Dream Tour South India

Dream Holidays

Day 01: Chennai
ON Arrival you will be met with our Tour Manager, will assist your hotel transfer and Hotel Check in. Night stay in hotel

Day 02: Chennai – Kanchipuram – Mamallapuram
Post breakfast at the hotel take half day city tour of Chennai covering visit to Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Church, Santhome Basilica, Marina Beach, proceed on to Kanchipuram, visit to Ekambareshwara temple, Kailasanatha temple, Sri Kamatchi Amman Temple and Varadharaja swami temple take lunch in local restaurant and after proceed on to Mamallapuram, check in to hotel and night stay

Day 03: Mamallapuram – Trichy (Over night train)
After Breakfast, tour of Mahabalipuram the city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture. Later in the evening drive to Chengalpattu Railway Station to board your train for Trichy night train, over night journey

Day 04: Trichy
Morning arrive Trichy and transfer to hotel. PM city tour visiting... Trichy was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and the English. Lord Robert Clive's house is still there to see and so is the Danish Church. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganesha on top and a further climb to a Shiva temple and night stay at Trichy.

Day 05: Trichy – Tanjore – Madurai
Post breakfast drive to Madurai Enroute visiting Thanjavur. At Tanjore, visit the beautiful Chola Temple of Brahadeeswara which is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 km long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India. Proceed on to Madurai. Arrive and check-in Hotel. Overnight stay at Madurai

Day 06: Madurai
Morning visit the great Meenakshi Amman Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering Gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side). Later, visit the Thirumalai Naik Palace - A gracious building in the Indo Saracen style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes & arches, evening visit to Tiruparamkundram Rock temple. Overnight stay at Madurai

Day 07: Madurai – Thekkady
Morning drive to Thekkady the earliest sanctuary to be set up in 1934, it extends to 777sq.kms and forms part of the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghats. Wild life can be seen while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motor boat. Amongst the animals which can be seen are elephants, wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, languor monkeys, etc. Overnight stay at Periyar

Day 08: Thekkady – Kumarakom
After Breakfast, drive to Kumarakom. Arrive and embark on to the houseboat. Cruise in the backwaters, traversing the narrow canals, witnessing the village life of Kerala. While on board your crew will serve you the delicious food, purchasing the fresh vegetables from the Market, later in the evening the Houseboat will anchor on the Vembanad Lake. Over night stay in the boat.

Day 09: Kumarakom – Alleppey – Cochin
Early morning boat will continue the journey towards Alleppey finishing point Jetty, from there you will be picked by your vehicle and proceed your drive to Cochin. Upon arrival check in to hotel, post lunch city tour of Cochin. Cochin is the natural Harbour created by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks. Vasco-de-Gamma placed it on the world map. Visit the Fort Cochin, Mattancherry Palace, Jewish synagogue, St. Francis Church and view the operation of the Chinese fishing nets. Evening visit to Cochin cultural centre for viewing the Kerala Traditional Art - Kathakali Opera, performed by Professional Artist. Over night stay at Cochin.

Day 10: Cochin – Departure – (By Flight) - Arrival Bangalore - Mysore
Today post breakfast based on your flight schedule, departure transfer to Cochin Airport to board your flight for your onward journey to Karnataka – Arrival at Bangalore, upon arrival meet and greet assistance to transfer Mysore, drive 3.5hrs to Mysore Enroute visiting Srirangapatinam, the city established by King Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. The city fell after three repeated wars fought against the British forces. Arrive Mysore and check-in Hotel. Night stay at Mysore

Day 11: Mysore
Post breakfast city tour visiting the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911-12. The palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and Saracen styles of architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive up to Chamundi hill to see Chamundershwari Temple & a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull, later drive back to hotel for night stay

Day 12: Mysore – Hassan
Post breakfast drive to Hassan, Enroute visiting Saravanabelagola – Monolithic Gomateswara Temple - At Saravanabelagola, hewn out of a single rock and visible from a distance of 25kms is the statue of Lord Gomateswara which is bathed with milk and honey once every 12 years and continue to Hassan. Upon arrival check in and post lunch tour of Belur and Halibid. The Chennakesava temple of Belur built 900 years ago is an exquisite example of Hoysala art. Halebid's 12th century Hoysaleswara and Kedaresvara temples are master pieces of Hindu art, drive back to hotel for night stay

Day 13: Hassan – Hospet
Today Morning drive continues to Hospet. Visit Hampi. The once beautiful capital city of Vijayanagar Empire - greater than Rome, had palaces, temples & sculptures, spread all over. The city was razed to the ground by the Sultanates of South in 1565.

Day 14: Hospet – Hampi – Hospet
After breakfast, visit Some of the interesting ruins remaining are the Virupaksha, Vittala and Hazara Rama temples huge Ganesha and Narasimha images, the elephant stables, the Queen's Bath, carvings on the Ramachandra temple & Lotus Mahal, drive back to hotel for night stay

Day 15: Hospet – Badami
Post breakfast take drive to Badami stopping at Aihole & Pattadakal on the way. Aihole is the cradle of stone temple architecture of the southern Dravida School. The oldest temple, Lad Khan goes back to the 5th century A.D. There are 70 temples in this group. The Durga temple is noted for its sculptures. The Meguti temple is built of 630 small stone blocks. The Ravanaphadi Cave has some beautiful carvings. Pattadakal, referred to as Petrigal, reached its pinnacle of glory under the Chalukya kings from 7th to 9th centuries. The oldest in this group is the Sanghameswara Temple. The Mallikarjuna Temple has pillars depicting life of Krishna. Virupaksha temple has sculptures and panel scenes from the epics, the Ramayana & Mahabharata. The Papanatha Temple has impressive carvings on pillars and ceiling and after exploring the city drive back to hotel for night stay

Day 16: Badami
Today full day city tour of Badami, also known as Vatapi is rich with Hindu and Jain temples carved out of sand stone hills. The carved temples date back to the 6th century. Of these, three are Hindu and one Jain. Sculptured out of solid rock they are adorned with carvings. The Fort, on top of a hill encloses large granaries, treasury & a watch tower. The Malegitti Shivalaya temple set on the summit of a hill is built of stones without mortar. Overnight at Badami

Day 17: Badami – Hospet – Bangalore (By Train)
Today post breakfast check out from the hotel and drive back to Hospet to board your train for your onward journey back to Bangalore, over night journey in Train

Day 18: Bangalore – Departure
Upon arrival meet & greet transfer to hotel. Rest hours free and time to pack your baggage, later night transfer to Airport to board your flight with Colorful Memories of Southern Splendor