Summary
Short description
Experience the spice and flavour of India's charming south on this luxury holiday
Highlights
- Explore the ancient temples of Kanchipuram, one of India's seven holy cities
- Witness a Hindu aarti ceremony at Madurai's intricate Meenakshi Amman Temple
- Look out for wildlife, including elephants and tigers, in the Periyar Wildlife Reserve
In Brief
- 1 Night Chennai
- 2 Nights Mahabalipuram
- 1 Night Pondicherry
- 1 Night Tanjore
- 1 Night Chettinad
- 2 Nights Madurai
- 1 Night Periyar
- 2 Nights Kochi
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
City | History & culture | Natural world
You'll start your tour at Chennai, the fourth largest city in India, and the cultural centre of Southern India. Admire beautiful frescos and bas-reliefs, as well as its colonially influenced architecture. Other highlights include the Kanchipuram - or the Golden City Temples - a spectacular collection of ornate temples and religious monuments on the banks of the Vegavathy River.
Finish your trip in Kerala, home to some of India's most impressive spice plantations. Sprawling tea estates cover much of the landscape, as well as cardamom, rubber, vanilla and coffee. Wander through terraced farms, mist-shrouded hills and occasional streams as you discover the breathtaking natural beauty of this stunning region.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
Depart UK
Depart the UK on an overnight flight, arriving in Chennai to begin your luxury holiday on day two.
Day
2
Arrive India
Arrive at Chennai's International Airport and transfer to your hotel.
Chennai is the fourth largest city in India, and the site of the East India Company's first settlement. Today, it is the cultural hub of Southern India, and has become a major centre for commerce. The city's rich colonial influence is reflected in the architecture.
Stay: Vivanta by Taj Connemara, Chennai (Superior)
Meals: B
Day
3
Chennai to Mahabalipuram
After breakfast, take a tour of Chennai, a typical Indian city and the capital of Tamil Nadu. Despite being the oldest British settlement in India, it still retains its own character. Your tour will feature historic as well as contemporary places of interest, such as the Victoria Art Gallery, the Bronze Gallery and the Madras Museum.
Part of your tour of the city will be taken by car, as you drive towards Mahabalipuram - your evening destination. Drive through Edmore to Georgetown stopping at Fort St George, where you'll visit St Mary's Church, and the fort museum housing relics of the Raj. Drive along Marina Beach, where you'll visit San Thome Cathedral - the site of the remains of St Thomas, Christ's apostle and the earliest Christian missionary in Asia. Your final stop is at the Kapaleeswarar Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva. Continue your drive to Mahabalipuram, where you will spend the rest of the evening enjoying independent activities.
Stay: Vivanta by Taj Fisherman's Cove (Superior)
Meals: B
Day
4
In Mahabalipuram
After breakfast go to the Kanchipuram, also known as the Golden City of Temples. It is one of the seven sacred cities of India and a major centre of Hindu worship and Tamil history. Of the original 1,000 temples, there are still about 125 left spread out across the city.
Continue to Mahabalipuram, an ancient coastal port south of Chennai. Built as a seaport, the town holds many sculptures and temples of typical south Indian architectural design. Among them are Five Radhas - a group of monolithic monuments and animal figures carved out of solid rock. Also see the world famous Shore Temple; the huge fresco The Penance of Bhagirath; and the world's largest bas-relief, Arjuna's Penance or Descent of the Ganges.
Stay: Vivanta by Taj Fisherman's Cove (Superior)
Meals: B
Day
5
Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry, and check in to your hotel. The Union Territory of Pondicherry is situated on the Coromandel Coast, about 160 km south of Chennai. The French ruled the territory for 300 years, and today it stands as a monument to French culture in India. The city exudes a Mediterranean aura with its chic streets, elegant houses and ornamental gardens, but is also imbibed with Tamil culture.
In the afternoon, take a tour of Pondicherry, and visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram and its offshoot, Auroville, 10 km outside the town. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is located on the rue de la Marine, and is one of the best-known and wealthiest ashrams in India. Sri Aurobindo Ghose, one of India's great philosopher-poets, set up the ashram in 1926. After your visit, drive around the town of Pondicherry and spend the rest of your day at leisure at the beach. In the evening, take a walk on the shore looking out over the ocean.
Stay: Palais de Mahe, Pondicherry (Superior)
Meals: B
Day
6
Pondicherry to Tanjore
After breakfast, drive to the town of Tanjore, and check in to your hotel upon arrival. In the afternoon, visit the Brahadeeswara Temple, or the Big Temple, which was built by the Chola emperor Raja Rajan Chola. It sores 65 meters in a 14-tiered pyramid that's decorated with carved pillars, pretty balcony windows, and beautiful carved images. Other highlights include superb frescos depicting mythological and social themes in the temple's inner courtyard.
Not far from the temple is a palace built by the Nayak Kings and renovated by the Maharathas, dating back to 1550 AD. It houses an art gallery, a library and hall of music, manuscripts, and beautiful bronze and stone sculptures. Also visit the Royal Museum that houses weapons, fashion, utensils and musical instruments used by the royal family.
Stay: The Ideal River View in Tanjore, Chennai (Superior)
Meals: B
Day
7
Tanjore to Chettinad
After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Chettinad, a region well known for its beautifully furnished 18th century mansions. They have wide courtyards, and spacious rooms embellished with marble and teak sourced from all over the world.
Stay: Visalam, Chettinad, Tamil Nadu (Superior)
Meals: B
Day
8
Chettinad to Madurai
In the morning, drive for approximately 2 hours to the city of Madurai on the banks of the Vaigai River. The city is Southern India's oldest centre of pilgrimage, and bustles with pilgrims, businessmen, bullock carts and legions of rickshaw wallahs. It was the capital of the Pandyan Empire until the 14th century, and is one of the oldest cities in India.
Stay: Heritage Madurai, Tamil Nadu (Superior)
Meals: B
Day
9
Madurai
Take a morning tour of Madurai and visit the Shree Meenakshi Temple - one of the biggest temple complexes in India and built in the 17th century. A rectangular twin shrine, one shrine is dedicated to Meenaksh, and the other to Shiva. The highlight of the temple is the Hall of a Thousand Pillars, which is a great work of structural engineering and art.
Also visit the palace of Tirumala Nayak, a blend of Hindu and Saracen architecture with an enormous roofed arcade supported by 48-foot high stone pillars. Then continue exploring the city of Madurai before returning to the hotel. In the evening, visit the Shree Meenakshi temple to witness the Aarti ceremony.
Stay: Heritage Madurai, Tamil Nadu (Superior)
Meals: B
Day
10
Madurai to Periyar
Check out of your hotel after breakfast, and take the 5-hour drive to Periyar. The area is known as the Spice Village of India, and is famous for its vast spice and tea gardens. Your drive will be beautiful, winding through mountains, estates of rubber trees, gardens of coffee, cardamom and pepper: the aroma of spices fills the air. Upon arrival in Periyar (Thekkady), check into the resort, which is located on the fringes of the Periyar Game Reserve. The unique sanctuary is about 300 square miles, and centred on an artificial lake fed by the Periyar River.
In the evening, visit the park for game viewing by motor launches. On the waterways, you'll be able to see elephants, bison, deer and occasionally a tiger. All manner of flora and fauna flourish in the tropical habitat, making it one of Southern India's premier reserves.
Stay: Spice Village, Periyar (Superior)
Meals: B
Day
11
Periyar to Kochi
After breakfast, take a five hour drive to Kochi, stopping along the way to visit a spice plantation. Sprawling tea estates cover much of Kerala's landscape, along with cardamom, rubber, vanilla and coffee plantations. It's believed the spice trade dates back 1000 years in Kerala. Pepper is most widely grown, but the slopes also support a variety of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric and curry leaves. Continue to Kochi and check into your hotel.
Stay: Brunton Boatyard, Kochi (Deluxe)
Meals: B
Day
12
Kochi
Today you'll take a city tour of Kochi. In the morning, you'll visit the Jewish synagogue, the oldest in the commonwealth. The synagogue is located in the Jewish quarter, which is also one of the centres of the spice trade. Also visit the ancient Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1557. The palace was presented to the ruler of Kochi as a gesture of goodwill, and was extensively renovated by the Dutch after 1663. It is decorated with beautiful murals.
You'll also visit the St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, which was constructed in 1503. Also pay a visit to Kochi's amazing Chinese fishing nets, the only ones of their kind to be found in India. In the evening, head to a local theatre where you will learn about Kerala's fascinating art form, Kathakali - a beautiful dance performance.
Stay: Brunton Boatyard, Kochi (Deluxe)
Meals: B
Day
13
Depart India/Arrive UK
After breakfast, transfer to the airport before boarding your day flight back to the UK.
Meals: B
Map
Pricing
Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.
Accommodation rating:
13-day tailor-made holiday
from £3,795 pp incl. flights
Superior
Low Season
from £3,795 pp. incl. flights
High Season
from £4,630 pp. incl. flights
Includes:
- Complimentary UK airport lounge access
- Return flights from London to Chennai and from Kochi to London
- 12 days private car and driver throughout (Toyota Inova or similar)
- 11 nights accommodation in 4* (Superior) hotels on a B&B basis
- Private touring with local guides
Terms & Conditions
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.
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