Day 01 London to
Chennai (Madras) Depart from London to Abu Dhabi with Gulf Airlines
on flight GF 002 at 0930 hours. On arrival Abu Dhabi connect to flight GF
068 to Chennai at 2155 hours.
Day
02 Chennai Arrive Chennai at 0615 hours. You will be met on arrival
and depart by road to Covelong, a journey of about an hour. Overnight at
hotel Fisherman's Cove for two nights (Std Rm).
The gateway to the
sunny south, the capital of Tamil Nadu is also the seat of an ancient
civilization with a rich heritage of fine arts, sculptures and architecture
and is the centre of music and dance. This traditional south Indian town was
founded by the British, who built a little trading centre and fort in the
7th century. The city of Madras extends over an area of 80 sq kms along the
Coromandel coast with rippling Bay of Bengal kissing its shores. It is
India's third largest city. It has withstood the pressure of modernisation
to some extent and even today retains an old world charm which has an
instant appeal for the visitor.
Day 03 Covelong
Full day sightseeing tour of Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram
Kanchipuram
is called the golden city of thousand temples, and its history can be traced
back to the early Cholas in the 2nd century. Although Buddhism reached here
in the 3rd century B.C. none of the B.C. Ashokan stupas, which were supposed
to have existed, now remain. A place of silk production since the 16th
century, today about 20,000 work with silk and another 10,000 with cotton.
Successive dynasties of Pallavas, Cholas and Vijaynagar made it their
capital from the 4th century and built over a hundred temples. It is one of
India's most sacred cities for Hindus.
Mahabalipuram was derived
from Mamallapuram (town of "Mamalla", the great wrestler) the name
given to Narasimhavarman Pallavamalla, the Pallava ruler who made the port
famous in the 7th century. He was largely responsible for the Temples. There
are 14 Cave temples, 9 monolithic rathas (Shrines in the shape of Rathas or
temple chariots), 3 stone temples and 4 relief sculptured rock panels.
The nature of the area, with its 2 natural granite gneiss mounds, lent
itself to rock cut architecture. There are also structural temples. Another
characteristic feature of the Temples here was the system of water channels
and tanks drawn from the river).
Day 04 Chennai
to Trichy Early morning transfer to Chennai Egmore railway station
for train 2635 Vaigai Express to Trichy, departing at 1225 hours and
arriving at 1735 hours. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your
hotel. Overnight at hotel Jenny's Residency for two nights (Std Rm).
Trichy
is an ancient Kaveri delta town and still bears the scars of wars fought by
the French and English for control of this strategic port. The military and
architectural heart of Trichy is its famed Rock Fort - looming nearly 300
feet over the city on the banks of the Cauvery river. At its first level
stands the remnants of a huge hall blasted into ruins in 1772, which is now
used by shopkeepers. The next storey is a hall with one hundred pillars with
steps leading to the shrine dedicated to Shiva. At the top is the Ganesh
temple. The temples were not only built on the top of the rock, but carved
out of its sides as well. This city was the seat of Clive, the founder of
the British Empire in India. Also visit Srirangam which is an island and a
Temple complex contained in seven concentric walls dedicated to Vishnu.
Day 05 Trichy Full day sightseeing tour
of Tanjore city, Kumbakonam, Darasuram & Gangaikondacholapuram
Tanjore
was once the capital of the Chola kings, and is the cultural capital of the
region. Tanjore reached its pinnacle of glory under the later Cholas (10th
to 14th century), who were great temple builders, and developed the art of
making bronze figures.
The town is dominated by the enormous
Brihadeshwara Temple, with its water tank and fortified by a wall and moat.
A World Heritage Site it was built by the Cholas between 985-1014 AD. The
main temple within is considered to be one of the most magnificent in the
country with a 14 storey, 62 metre high vimana (the tallest in India) topped
by a dome carved from a single block of granite, the whole is so cleverly
designed that it does not cast a shadow at noon at any time during the year.
Kumbakonam is an important pilgrim centre for its many temples and
in particular the "Mahamakkam Tank". Darasuram has a remarkable
12th century temple with its gorgeous sculptures. Gangaikondacholapuram is
an 11th century temple and is an outstanding example of the Chola dynasty.
Day
06 Trichy to Madurai Morning visit to the Rock Fort &
Srirangapatnam Temple. Later depart by road to Madurai, a journey of about
four hours. Overnight at hotel Taj Garden Retreat for two nights (Std Rm)
The name Srirangapatnam comes from the temple of Vishnu Sri Ranga,
which has been here far longer then the fort or the town. Tipu Sultan, the
most notable of the area's rulers, was a fierce opponent of the British.
Colonel Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, finally defeated him in 1799.
Tipu Sultan's summer palace and fort are the sites to see.
Madurai
is 2600 years old town, often referred to as the Athens of East. Tamil
learning, art, architecture and literature have flourished here through the
ages.
Day 07 Madurai Morning sightseeing
tour of Madurai city. Afternoon free
17th century Meenakshi Temple, in
the heart of old town, is dedicated to Shiva and his consort Meenakshi. It
is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture. The high point of the
temple is the hall of a "Thousand Pillars" and just outside this
hall are the famous musical pillars. Here the iconography makes much use of
the lotus, which in Indian symbolism is a representation of the female sex
and an emblem of bliss and abode of gods.
Tirumanayak Palace is an
example of the mastery architecture of the Nayak ruler of the 17th century.
The Palace is a blend of Hindu and sarcenic architecture with its curved
dome, which soars without any visible support.
Day 08 Madurai to Kodiakanal After breakfast depart by road to
Kodiakanal, a journey of about five hours. Overnight at hotel The Carlton
(Std Rm)
Kodiakanal, situated 2133 meters above sea level, is a
peaceful backwater hill station on the southern crest of the Palani hills.
There is a man made lake and many beautiful waterfalls.
Although
first discovered in 1821, the major transformation came with the arrival of
the car and bus at the turn of the century. The new road was opened in 1916
since when the town has prospered and developed. Sir Vere Levenge put the
finishing touch to the landscape by damming a stream to form a lake, with a
walkway and riding trail around it. Boating on the lake became very popular.
Some ex-patriots settled retired here rather than return to the U.K.
Day 09 Kodiakanal to Periyar After breakfast
depart by road to Periyar, a journey of about six hours. Afternoon game
viewing by common boat. Overnight at the hotel Spice Village for two nights
(Std Rm).
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary lies around the lake, on
the cool hills of the Western Ghats the heartland of which luxuriate in
matted coffee, tea, pepper and cardamon plantations. Periyar offers one of
the most sybaritic ways of seeing big game. The tropical jungle around
Periyar lake can be explored on the foot as well but we lounge in a motor
launch as it drifts around a bend and comes into sight of elephants, deer or
bison coming to the shores of the lake for a drink. It is famous for its
wild elephants and boasts a large population of Gaur, Sambar, Cheetal, Sloth
Bear, Wild Dog and many species of birds. During the dry season when
water-holes within the forest are dry, leopards and tigers also pad up to
the lake for water.
Day 10 Periyar
Morning game viewing by common boat. Afternoon free
Day
11 Periyar to Cochin After breakfast depart by road to Changacherry
for two hours backwaters cruise to Alleppey. Depart by road from Alleppey to
Cochin, a journey of about five & half hours. Overnight at the hotel The
Trident for two nights (Std Rm).
With its wealth of historical
associations and beautiful setting on a cluster of islands and narrow
peninsulas, Cochin is one of India's interesting cities. It reflects the
eclecticism of Kerala perfectly. It has one of the best natural harbours in
the country.Traders from the West came to Kerala as far back as the 3rd
century B.C. and took back with them spices, ivory and teak. Much later, in
the 15th century, the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British came to this
region in the guise of merchants, some to stay on as colonial rulers. Here
you can see the oldest church in India.
Day 12
Cochin Morning sightseeing tour of Cochin city. Afternoon boatride
on Cochin's backwaters
The Jewish Synagogue built in 1568 is the oldest
synagogue in the commonwealth. Also visit the Dutch Palace and St. Francis
Church. Boatride takes you through flock of islands and a web of waterways.
Among the places of interest along the Cochin's backwaters are the
Mattanacherry Palace, Bolghatty Island and ubiquitous Chinese fishing boats
and nets. Chinese fishing nets offer a fascinating sight at the entrance of
the harbour. These enormous butterfly wing like structures, swaying in the
breeze, are used for fishing.
Day 13 Cochin to
VarkalaAfter breakfast depart by road to Varkala, a journey of
about four hours. Overnight at hotel Taj Garden Retreat for four nights (Std
Rm)
Varkala lies on the coast 50 Kms north of Trivandrum. Its
idyllic and isolated setting with its blend of cliffs and white sand beaches
makes it a beach resort with a difference. The sunset over the Arabian Sea
viewed from the cliff tops is spectacular. This small quiet town has its
atmosphere and its Janardhana temple has often drawn pilgrims for centuries.
Besides it has a Yoga centre, Ashram, Nature Centre, mineral water spring
and markets.
Day 14-16 Varkala At
leisure - During your stay here you will visit Cape Comorin visiting
Padmanabhapuram & Suchindram en route.
Day 17
Varkala to London Depart by road to Trivandrum airport, a journey
of about an hour. Depart to Abu Dhabi with Gulf Airlines on flight GF 463 at
0830 hours and arriving Abu Dhabi at 1110 hours. On arrival connect to
flight GF 005 to London at 1320 hours and arriving at 1725 hours.
