The beauty of South India private tour

Arrival in Chennai and welcome and assistance at the airport by our representative.

Next, a panoramic tour of Chennai, taking in the waterfront, dominated by Fort St. George, before strolling through the Mylapore district, home to St. Thomas Cathedral, founded by the Portuguese, and the venerable Kapalishwara Temple. At the Pantheon Museum, you'll discover the finest collection of Chola bronzes from the 11th to 13th centuries.

Breakfast and visit to the sites of Mahäbalipuram, Although no longer a port, Mamallapuram has retained its fame in stone, thanks to the great contribution of Pallava craftsmen. It is one of the most remarkable examples of Dravidian art and architecture and a jewel in the crown of Tamil Nadu. There are a few things worth seeing. Five Rathas: These rock-cut temples are classified as excellent examples of Pallava art. Fashioned in different styles, the five structures are named after the Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata and Draupadi. They are monolithic temples, each created in a different style. They are also known as the RathasPanchaPandava, and four of the rathas are said to have been carved out of a single rock formation.

Arjuna's Penance: The largest bas-relief measuring 27m x 9m is the pride of Mamallapuram. This enormous whale-back rock form contains figures of gods, demi-gods, men, beasts and birds, and in fact, can be said to represent creation itself.

The Shore Temple: This is one of the oldest temples in South India. It dates from the 8th century A.D. and is a good example of the first phase of temple structure built in the Dravidian style.

Continue to Pondicherry, on arrival check into hotel, then free day for personal discovery. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel,

Followed by a visit to the cosmopolitan city of Pondicherry, once the French trading post in India. It was here that Duplex, governor of the Compagnie des Indes, conceived the idea of creating a colonial empire. Three centuries of French presence have given this corner of paradise a distinctly French feel. As you wander through the teeming alleyways, you'll discover the district's jewelers, weaving workshops, handmade paper mills and antique shops where you'll find old colonial furniture that still reflects the nostalgia of the era.

On arrival, visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram - The Sri Aurobindo Ashram on Rue de la Marine is one of India's best-known ashrams. The ashram was founded in 1926 by one of India's most famous sons Sri Aurobindo, who originally arrived in Pondicherry to escape persecution by the British. Sri Aurobindo, a saint-yogi, philosopher-poet, taught Integral Yoga,

Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on the Boulevard Sud,

Église des Capucins - Located in Rue Dumas, this was one of the first churches to be built in Pondicherry. Today, it houses an orphanage.

Church of Notre Dame des Anges - The Church of Notre Dame des Anges on Rue Dumas was built in 1852.

Rickshaw ride Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Tanjore,

On the way, visit the great temple of Chidambaram to discover the superb sanctuary of Shiva Nataraja, a true representation of Dravidian art. Inside, you'll see numerous temples, dance halls and meeting halls for the Brahmins whose role is to oversee the ritual. Next, a visit to the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple. Magnificent sculptures adorn the temple walls and enclosures. You'll discover an immense basin into which entire boats of water from the Ganges were poured, brought to the Chola court by vassal kings.

Continue to Tanjore. Arrive and visit the famous 11th-century Brihadeshwara temple. You'll also visit the 16th-century Royal Palace of Tanjore, home to a fine collection of bronze statues.

Arrival and check-in at hotel. Overnight stay.

Morning visit to TRICHY (en route), famous for the Rock Fort Temple. This temple, perched 83 m. high on a hill, is dedicated to the god Ganesha. You'll also visit the magnificent Shri Ranganathaswamy temple, dedicated to Vishnu. Built in the 10th century, this temple with its 21 "gopurams" is among the largest temple complexes in India.

And then, off to Chettinad, heading north into the Chettinad region, rich in cultural heritage, art and architecture, is well known for its houses, which are adorned with Burmese marble and teak. The houses have large inner courtyards and spacious rooms. The beautifully and superbly decorated houses were created to reflect the prosperity of the Nagarathar community. The basic design consists of a 'thinnai', which is an enclosed courtyard surrounded by family rooms.

In the evening, free to stroll through the local market. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, on to Madurai, the great sacred city of Madurai, cultural capital of Tamil country and Mecca of Hinduism. Madurai is one of the oldest cities in South India, and also one of the holiest, as witnessed by the impressive number of pilgrims and sadhus.

Afternoon visit to the TIRUMALAI NAYAK Palace, the MARIAMMAN TEPPAKULAM, a large pool that lights up during religious festivals. Visit the MEENAKSHI temple, with its "gopurams", tall towers overloaded with multicolored sculptures, animated from dawn to sunset by crowds of worshippers. In the afternoon, we suggest you take time to stroll through the local markets and mingle with the Tamil population.

In the evening, visit the temple of Minakshi, to witness the sunset ceremony of Shiva, who is taken, to music, to join his bride in the sanctuary dedicated to him. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast and drive to the beautiful hill station of Munnar. Home to lush green tea, coffee and spice plantations, Munnar is a great place to visit during a relaxing vacation. Arrive and check into hotel.

Free time for personal discovery. Overnight at hotel.

Morning visit to the Tata Tea Museum - Munnar's stunningly unspoilt, lush green hill beaches are covered with large tea, coffee and cardamom plantations and has some of the most breathtakingly picturesque locations. Tata Tea Museum presents some of the most interesting aspects of the genesis and growth of Kerala's high-chain tea plantations. The museum is located at Tata Tea's Nallathanni Estate and has on display trinkets, photographs and machinery, each illustrating an important milestone that contributed to the region's thriving tea industry.

Also visit Christ Church CSI is one of Munnar's popular tourist stops. Built by the British in 1910, the church is a popular attraction for those interested in unique architecture.

Afternoon excursion to Eravikulam National Park, home to the Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered mountain goat. You'll discover the region's vast tea plantations. It's also an opportunity to discover the manual labor that is so important to the villagers. Overnight in hotel.

You'll take a beautiful route through tea and rubber plantations to reach the foot of the immense Vembanad Lake. You're now on the edge of the Backwaters, with their labyrinth of rivers and canals, surrounded by mountains and rubber plantations.

Arrive at KOTTAYAM (Alleppey), board and continue by boat on the peaceful waters, through an enchanting landscape of endless rice paddies and riverside villages

Lunch, dinner and overnight on board.

Breakfast

Then on to Cochin, a picturesque seaport on the palm-fringed Malabar coast surrounded by inland waterways and tropical lagoons.

On arrival, check into hotel.

Afterwards, visit Cochin - St. Francis Church and the fragrant Spice Market.

The Mattancherry Palace, known as the "Dutch Palace", with its painted murals depicting episodes from the legends of the Mahâbhârata and the Râmâyana. Unfortunately, these frescoes are in an uneven state of preservation, with some almost completely erased. Nevertheless, they form the most attractive part of the visit. They feature Shiva and Pârvatî with Ganesh on their right and Kartikeya on their left.

The 16th-century synagogue is striking for its floor, with astonishingly different blue tiles imported from China (Canton). On the ceiling hangs a disparate collection of chandeliers from Europe. The synagogue is said to preserve some extremely ancient fragments of the Tora, as well as a visit to the Jewish quarter and colonial cemetery. Then, on foot to the astonishing Chinese fishing nets.

In the evening, a Kathakali show, a form of theater typical of Kerala, overnight at the hotel.

PS:- Mattancherry Palace remains closed every Friday AND the synagogue remains closed every Friday and Saturday

In the morning, transfer to the station to take the train to Calicut.

On arrival in Calicut, welcome by your driver, then drive to Mysore, capital of India's most sumptuous maharajas. Check-in at your hotel. Mysore was the capital of the Wodeyar dynasty of the Vijayanagar empire, which declared independence in the 16th century and reigned in Mysore until independence. Mysore today is a pleasant city with old-world charm, wide avenues, well-presented gardens, fine buildings and an ideal climate. On arrival, check into hotel. Overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel

Then city tour: Maharajah Palace, Mysore's palace, completely rebuilt in 1912 in the Indo-Muslim style, reveals itself to be a veritable kaleidoscope of colored glass, mirrors, gilding and shimmering colors. Somnathpur Temple, The walls of this star-shaped temple are covered with superb stone sculptures depicting scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita and the lives of the Hoysala kings.

Visit also Srirangapatnam, located 15 km north of Mysore, the site of Srirangapatnam is interesting only for the historical events it evokes. Here stood a powerful fortress (of which only a few ruins remain), capital of the state of Mysore in the 18th century, under Haider Ali, then his son Tippu Sultan, who distinguished himself in his fight against the English, with the help of the French.

In the evening, the flower market (you can stroll through the colorful lanes of Devraja, weather permitting) and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel,

After breakfast, drive to Hassan, check-in at the hotel,

Then off to visit Belur and discover a marvel bequeathed by the Hoysala dynasty: the Chennakeshava temple, a sanctuary that ranks among the pinnacles of Indian art.

Visit to the village of Halebidd, where the unfinished Hoysaleshvara temple, dedicated to Shiva and Parvati, is a real gem. Return to Hassan. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel,

Next, drive to Bangalore known as the "city of gardens" and situated 3000 feet above sea level and has bracing, pleasant climate. It is well known for its botanical gardens and colorful markets.

En route En route visit to Shravanbelagola, a popular Jain pilgrimage center. The colossal 17-metre-high monolithic statue of the 1000-year-old saint Gomateswara stands majestically atop Mount Indragiri.

Continue to Bangalore, on arrival check-in at hotel.

Then, orientation of Bangalore, you will visit the Vidhan Soudha made the main attraction of Bangalore. The building is an enormous piece of neo-Dravidian architecture, currently functioning as the state legislature. Cubbon Park in the heart of the city, LalBagh, which is famous for the wonderfully blooming red roses and the Palace. Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight according to your flight schedule.

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