Tour Name : South India Coach Tour
Duration: 14 nights / 15 days
Season: October to March each year
Cities: Chennai – Covelong – Mahabalipuram - Chettinad - Madurai - Thekkady - Cochin - Kumarakom - Backwaters - Marari - Cochin - Mumbai

Day 01 CHENNAI (MADRAS)
Arrive at Night at Chennai International Airport. For the visitor wishing to explore southern India extensively, Chennai, earlier known a Madras, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, is the most convenient point of entry.
Tamil Nandu

Tamil Nadu, the heart of the Dravidian culture and tradition, has for time immemorial, been a pioneer of peace and knowledge, and the visual legacy of the culture of the state, is among the most satisfying spectacles in India. Sharing boundaries with the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, Tamil Nadu has an unbroken coastline, edging the Bay of Bengal. Densely forested uplands which abound in wildlife, intensively cultivated farmlands interspersed with rocky wastes, mountain chains of the Western Ghats, which give way to fertile coastal plains and plateaus form the geographical features of Tamil Nadu.
Kapaleeshwar Temple - Madras

After you go through the immigration and custom formalities, you will be met by our representative at the arrival hall with a paging board. Private transfer to your hotel. Checkin at Your Hotel. Our representative will complete all formalities of Checkin. Overnight in Chennai.

Day 02 CHENNAI / COVELONG
American breakfast at the Hotel. Proceed on a brief visit of the City of Madras. Fort St. George built by the British East India Company, completed in the 17th Century, St. Mary's Church and the Government Museum for its superb collection of Chola Art. Lunch in Chennai. Continue drive to Covelong, a seaside village located only 37 CMS from China. Enroute visit the Cholamandal Artists Village and the Dakshinchitra Museum, which showcases Traditional Art, Craft and Architecture from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Checkin at your Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & Overnight in Covelong

Day 03 CHENNAI / COVELONG
American breakfast at the Hotel. Proceed on a brief visit of the City of Madras. Fort St. George built by the British East India Company, completed in the 17th Century, St. Mary's Church and the Government Museum for its superb collection of Chola Art. Lunch in Chennai. Continue drive to Covelong, a seaside village located only 37 CMS from China. Enroute visit the Cholamandal Artists Village and the Dakshinchitra Museum, which showcases Traditional Art, Craft and Architecture from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Check in at your Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner & Overnight in Covelong.

Chennai / Madras
The capital of Tamil Nadu is also its principal harbor and has one of the finest beaches in Asia. It was founded at Fort St. George in 1640 AD by Francis Day of the East India Company.
It is the centre of the Hindu tradition of Bharata Natyam (classical dancing) the art of temple sculpture also comes from this part of the country, and gives expression to both the devoutness and the artistic skills of the Tamil people. Madras is the home of the ancient Dravidian civilization, one of the oldest articulate cultures in the world. It is a city where the landscape of the past lives easily with more recent history.

Day 04 MAHABALIPURAM
BAS-RELIEF AT MAHABALIPURAM Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel. Morning visit the Temples and Rock Carvings that were built by the Chola Kings of Kancheepuram between 6th and 8th Centuries AD. Return to Covelong and Overnight at Hotel.
Mabalipuram

World famous for its shore temples, Mahabalipuram, was the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. 58 kilometers from Madras on the Bay of Bengal, this tiny sea side village of Mahabalipuram, is set in a boulder-strewn landscape. Tourists are drawn to this place by its miles of unspoiled beach and rock-cut art. The sculpture of this place is particularly interesting, because it shows scenes of day-to- day life, in contrast to the rest of the state of Tamil Nadu, where carvings generally depict gods and goddesses.

Day 05 COVELONG / CHENNAI / MADURAI / CHETTINAD
Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer by Car to Chennai Domestic Airport. Assistance for checkin on the flight to Madurai. Jet Airways flight 9w3519. Departure at 0645 Hrs and Arrival at 0805 Hrs. Drive to Chettinad or the Land of Chettiars, a prosperous banking community who ventured overseas to South and South East Asia in the 19th and 20th Centuries and amassed great fortunes. Madurai to Chettinad is 100 Kms. Its 1.5 Hours drive.

Check-In and lunch at THE BUNGALA, a charming 75 year old Chettinad Bungalow, belonging to the Meyyappa Chettiar Family, that has been restored and converted into a heritage guest house. After lunch, explore the Karaikudi with its fabulous mansions and with its many temples. Return to Madurai.

Afternoon visit of the Chettinad Palace and the mansions at Karaikudi. Meals and Overnight at THE BUNGALA.

Day 06 CHETTINAD / MADURAI
Breakfast at The Bungala and drive to Madurai. On arrival Check-In at Hotel TAJ GARDEN RETREAT. Located on a hillock called PASUMALAI, the building was constructed during British Rule. It is now taken over by the Taj Group and run as an Old World Charm Hotel.

Afternoon Sightseeing of Madurai Meenakshi Temple. Dinner and Overnight in Madurai.

After an early Dinner re-visit Temple to witness the closing ceremony, where the idols of the God and the Goddess are taken in a procession around the temple and put to sleep. Return to Hotel and Overnight at the hotel in Madurai.
Madurai

Madurai, the most famous of the temple towns of the south is known for the Meenakshi Temple. Famed for its many carved and painted halls, this magnificent temple of goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundaram (Shiva) has the tallest Gopuram (temple gateway) in the world. Designed in the 16th Century the Temple Complex occupies an area of 6 Hectares and has 12 towers of different sizes, maximum being 50 meters. It also has a Temple Art Museum and a 1000 Pillared Hall.

Day 07 MADURAI / THEKKADY
Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel. This day we drive from Madurai to Thekkady in the State of Kerala. Our journey in Tamil Nadu or the Land of Tamils ends today and we begin our journey to Kerala, also known as God's Own Country.

Check in at Spice Village, which offers a rare opportunity to enjoy South India's Wildlife and Beauty, as it is located close to the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Installation. After some time for rest, take a tour of the plantations around Spice Village. The entire area is rich with Cardamom / Pepper / Tea / Coffee Plantations.

At dusk, proceed on a 2-Hour Water Safari on the Periyar Lake to watch some of the Periyar Tiger Reserve's wildlife. Return to Hotel. Overnight at Periyar.

Day 08 THEKKADY / KOTTAYYAM / COCHIN
Buffet American Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to Cochin, passing through the hills of Thekkady, Tea/Coffee Plantations. Drive through Kanjeerapally, known for its rubber estates.. Continue driving to Cochin. Possibility of organizing Lunch the Madukakunnu House an old Traditional Kerala Home, near Kottayyam. (This is recommended only for Groups).

Check-In at Hotel.

Madukakunnu Situated at the Harbor mouth overlooking the busy ship channel, all rooms at this hotel boast of a magnificent view of the sea and the Delta.

Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Cochin.

There are other possibilities for Hotels in Cochin.

Trident Hilton or Le Meridian or the Taj Malabar in the Willington Island. The Malabar House Residency at Fort Cochin.

Day 09 COCHIN
Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel.

Visit the Mattancherry Palace, Jewish Synagogue and the Chinese Fishing Nets at Sunset. Evening witness a live show of Kathakali, a form of dance and drama, which depicts stories from Indian Mythology. Overnight in Cochin.
Cochin

Cochin.jpe (25452 bytes)The commercial hub of Kerala, is a town of great historical importance. It has a fine natural harbor around which the city has grown. Cochin is the famous port, trading between India and the rest of the world. Attracted by trade and its liberal laws, many foreigners have made this their home. After the fall of Jerusalem, Jewish refuges sought sanctuary in this lush trading post. St. Thomas the apostle is also reputed to have landed here, making the Jewish and Christian communities of this town the oldest on the sub-continent. For centuries, traders from here have traded in spices, camphor, sandalwood, gold and silks. Being broad minded, the traders from this enterprising town even imported Chinese method of fishing to improve productivity and yield. Nets from this centuries old experiment are still functioning and can be seen in the old part of town.

Day 10 COCHIN / KUMARAKOM
Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel.

Transfer by car to the Puthenengady Boat Jetty. Around 1 Hours drive. Transfer by a motorboat to the COCONUT LAGOON RESORT, located on an Island on the backwaters of KERALA.

Coconut Lagoon is a Resort set on an abandoned coconut plantation in the very heart of the backwaters of Kerala. It offers accommodation in individual cottages called THARAWADS or the traditional wooden house of Kerala.

Some of these cottages are ore recent vintage, many are well over a century old and a few actually date back to the early 1700s.

Checkin into a Bungalow at the Resort. Rest of the day at leisure.

You could use the Ayurvedic Centre for a massage or take a dip in the Large Pool. Overnight in Kumarakom.

The hotel organizes daily cultural programs like a show of Kerala Martial Arts or Classical Dance Shows.

Day 11 KUMARAKOM / BACKWATERS
Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel. Time at leisure in the morning. Your private House Boat awaits you on the Hotel Jetty.
KETTUVELLOM

House Boat.jpe (31596 bytes)KETTUVELLOM as it is known in the local language, is a long boats, large by a few metres, were once used for moving merchandize on the backwaters of Kerala.

Constructed without using nails, these remarkable boats were built using wood, bamboo and coconut fiber.

They are motorized with comfortable rooms, sitting area, sun deck and toilettes with telephone showers. One such boat will report to you at the hotel and begin a cruise on the Vembanad lake going through the backwaters of Kerala. Food served on board will be typically local, comprising of fish, vegetables, tropical fruits. The crew consists of a navigator, a cook and his assistant. Food served on board is typically local food. Fish is the local specialty. Cruise through the Lake visiting local villages, ancient churches, temples and visit a snake boat yard. Lunch / Dinner and overnight on board the HouseBoat on the backwaters.

Day 12 BACKWATERS / MARARI BEACH RESORT
Breakfast on board. Cruise upto the Finishing Point Boat Jetty at Alleppey. Pickup at Alleppey and transfer by Car to the MARARI BEACH RESORT, which is a 30 minutes drive from Alleppey.

MARARI BEACH RESORT - BUNGALOWSThe Marari Beach Resort is located at Mararikulam one of the Fishermen village of the area.

Checkin in a Bungalow at the MARARI BEACH RESORT. Lunch.

Rest of the day at leisure on the beach.

Farewell Beach Side Barbecue Dinner.

Overnight at Mararikulam.

Day 13 MARARIKULAM.
Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel. Full day at leisure. Use the services of the resort like Ayurvedic Centre, Yoga Lessons or simply relax on the lovely Marari Beach. Overnight at Marari.

Day 14 MARARIKULAM / COCHIN / BOMBAY
Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer to the Nedumessary Airport. Around 2 Hours drive from Mararikulam. Assistance for Checkin on the flight to Bombay. Jet Airways flight No. 9W-404 Departure at 1435 Hrs. Arrival at 1620 Hrs.

Arrive in Bombay. Meet and greet on arrival at the airport by our representative and transfer to Hotel TAJ MAHAL, close to the Gateway of India, known as the King Edward Gate during the British Rule.

Check-In at Hotel TAJ MAHAL Tower Wing or Heritage Wing. Proceed on a leisurely walk in Colaba for shopping. Overnight at Hotel.

BOMBAY
Breakfast at Hotel. Excursion to the Elephanta Caves by an Ordinary Launch. (This day should not be a Monday as the Elephanta Caves remain closed for maintenance on Mondays). Afternoon visit the Crawford Market, Visit the Dhobhighat and the Prince of Wales Museum. Late night transfer to the International Airport. Assistance by our representative to check-in on your flight back home.

Day 15 Departure From Bombay.
Fly back home and arrive same day.

Mail us: mktg@discoveryfullcircle.com