Tamil Nadu – Kerala – Cultural & Heritage

Arrive in Chennai and check into your hotel. After that Spend your day in local sightseeing of Chennai city, where you can visit the Santhome Cathedral, Birla Planetarium, Elliot Beach, Valluvar Kottam, National Art and Government Museum, Anna Zoological Park, Kalakshetra, and the Theosophical Society. Overnight stay. One of the best places to begin your journey, Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the sixth largest city in India. It’s one of the top tourist places in South India and the primary gateway for your South India trip. Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is a beautiful mix of the old and the young. Witness to a lot of historical kingdoms, today it’s a contemporary city with all amenities. If you’ve already covered the museums and temples, you can check out Marina Beach - the world’s second-longest city beach. Chennai is one of the best South tourist places and has several museums, zoos, and monuments.

Day two of the South India tour starts after breakfast. Then drive to Mahabalipuram, the world heritage site famous for the monolith temples dating back centuries. Also visit Kanchipuram, the city of temples enroute. Reach Mahabalipuram to have an overnight stay. The first major destination in the package is Mahabalipuram, one of the best tourist destinations in South India, famous for its edifices of Dravidian art and architecture. The guided tour of the rock-cut temples built by the Kings of the Pallava Dynasty and other attractions of the region over two days will be a beautiful start to your South India trip. It’s one of the famous spots on the South India tourist map.

Day three of the South India holiday Package starts after breakfast. Spend the whole day on the sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram visiting the shore temple, Arjuna's Penance, Krishna Mandapam, Five Rathas, and the beach. Overnight stay at the hotel. There are a lot of sightseeing spots in Mahabalipuram. One of the primary attractions is of course the Shore Temple, an 8th-century temple by the sea. You can also check out some other important monuments such as the Five Rathas and Arjuna’s Penance. A tour of the UNESCO World Heritage group of monuments is also a must. You can also relax on the beach if you want.

Day four of South India Travel starts after breakfast. Then drive to Pondicherry, which covers an area of 480 sq. km. consisting of the four coastal regions of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yanam, and Mahe. These were former French possessions situated on the eastern coast. Visit:- Sree Aurobindo Ashram- The world famous Sree Aurobindo Ashram is situated here. Raj Nivas- The official residence of the Lieutenant Governor, now known as Raj Nivas, is a true specimen of the fusion of Indian and French cultures. The main building is 200 years old. The interiors, the sitting rooms, and the enclosing galleries have wooden furnishings which have a French base with Indian-style caving. Overnight at Hotel. The next leg of the tour takes guests to the beach destination Pondicherry, the erstwhile French Colony of the region, which is a confluence of rich culture and grand architecture. Pondicherry is one of the best places to see in South India and you’ll get to savor the colonial ambiance combined with the rich Tamil culture while being engaged in Katamaran (fishing-raft) rides, fishing, swimming, and sightseeing.

Day five of the South India tour starts after breakfast. Kumbakonam is a sacred spot known for its 4 large great temples dedicated to, 1) Sarangapani 2) Kumbeswarar 3) Brahma and 4) Nageswarar. Around Kumbakonam, there are all the Navagraha Temples (Planetary Temples). Visit temples and stay overnight. Kumbakonam, your next stop is a whirlwind collection of wonderful temples that’ll take you back to the time of the earliest dynasties of the South. It also has two World-Heritage listed temples and can be a peaceful addition to your South India Travel. You can move ahead to Tanjore, the erstwhile capital of the majestic Chola Empire. It’s a heritage city echoing the might and grandeur of Chola architectural styles and culture.

Today Morning after breakfast visit temples.. A village walk with a village temple visit and a village school visit is complimentary. A peeping into a village house seeing the hutment and trying out a kolam in a village house by guests would be memorable experiences. A bullock cart ride around the village and a cooking demonstration on the property would also be something the guests would cherish. The next day, you can check out some of the beautiful temples of Kumbakonam such as the Kumbeswara Temple, Sarangapani Temple, Chakrapani Temple, and the Ramaswamy Temple.

Today Morning after breakfast proceeds to Tanjore. (Tanjore was once the capital of the Cholas, a destiny of temple builders who ruled south India between the 10th and 14th centuries). On arrival check-in at the hotel. Afternoon visit Sri Brahadeeswara Temple and Art Gallery. Evening free to relax and Stay overnight at Hotel. Your next leg of the trip involves visiting another historic town - Tanjore. Also known as Thanjavur, it’s the ancient capital of the Chola kingdom. You can witness the grandeur of the Chola temple here. One of the best examples is the Brihadeeswara Temple, one of the most magnificent pieces of Chola architecture. Other things to see here are Airavatesvara Temple, Thanjavur Royal Palace, and Gangaikonda Temple.

Drive to Madurai in Tamilnadu, one of South India's greatest temple towns. Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era which is more than 2500 years old. In the evening, visit the Meenakshi Temple to attend the popular evening ceremony where the Hindu God Siva is taken in a palanquin. Overnight at hotel GRT. Madurai is one of the top tourist places in South India. It was home to the Pandya dynasty and now consists of several historic temples. One of the most popular temples is the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Other renowned places are Koodal Alagar Temple, Thiruparankundram, Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Gandhi Museum, etc.

Today morning you can go to see the rare species of plantations and animals. Afternoon visit spice plantations like cardamom, Pepper, Coffee, tea estate, etc… On the way back to Hotel you could stop at the local market and pick up some fragrant spices. Overnight stay at hotel. In the next leg of your journey, you move from temples to wildlife. One of the best holiday destinations in South India, Periyar is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise. It’s located in Thekkady and is set in the lofty Western Ghats. In the olden days, it used to be the hunting ground for Travancore kings.

Today morning you can go to see the rare species of plantations and animals. Afternoon visit spice plantations like cardamom, Pepper, Coffee, tea estate, etc… On the way back to Hotel you could stop at the local market and pick up some fragrant spices. Overnight stay at hotel. Periyar is home to some prolific species of fauna. Some of the animals you can expect to see here are the Sambar, Gaur, Barking Deer, the tiger, and the Nilgiri Langur. You can also witness the beautiful Periyar Lake. A safari in the tropical forests of Periyar is sure to feed your wild side.

Today morning Drive to Alleppey and embark on your private houseboat and cruise. On arrival check into a Traditional Houseboat of Kerala Style and cruise through the backwaters is a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters. Stay overnight in Houseboat Idyllically located on the Vembanad backwaters, Alleppey can be your gateway to experience the spectacular greenery of South India. You can spend some quiet, relaxed moments of repose while watching the paddy fields or the green foliage. Stay overnight at the Houseboat

Today morning Drive to cochin. Here you can see the St Francis Church, the oldest Church in India, 500-year-old Portuguese Houses, Chinese fishing nets, 16th-century Synagogue, Jew Town, and Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese, this Palace contains some of India’s most beautiful murals. The evening goes shopping. In the final leg of the journey, you’ll be a part of the cosmopolitan culture of Cochin and an intermingling of the ancient and the contemporary. Here you will get to experience some of the oldest colonial houses, palaces, and the famous Chinese fishing nets.

Relax in the hotel..To fully enjoy the wonders of Kochi, you must spend one more day here. Some of the best sightseeing options are the Chinese Fishing Nets, Hill Palace Museum, Santa Cruz Basilica Church, Dutch Palace, and a string of museums and galleries.

The morning after breakfast departure transfer to Cochin Airport for your onward journey. With this, the grand South Indian tour comes to an end. You can book your South India holiday today with Kerala Tour Packages and explore our South India holiday packages.