Chennai

CHENNAI

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(13 nights / 14 days)

Day 01

Welcome to India. On arrival at Chennai airport, you will be greeted by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02

After breakfast leave for a full day excursion to Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram.
Kanchipuram, "Golden Town of a Thousand Temples" and one of the 7 sacred Hindu cities in India whose temples date back to the 7th and 8th centuries. Continue to Mahabalipuram - virtually an open air museum of sculpture in living rock rarely to be seen anywhere in the world. The piece de resistance is Arjuna's penance, the world's largest bas relief. Mahabalipuram is equally famous for the Shore Temples, a composition of pure poetry in granite. Return to your hotel. Overnight

Day 03

Morning, drive to Mysore (121 Kms, about four hours) visiting Sravanabelgola en route. Here after a climb of 630 steps you can view the 17m high monolithic statue of Lord Gomateswara. On arrival at Mysore, check into your hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 04

Morning drive to Hassan (180 Kms, four hours). On arrival, check into your hotel(best available).

Afternoon, sightseeing of Belur and Halebid.
Belur (12 kms from Halebid). Situated on the banks of Yagachi river, Belur was the capital of the dynasty before it was moved to Halebid. Visit the Chennakesava Temple and Viranarayana Temple.

Halebid (31 kms from Hassan) The ancient town of the Hoysala empire. Visit the Jain Bastis and the famous Hoysalesvara temple, which is the largest Hoysala temple, it was started in 1121 and remained unfinished 85 years later. Evening at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 05

Early morning, transfer to the railway station to take the train to Bangalore.

Shatabdi Express
(Chair Car)	- Dep : Chennai 0600 Hrs
	- Arr : Bangalore 1050 Hrs

On arrival at Bangalore, you will be met and transferred to your hotel Afternoon, proceed for a city tour of Bangalore including Tipu Sultan's Palace, Cubbon Park and Vidhan Soudha. Overnight at the hotel. Note: Shatabdi Express runs daily between Chennai & Bangalore except Tuesdays.

Day 06

After breakfast, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Mysore. Mysore is a city of royal palaces. The tour includes a visit to the City Palace built in 1897, one of the largest palaces in the country and Chamundi Hill, which has a temple to Goddess Durga. Afternoon free. Overnight at hotel.

Day 07

After breakfast, drive to Bandipur (90 km, two and half-hours) On arrival you will check into the lodge. Afternoon, embark on a jeep safari into the wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary contains one of the larges elephant populations in India as well as gaur (Indian bison), chital (spotted deer), langur, wild boar and sloth bear. The occasional tiger and panther have also been spotted, although as with all game viewing trips, no sightseeing can be guaranteed. Return to your hotel for overnight.

Day 08

After breakfast, leave for Ooty (70 km, two and half hours). On arrival, check into the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Ooty is a pleasant hill station in the Nilgiri Hills (called Blue Mountains - on account of the blue mist that envelopes the range). Cascading waterfalls among lush green forests, slopes of tea estates, placid lakes and the aroma of swaying eucalyptus trees would enchant any tourist to this place. You can go in for short hikes, boating and even horse riding. Overnight at hotel.

Day 09

After breakfast, drive to Cochin (285 km, about seven hours).On arrival transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10

After breakfast, sightseeing of Cochin. With its fine natural harbour Cochin has been called the `Queen of Arabian Sea' and occupies a stunning location between the Arabian Sea and the backwaters. Christian, Arab and Jewish settlers, and traders from the court of Kublai Khan, and the Dutch, Portuguese and British have all played a part in creating Cochin's varied heritage. A tour of Cochin reveals these influences displayed in the different architecture of the Jewish Synagogue, Matancherry Palace (known locally as the Dutch Palace) and the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets swaying in the breeze over the backwaters.

After the tour, transfer to Periyar (190 km, five hours). On arrival check into your hotel. Overnight.

Day 11

Early morning, take a boat-ride on the Periyar lake for some delightful game viewing. The British originally created the lake as a reservoir to supply water to the neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Today it is part to `Project Tiger' and the lake is the best method to observe wildlife quenching their thirst on the shoreline. Afternoon, leave for Kumarakom (121 km, five hours). On arrival check into your hotel. Overnight.

Day 12

Breakfast at the hotel. The day has been kept free to explore the scenic beauty of Lake Vembanad, the bird sanctuary across the lagoon and its surrounding areas. You could even take a cruise (optional, can be arranged locally) around the lake. Overnight.

Day 13

After breakfast, transfer to Cochin airport (110 km, two and half hours) for your flight to Chennai.

Cochin - Chennai
9W 492 (Frequency: Daily)	- Dep :Cochin 1400 Hrs
	- Arr : Chennai 1500 Hrs

You will be met on arrival and escorted to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 14

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure. Check out at noon and transfer to the airport to connect the flight back home. Leave Chennai with fond memories of your visit to India.