ART & CULTURE OF SOUTHERN INDIA TOUR – 17days with 16 overnights

MUMBAI, BANGALORE, SRAVANBELAGOLA, HALEBID, BELUR, MYSORE, KOCHI, KOVALAM, KUMARAKOM, PERIYAR, MADURAI, TRICHI, THANJAVUR, PONDICHERRY, MAHABALIPURAM, KANCHIPURAM AND CHENNAI

Relish the luxury of some of the finest hotels in Mumbai and southern India. Experience the ancient culture and religion in the intricately carved Hindu temples. Relax on the backwater cruise in Kerala. Visit the spice gardens that enticed European traders to discover the sea route to India. Enjoy a pleasant and entertaining cultural evening with the famous, classical Kathakkalli Dance of Kerala. Continental, Vegan and Vegetarian cuisine can be arranged if required.

Day 01 // Mumbai:

Receive at Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport and transfer to hotel for overnight.

Day 02 // Mumbai:

AM: Private cruise through Mumbai Harbor brings you to the 6^th century rock-cut cave temples on Elephanta Island. In 1987, the caves were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rock-cut temple complex covers an area of 60,000 square ft consisting of a main chamber, two lateral ones, courtyards and subsidiary shrines. The site of these magnificent caves contained beautiful reliefs, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu god Siva. The caves are hewn from solid rock. The temple complex is said to be the abode of Shiva.
PM: Private guided tour of Mumbai: The Prince of Wales Museum is a magnificent structure, built in a confluence of Gothic and Moorish styles, and crowned by a sparkling white dome. It boasts a good collection of ancient Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 BC, plus some priceless Tibetan and Nepali Art; Dhobi Ghat is where hundreds of the traditional washer folk of Mumbai collect dirty laundry, wash it, and return it neatly pressed, all for a very small fee;
Mani Bhavan is the old Mumbai residence of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a pretty, two-storied structure that now houses a reference library with over 2000 books, a photo exhibition of the life of the Mahatma, and well preserved memorabilia; Gateway to India, built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911;
Transfer to domestic airport to board the flight to Bangalore. On arrival in Bangalore transfer to hotel for overnight.

Day 03 // Bangalore:

After breakfast full day sightseeing tour of Bangalore City.

Day 04 // Bangalore/Sravanbelagola/Hassan:

After breakfast drive to Sravanbelagola for an extended tour of the hilltop Jain temple with gigantic Gomateshwar statue. Overnight in Hassan.

Day 05 // Hassan/Halebid/Belur:

After breakfast drive to Halebid and visit the enormous Hoysaleswara temple. From Halebid drive to Belur and visit the Channakeshava temple. Overnight in Hassan.

Day 06 // Hassan/Mysore (120kms, 4hrs approx.):

After breakfast drive to Mysore and on the way visit Ranganathittu Bird/Crocodile Sanctuary and Srirangapatnam, the capital of Tippu Sultan. Overnight in Mysore.

Day 07 // Mysore/Bangalore/Kochi:

After an early breakfast drive to Bangalore to catch the flight to Kochi (Cochin). On arrival at Kochi transfer to hotel. In the afternoon take a tour of Kochi, including the Chinese Fishing nets, the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue and quarters and St. Francis Xavier's Church. Later enjoy a Kerala cultural evening with elephant ride and Kathakali dance performance. Overnight in Kochi.

Day 08 // Kochi/Kovalam:

After breakfast drive 236 kilometers in about 5.5 hours to Kovalam. Relax at the beach resort.

Day 09 // Kovalam:

Full day to relax at the beach resort on the Arabian Sea.

 

Day 10 // Kovalam/Alleppey/Kumarakom:

After breakfast drive to Alleppey and transfer to houseboat for a cruise in Backwaters of Kerala. Overnight in houseboat.

Day 11 Kumarakom/Periyar:

After breakfast drive through the beautiful hilly region to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Overnight in Periyar. 

Day 12 // Periyar:

Visit the Wildlife Sanctuary and observe the animal in their natural habitat. Overnight in Periyar.

Day 13 // Periyar/Madurai:

After breakfast drive about 186 kilometers in 3 hours to Madurai. In the afternoon visit the world famous Meenakshi Temple and the Raja Thirumalai Nayak Palace built in 1636.

Day 14 // Madurai/Trichy/Thanjavur:

After breakfast drive about 140 kilometers in about 2 hours to Trichy. In the afternoon visit the Rock Fort Vinayaka Temple and the Srirangam Temple. Later drive to Thanjavur. Overnight in Thanjavur.

Day 15 // Thanjavur/Pondicherry:

After breakfast visit the Brahadeeshwara Temple from 10^th century CE, the Palace of Nayak rulers and the Serforji's Saraswathi Mahal Museum and Library. After lunch drive about 200 kilometers in about 4 hours to Pondicherry. Overnight in Pondicherry.

Day 16 // Pondicherry/Mahabalipuram:

After breakfast visit the former French enclave and Auroville, the international Ashram of Sri Aurobindo. In the afternoon drive 95 kilometers to Mahabalipuram. Enjoy the evening on the Bay of Bengal beach. Overnight in Mahabalipuram.

Day 17 // Mahabalipuram/Kanchipuram/Chennai:

After breakfast start the day with sightseeing of the shore temples of Mahabalipuram. Later drive to Kanchipuram to visit the Vaishnav and Shiva temples. After sightseeing drive further to Chennai Airport to board the flight to Mumbai. On arrival transfer to international airport for flight back to USA.

Price with two choice of hotel categories :

The above cost includes:

Accommodation on Twin Sharing basis for 16 nights at the following hotels / similar category hotels will be offered incase of non availability at given hotels:

·          Based on room with breakfast basis

·          Transfers and sightseeing by chauffer driven air-conditioned Toyota Innova van

·          Two bottles of water per day available in the van

·          All Government taxes, Road tax and tolls, parking fees and driver’s overnight wages

·          Tours with professional English Speaking Local Guide as per itinerary.

·          Entry fee to all monuments and places of interest as per the itinerary (One Time)

·          Gala Cultural Evening with south Indian classical dance drama, Kathakalli

·          The rates are valid till April 2010

Not included in the prices:

·          Cost of international airfare, we will be glad to get you the best airfares through our international flight consolidator

·          Cost of Travel Guard Group Insurance, please inquire the premium amount and coverage details (highly recommended)

·          Cost of lunches and dinners

·          All drinks in hotels & restaurants etc.

·          Still and Video Camera Fees at monuments

·          Tips to drivers and guides as well as any item not included in the above (included) list

·          All expenses of personal nature like telephone calls / laundry / room service charges in hotels etc. as well as any Ayurvedic treatments or massages etc.

PAYMENTS:

Please fill out the registration form, sign it and mail it with an advance payment by personal check of $ 370 for 1^st Class and tourist class hotel accommodations and with an advance payment of $ 570 for luxury class hotel accommodations. The balance is payable 60 days before departure date. On receipt of the form we will be glad to inform you the travel insurance premium amount. There is an extra charge of 2.75% for payment with Visa, MasterCard and Discover credit and debit cards because credit and debit card commissions and fees are not included in the price. Please call or email us for credit or debit card payments.