South India Rail Tour

Destination Covered:

Chennai - Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram - Chennai - Madurai - Nagercoil - Kanyakumari - Kovalam - Trivandrum - Thekkady - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore - Chennai

Duration:

15 Nights / 16 Days

Tour Category:

Indian Railway Tour Packages

Day 01 - Arrive Chennai

Our representative will meet you on arrival at airport. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02 - Chennai - Excursion to Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram

After breakfast leave for full day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram.

Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks.

The city of Mahabalipuram (58 kms / 1 hr drive from Kanchipuram) 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.

Day 03 - Chennai - Madurai

After breakfast, leave for city tour of Chennai. Visit the Museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery. Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Kapaleeswar Temple, Cathedral, and Snake Park.

Late evening transfer to Railway-station to connect Train Pandian Express for Madurai. Overnight on train.

Day 04 - Madurai

Morning arrive Madurai 06:15 hrs. Later visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva. 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. Overnight at hotel.

Day 05 - Maduari - Nagercoil - Kanyakumari

Morning free for leisure or you may explore the city by own. Afternoon transfer to railway station to connect train Guruvayur Express, arrive Trivandrum. Drive to Kanyakumari (1/2 hr.) and check into hotel for overnight stay.

Day 06 - Kanyakumari - Kovalam

Early morning watch sunrise. Later visit Kanyakumari Temple, Gandhi Memorial, and Vivekananda Memorial in Kanyakumari. Evening watch spectacular sunset from the Beach. Later drive to Kovalam (72 kms / 1/12 hrs drive). Check into hotel for overnight stay.

Day 07 - Kovalam

Kovalam is well known for its beautiful beaches and palm fringed coconut trees. Full day free to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.

Day 08 - Kovalam - Trivandrum - Thekkady (Periyar)

Morning drive to Thekkedy (185 kms / 5 hrs) enroute visit Trivandrum City, the capital of Kerala State. The main attractions are Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthiramalika Palace, Srichithra Art Gallery, and Napier Museum. Overnight at hotel.

Day 09 - Thekkady

Morning visit the Periyar National park. 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. Elephants, wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc. can be seen easily. Afternoon visit spice plantations. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10 - Thekkedy - Kumarakom

Morning drive to Kumarakom (120 kms / 3 hrs). Afternoon visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary which is well known for large bird population including migratory birds from Siberia. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11 - Kumarakom - Board Houseboat

Morning board houseboat from Kumarakom Jetty. House Boats (Kettuvallam) or Rice Boats are best described as mobile cottages with all modern facilities and offer excellent accommodation. The Backwaters are a unique web of lakes, lagoons, canals and rivers. The Overnight cruise offers excellent opportunity to see the lifestyles of local people living along the large sections of the backwaters of Kerala. There are halts in between to stretch your legs on the shore, visiting the ancient temples, churches, local villages & people, plus try the floating markets, duck rearing or take in a quick bottle of fresh sweet toddy from a local pub.

Day 12 - Alleppey - Cochin - Bangalore

Morning disembark at Alleppey and drive to Cochin (70 kms / 1 ½ hrs). Later leave for city tour of Cochin. Main attractions are Jewish synagogue, Portuguese Churches, Mosques and Hindu temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Evening transfer to Railway-station to connect Train Bangalore Express for overnight journey to Bangalore.

Day 13 - Bangalore

Morning arrive Bangalore at 06:10 hrs. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Afternoon tour of Bangalore city, visit the Lal Bagh with a variety of old trees, fountains, lotus pools, terraces & an assortment of tropical and sub-tropical herbs. Also see the Maharaja's Palace & Government Buildings. Overnight at hotel.

Day 14 - Bangalore - Mysore

Morning drive to Mysore (140 kms / 3 hrs). Afternoon free for leisure or to explore the city by own. Overnight at hotel.

Day 15 - Mysore

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 Temple. Afternoon visit St. Philomina's Chrch and Brindavan Gardens. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 16 - Mysore - Chennai / Out

Morning free for leisure. Afternoon transfer to Railway-station to catch Train Shatabdi Express, arrive Chennai & transfer to International airport for onward destination.

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