Southern Spice Tours
Tags:
Sightseeing; Pondicherry; Chennai; Meenakshi Temple; Madurai; Cochin; Kanchipuram; Bangalore; Mysore;
In this incredible tour of India, you will be given the chance to visit many exciting destinations. This tour brings quintessence of India to you through the journey covering the temples of North & Central India. You tour will include sightseeing in Mumbai, Cochin, Periyar, Madurai, Tanjore, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Chennai, ...
Read Full Description- Destination:
- Bangalore, India; Chennai, India; Cochin, India; Karnataka, India; Kerala, India; Madurai, India; Mumbai, India; Mysore, India; Pondicherry, India; Thanjavur, India
- Trip Length:
- 15 days
- Price Range:
- From $0 to $2000 per person See what this includes and what this excludes
- Best Time to Go:
- Any time.
- Recommended for:
-
15 - 17, 18 - 20, 25 - 30, 31 - 35, 36 - 40, 41 - 50, 51 - 55
Family Trip, Group Retreat, Trip Around the World
Detailed Trip Description
In this incredible tour of India, you will be given the chance to visit many exciting destinations. This tour brings quintessence of India to you through the journey covering the temples of North & Central India. You tour will include sightseeing in Mumbai, Cochin, Periyar, Madurai, Tanjore, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Chennai, Mysore, Hassan, and Bangalore.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 - Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai.
Airport Transfer
Traditional welcome on arrival at Mumbai and transfer to hotel.
Day 2 - Cochin
Mumbai – Cochin.
Commercial Flight
After breakfast, transfer to airport to catch flight to Cochin. The city is located on the western coast and is a major commercial and industrial hub of the Kerala state and is famous for its spices, silks, ivory and sandalwood.
Sailing
On arrival transfer to hotel followed by a boatride through Cochin’s backwaters. Evening free for leisure.
Hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Day 3 - Cochin
Cochin - Periyar (185 kms / 5 hrs).
Sightseeing
After breakfast, we will have a half-day guided tour of the city visiting Fort Kochi, with its European heritage, St. Francis' Church, Chinese fishing nets, Dutch palace, and the Jewish Synagogue.
Private Car Service
After lunch, we will drive to Periyar.
Shopping
The evening is free to shop at the handicraft and spice shops, that stretch all the way from Kumily to Periyar (4 kms).
Hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Day 4 - Kerala
Sailing
We shall take an early morning boat ride on the Periyar Lake.
Sightseeing
After breakfast, the day is free to opt from the many activities conducted by the Periyar Tiger Reserve: Nature Walk, Jungle Patrol, Bamboo Rafting, Border Hiking or a Bullock cart ride exploring rural Kerala.
Hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Day 5 - Madurai
Periyar – Madurai (137 kms / 4 hrs).
Sightseeing
After breakfast, we shall visit the Tribal Heritage Museum and then proceed to Madurai. The ancient temple town of Madurai is nowadays renowned for its textile mills, engineering industries, and large university areas; however, its significance on the tourist map is mainly because of the Meenakshi temple.
Sightseeing
In the afternoon, we will visit the Temple which dominates the city skyline by its towering gopurams. We shall end the evening with a visit to the Tirumalai Naik Palace, built with Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.
Hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Sightseeing
The Palace authorities also conduct a Sound and Light show, which add to the significance of the palace.
Day 6 - Thanjavur
Madurai – Trichy – Tanjore (198 kms).
Sightseeing
Breakfast at the hotel. We will drive to Trichy (142 kms / 4 hrs) and enjoy a guided visit to the Rockfort Temple and Srirangam Temple. Then, we shall proceed onto Tanjore (56 kms / 1 hr), which is one of the most green and enchanting districts, and is the Rice Bowl of the state.
Hotel
On arrival, check into hotel. Evening free. Overnight at hotel.
Day 7 - Pondicherry
Tanjore – Pondicherry (177 kms / 3.5 hrs).
Sightseeing
Breakfast at hotel. Half-day guided tour of the Brahadeeswara Temple, built in the 10th century AD and an outstanding example of the Chola (dynasty) architecture. Later visit the Palace, built by the Nayaks and renovated by the Maratha dynasty. It dates back to the 1550s and houses an art gallery, a library, a hall of music and the Schwartz Church.
Hotel
In the afternoon, we will drive to Pondicherry. On arrival, you will check-in to the hotel.
Shopping
Evening free to walk bustling market streets.
Hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Day 8 - Pondicherry
Sightseeing
After breakfast, we will visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the museum. We will spend the day on the beach, followed by a visit to Auroville, the City of Dawn. It is a unique township, which started as an experiment for celebrating unity in diversity. Located a few kilometers from Pondicherry, at the center of the township, stands Matrimandir, which is built in the form of a globe.
Hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Sightseeing
We will visit the Matrimandir during the meditation time for a truly spiritual experience. After, we will return to Pondicherry.
Day 9 - Pondicherry
Pondicherry – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram (175 kms).
Sightseeing
After breakfast, we will drive to Kanchipuram, the erstwhile capital of the Pallavas and Cholas and visit its numerous temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses. It is also the home of weavers of the famed Kanchipuram silks. We shall eat lunch at Kanchipuram.
Private Car Service
Towards the evening, we shall drive to Mahabalipuram.
Hotel
On arrival check into the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10 - Chennai
Mahabalipuram – Chennai (60 kms / 1.5 hrs).
Sightseeing
Breakfast at hotel. Mahabalipuam, declared a world heritage site, too was part of the Pallavas dynasty and exhibits some of the most outstanding examples of the Dravidian style of art and architecture. A full day guided tour of Arjuna’s Penance, the rock cut caves, the Krishna Mandapam, the famous rathas and the Shore Temple. Evening drive to Chennai.
Sightseeing
On the way, we will visit Dakshinchitra, a unique heritage village offering an insight into the lifestyles of diverse people of South India.
Hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Day 11 - Bangalore
Chennai – Bangalore.
Sightseeing
After breakfast, there will be a half-day guided tour of Chennai, where we will be visiting The Fort Museum, Valluvar Kottam, and Kalakshetra.
Commercial Flight
In the late afternoon, you will catch a flight to Bangalore.
Hotel
On arrival check into hotel. Evening free for leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day 12 - Mysore
Bangalore – Mysore (140 kms / 3 hrs).
Private Car Service
After breakfast, we will drive to Mysore via Srirangapatnam. Srirangapatnam was the capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, who later fought the British. We will also visit Tipu's summer palace, Daria Daulat, which has now been turned into a museum.
Hotel
On arrival at Mysore check into hotel.
Sightseeing
In the evening, we will drive to the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and the Vrindavan Garden. The gardens are famous for its dancing musical fountains.
Hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Day 13 - Mysore
Mysore – Hassan (115 kms / 2 hrs).
Sightseeing
After breakfast, there will be a full day guided tour of Mysore, the legendary city of palaces, perfumes, sandalwood, and jasmine. We will also visit the Mysore Palace, St. Philomena’s Church, Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, and the Chamundeshwari Temple.
Hotel
In the evening, we shall drive to Hassan and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 - Karnataka
Sightseeing
After breakfast, there will be a guided tour of Belur and Halebid. Both were capitals of the Medeival Hoysala Kings who built the exquisitely carved temples in the 12th & 13th centuries. Then, we will visit the Channekeshava Temple in Belur and the Hoyasaleswara temple in Halebid.
Hotel
Return to Hassan. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15 - Bangalore
Hassan – Bangalore (187 kms / 4 hrs).
Sightseeing
After breakfast, we will drive to Bangalore via Sravanabelgola. This place is an important Jain pilgrimage center and is famous for the statue of Lord Bahubali (Gommateshwara). The 17-meter high statue of Bahubali is said to be the tallest monolithic structure in the world.
Hotel
On arrival at Bangalore, you will check-in to the hotel and freshen up.
Airport Transfer
Transfer to airport to catch connecting flight.
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Accommodation for 14 nights in hotels. Transfers & sightseeing as per itinerary. Meals as mentioned in the itinerary.
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