usually hard to come by on the banks during the day.

You could also try a jungle walk with a highly experienced guide.

Overnight will be at Thekkady.

Breakfast will be at the resort.

Today you will visit the rare species of plants and animals by taking a nature trek into the Park and then a short walk. This is a unique programme where tourists get the chance to get deep into the forest the least obtrusive way - on foot, maximising the chances of wildlife sightings. These walks can be customised depending on how long the guest wishes to spend in the park.

The local spice market, reputed to be the largest in Asia is also worth a visit. Spices make for a unique and imaginative gift for friends and family back home.

Overnight will be at Thekkady

After breakfast proceed to Kumarakom.

Barely 16 kms from the city of Kottayam, Kumarokom is located by the Vembanad, ’s largest fresh water lake, and is one of the important venues for ’s famous boat races. During the festival of Onam, hundreds of traditional boats, some seating as many as fifty highly vocal rowers, steak down the lake amidst much fanfare, competing for top spot.

Kumarokom is one of your entry points into the famed backwaters of .

On our way to Kumarakom a short stop over at Aryad Church is a must, where one of the oldest pictures of The Holy Virgin is preserved. Then we proceed on to Pathiramanal. This little island or the sand of midnight in the backwaters is a favorite haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the worlds.

After lunch, a visit to the bird sanctuary, set within the lush acres of wooded land nearby, acquaints you to the variety of migratory birds that flock here in thousands, some from the Himalayas. Some birds are from even as far as Siberia.

Now sit back and lose yourself as your boat glides silently forward on its final journey to Kottayam. Intense experience awaits you in Kottayam, the land of lakes. The journey will be through the paddy fields some of which are known all over the world as “14000 & 9000” fields.

As night approaches we will anchor at 9000 paddy field where you can tune in to nature in all its calm and serenity.

Check into a traditional houseboat of Style and go on a leisurely backwater cruise along the lake on a thatched houseboat.

The backwaters of are a unique product of and are found nowhere else in the world. Backwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries and deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The backwaters of are a self-supporting Eco-system teeming with aquatic life. The canals connect the villages together and are still used for local transport. Over 900 km of this labyrinthine water world is navigable.

The houseboat with all modern comforts lets you discover the countryside at your own pace. You will have lunch, dinner and breakfast in the Houseboat. A ride on the houseboat is a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters.

Lunch will be served on the boat freshly prepared by the crew.

In the evening the boat will anchor by the lush paddy fields and enjoy the tranquility of the water around.

Dinner would be laid out in the boat. Spend night on houseboat.

Enjoy the breakfast at the houseboat.

Disembark from the houseboat at Alleppey Jetty and proceed to Cochin.

The ancient port city of Cochin or Kochi comprises a cluster of islands and peninsulas in a serene saltwater lagoon. Ferries connect the islands to Ernakulam town on the mainland. Dotted with lakes and gently swaying palm groves, Kochi’s otherworldly beauty, coupled with the lure of spices and seafood, draw scores of travellers every year to this natural harbour.

In the early evening proceed for a private harbor cruise. Enjoy watching the dolphins, the fishing island and the Bolghatty Palace. Cruise till the mouth of the sea and enjoy the sunset.

Overnight will be at Cochin.

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed for a sightseeing tour of the city.

The Old Cochin area is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, and the Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568 is a must-see treasure of this eclectic corner of South India. Known for its distinctive tiled roof and bell towers, the synagogue’s interiors feature intricately hand-painted blue and white Chinese willow tiles of which no two are alike. Elegant Belgian chandeliers adorn its central area. An exquisite oriental rug and gold crowns received as gifts from visitors are also on display.

Kochi’s famed Chinese fishing nets are perhaps one of the most iconic and oft photographed sights of . Mounted on teak and bamboo poles and supported by large stone counterweights, they hang gossamer-like all along the Fort Kochi seafront. Their origins are obscure with some claiming they were imported by the Portuguese from Macau while according to others, the credit goes to Chinese traders from the court of Kubla Khan himself.

Also of interest is the intriguing International Pepper Exchange that deals in the global trade of black pepper. Nearby are Vasco Da Gama Square, the Santa Cruz Basilica that counts among India’s oldest churches, St. Francis Church where Vasco Da Gama was originally interred, VOC Gate and Bastion Bungalow, all of which, according to local records, go back to between the mid fourteenth and early fifteenth century.

Enjoy Kathakali Dance presentation in evening.

Overnight will be at Cochin.

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

As per timings, a Compass representative will transfer you to your flight home.