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Cultural
India
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Day 01 :: Madras (Chennai)
On arrival at Madras international airport, welcome and transfer to hotel
for overnight stay.
Day
02 :: Madras / Mahabalipuram
After breakfast leave for city tour of Madras. Later drive to Kanchipuram.
Visit Kanchipuram, the golden city was one of the seven sacred cities of
India and once had 1000 temples. Now only 200 remain. It is also famed for
its hand woven cottons & Kanjivaram silk. Proceed to Mahabalipuram. On
arrival check-in hotel for overnight stay.
Day 03 :: Mahabalipuram
After breakfast visit Mahabalipuram, also known as the seven Pagodas. This
is a pleasant seaside resort. Visit the Pallava monuments which are spread
over a wide area, some bordering the sea. The important monuments to be seen
are the five Rathas, the bas-relief on a huge rock popularly known as the
Arjuna's penance, the mahishasura Mandapam, the Krishna Mandapam and the
shore temple. Evening free to relax on the beach. Overnight in hotel.
Day 04 :: Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry (168 kms / 4 hrs approx). On arrival
check-in hotel. Later sight-seeing of Pondicherry. Overnight in hotel.
Day 05 :: Pondicherry / Tanjore
After breakfast drive to Tanjore (177 kms / 5 hrs approx). Afternoon visit
the famous 11th century Brihadeswara temple and the saraswati library which
has some rare collection of books and manuscripts.
Day
06 :: Tanjore / Madurai
After breakfast leave for Trichy which was the citadel of the Chola dynasty
in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the carnatic wars
fought between the French & 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. Proceed to Madurai
(182 kms / 6 hrs approx). On arrival in Madurai check-in hotel for overnight
stay.
Day 07 :: Madurai
After breakfast city tour visiting 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 Sarracenia style, famous for the stucco work
on its domes and arches. Afternoon free at leisure.
Day 08 :: Madurai / Periyar
After breakfast drive to Periyar (137 kms / 4 hrs aprox). Afternoon enjoy
boat ride on lake Periyar to see wildlife. Evening free. Overnight in hotel.
Day 09 :: Periyar / Cochin
After breakfast drive to Kottayam, start backwater boat cruise crossing
Vembanad lake into the backwaters of Kerala till Alleppey. From here drive
to Cochin. Afternoon free at leisure. Overnight in hotel.
Day 10 :: Cochin
After breakfast city tour visiting the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue,
Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church & the Santa Cruz church.
Afternoon free. Overnight in hotel.
Day
11 :: Cochin / Bangalore / Mysore
Morning transfer to airport for Bangalore flight. Arrive and drive directly
to Mysore (139 kms / 3 hrs approx), enroute visit Srirangapatna. Overnight
in hotel.
Day 12 :: Mysore
After breakfast visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911-12. The
palace is architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades, sculptures
which are magnificent. Visit the art gallery, drive upto Chamundi hill to
see Chamundeshwari temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On your way back,
see the Nandi bull. Overnight in hotel.
Day 13 :: Mysore / Hassan
After breakfast drive to Hassan (158 kms / 4 hrs approx). Full day
excursion of Belur & 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 temple are masterpieces of Hindu art. Overnight
in hotel.
Day 14 :: Hassan / Hospet
After breakfast drive to Hospet. Afternoon visit Hampi. Hampi the once
beautiful capital city of Vijayanagar empire and the greater than Rome, had
palaces, temple and sculptures, spread all over. The city was razed to the
ground by the sultanates of south in year 1565. Some of the interesting
ruins remaining are the Virupaksha, Vittala and Hazara Rama temples huge
Ganesha & Narasimha images, the elephant stables, the Queen's bath,
carvings on the Ramachandra temple, lotus Mahal. Overnight in hotel.
Day 15 :: Hospet / Badami
After breakfast drive to Badami via Aihole and Pattadakal. Aihole is the
cradle of stone temple architecture of the southern Dravida school. The
oldest temple, lad khan goes back to the 5th century A.D. there are 70
temples in this group. The Durga temple is noted for its sculptures. the
Meguti temple is built of 630 small stone blocks. The Ravanaphadi cave has
some beautiful carvings. Pattadakal, referred to as Petrigal, reached its
pinnacle of glory under the Chalukya kings from 7th to 9th centuries. The
oldest in this group is the Sanghameshwara temple. the Mallikarjuna temple
has pillars depicting life of Krishna. Virpaksha temple has sculptures and
panels scenes from the epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata the Pananatha
temple has impressive carvings. Overnight in hotel.
Day 16 :: Badami
After breakfast visit the Badami caves. Badami also known as Vatapi rich
with Hindu and Jain temples carved out of sand stone hills. The carved
temples date back to the 6th century. Of these three are Hindus and one
Jain. Sculptured out of solid rock they are adorned with carvings. Fort, on
top of a hill encloses large galleries, treasury & a watch tower. The
famed Malegitti Shivalaya temple set on the summit of a hill is built of
stones joined without mortar. Overnight in hotel.
Day 17 :: Badami / Goa
After breakfast drive to Goa. On arrival check-in hotel. Rest of the day
free at leisure. Overnight in hotel.
Day
18 :: Goa
After breakfast leave for half day tour of North Goa. Afternoon free at
leisure to enjoy the beaches. Overnight in hotel.
Day 19 :: Goa / Bombay
Morning free. Later transfer to airport for Bombay flight. Arrive and
transfer to city hotel. Free time. Overnight in hotel.
Day 20 :: Bombay / Onward destination
After breakfast leave for excursion to Elephanta caves by motor boat.
Afternoon city tour. Later transfer to international airport for flight to
onward destination.
