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Day 01
Arrive Chennai (Madras). Transfer to Hotel. Overnight
Chennai (Madras).
Day 02
Full day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram (Checkout from the
hotel at 1200 hrs).
Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai (Madras)) is the ancient capital of
the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124
shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th
and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of
Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of
interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.
The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on
the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples
which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture. Evening
transfer to rail-station for Trichy night train. Night on board.
Day 03
Morning arrive Trichy and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon tour of Trichy. Trichy was the citadel of the Chola
dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the
Carnatic wars fought between the French
and the English. Lord Robert Clive's house is still there to see and
so is the Danish Church. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. A
climb of 434 steps leads to the
ancient temple of Ganapati on top and a further climb to a Shiva
temple. Overnight Trichy.
Day 04
Morning drive to Madurai visiting Tanjore enroute. At Tanjore,
the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeshwara is capped by a
monolithic cupola made of a single granite
block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a
6 km long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building
pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the
highlights of a visit to South India. Overnight Madurai.
Day 05
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 06
Morning drive to Periyar National Park . Set up in 1934,it
extends to 777 square kms & forms part of the high mountain ranges,
the Western Ghats. Wild life can be seen while cruising on Periyar
Lake in a motor boat. Amongst the animals which can be seen are
elephants, wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur
monkeys, etc. Overnight Periyar.
Day 07
Drive to Cochin. Overnight Cochin.
Day 08
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 09
Morning transfer to airport for Bangalore flight. Arrive
Bangalore and drive directly to Mysore. Overnight Mysore.
Day 10
Full day excursion to Belur and Halebid. The Chenna Kesava
temple of Belur built 900 years ago is an exquisite example of
Hoysala art. Halebid's 12th century Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara
temples are master pieces of Hindu art. On the return, if time
permits, visit Sravanbelgola. At Sravanbelgola, hewn out of a single
rock and visible from a distance of 25 kms is the statue of Lord
Gomteshwara which is bathed with milk and honey once every 12 years.
Overnight Mysore.
Day 11
Morning visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 - 1912.
The palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and saracenic
styles of architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and
sculptures which are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto
Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of
Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Afternoon free.
Overnight Mysore.
Day 12
Transfer to rail-station for Chennai (Madras) train. Arrive and
transfer to Hotel.
Day 13
Morning free. Check-out at 1200 hrs. Transfer to airport for
return flight. |
