Day 01 : Chennai
Arrive in Chennai. Transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Days 02 & 03 : Chennai - Mahabalipuram
Explore Chennai and visit Fort St George and St. Mary's church. Enjoy a
short drive to Mahabalipuram to visit the 7th century Shore Temples of South
India. Overnight stay in Mahabalipuram.
Days 04 - 07 : Tiruvannamalai
Drive to Tiruvannamalai via Kanchipuram. In Tiruvannamalai, explore the
holy mountain Arunachala. Participate in ashram life at Ramana Maharshi's
ashram located at the base of the mountain.
Days 08 & 09 : Pondicherry
Drive to Pondicherry where Aurobindo's Ashram and all his devotees'
industry give this town a community feel. Visit to Auroville. Overnight in
Pondicherry
Day 10 : Chidambaram
Drive to Chidambaram. Visit Nataraja Temple, where Shiva is worshipped as
the Cosmic Dancer, depicted in 108 dancing poses in 10th century stone
carvings. Late afternoon drive to Tanjore to explore the Brindeshwara Temple
and Saraswati Mahal Library. O/N Tanjore
Day 11 : Trichy
Drive to Trichy and Sri Rangam to see two stunning temples dedicated to
Vishnu and Shiva. The Rock Fort Temple perched high on a cliff is worth the
climb. O/N Trichy
Day 12 : Trichy
Spend the morning at Father Bede Griffith's Ashram near Trichy. Father Bede
combined Catholicism and Hinduism in his teachings. O/N Trichy.
Day
13 : Madurai
Morning drive to Madurai to see the colorful Sri Meenakshi Temple, which
gives the city a special feeling. Also visit the Gandhi Museum that displays
the great leader's life work. O/N Madurai
Day 14 : Kanyakumari
Drive to Kanyakumari for viewing the sunset. Visit the Vivekenanda Memorial
and Gandhi Memorial.O/N Kanyakumari
Day 15 : To Kovalam Beach
Drive into Kerala after visiting Padmanabhapuram Palace. Arrive at Kovalam
Beach at lunchtime.
Days 16 - 17 : Kovalam
Rest and relaxation at Kovalam beach. Enjoy a boat cruise through the
palm-fringed backwaters of Kerala. O/N Kovalam.
Days 18 & 19 : Cochin
Full day drive to Cochin and evening watch a Kathakali dance performance
and the intricate make-up process that precedes the show. O/N Cochin
Full day sightseeing around Fort Cochin area including the Jewish
Synangogue, St Francis Church and Mattancherry palace
Day 20 : To Ooty
Morning embark on a long and picturesque drive up into the Nilgiri Hills to
Ooty. For the last part of the journey from Coonoor to Ooty we travel by
train, one of the greatest train journeys of the world.
Days 21 & 22 : BR Hills
Explore BR Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, staying in a secluded guest house
located in the heart of the park. Explore the exotic wildlife on elephant
back under the guidance of an experienced guide.
Days 23 - 25 : Mysore
Morning drive to Mysore. Check-in at the hotel and explore the local
market. Here, sandalwood and beautiful carvings can be purchased at very
reasonable prices. From Mysore we take a day trip to a Tibetan Monastery.
The welcoming monks show us their age-old traditions of butter sculpting and
carpet making.
Days 26 - 28 : Bangalore
Drive on to Bangalore or Puttaparti. Visit Sai Baba's Ashram where we
participate in all that is offered.
Day 29 : Onward Journey
Return to Bangalore to meet flights home.
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