Destination India Travel --» Exclusive Tour Packages --» Best of South India Tour

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Duration: 12 Nights/ 13 Days
Places to See: Mumbai - Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Madurai - Trivandrum - Alleppey - Houseboat - Kumarakom - Cochin

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Day 01 : Arrival Mumbai
Morning Free , can walk around the local markets. Late afternoon departure transfer to Airport to fly Mumbai, on arrival at Mumbai transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 02 : Mumbai – Chennai
Morning after Breakfast tour of Mumbai city including an excursion to Elephant Island. Late afternoon departure to Airport to fly Chennai ( Madras ) .Arrive Madras. Transfer to Hotel. Overnight Chennai (Madras).

Day 03 : Chennai -- Mahabalipuram
After breakfast leave for city tour of Madras. Later drive to Kanchipuram. Visit Kanchipuram, the golden city was one of the seven sacred cities of India and once had 1000 temples. Now only 200 remain.. Proceed to Mahabalipuram. On arrival check-in hotel for overnight stay.

Day 04 : Mahabalipuram
After breakfast visit Mahabalipuram, also known as the seven Pagodas. The important monuments to be seen are the five Rathas, the bas-relief on a huge rock popularly known as the Arjuna's penance. Evening free to relax on the beach. Overnight in hotel.

Day 05 : Mahabalipuram -- Pondicherry
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry (168 kms / 4 hrs approx). On arrival check-in hotel. Later sight-seeing of Pondicherry. Overnight in hotel.

Day 06 : Pondicherry -- Tanjore
After breakfast drive to Tanjore (177 kms / 5 hrs approx). Afternoon visit the famous 11th century Brihadeswara temple and the saraswati library which has some rare collection of books and manuscripts.

Day 07 : Tanjore -- Madurai
Morning after breakfast sight seeing of remaining Tanjore , later on drive to Madurai, on arrival check inn at hotel. Overnight stay at Madurai.

Day 08 : 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 09 : Madurai - Trivandrum
After breakfast we travel from Madurai to Trivandrum, in Kerala, India, by road. The distance of 264 km, is covered in around 6 hours. Arrive in Trivandrum and check in at the hotel where you will stay overnight.

Day 10 : Trivandrum - Alleppey - Houseboat
After breakfast, start a tour of Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) visiting the Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, Napier Museum, Chitralayam Arts Gallery, Zoological gardens, Reptile house, Observatory and Kanakakunnu Palace. Travel to Alleppey, in Kerala, India, by road. The distance of 200 km, is covered in around 5 hours. Arrive in Alleppey and board a houseboat for a backwater cruise. Stay overnight on the houseboat.

Day 11 : Houseboat / Kumarakom / Cochin
Arrive Kumarakom in the morning, Morning free to explore Kumarakom . Later on drive l to Cochin through the heartland of South Kerala, Arrive in Cochin and check into the hotel. Enjoy a sunset cruise in Cochin harbor. Enjoy Kathakali Dance show in the evening . Stay overnight at Cochin.

Day 12 : 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 13 : Cochin - Departure.
Breakfast at hotel. Later on departure to Airport for onward destination.

Day	Place	Hotel	Category	Web Site
01	Mumbai	Q.I. Parle Int.	4 Star	www.choicehotels.com
02	Chennai	C.I. Marina Tower	3 Star	www.choicehotels.com
03	Mahabalipuram	Q.I. MGM Resort	4 Star	www.choicehotels.com
04	Mahabalipuram	Q.I. MGM Resort	4 Star	www.choicehotels.com
05	Pondicherry	Anandha Inn	3 Star	www.anandhainn.com
06	Tanjore	Hotel Parisutham	3 Star	www.hotelparisutham.com
07	Madurai	BW Germanus	3 Star	www.bestwesterngermanus.com
08	Madurai	BW Germanus	3 Star	www.bestwesterngermanus.com
09	Trivandrum	BW Swagath Resort	3 Star	www.swagathresorts.com
10	House Boat	Through Local Agent	Deluxe	N/A
11	Cochin	BW Avenue Regent	3 Star	www.avenueregent.com
12	Cochin	BW Avenue Regent	3 Star	www.avenueregent.com

Travel Plan :-

From	To	By	Time Period
Mumbai	Chennai	By Air	1 hour 45 minutes
Chennai	Mahabalipuram	Surface	2 hours :30 minutes
Mahabalipuram	Pondicherry	Surface	4 hours
Pondicherry	Tanjore	Surface	5 hours
Tanjore	Madurai	Surface	6 hours
Madurai	Trivandrum	Surface	7 hours
Trivandrum	Alleppey	Surface	4 hours
Kumarakom	Cochin	Surface	3 hours

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