Silk & Spices

Arrive Chennai
Arrive in Chennai (formerly Madras) and transfer to hotel for overnight.

Chennai
After breakfast embark on your city tour. Chennai a young city that is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Visit Fort St. George, where the city began, and St. Mary’s Church, an ancient monument tended carefully by the Archaeological Department and its congregation. Overnight at hotel.

Excursion to Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram
Today we drive to Mahabalipuram, once the principal port of the Pallavas who ruled between the 6th and 9th centuries A.D., via Kanchipuram, once the capital of Pallava and a city of a thousand temples. Mahabalipuram is nothing less than a breathtaking display of masterful sculptures carved out of solid rocks of granite. Visit the Shore Temple, a splendid example of early temple construction in South India and Penance of Bhagirata, the world’s largest bas relief also known as “Arjun’s Penance”. The important temples of Kanchipuram are the 16th century Ekambasreshwar Temple a fairly new and the largest of the Shiva temples, Kamakshi Temple, dedicated to Parvati “the goddess with the eyes of love”, and Vaikunta Perumal Temple, which dates back to the 8th century. Return to hotel for overnight.

Chennai / Trichy
Transfer to airport this morning for a short flight to Trichy. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Afternoon explore Trichy city with a visit to Rock Fort, Sirangam and Jambukeshwar Temples. Trichy’s historic associations stretch from chola times to the 18th century Karnataka Wars, when Britain and France supported the aspirations of rival princes. Overnight at hotel.

Excursion to Tanjore
Morning we take on to the excursion to Tanjore, which was the seat of the Chola Empire from the 10th to 14th centuries and approximately 74 temples were built here. The notably among them is, Birhadeswara Temple, which is more than 200 feet tall in the Dravidian truncated pyramid form, and has a huge lingam in its sanctorum. In the inner shrine of the temple, one sees India’s second largest stature of Nandi the bull, the mount of the god Shiva. Return to hotel for overnight.

Trichy / Madurai
We drive to Madurai this morning, a city with a history that goes back to about 600 B.C. The Pandyan rulers made this their capital until the 14th century and the city bloomed with writers, builders, poets and academics. Later, the Nayaks ruled from the middle of the 16th century to 1743. The ten tall Gopurams of the Meenakshi Temple were raised during their dynasty.

Check in your hotel. Spend the rest of the day visiting this huge complex of temples, the Palace of King Triumalay, Gandhi Museum and the Temple at Alaghat Koli where you can see its beautifully carved stone lattice windows. Overnight at hotel.

Madurai / Periyar
Today drive to Periyar, our first entry point into Kerala, 8,608 square feet national park, where preservation of wildlife is very sacred. Arrive and stay for two nights.

Periyar
In the morning, take a jeep ride to a nearby spice plantation followed by a boat ride on Lake Periyar to look for wild animals that are found drinking and bathing from this 100 year-old lake.

Periyar / Kumarakom
Depart this morning drive to Kumarakom, experiencing the rich culture and active lifestyle that has evolved over the centuries in and around the backwaters and waterways that thread this region. Your afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps take advantage of the rich waters with a bit of fishing, or just relax and soak in the rich atmosphere of your surroundings. Overnight at hotel.

Kumarakom / Cochin
Drive to Cochin, known for its well balanced ecosystem. Check in at hotel, later sightseeing tour includes a visit to the Portuguese church built by St. Francis in 1562, the Jewish Synagogue, the famed Mattancherry Palace, and the Chinese fishing nets—ingenious devices requiring little human attention. Tonight enjoy a presentation of the colourfully costumed Kathakali dance drama. Overnight at hotel.

Cochin / Ooty
Drive to Ooty, this famous hill station near the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka is 2268 meters above sea level in the Nilgiri Mountains. It was founded by the British in the early part of the 19th century to serve as the summer headquarters of the government of Madras. Before that time, the area was inhabited by the Todas. These tribal people still live there, but today only 3000 remain. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

In Ooty
Day at leisure in Ooty. Overnight hotel.

Ooty / Mysore
Drive to Mysore, sandalwood city ! Mysore is one of the major centers of incense manufactures in India, and scores of small, family owned agarbathi (incense) factories are scattered all over town, their products exported all over the world. Mysore is also a craft center and there are numerous shops selling a large range of sandalwood, rosewood and teak carvings and furniture. On arrival check-in at hotel. Afternoon you will visit Mysore City which include a visit to City Palace & Chamundi Hill. Overnight hotel.

Mysore / Bangalore
Drive to Bangalore en route visiting Srirangabpatanam. Bangalore, a modern, bustling city and an important industrial center. Bangalore remains one of India’s most pleasant cities. On arrival check-in hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight hotel.

In Bangalore
Morning visit to Bangalore City which include a visit to Tipusulthan Palace, Bull Temple and Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Overnight hotel.

Bangalore / Mumbai
Today fly to Mumbai (Bombay) upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon you will have a guided city tour of Bombay, which is noticeably tropical. Its weathered Victorian mansions, some still privately owned and grand public buildings, many beautifully lit at night, stand as a reminder of the days of the British Raj. You visit the Gateway of India, hastily created as a symbol of welcome to Queen Mary and King George V of England on their trip to India in 1911. Afterwards, visit the Hanging Gardens, perched at the top of Malabar Hill and provides lovely views over the Arabian Sea. Overnight at hotel.

Mumbai / Overseas
Today transfer to international airport to board flight for onward destination.