West South India Tour

In our 22-Day long tour to West South India, we will present a fine picture of southern India and cover the various destinations of this part of India including the cities of Mumbai, Aurangabad, Mahabalipuram, Trichy, Madurai, Periyar, Alleppey, Cochin, Bangalore and Mysore.

Some of highlights of trips would be the Elephanta caves, Ajanta-Ellora caves, Golconda Fort, Meenakshi temple, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Chamundeshwari Temple.

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 - Kumarakom - Houseboat - Alleppey - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore - Bangalore

Day 01
Arrive Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai. Our representative will be at the Airport to welcome you. Transfer to Hotel for overnight stay. Overnight stay in Hotel.

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 Overnight at the 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 stay 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 a 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 Tricky 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 Stuccowork 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 motorboat. 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 visits 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 disembarks at Alleppey. Later drive to Cochin (70 kms / 1 ½ hrs). Afternoon free for leisure or to explore the city by own. Evening watch Kathakali 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
Bangalore - 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 up to Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Overnight in Mysore.

Day 22
Mysore - Bangalore / Out>
Drive to Bangalore airport to connect flight for onward destination.

End of the services with happy memories.