Tour duration: 11 Nights / 12 Days
Places Covered: Cochin / Kumarakom / Periyar / Trichy / Pondicherry / Mahabalipuram / Cochin
Tour Destination: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12
Experience cosmopolitan cities, backwoods retreats and the best of India’s wildlife viewing with South India vacations planned and flawlessly executed for your enjoyment and comfort by Trans India Holidays representatives.
Arrival in Cochin gives you time to get registered and absorb the cultural heritage of this city dating back to 1341 when the Arabs arrived.
You will visit the oldest European church in India—St Francis Church and the Jewish synagogue dating to 1568, as well as the Mattancherry Palace built by the Portuguese in 1557 as a gift to the Maharaja of Cochin.
Your visit to the village of Kumarakom is one of those South India vacations that provide a total change of pace. Watch birds and wildlife in a tropical sanctuary while cruising through quiet waters.
Continue your enjoyment of scenic beauty and wildlife in its natural habitat with the stopover in Periyar.
You will have the opportunity to observe the herd of 700 awesome Asian elephants bathing and frolicking in the waters of Periyar Lake. A visit to a spice plantation completes the day’s activities.
You can gain some perspective on the rich heritage of South India at the Meenakshi Temple of Madurai. The great hall with 1000 pillars carved with stone figures that give out musical sounds when struck is a must-see.
South India vacations high points in Madurai include the palace of Tirumalai Nayakar and the Gandhi Museum. You will see the Koodal Azhagar Shrine that features sculptures of Vishnu before proceeding on to Trichy.
Rock Fort Temple in Trichy marks the site of an 18th century battle between Britain and France. Nearby is Ranganathswamy Temple dedicated to the worship of Vishnu. The next leg of your journey through South India takes you to the modern urban setting of Pondicherry.
From Pondicherry, a drive to the seaside town of Mahabalipuram gives you the opportunity of seeing rock sculptures, temples and the largest stone bas relief in the world.
More sculptural marvels will be viewed at Kanchipuram, including scenes from Hindu mythology. The Kailashanathar and Ekambareshwar Temples both dedicated to Lord Shiva, are part of the Kanchipuram points of interest.
No South India vacations would be complete without a visit to Chennai, the 4th largest metropolis in India. View the Fort of St George, St Mary’s Church and the Fort Museum. Santhome Cathedral is another popular stop on this tour.
The last day in South India provides time to reflect on all the sights and sounds of the country and to prepare for the trip to the airport and home.
| Period / Category | Standard | Superior | Deluxe | Luxury |
| Valid from 01st June’09 to 30th Sept'09 | Us$ 525 per person | Us$ 590 per person | Us$ 786 per person | Us$ 1316per person |
| Valid from 01st Oct'09 to 15th April’10 | Us$ 672 per person | Us$ 801 per person | Us$ 1206 per person | Us$ 1850 per person |
| Cities | Standard | Superior | Deluxe | Luxury |
| Delhi | Connaught | Claridges / The Lalit | Taj Palace | Imperial |
| Agra | Howard Park Plaza | Taj Gateway | Mughal Sheraton | Amar Vilas |
| Jaipur | Shahpura House / Alsisar Haveli | Golden Tulip | Jai Mahal Palace | Raj Vilas |
Small supplements may apply for travel between 20th December’09 and 05th January’2010 and during the month of February 2010.
Note: All the figures quoted above are net per person in US Dollars.
Inclusions: