West South India Tour

Duration : 21 Nights / 22 Days Places Covered : Mumbai - Aurangabad - Excursion to Ajanta Caves - Excursion to Ellora Caves - Chennai - Excursion to Mahabalipuram - Chennai - Trichy - Thanjore - Madurai - Periyar (Thekkedy) - Kumarakom - Houseboat - Alleppey - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore - Bangalore / Out

Day 02 : Mumbai
Morning cruise across the harbour (9 kms) to see Elephanta Caves noted for huge rock cuts. Afternoon tour of Mumbai city. Main attractions are Kamla Nehru Park, Hanging Gardens situated on the slopes of Malabar Hill offering a panoramic view of Marine drive, Chowpatty Beach, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Gateway of India & drive through the Crawford Market, Marine Drive & Flora Fountain. Overnight in Hotel

Day 03 : Mumbai - Aurangabad
Morning Transfer to Railway Station to connect Train # 7617 Tapovan Express dep. 06:00 hrs. arrive Aurangabad at 13:30 hrs. Check into hotel. Afternoon visit Aurangabad Caves, excavated between the 2nd and 6th century AD, they reflect tantric influences in their iconography and architectural designs. Also visit and Daulatabad Fort, this magnificent 12th century fortress stands on a hill just 13 kms. from Aurangabad. One of the world's best preserved fort of medieval times, surviving virtually unaltered, Daulatabad yet displays the character that made it invincible. Overnight in hotel.

Day 04 : Aurangabad - Excursion to Ajanta Caves
Full day tour of Ajanta Caves. Ajanta Caves are 106 kms from Aurangabad and date back to the 2nd century BC. The 30 rock hewn caves are adorned with Buddhist sculpture and the frescoes portray in epic form the religious and secular life through eight centuries. Overnight in Aurangabad. (Ajanata Caves are closed on Mondays)

Day 05 : Aurangabad - Excursion to Ellora Caves
Morning visit Ellora Caves (29 kms) encompassing 34 rock cut shrines representing Buddhist, Hindu & Jain art dating from the 4th to 9th century A.D. The most remarkable among them is the Kailash Temple, meant to be a replica of Lord Shivas celestial abode - Kailash is the best example of Rock cut architecture and an engineering marvel. (Ellora Caves are closed on Tuesdays)

Day 06 : Aurangabad - Mumbai
In the morning after breakfast, go for an half day city tour of Aurangabad city. After the city tour, transfer to Railway Station to board 7618 to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai in the evening, pickup by our car and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 07 : Mumbai - Chennai
Day free or optional tour to Golconda Fort. Afternoon transfer to Railway station to connect Train # 7052 Secundarabad MS Express dep. 15:00 hrs. Overnight on train.

Day 08 : Chennai - Excursion to Mahabalipuram
Arrive Chennai at 06:40 hrs. Transfer to hotel. Full day tour of Mahabalipuram .

Day 09 : Chennai - Trichy
Morning city tour. Visit the Museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery (Closed on Fridays and Public holidays). Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral and snake park . Afternoon transfer to Railway-station to connect Train# 2605 Pallavan Express dep. 15:30 hrs. arrive Trichy at 20:50 hrs. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 10 : Trichy
Full day tour of Trichy. 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 Ganapati on top and a further climb to a Shiva temple. Overnight Trichy.

Day 11 : Trichy -Thanjore - Madurai
Morning drive to Madurai (142 kms / 4 hrs) visiting Tanjore enroute. At Tanjore, the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara 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. Overnight Madurai.

Day 12 : Madurai
Morning visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side). Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Afternoon free. Overnight Madurai.

Day 13 : Madurai - Periyar (Thekkedy)
Morning drive to Periyar National Park (137 kms / 4 hrs). Set up in 1934,it extends to 777 square kms & 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, langur monkeys, etc. Overnight in Periyar.

Day 14 : Periyar
Morning optional visit to the National park again. Afternoon visit spice plantations. Overnight in hotel.

Day 15 : Periyar - Kumarakom
Morning drive to Kumarakom (130 kms / 4 hrs). Afternoon visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. This Bird Santuary on the southern bank of the Kavanar River, is a small bird sanctuary where numerous species of birds, including darters, bitterns, brahminy kites, marsh harries, teals and several varieties of herons roost. Overnight in hotel.

Day 16 : Kumarakom - Houseboat
Morning board houseboat from Kumarakom Jetty and sail towards Alleppey. Cruise along the backwaters by day and dock at a picturesque location by night. This is undoubtedly one of the most relaxing experiences to watch Kerala life at work as you watch the world go by. All meals will be provided on board. Overnight on board.

Day 17 : Houseboat - Alleppey - Cochin
Morning disembark at Alleppey. Later drive to Cochin (70 kms / 1 ½ hrs). Afternoon free for leisur or to explore the city by own. Evening watch Kathkali dance performance. Overnight in hotel.

Day 18 : Cochin - Bangalore
Full day city tour of Cochin. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the rougher the seas are outside the calmer the waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama placed it on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, Mosques & Hindu temples, Mattancherry Palace etc. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Evening transfer to Railway Station to connect Train # 6525 Bangalore Express dep. 17:55 hrs. Overnight on train.

Day 19 : Bangalore
Arrive Bangalore at 06:55 hrs. Full day city tour of Bangalore visiting the Bull Temple, and Tipu's Summer Palace, drive past numerous parks, the Vidhan Soudha and down town commercial centre. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 20 : Banglaore - Mysore
Drive to Mysore (140 kms / 3 hrs). Afternoon free for leisure. Overnight in hotel.

Day 21 : Mysore
Morning visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 - 1912. The palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and saracenic styles of architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Overnight in Mysore.