South India by Rail
Duration : 13 Nights / 14 Days
Places to See : Chennai (Madras) - Madurai - Periyar
- Trivandram - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore
Day
1: Chennai
Arrive Chennai. Transfer to Hotel. Overnight Chennai
Day 2: Chennai
After breakfast, full Day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram
(64 kms from Chennai) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city
of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva
was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples
of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest.
Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. The city of Mahabalipuram is famous
for the seven pagodas. Here on the seashore is an interesting group of ancient
rock hewn temples which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture.
Day 3: Chennai
After breakfast, city tour of Chennai. Visit the Museum to see the Art and Bronze
Gallery. Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum,
Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral and snake park . Check-out at 1200 hrs from
the hotel. Late evening transfer to railway-station for overnight journey to
Madurai.
Day 4: Madurai
Morning arrive Madurai and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the great Meenakshi
Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva. Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak
Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco
work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran
Rock temple. Afternoon free. Overnight Madurai.
Day 5: Madurai - Periyar
After breakfast, drive to Periyar National Park. 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 motor boat. Elephants, wild boar,
sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc. can be seen easily. Overnight
Periyar.
Day 6: Periyar - Trivandrum
After breakfast, drive to Trivandrum viewing the scenic beauty enroute. Kerala
is lush green and is full of lakes and water. Overnight Trivandrum.
Day 7: Trivandrum
After breakfast, Day free in Trivandrum or optional tours to Cape Comorin (Kanya
Kumari - the southern most part of India) or nearby places like Kovalam beach,
etc. Overnight Trivandrum.
Day 8: Trivandrum - Cochin
After breakfast, drive to Cochin visiting the Kerala villages enroute.
Day 9: Cochin
After breakfast, city tour of Cochin. One of the finest natural harbours on
the Arabian Sea coast, Kochi, earlier known as Cochin, has been a pot of call
for foreign traders from early times. Cochin is the natural harbour created
by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the rougher
the seas are outside and the calmer waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama
placed it on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches,
mosques and Hindu temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Checkout at 1200
hrs. Transfer to railway-station for overnight journey to
Bangalore.
Day 10: Bangalore
Morning arrive Bangalore and transfer to hotel followed by breakfast. Afternoon
tour of Bangalore city, visit the Lal Bagh with a variety of old trees, fountains,
lotus pools, terraces & an assortment of tropical and sub-tropical herbs.
Also see the Maharaja's Palace & Government Buildings. Overnight Bangalore.
Day 11: Bangalore - Mysore
Morning arrive Bangalore railway station and drive to Mysore. Arrive and transfer
to hotel. Overnight Mysore.
Day 12:
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 upto Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a
panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Afternoon free.
Overnight Mysore.
Day 13: Mysore - Chennai
After breakfast, morning free. Transfer to rail-station to catch the train for
Chennai. Arrive Chennai & transfer to hotel.
Day 14: Chennai - Onward destination
Transfer to airport for onward destination.
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