Highlights
This fascinating itinerary deep dives into the best of Tamil culture and Kerala landscape. Explore magnificent ancient temples, some UNESCO World Heritage Sites with architectural grandeur and quirky bougainvillea lined cobbled streets of a former French colony. Meet and spend time with members of the local communities, learning about the very distinct Tamil culture, its music and art, and also about spices which attracted the Romans and the Arabs to trade with India. Experience a slice of daily life of Kerala’s backwaters (a maze of lagoons close to the Arabian Sea) and enjoy its food which is a delightful mix of Dutch, Portuguese, British and Jewish influences. This itinerary captures the essence of this uniquely beautiful, multi-faceted region.
Inclusions
11-night accommodation in double occupancy
12 meals: 11 buffet breakfasts and 1 lunch during day cruise
Transportation services using private air conditioned vehicle
Services of private English-speaking local guides
Entrance fees to the places of visit as per the itinerary
Evening ceremony at Meenakshi Temple
Nature walk followed by bamboo safari in Thekkady
Tickets to witness Kathakali dance performance in Kochi
Bottled water in the vehicle throughout the tour
Exclusions
International/domestic airfare – Any room service, telephone charges, mini bar, gratuities, tips – Meals not specified in the itinerary – Visa for India – Camera fees charges at some sites (no more than INR 200/CAD 3 for a still camera).
Additional Information
Special Notes
Guests travelling from the continent of North America to India can avail the E-tourist visa facility. For the complete details, please visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
DAY 1 CHENNAI - ARRIVAL
Due to flight schedules, you will probably arrive at the hotel after midnight local time. You may want to travel a day early to ease the effects of jet lag and relax a bit before your India tour begins.
The East India Company established its presence in southern India on the Bay of Bengal in 1639 with the establishment of Fort St. George. The city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras, grew up around the fort area. It now serves as the capital of Tamil Nadu and is the fourth largest city in India, with over six million inhabitants. It sprawls over a large area yet, in spite of recent industrial growth, seems less congested than other large Indian cities. Its role as a trade center is furthered by rail, road, and air connections in addition to its seaport. It presents both modern and traditional charm, its many British influences juxtaposed with Tamil-Hindu traditions.
Accommodation : 1 night in Chennai
DAY 2 CHENNAI – MAHABALIPURAM
Afternoon, drive to Mahabalipuram, a small sea side village that was once the ancient port for the Romans . Upon arrival, check-in for your stay.
Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram as it was called earlier was the port city of the Pallavas in the 7th century. In this picturesque setting, amidst sand beaches and the sea can be seen some of the most important temple forms that influenced temple architecture in Tamil Nadu for centuries to follow. There are seventy monuments, rock-cut monoliths displaying fine sculpture. The most important group is the Five Rathas, named after the five heroes of the epic Mahabharata. Some are unfinished, and in them can be seen the carving technique used to form temples out of living rock. Visit the famous Shore Temple and the Arjuna’s Penance with its plethora of sculpture on pure rock face. Return to the resort after sightseeing.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : 2 nights in Mahabalipuram
Optional Excursions : Start the morning with a walk around Mylapore, a bustling neighbourhood in the heart of Chennai which pre-dates the city by at least 2000 years and has kept alive many traditions and arts that Chennai is so well known for.
Supplement cost: $105 per person on minimum 2 paying pax
DAY 3 MAHABALIPURAM
Afternoon is at leisure for independent exploration.
Meals : Breakfast
DAY 4 MAHABALIPURAM – PONDICHERRY
Pondicherry presents an unusual combination of European culture and Indian traditions. Its history can be traced back to Agastya, the revered sage of the south who built his hermitage here in 1500 BC. It became a part of India in 1954, but traces of its history as a French colony still remain in its churches, cuisine, grid-pattern streets and some colonial buildings. An added attraction is the town of Auroville, an oasis of peace and enlightenment.
In the afternoon, visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram was founded by the philosopher-saint Sri Aurobindo in 1926 to put into practice his ideals of a peaceful community. Its spiritual tenets represent a synthesis of yoga and modern science. It is also his final resting place. Also visit the Pondicherry museum, which has sculptures, archaeological finds, and memorabilia of the French colonists. See the Sacred Heart Church with its Gothic architecture and stained glass windows.
In the evening, walk along the sea front to view the architecture, a legacy of the French, who governed this town until 1957.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : 1 night in Pondicherry
DAY 5 PONDICHERRY – THANJAVUR
Stop enroute to admire the magnificent Hindu temples of Chidambaram, Gangaikondacholapuram, Darasuram and Kumbakonam – three out of the four temples are UNESCO World Heritage Sites built by the Kings of the Chola dynasty who ruled from 300 BC to 1279 AD.
Continue to Thanjavur and on arrival, check in.
Thanjavur – is located on the eastern coast and has the distinction of having been the capital of the Cholas, one of the greatest dynasties of the south. The Cholas were great temple builders and Thanjavur bears witness to this, being dotted with no fewer than 74 temples, the most famous of which is the Brahadeeswara temple, a World Heritage Monument. The city is also known for its bronzes, silks and the famous Tanjore paintings.
Spend a relaxed afternoon.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : 2 nights in Thanjavur
DAY 6 THANJAVUR
Also visit Tanjore museum with a collection of around 250 Chola bronze statues and 150 stone statues dating back to the 9th and 12th century, these belong to the many groups like the Bhairava, Umasahita Shiva, Kali and Rama Lakshmana.
Afternoon is at leisure.
Meals : Breakfast
DAY 7 THANJAVUR - MADURAI
Stop enroute at Trichy and visit the Rock Fort temple. It is perched 83m high on a massive outcrop, lords over Trichy with stony arrogance. The ancient rock was first hewn by the Pallavas and Pandyas, who cut small cave temples on its south side, but it was the war-savvy Nayaks who later made strategic use of the naturally fortified position. There are over 400 stone-cut steps to climb to the top.
Later continue to Madurai, on arrival check in for your stay.
Madurai, the second largest city of Tamil Nadu, is an important cultural and commercial center. With a history going back to the 6th century BC, it was once the seat of Tamil learning and still the place where the Tamil language is spoken in its purest form. The old city was planned in the shape of a lotus with the Meenakshi temple, the town’s main attraction, at the centre. Madurai has long been a center of learning and pilgrimage.
Late evening visit the lifeline of the 2500 year old city of Madurai- the famous Sri Meenkashi temple for its ‘going to bed’ ceremony where the deities are put to bed.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : 1 night in Madurai
DAY 8 MADURAI – THEKKADY
NOTE: Non Hindus are not allowed inside the Inner Sanctum of the temple.
Next visit Tirumalai NayakMahal – an Indo-Saracenic palace built on a grand scale with a beautifully sculpted dance hall. Walk through the bustling city. It is chaotic and crowded but nevertheless offers some remarkable sights and a fascinating taste of Tamil culture.
Afternoon drive to Thekkady, through a panorama of cardamom, coffee and pepper plantations.
Arrive by the evening and on arrival, check in for your stay.
Thekkady is the ‘Land of the Spices’ Columbus was seeking when he stumbled on the New World, Kerala’s Malabar Coast is famous for its fabulous spice crops.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : 1 night in Thekkady
DAY 9 THEKKADY – KUMARAKOM
Return to the hotel to freshen up. Later, set off downhill towards the backwaters of Kumarakom – also known as the “Venice of the East”. On arrival, check in for your stay.
Kumarakom, or the ’Venice of the East’ is a veritable paradise in the lush backwaters of Kottayam. It is Kerala’s heartland of lagoons, palm fringed lakes and paddy fields, inter-linked with hundreds of winding canals with the typical low slung country boats that carry everything from people to fish, rice and coconuts to the milkman and newspaper boy, local politicians and priests to wedding parties.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : 2 nights in Kumarakom
DAY 10 KUMARAKOM
The Kettuvallam or ‘boat with knots’- was so called because the entire boat was held together with coir knots only - not even a single nail is used during the construction. The boat is made of planks of jack-wood joined together with coir. This is then coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. With careful maintenance, a kettuvallom can last for generations. While most boats are poled by local oarsmen, some are powered by a 40 HP engine.
Lunch will be served on board the houseboat, featuring fresh catch of the day.
The backwaters are a network of canals, lakes, lagoons and estuaries stretching over almost 1000 square miles. Here, palm-fringed narrow canals wind through a vast expanse of paddy fields. As you float along, enjoy the picturesque hamlets that line the banks, migratory birds in abundance, water lilies and coconut groves.
Disembark the houseboat in the evening and return to the hotel.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 11 KUMARAKOM – COCHIN
Cochin is a cluster of islands on the vast expanse of the Vembanad Lake. The Lake opens out into the Arabian sea to form one of the finest natural harbors in the world. It is this natural advantage that has made Cochin a fascinating blend of the cultures and influences of explorers and traders. The Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and the British have all left their mark here. The Jewish synagogue, the Dutch Palace, the Chinese fishing nets, and other remnants of European and Asian architecture merge smoothly into the traditional fabric of the seaport city.
Arrive Cochin and start on a guided walking tour through the bustling harbor area and quaint backstreets to discover its rich and multifaceted past. This walk gives you a glimpse into Cochin’s rich history and heritage, showcasing the mixed Dutch, Portuguese, British and Jewish influences that make the city unique. During the tour, you will visit the old quarter of Fort Kochi, exploring the quaint streets of this city on foot. You will also visit Fort Kochi’s seaside promenade, and get a glimpse of daily life in Kochi. The duration of this walk is about +/- 1 hour.
Kochi is full of echoes of Kerala’s past colonizers, including Hindu and Mughal dynasties, Portuguese and Dutch conquerors, and the British Empire - which came seeking control of the lucrative pepper trade. The city hosts the oldest church in India, 500-year-old Portuguese houses, old tiled houses built in the Chinese pagoda style, and a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora. St. Francis Church, originally named after Santo Antonio and dedicated to him as the Patron Saint of Portugal. Once a wooden building, it was replaced by the present stone building. Vasco De Gamma died on site in 1524 and was originally buried in the cemetery. His grave is still marked with a plaque and a brass rail, though his remains are back home in Portugal. You will walk past, the four-century old Jewish synagogue; built in 1568 AD, it was destroyed by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Dutch a century later. The Jew-town, abounds with fascinating antique shops and wares. Looming protectively over the synagogue is the Mattancherry palace, erstwhile home to the Verma kings and today a fine museum.
In the evening, you will visit a local theatre to experience Kathakali performance. Kathakali literally meaning “story dance” is the pantomimic dance drama, the dancing and the acting being blended together into an inseparable form. It is a combination of facial expressions and body movements, which brings out the thought and emotion of the character.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : 1 night in Cochin
DAY 12 KOCHI - DEPARTURE
Meals : Breakfast
STANDARD HOTELS OPTION OR SIMILAR
Chennai
GRT Grand (5*) – Businees Class
Mahabalipuram
Welcomhotel Kences Palm Beach (4.5*) – Club Room
Pududcherry
Accord (4*) – Superior Room
Thanjavur
Sangam (3*) – Executive Room
Madurai
GRT Regency (3*) – Superior Room
Thekkady
Poetree Sarovar Portico (4*) – Club Room
Kumarakom
Backwater Ripples (3*) – Superior Garden View
Cochin
Casino (5*) – Superior room
SUPERIOR HOTELS OPTION OR SIMILAR
Chennai
Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park (5*) – Superior Room
Mahabalipuram
Intercontinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort (5*) – Resort Classic
Pududcherry
The Windflower Resort And Spa (4*) – Studio Garden View
Thanjavur
Sangam (3*) – Executive Room
Madurai
Heritage Madurai (5*) – Deluxe club room
Thekkady
The Elephant Court (5*) – Patio Room
Kumarakom
The Zuri Kumarakom Resort & Spa (5*) – Zuri Lagoon
Cochin
Crowne Plaza (5*) – Deluxe City View Room
Rates in CA$, per person, starting from, in double occupancy |
Land Package |
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Rates coming soon – Please contact us |
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Minimum 2 passengers required to guarantee the tour.
A solo traveler is a person who travels completely alone with services such as guides and drivers, on a private basis. A solo traveler rate should not be mistaken by a single occupancy rate.
**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.