Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Chennai 01:00 Transfer to Madras Club and rest until a late breakfast. 11am Visit Fab India and Amethyst. An easy and quick way of seeing fabrics etc Amethyst (shop). Amethyst is a beautiful old colonial bungalow and we will have a light lunch there before joining our Guide Mahesh for a Tour by of Fort St. George; Egmore Bronzes and the Kapaleeshwar Temple. Our guide is very special with quiet intellectual depth and the ability to bring this visit alive. We will have dinner at Southern Spice 5* food in a 5* hotel with an excellent menu where dinner is accompanied by Bharathnatyam dancers.
Overnight at Madras Club.
Day 2: Optional early morning trip to fruit and flower market. After Breakfast at the Club we will take a one hour journey to Temple Bay Mahabalipuram, a bizarre wonder where temples have been carved out of large rocks. After lunch at Bay View, Temple Bay (this coast suffered in the recent Tsnunami) we will take a Tour with Archeological Surey of India giving us exclusive access to underground 9th temple which is not normally open to public. We finally visit, Arjuna’s penance followed by an informal browse of shops. Dinner will be at Bay View or 123. Overnight at Temple Bay, Mahabalipuram.
Day 3: Early morning 7.00 rise for Five Rathas and Shore Temple. Return for 10am breakfast before noon Check out. Transfer to The Dune, Pondicherry and make an afternoon visit to the Ashram in Pondicherry. Dinner at The Dune. Overnight at the Dune Pondicherry.
Day 4: Early morning rise 6am for day trip to Chidambaram Temple, the temple of the dancing Shiva. 9.30 arrival to meet Ramalinga Dikshitar, priest of the temple for tour. Exclusive entry into the sanctum sanctorum (no non Hindus allowed usually). Depending on numbers we will make a home visit to Dikshitar. Arrive at The Dune at approx 3.30p.m. Rest and/or swim before a visit at 7pm to see Geetanjali antiques and artifacts. Dinner at Taj Promenade (French smart). Overnight at the Dune Pondicherry.
Day 5: Checkout 11am leave for Chennai Wander around Pondicherry Lunch at Satsanga (French low key) Satsanga (French low key) Check in 6 pm Raintree rooftop. Dinner and Overnight at Raintree, Chennai.
Day 6: Transfer to airport for flight to Cochin. After free time we make an evening boat journey to view the Chinese fishing nets. Dinner and Overnight at Malabar House Fort Cochin.
Day 7: Visit Dutch palace and Jewish Synagogue Jew Town antique shopping Free time for lunch and afternoon before. Evening performance of Kathakali Dance. Dinner and Overnight at Malabar House, Fort Cochin.
Day 8: Check out and transfer to House boat for 12pm Down time on House boat on the Kerala backwaters. Overnight on House Boat
Day 9: Early flight to Bangalore to Mysore see Sriringapatnam the Last Tiger of Mysore’s summer palace. Transfer to Green Hotel for lunch. We will make visits to the Marahaja’s Palace and the Mysore Market during the afternoon and early evening before dinner and Overnight at the Green Hotel.
Day 10: Walk up (or drive up) Chamundi Hill. Free for lunch before a visit to a silk weaving factory and Sari shopping. Dinner at Leela Restaurant. Overnight at Green Hotel.
Day 11: Day Trip to Belur and Halebid or Somnathpur. This is a gentle and very special excursion. Overnight at Green Hotel
Day 12: Check out 10am and Transfer to Bangalore for flight to Chennai. There is free time in Chennai this afternoon which can include a possible visit to National Music Centre. Dinner at Peshawri. Overnight at Madras Club
Day 13: Shopping with Sarah textiles (atmosphere) Pashmina shawls and Kashmiri carpets (crafts inn). Lunch at Saravana Bhavan (plastic chairs, cheap and cheerful- very Tamil Nadu! The final afternoon Is free for shopping, a swim with time to pack and take in the last delights of India before a final dinner at the Madras Club. Overnight at Madras Club or departure on evening flight back to London.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Flights
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Guiding
- Insurance
- Transfers.
Price Excludes:
- Transfers to Heathrow
- Personal expenses.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
India
Cultural Journey
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