Travelpack

Highlights: Chennai - Pondicherry - Chettinad - Madurai - Periyar - Cochin

Hotels:
Chennai - Trident 5*
Pondicherry - Palette Resorts - Le Pondy 5*
Chettinad - Chettinadu Mansion 3*
Madurai - Heritage Madurai 5*
Periyar - Cardamom County 4*
Cochin - Xandari Harbour 3*

Activities:
- One day you can enjoy the program provided at the Elephant Camp at Periyar. You can experience the activities such as Elephant bathing, feeding, timber dragging
- One day visit the plantations of tea, cardamom, and pepper

Itinerary:

Day 1: Chennai
- Upon arrival at Chennai airport welcome, meet and assist by our representative and transfer to hotel.
- 14:00 Hrs: Standard check in time.
- Rest of the day at leisure and Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 2: Chennai
Morning enjoy Spice Trail Cardamom , Coriander, Turmeric, Ginger , Tamarind, Asafoetida,... the stars of Indian cuisine are many and each has a unique personality that it lends unabashedly to every preparation. The spice trail is an exploratory journey through Indian cuisine. Pay a visit to a local Indian market and buy some of the produce there – fresh and bursting with colour.
Walk into an everyday Indian Kitchen, and watch the magic play our Savour the fragrance of a myriad spices, working in harmony to make the meal memorable. Listen to stories of seasonal produce of hand picking local vegetables and of the people who grow them. Create a drool worthy meal, sit back and relish every mouthful.

- Afternoon you will enjoy sightseeing tour of Chennai.

Fort St. George – The construction of this fort started as early as 1650. It was often attacked by Indian and French forces yet it continued to expand. Today, the old buildings in Fort St. George house the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, the legislative assembly and St. Mary’s church.

Mylapore – One of the most important localities of Madras is Mylapore, where the famous Kapaleswara temple, the tank, market area and old Brahmin residential houses are situated. Mylapore is a unified complex and is best viewed as such.

Marina Beach – The marina, almost 13 kms long, is a wide sandy stretch, with a drive along it, fringed with palms and casuarinas.

San Thome Cathedral – Is associated with the apostle, St Thomas. It is believed that he was martyred on what is called St. Thomas’ Mount and his remains were enshrined in this church.

- Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 3: Chennai to Pondicherry by surface (Approx. 210 Kms, 5 hrs)
- Today after breakfast drive to Pondicherry is a quiet little town on the southern coast. The quaint colonial heritage buildings, the spiritual scene, the endless stretches of unspoilt virgin beaches, The Union Territory of Puducherry comprises of four coastal regions – Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
- Upon arrival at Pondicherry, check in at hotel.
- Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 4: Pondicherry
- After breakfast visit Auroville - a unique experiment in international living and in creating a new environment where men and women of all nationalities live together in harmony.
- Aurobindo Ashram, the city of dawn, which is 10 kms north of Pondicherry. This ashram promotes Aurbindo's ideas in bringing about a synthesis of Yoga and modern science, so as to unite the spirit and matter.
- Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 5: Pondicherry to Chettinad by surface (Approx. 160 Kms, 4 Hrs)
- Today after breakfast drive to Chettinad visiting Kumbakonam – is known as the 'temple town” due to the prevalence of a number of temples.
- Upon arrival at Chettinad, check in at hotel.
- You will also enjoy Audio visual on Chettinad Architecture, Culture and Cuisine is show.
- Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 6: Chettinad
- Guided tour of the Mansion, with interaction with the family.
- Enjoy cooking demonstration.
- You can also enjoy any one activity of your choice.
- Sari & Dothi draping session, Rangoli drawing session, or Flower Knotting session
- Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 7: Chettinad to Madurai by surface (Approx. 80 Kms, 2-3 Hrs)
After breakfast drive to Madurai - The city of Madurai was planned and laid out on the pattern of a lotus flower, with the famous Meenakshi Temple in the centre. Legend has it, that a drop of nectar (Mathuram) from Lord Shiva’s looks feel here. So, the city came to be known as Madurai- the city of nectar.
- Upon arrival at Madurai, check in at Hotel.
- Rest of the day at leisure and Overnight say at Hotel.

Day 8: Madurai
Today after breakfast enjoy city tour of Madurai visiting Meenakshi Temple – Meenakshi Temple 17thcentury Meenakshi Temple, in the heart of old town, is dedicated to Shiva and his consort Meenakshi. It is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture. The high point of the temple is the hall of a "Thousand Pillars" and just outside this hall are the famous musical pillars. Here the iconography makes much use of the lotus, which in Indian symbolism is a representation of the female sex and an emblem of bliss and abode of gods. The Teppakkulam Tank – This tank, 5 km cast of the old city, covers an area almost equal to that of the Meenakshi Temple and is the site of the popular Teppam Festival. for most of the year, however, it is empty save for local kids playing cricket in it. The tank was built by Tirumalai Nayak in 1646 and is connected to the Vaigai River by underground channels. The Tirumala Nayak Palace –The palace building constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style is considered to be an architectural feat. Built in the 17th Century, the palace has a number of pillars and 15 domes. The beautiful arches are unique in their ornamental workmanship. The sound and light show conducted here depicts the story of Silappathikaram and the life of Tirumala Nayak.
- Rest of the day at leisure and Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 9: Madurai to Periyar by surface (Approx. 140 Kms, 3 Hrs)
- After breakfast drive to Periyar - The scenic drive takes you through green hills with forests, plantations of tea, spices and rubber, streams and waterfalls.
- Upon arrival at Periyar, check in at hotel.
- Evening cooking demonstration.
- Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10: Periyar
In the morning take a boat ride on the lake in the Periyar National Park, a ‘Project Tiger’ reserve. A boat ride is the only way to observe closely the giant of Periyar – Elephants and Gaurs (The giant Indian Bison) without disturbing them on their way (Subject to availability)
After breakfast you can enjoy the program provided at the Elephant Camp at Periyar, you can experience the activities such as Elephant bathing, feeding, timber dragging.
- In the afternoon visit plantations of tea, cardamom, and pepper
- Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 11: Periyar to Cochin by surface (Approx. 195 Kms, 5 hrs)
After breakfast check out from Hotel and drive from Periyar to Cochin – the Gateway to Kerala was once an important spice-trading route on Arabian Sea where Vasco D Gama landed in 1498 and boasted that he has come for soul and spices. Cochin is virtually the spice capital of world from where Portuguese were exporting 10,000 kilo of spices to east-indies and other countries and has derived it name from Calico-the famous fabric manufactured in this town. Cochin also forms the part of emerald isle of India. Harbour Cruise of Cochin is very much popular. With one of the finest natural harbours in the world, Cochin was once a major center for commerce and trade with the British, Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, and Dutch etc.

- Upon arrival at Cochin, check in at hotel.
- Evening enjoy cooking demonstration with local family followed by Dinner.
- Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 12: Cochin
After breakfast proceed to visit the Dutch Palace (Closed on Friday) – The place has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting the scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharata & Ramayana, Drive Pass Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Friday & Saturday) – the oldest synagogue in the world is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers, was built in 1568. St. Francis Church: is the oldest church built by Europeans in India & Huge, elegant Chinese fishing nets that line the tip of Fort Kochi.

Spice Market in Cochin locates in Jew town, where exotic odour of the finest ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric and pepper emanate from the spice warehouses lining the street and fills it.
The enchanting aroma of the finest ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric and pepper draws you towards the spice warehouses lining the street. It is indeed a riveting sight to see the various workers packaging and bringing in newer varieties as anxious crowds hustle and bustle to get the best produce available. (Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays)

- Evening you will Witness the Kathakali Dance Show.

Kathakali is the classical dance-drama of Kerala dates from the 17th century. Kathakali recitals are drama and are danced with elaborate mask s and costumes. They are emotive and narrative, while other dance forms have either one of them. The dancers use their stunning costumes and make-up, with the accompaniment of drums and vocalists, to create various moods and emotions.
Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 13: Depart Cochin
- Breakfast at hotel.
- 12:00 noon standard check out time.
- Transfer from Hotel to Cochin airport in time to board flight for onward journey.

Offer Includes

Meal Plans