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THE ESSENCE OF SOUTH INDIA
Day 1 London to Chennai
Fly non-stop with British Airways to Chennai.
Day 2 Chennai
Arrive into Chennai in the morning and transfer by car to the Taj Connemara
Hotel. Chennai, the fourth largest city in India, is a principle port on the
east coast and a major gateway to the south. This spacious city, with its
elegant colonial heritage, is sprinkled with gardens, palms and seashore promenades.
(B)
Day 3 Chennai
Today tour the city by car with a local guide. Visit the National Museum and
Fort St George, a fine example of 17th Century British military architecture.
Within the fort there is a museum and St Mary’s Church, the first Anglican
Church built in India. Also visit the Basilica of San Thome and the Kapaleeswarar
Temple dedicated to Shiva. (B)
Day 4 Chennai to Madurai – by air
This morning transfer to Chennai Airport for the flight to Madurai, a centre
of learning and pilgrimage for many centuries. Stay for two nights at the
Taj Garden Retreat. (B)
Day 5 Madurai
Life in this bustling pilgrimage city is centred on the great Sri Meenakshi
Temple which dominates the old city. Visit this great temple with its gopurams
covered with a profusion of multicoloured images of mystical figures, animals
and gods. (B)
Day 6 Madurai to Periyar - 140kms
Depart this morning for the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Cardamom Hills
situated on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Stay for two nights at Spice
Village, a beautiful resort just outside of Periyar National Park. (B)
Day 7 Periyar
This morning take a short guided nature walk for around three hours through
the forest offering an excellent opportunity to watch birds, butterflies and
other wildlife. The trails often pass through evergreen and moist deciduous
forests interspersed with marshy grasslands. The area around Periyar is famous
for spices so in the afternoon you may wish visit a local spice garden with
your driver. (B)
Day 8 Periyar to Alleppey – 160kms
Today drive down through the hills to the market town of Alleppey where you
will join your private Houseboat for your two night cruise. This is a unique
opportunity to leisurely explore and enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of
the Kerala backwaters. (B/D)
Day 9 Backwaters
On the backwaters life passes by as it has for centuries. Fishermen tend their
nets, women weave rugs from coir, and farmers cultivate rice and a delicious
variety of fruits. (B/L/D)
Day 10 Alleppey to Kochi – 65 kms
This morning, after breakfast, return by car to Kochi. Founded by Vasco da
Gama in 1502 it was once a centre of the spice trade and now the principal
port on the Malabar Coast. A cosmopolitan European influence has been left
by the various waves of Portuguese, British, Dutch and Jewish settlers who
made this colourful city their home. Stay for two nights either at the Malabar
House Hotel, Old Harbour Hotel or Koder House which are all located in Fort
Kochi. (B)
Day 11 Kochi
This morning take a guided walking tour of historic Fort Kochi to include
St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India and the Chinese fishing
nets. Then go by car to visit the Mattancherry Palace the nearby merchant
houses and a fine synagogue. Walk through the spice markets where traders
sell varieties of rice, ginger, garlic and chilli. Around sunset take a motor
launch cruise around the picturesque harbour. (B)
Day 12 Kochi to Sultans Battery – 300kms
Today drive north from Kochi, stopping to visit the temple town of Guruvayur,
to Sultan’s Battery in the heart of the Western Ghats of North Kerala.
Stay for two nights at Tranquil a secluded plantation bungalow on the Kuppamudi
Estate, A relaxing and wonderful place to stay. (B/D)
Day 13 Sultans Battery
Today you are at leisure to enjoy Tranquil and the surrounding local area.
You could swim in the beautiful pool or lounge in a hammock with a book. If
you are feeling more energetic Tranquil has over 400 acres of estate to explore
with seven well-defined paths that cut through the grounds. (B/L/D)
Day 14 Sultans Battery to Nagarhole – 80kms
This morning it is a scenic but bumpy drive to Nagarhole National Park, home
to tiger, bison, elephant, panther and over 250 species of birdlife. Stay
two nights at the Kabini River Lodge. (B/L/D)
Day 15 Nagarhole
A day to explore Nagarhole National Park with plenty of opportunity for wildlife
viewing. (B/L/D)
Day 16 Nagarhole to Mysore – 90kms
This morning continue onto Mysore a charming and relaxed city is surrounded
almost entirely by fertile farmland and tree clad hills. Until independence
Mysore was the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore, a princely state covering
about a third of present day Karnataka and this afternoon visit the City Palace,
one of the largest in India, built by Henry Irwin in 1897. Stay for two nights
at the Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel. (B)
Day 17 Mysore
Today visit Chamundi Hill to view the Chamundeswari Temple and the famous
Nandi Bull. Later drive out of the city to see the Sri Chamundeswari Temple
at Somnathpur and the ruins of Tipu Sultan’s capital at Srirangapatnam.
(B)
Day 18 Mysore to Bangalore – 140kms
After breakfast leave Mysore and drive to Bangalore where you will stay overnight
at the Taj West End Hotel. This afternoon visit Tipu Sultan’s Summer
Palace and the nearby Bull Temple. Afterwards continue onto the Lalbagh Botanical
Gardens, which contain one of the largest collections of rare tropical plants
in India. (B)
Day 19 Bangalore to London Heathrow
Depart Bangalore on the non-stop flight with British Airways to London. (N)
STAYING ON
Explore and extend your stay in South India by travelling overland from Chennai to Madurai. Tamil Nadu is a fascinating and diverse region of India highlighted by the French architecture of Pondicherry, Hindu temples of Tanjore and Chettinad merchant mansions which you will pass en-route.
Relax on a palm fringed beach in one of the many excellent Keralan beach hotels. One of the best is the Marari Beach Resort located close to the backwaters at Alleppey and Kochi, making it an excellent place in which to spend a relaxing few days.
Planning your journey: We can design a unique journey to suit you as our tours are totally tailor made. By combining your own ideas with our knowledge and experience we can help you to create your own journey tailored exactly to your requirements Once you have formulated your ideas, or if you require some general or specific advice, please call us on 01892 515966 or simply send your ideas to pettitts@btconnect.com. On receipt of your enquiry we will provide you with a full written quotation together with our suggestions and recommendations.
A Guide to Price – THE ESSENCE OF SOUTH INDIA
Prices vary according to selected airlines, hotels and season, however, an indication to the current cost of this itinerary is from £3,700. All prices are per person and are based on a minimum of TWO persons travelling together and sharing a twin bedded room with meals as indicated. If you wish to travel alone we will be pleased to assist you with your arrangements and can provide a proposal on request.
Note: Meal Basis (N) = No Meal; (B) = Breakfast; (L) = Lunch; (D) = Dinner
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