10 Days / 8 Nights
07 May departure / return – 17 May departure
Day
1 - Wed: Depart North America JFK
Depart North America on your exciting journey to
Southern India.
Day 2 - Thu: Arrive Chennai
Arrive this evening in Chennai (formerly known as
Madras), India's fourth-largest city. Upon arrival
you are met and transferred to your hotel AMBASSADOR
PALLAVA
Day 3 - Fri: Chennai
After an leisurely morning, your afternoon tour of
Chennai takes you to Victoria Art Gallery, Bronze
Gallery and Chennai Museum. Visits to Fort St.
George, San Thome Cathedral and Kapaleeswarar Temple
complete your visit. (B)
Day 4 - Sat: Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram
Today, enjoy an excursion to Kanchipuram, one of the
seven sacred cities of India, which served as a
capital for several dynasties. Visit three of the
best temples—Kailasanatha and Ekambareshwara
(dedicated to Lord Shiva) and Vaikuntaperumal
(dedicated to Lord Vishnu). Continue your excursion
to the ancient Pallavan port of Mahabalipuram,
stopping for lunch at a seaside resort. Later visit
the 7th-century rock hewn monuments. The shore
temple, the last surviving of seven temples, is a
unique example of a temple built of rock quarried
elsewhere and carried to shore. (B)
Day 5 - Sun: Chennai / Madurai
Today fly to Madurai. Upon arrival you are met and
transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, embark on
a sightseeing tour of Madura, which includes
Meenakshi Temple, Tirumala Nayak Palace—a gracious
building in the Indo-Saracenic style—Alagar Hills
and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. In the evening,
return to Meenakshi temple to witness the evening
Puja ceremony. SANGAM (B)
Day 6 - Mon: Madurai / Thekkady
In the morning, drive to Thekkady. Afternoon is at
leisure. MUTHOOT CARDOMOM COUNTY (B)
Day 7 - Tue: Periyar Game Viewing / Kumarakom
Enjoy early morning game viewing by boat on Periyar
Lake. The motor launch drifts along the lake,
affording you close views of elephants, deer, bison
and even leopards and tigers. Later in the morning,
drive to Kumarakom. Your afternoon is at leisure.
You may want to take advantage of the rich waters
with a bit of fishing, or just relax and soak in the
rich atmosphere of your surroundings. ABAD
WHISPERING PALMS (B)
Day 8 - Wed: Backwaters Cruise
In the morning, set out to enjoy the Backwaters.
Your boat cruises through the series of canals and
lagoons snaking their way through several tiny
villages amidst tropical vegetation. Not only do the
backwaters of Kerala link the state together, they
are an integral element in maintaining ecological
balance and creating harmony with nature. Your
afternoon is at leisure. (B)
Day 9 - Thu: Kumarakom / Cochin
Take a cruise this morning on Vembanad Lake, site of
a bird sanctuary. You will see waterfowl,
cormorants, egrets and teals in abundance. Later,
drive to Cochin, one of the most picturesque places
in Kerala. Your tour this afternoon includes a visit
to the Portuguese-built St. Francis Church, the
Jewish Synagogue, the famed Mattancherry Palace, and
see the use of Chinese fishing nets—ingenious
devices requiring little human attention. Tonight
enjoy a presentation of the colorful, costumed
Kathakali dance drama. CASINO HOTEL (B)
Day 10 - Fri: Depart Cochin
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight back
home. (B)
