|
CHENNAI(MADRAS)- TRICHY- MADURAI-
PERIYAR-
COCHIN -
BANGALORE- MYSORE-
 CHENNAI
(MADRAS) DAYS ->| 13
Day
01 : Chennai
:Arrive Chennai(Madras). Transfer to Hotel. Overnight
Chennai(Madras).
 Day
02: Mahabalipuram
&
Kanchipuram:
Full day tour of Mahabalipuram
&
Kanchipuram (Checkout from the hotel at 1200 hrs).
Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai (Madras)) is the ancient capital
of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124
shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th
and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of
Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of
interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.
The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on
the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples
which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture. Evening
transfer to rail-station for Trichy night train. Night on board.
Day
03 :
Trichy: Morning
arrive Trichy and transfer to hotel. Afternoon tour of Trichy. Trichy was the citadel of the Chola
dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed
the Carnatic wars fought between the French
and the English. Lord Robert Clive'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 a further climb to a Shiva
temple. Overnight Trichy.
 Day
04 : Madurai
: Morning drive to Madurai visiting Tanjore enroute. At
Tanjore, the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeshwara is capped by
a monolithic cupola made of a single granite
block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of
a 6 km long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for
building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of
the highlights of a visit to South India. Overnight Madurai.
Day
05 : Madurai
:Morning visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the
consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams (rising high
above the surrounding country side). Later, visit the Tirumala
Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style,
famous for the Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit
the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Afternoon free.
Overnight Madurai.
 Day
06 :Periyar
National Park
:
Morning drive to Periyar National Park .
Set up in 1934,it extends to 777 square kms & forms part of
the high mountain ranges, the
Western Ghats. Wild life can be seen
while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motor boat. Amongst the
animals which can be seen are elephants, wild boar, sambar, tiger,
leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc. Overnight Periyar.
Day
07 : Drive
to Cochin. Overnight Cochin.
Morning
tour of Cochin. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the famed
underwater Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the
rougher the seas are outside the
calmer the waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama placed it
on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches,
mosques & Hindu temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing
Nets.
Afternoon free. Overnight Cochin.
 Day
09 : Morning
transfer to airport for Bangalore flight. Arrive Bangalore and
drive directly to Mysore. Overnight Mysore.
Day
10 : Belur
and Halebid
:
.Full day
excursion to Belur and Halebid. The Chenna Kesava temple of Belur
built 900 years ago is an exquisite example of Hoysala art.
Halebid's 12th century Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples are
master pieces of Hindu art. On the return, if time permits, visit
Sravanbelgola. At Sravanbelgola, hewn out of a single rock and
visible from a distance of 25 kms is the statue of Lord
Gomteshwara which is bathed with milk and honey once every 12
years. Overnight Mysore.
Day
11 : Mysore:
Morning visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 - 1912. The
palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and saracenic
styles of architecture with archways,
domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent.
Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto Chamundi hill to see
Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of
Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Afternoon free.
Overnight Mysore.
Day
12 : Transfer
to rail-station for Chennai (Madras) train. Arrive and transfer to
Hotel.
Day
13 : Morning
free. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Transfer to airport for return
flight |
