Unlike the Northern States of India, Southern India encapsulates some wonderful destinations. With umbrageous landscape, pristine coastal line, boundless tea and spice plantations and the soothing air over it, one has no choice but to delve in and seep in the mystical beauty of South India. Encapsulating the states of Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, travelers who wants to experience the peculiarity of cuisines and lifestyle across the peninsular India; must join us on this unique journey
We embark our journey at the commercial capital of India: Mumbai; followed by gliding through the Portugual city of Goa, thriving at its beaches; we make way to city of Nawabs- Hyderabad. Explore the palaces in Bangalore and Mysore with beautiful gardens and imposing structures.
Further we travel to Tamil Nadu, where we discover the rich cultural heritage of south India with the grandeur of the temples at Madurai and Thanjavur. Then we proceed to see the mini France of India – Puducherry. A former French colony that still retains some bits and pieces of the French culture. The journey completes with a visit to the Shore temples of Mahabalipuram (UNESCO’s World Heritage Site) and Marina beach in the last southern city called Chennai.
| Day 1: | Arrive Mumbai (FlightArrive Mumbai (Flight)) | |
| Day 2: | Mumbai |
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| Day 3: | Mumbai/Goa by Flight |
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| Day 4: | Goa |
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| Day 5: | Goa/Hyderabad by Flight |
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| Day 6: | Hyderabad |
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| Day 7: | Hyderabad/Bangalore by Flight |
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| Day 8: | Bangalore/Mysore (Drive: 145 Kms / 03 & ½ Hrs) |
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| Day 9: | Mysore/Ooty (Drive: 130 Kms / 03 Hrs) |
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| Day 10: | Ooty |
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| Day 11: | Ooty/Kodaikanal (Drive: 260 Kms / 07 Hrs) |
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| Day 12: | Kodaikanal/Madurai (Drive: 125 Kms / 03 Hrs) |
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| Day 13: | Madurai/Thanjavur (Drive: 200 Kms / 04 Hrs) |
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| Day 14: | Thanjavur/Pondicherry (Drive: 166 Kms / 04 Hrs) |
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| Day 15: | Pondicherry/Mahabalipuram (Drive: 110 Kms / 02 & ½ Hrs) |
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| Day 16: | Mahabalipuram/Kanchipuram/Chennai/Mahabalipuram (Drive) |
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| Day 17: | : Mahabalipuram/Chennai/Onward Destination (Drive & Flight) |
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We start our day with a visit to the Gateway of India, Mumbai's most famous monument. Here we embark on our excursion to the Elephanta Caves*, located on an island in the Sea of Oman. The caves contain a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Shiva. Here, Indian art has found one of its most perfect expressions, particularly the huge high reliefs in the main cave. We return to Mumbai by motor launch and visit the Prince of Wales Museum and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus*, formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival Architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. The building, designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’ and the major international mercantile port of India. Its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are close to traditional Indian palace architecture. Our Next Stop is at Mani Bhawan, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed here during the Freedom Struggle. The house is now converted into a Museum. From here we leave for the Hanging Gardens, the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence, the bustling Crawford Market and drive past Haji Ali, the tomb of a wealthy Muslim merchant. We end our tour at the Dhobi Ghat, the world's largest outdoor laundry. The word Dhobi Ghat is used all over India to refer to any place where many washers are present.
Please Note: Elephanta Caves are closed on Monday for visitors.
Although best known for its miles of palm lined beaches along the Arabian Sea, Goa holds other, more important attractions. The Churches and Convents of Goa*, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies, illustrate the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art in all the countries of Asia where missions were established. We will visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus, built in the 16th century, where the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier are enshrined; the Se Cathedral, which is the most imposing of all churches at Old Goa. Its vaulted interior overwhelms the visitors by its sheer grandeur. The cathedral has five bells of which one is the famous Golden bell, the biggest in Goa and one of the best in the World. The remainder of the day is free to relax on the beach or enjoy the bazaars of Goa.
We are free to relax and enjoy Goa’s beaches in the morning. In the afternoon we take a short flight to Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. On arrival in Hyderabad, we are transferred to our hotel. The city and its environs are dotted with mosques, tombs, temples, forts, treasuries, armories and caravansaries. In the evening we enjoy dinner at Restaurant offering world famous Hyderabadi food.
Our full day exploration of Hyderabad starts with a visit to the landmark of Hyderabad, the Charminar. A ceremonial Gateway oriented towards the cardinal directions, it was built to celebrate the foundation of Hyderabad, a new Millennial City, in the year 1000 AH (1591 A.D.) and is an acknowledged masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Next we visit the Mecca Masjid. This glorious mosque is probably the greatest edifice of the Qutb Shahi period. It took 78 years to build. It is the second largest mosque in India and reputedly the seventh largest in the world. Its enormous colonnades are monoliths, carved from single blocks of pink granite. Mecca Masjid can accommodate 10,000 worshippers quite comfortably. 
Today we are transferred to airport for our flight to Bangalore. On arrival in Bangalore we are welcomed and transferred to our hotel. In the afternoon we explore Bangalore, visiting the Vidhana Soudha, an imposing edifice built almost entirely of dressed Bangalore granite, that houses the Legislative Chambers of the state government; the 3000 acres of verdant tranquility of Cubbon Park; Tipu Sultan's Palace, now a museum, and one of the most remarkable Islamic buildings in the city; Lal Bagh Garden, India's most beautiful botanical gardens with rare trees brought from far off Persia, Afghanistan and France. The evening is free for shopping in the local bazaar.
Please Note: Cubbon Park is closed on Monday for visitors
After breakfast we drive to Mysore, visiting Srirangapatam, the island fortress that was once the capital of the warrior-kings Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, en-route. On arrival in Mysore, we check in our hotel. In the afternoon we visit the Maharajah's Palace, Shri Chamundeswari Temple and the Nadi Shiva's Mount. Mysore has never failed to mesmerize with its rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautiful gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples.
After breakfast we drive to Madurai, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. The city revolves around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, a structure in the Dravidian style of architecture. The complex houses 14 gopurams(gateway towers) ranging from 45-50m in height, the tallest being the southern tower, 51.9 metres (170 ft) high, and two golden sculptured shrines over sanctum of the main deities. The temple is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature, though the present structure was built from 1623 to 1655. There is an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple and amongst the highlights are the Hall of a Thousand Pillars, the Tirumalai Nayaka Temple and the Temple Art Museum.
After breakfast we drive to Thanjavur and check in to our hotel. Thanjavur is popularly known as Tanjore. In the afternoon we explore the Brihadisvara Temple, one of the Great Living Chola Temples*. The temple, set in spacious grounds, has several pillared halls and shrines. Inscriptions record the names of dancers, musicians and poets a reminder of the significance of this area to the development of the arts in the 11th century. We end our tour of Tanjore with a visit to the Tanjore Palace & Museum, which has an eclectic collection of regal memorabilia most of it dating from the early 19th century.
Please Note: Tanjore Art Gallery is closed on Friday for visitors
After breakfast we drive to Pondicherry. This former French Colonial city in Tamil Nadu didn’t come under Indian rule until 1954. Pondicherry, otherwise known as Puducherry means a “New Hamlet” and is located on the Coromandal Coast. Its main attraction is actually outside of town: the ashram at Auroville, built by followers of Sri Aurobindo, a philosopher-prophet born in 1870, famous for his Integral Yoga and philosophical literary works. In the International Town where people from all over the world reside, we will find the Matrimandir, the famous monument built by the Auroville Society representing a lotus flower. Today we will also visit the 400-year old Manakula Vinayagar Temple, which has several frescos telling the life story of a half human and half animal lord.
After breakfast we drive to Mahabalipuram. On arrival we check in at our hotel. In the afternoon we visit the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram*. This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel Coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges', and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva
After breakfast we drive to Kanchipuram, capital of the Pallava Dynasty and one of the seven sacred cities of India. Ancient Kanchipuram, the city of thousand temples, is one of the most sacred pilgrim centers for the Hindus. About 126 temples remain in Kanchipuram and a few more in the outskirts. This city was under the control of the Cholas as far back as the 2nd Century BC and a Pallava capital between the 6th and 8th centuries. In the afternoon we tour Chennai, visiting the National Art Gallery & Museum, which contains some of the best collections of bronzes in the country including the famous icon of Natraja. We continue to India's oldest surviving British church, St. Mary's Church, built in 1680. We end our tour with a visit to People’s Park and the beautiful Marina Beach and the clock towers and return to our hotel.
Please Note: National Art Gallery and Museum in Chennai remains closed on Friday* DENOTES UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES INCLUDED
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