Treasures of South India

Day 1: Arrive Bombay, meet-assist and transfer to hotel.

Day 2: Bombay/Bangalore Transfer to airport for flight IC 671 to Bangalore departure at 1000hrs and arrival at 1145hrs. On arrival, meet-assist and transfer to hotel. PM: Sightseeing of Bangalore, The capital of Karnataka State (formerly Mysore) is modern, well planned and ranks among India's most beautiful cities. Its rolling parks and gardens are famous for their botanical value and beautiful flowers. Also visit the Visveswariah Memorial Museum, Mysore Arts and Crafts Centre and shopping areas.

Day 3: Bangalore/Hassan Leave by surface to Hassan and on arrival transfer to hotel. Visit Belur and Halebid. The twin capital of the ancient Haysala Kingdom (1100 A.D. to 1310 A.D. and see the Chenna Kesva temple in Belur built in 1117 A.D. an excellent example of Hoysala architecture that has intricate carvings on the exterior and bracket figures of women iin different postures. Also visit the image of Ganesh, Durga and Saraswati at Kappe Chenningaraja Shrine and later visit Hayaleswara Temple at Halebid and see the intricate carved friezes and episodes from Hindu Mythology. It ranks among the masterpieces of Indian sculptural art.

Day 4: Hassan/Sravanbelagola/Mysore Leave by surface to Mysore en-route visits Sravanabelagola -the large monolithic statue of lord Bahubali a Jain saint. Overnight at your hotel in Mysore.

STATUE OF BAHUBALI , SRAVANBELAGOLA
51 kms south-east of Hassan, this one of the most important Jain pilgrim centres. Here is the 17 m high monolith of Lord Bahubali - the world's tallest monolithic statue. Thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka - spectacular ceremony held once in 12 years, when the 1000 - year - old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2005 A.D.

Day 5: Full day sightseeing of Mysore including Somnathpuram. Maharaja Palace, the beautiful profile of this walled palace. The city of Dusserah, palaces and parks, is one of the few places in India which still breathes the air of medieval country splendor. In addition to its beauty, quietude and equable climate. Mysore offers a convenient base for a number of interesting excursions, making it a very popular resort.

Day 6: Mysore/Ooty Leave by surface to Ooty, on arrival transfer to hotel. Situated in the Nilgiri hills it is a beautiful and scenic small hill station.

Day 7: Morning visit Doda Beta hills. Ooty/Cochin Leave by surface to Cochin on arrival transfer to hotel. PM: Sightseeing of Cochin The queen of Arabian Sea - a land of mountain ranges, rushing rivers, low lands studded with blue lagoons and the sea flanking the entire coastline. The imprints of it's colorful past can be seen in the people and the monuments of Coachin , even today. Visit the Jewish Synagogue , the Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church and the Chinese fishing nets are interesting, and in evening visits a performance of Kathakali dance drama.

Day 8: Cochin/Periyar Leave by surface to Periyar on arrival transfer to hotel. Afternoon boat ride through the sanctuary. Boat ride through the sanctuary is the standard way of seeing the sanctuary. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Entry: 0600 to 1800 hrs) : Lying close to plantations, in the rich jungles of Periyar in Thekkady is one of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves - the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spread across 777 sq km, of which 360 sq. km is thick evergreen forest, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Noted for its geomorphology, diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts visitors from all over the world.

The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar, however, are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.

Day 9: Periyar/Madurai Leave by surface to Madurai and on arrival transfer to hotel. Sightseeing of Madurai. Famous for the imposing Meenakshi Temple, a structure in the Dravidian style of architecture. The history of the city dates back over 2,000 years when it was the capital of the Pandyas. The most intresting feature of the temple is its Hall of a thousand pilars.

In evening visit Meenakshi temple for night ceremony.

Day 10: Madurai/Trichy Leave by surface to Trichy on arrival transfer to hotel. PM: Sightseeing of Trichy One of the very ancient towns of Tamil Nadu, has many interesting relics of Pallay art ( 7th century A.D.) - only 6 miles away is the great temple of Srirangam - an island on the Cauvery. This is a massive temple with a 100 pillar hall highly decorated with carvings.


Day 11: Trichy/Tanjore Leave by surface to Tanjore and on arrival transfer to hotel. PM: Visit Tanjore. It was an ancient capital of Chola kings. Bhidadeshwar temple. The capital of the Cholas, a powerful dynasty of the kings who ruled from the 10th to the 14th Centuries A.D. is to this day, a well known center of classical art and literature. The city is well known for its magnificent Shree Brihadeeswara Shiva Temple built in the Dravidian Style whose vimanam soars 216 ft. high and the dome rests on a single 80 ton granite block. Also visit the Saraswathi Mahal Library containing rare collections of ancient books and manuscripts in various languages on various subjects.


Day 12: Tanjore/Darasuram/Kumbakoram/Pondicherry Leave by surface to Pondicherry en-route visits Kumbakonam and Darasuram. Kumbakonam is noted for many of its temples. / Dharasuram and Gangakondacholapuram. This former French Colonial city in Tamil Nadu didn't come under Indian rule until 1954. Pondicherry otherwise known a Puducherry means a "New Hamlet" which is located on the Coromandal Coast. Here people speaking 55 different languages reside and inspite of Linguistic plethola there is no restlessness but absolute harmony. It's main attraction is actually outside of town: the ashram at Auroville, built by followers of Sri Aurobindo, a philosopher/prophet born in 1870. The International town where people of different countries reside belongs to humanity as a whole. Matrimandir the famous monument is constructed by the Auroville Society which represent the flower Lotus. Also visit 400 years old Manakula Vinayagar Temple which has several fresco paintings on the walls telling the life story of half human and half animal lord. You shall also visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram named after Sri Aurobindo, who was a National Leader, famous for his integral Yoga and philosophical literary works. A French Lady, Madam Mirr Richard, followed his spiritual path and the Samadhi of both Sri Aurobindo and Mother are situated at main premises of the Ashram.

Day 13: Pondicherry/Mahabalipuram Leave by surface to Mahabalipuram en-route visits Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram is sometimes also known as Shiv Vishnu Kanchi.

Day 14: Sightseeing of Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram also known as Mahamallapuram was the main port of the Pallava dynasty. An hour's drive from Chennai - brings you to the shore temples lashed by the sea. This is one of the early temples to be constructed in this area. The "Five Rathas", a group of monolithic monuments and animal figures carved out of solid rock - are almost like an artist's experiment in variety of form.

Day 15: In Mahabalipuram- Day free to relax on the beach.

Day 16: Mahabalipuram/Madras Leave by surface to Madras and on arrival transfer to hotel.

Day 17: In the evening transfer to international airport for flight to further destination.