South Indian Highlights

Tamil Nadu and Kerala

Itinerary
Price Guide
Places you'll visit
Accommodation
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This leisurely journey through Tamil Nadu and Kerala encompasses all the highlights of South India. The beach side retreat of Mamallapuram is your initial base and from here you explore the historic `French' town of Pondicherry and the temple cities of Tamil Nadu. Next is the lush tropical land of Kerala with wildlife and palm-fringed backwaters and the harbour city of Cochin, with its diverse architectural and religious influences.

Day 1 - Mamallapuram
Arrive in Chennai where you are met and transferred to your hotel at Mamallapuram. Here stunning archaeological remains co-exist with a beautiful long white-sand beach. In the afternoon visit the shore temples.

Day 2 - Pondicherry
The coastal road from Mamallapuram leads to the former French colony of Pondicherry, a small town of multi-coloured villas, quiet, tree shaded lanes and a long boulevard along the sea.

Day 3 - Tranquebar
Further south from Pondicherry is Tranquebar, once a fort established by the Danish for exports of spices, silks and other textiles. Rest of your day is at leisure to relax on the beach.

Day 4 - Thanjavur
From Tranquebar an inland road leads to Thanjavur, a city which boasts of almost a hundred temples including the monumental Brihadeshwara Temple, built entirely from granite.

Day 5 - Thanjavur
Visit the extraordinary 10th century Brihadeshwara Temple, now a World Heritage monument. In the afternoon you make an excursion to Trichy where you visit the Rock Fort and the superb Srirangam Temple complex, probably the largest in India.

Day 6 - Karaikudi
Moving southwards from Thanjavur you reach Karaikudi, the bastion of Chettinads and home to some of the most exquisite heritage homes which provide genuine home-cooked Chettinad Food.

Day 7 - Madurai
From Karaikudi, Madurai is just a short drive. Here you find the magnificent Meenakshi Temple complex whose soaring temple towers are covered with stucco figures of deities, mythical animals and monsters, painted in vivid colours.

Day 8 - Thekkady
This morning drive to Thekkady. Enjoy the enchanting journey as the road winds through tranquil countryside, rich plantations and thick jungles.

Day 9 - Thekkady
The best way to explore Periyar is by an early morning boat trip, which allows visitors to watch animals drinking at the lakeside. Enjoy the aromas of exotic spices with a walk in a spice plantation (optional).

Day 10 - Allapuzha
The greatest joy of travelling in Kerala is exploring the backwaters, a labyrinthine network of waterways which weave through villages set amidst lush vegetation. The most relaxing and romantic way of seeing the backwaters is by taking a cruise on a houseboat. There is a larger open sitting area where you can relax and watch the world go by, sipping from a tender coconut and enjoying the sheer peace of the surroundings.

Day 11 - Mararikulam
Mararikulam is one of the picturesque fishing villages that dot the lovely coastline of Kerala. It offers one of the most fabulous stretches of soft sandy beach fringed with swaying palms.

Day 12 - Mararikulam
Marari is an excellent place to soak up the sun and enjoy the sea.

Day 13 - Kochi
A short drive takes you to Kochi (Cochin). The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or explore Fort Cochin on your own. Walking around the city lanes is a great delight.

Day 14 - Kochi
Enjoy a guided tour of Fort Cochin. This evening watch the enthralling classical dance-drama of Kerala, the Kathakali.

Day 15 - Kochi
Tour ends. Transfer to Kochi airport for your onward flight.

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Price Guide

From EUR 1,694 per person based on two people sharing.

Inclusions

Accommodation on twin share basis at selected hotels.
Stay on bed & breakfast basis; full board on the houseboat.
Transport by private chauffeur-driven airconditioned car.
English-speaking local guide for tour of Mamallapuram, Madurai and Kochi.
Boat trip on Periyar Lake.
Park entrance fees in Periyar National Park.
Kathakali dance performance.
All transfers as per the itinerary.

Tour price excludes

Tips and gratuities.
Services, Meals and Drinks other than those mentioned in the itinerary.
Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature.
Entrance fees (unless specifically mentioned in the inclusions) and extra charges for camera and video.

Make an enquiry

Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

Where you would like to stay
Dates that best suit you
Experiences or activities that you fancy
As long as you want in each place

Just get in touch and we will start advising and planning with you.

Email us at info@travellers-palm.com or use our online form to get in touch.

Get in Touch

Mamallapuram Famous for its shore temples and fine beach

At Mamallapuram, barely an hour's drive from Chennai, the 7th-century complex of monolithic rock-cut shrines and legendary Shore Temple are now a World Heritage Site. The stunning archaeological remains co-exist with a long white-sand beach, making Mamallapuram a favourite destination for travellers.

Pondicherry A former French colony

Pondicherry is best explored on foot. One can experience the colonial charm of the town, by walking through its old quarter which houses a varied collection of buildings, churches, homes and markets and thoroughfares with French names. You can also visit the nearby Auroville, an interesting experiment in alternative living. At the Visitor's Center you'll be able to watch a video about Auroville, view the informational exhibits, eat at the cafeteria, and buy high quality products made by the community.

Tranquebar A former Danish settlement

While Pondicherry has its French legacy, Tranquebar is distinguished by its Danish past. It was once a fort established by the Danish for exports of spices, silks and other textiles. Its relics include a gateway sporting the Danish Royal Seal, a fort which is Scandinavian in appearance, a string of imposing colonial bungalows, and two early 18th-Century churches.

Thanjavur Site of "the big temple"

The chief attraction of Thanjavur is the extraordinary Brihadishwara Temple. Built in 1010 by the Chola dynasty whose empire covered much of Southern India for more than 400 years, the temple is now a World Heritage monument. The immense main temple is more than 60 meters high and hewn from a single piece of granite estimated to weigh 80 tonnes. This temple is an astonishing sight and a visit is one of the highlights of a trip to South India.

Karaikudi Home to some of South India's wealthiest merchant families

Karaikudi is a village in Chettinad, the home of a prosperous banking community who ventured overseas in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their legacies are the fascinating houses of Chettinad they built. Karaikudi has numerous craftsmen working with wood and metal, silversmiths and goldsmiths, antique shops, attractive textiles and most important the exciting Chettinad Cuisine.

Madurai South India's most exotic and colourful city

Full of colourful bazaars, street tailors, throngs of pilgrims and joyful religious processions, Madurai is a bustling city which attracts thousands of visitors from outside each day. Madurai's main attraction is the famous temple dedicated to the Goddess Meenakshi. Each evening, there is a closing ceremony is accompanied by chanting priests, drummers and torchbearers in which an image of Shiva is carried in procession to Parvati's bedroom.

Thekkady The base for visiting the Periyar National Park

Thekkady is the place to stay when you want to visit Periyar Wildlife Reserve. The journey to Thekkady affords some beautiful views of the highest mountain range in India south of the Himalaya. Periyar Sanctuary is open all year round. The best time to visit is between October and April. During April and May, when water gets low and grass dries out, there is a greater chance of spotting the elephants near the lakeside.

Allapuzha Gateway to the backwaters of Kerala

Allapuzha (or Alleppey) is a bustling town south of Kochi, and a major trading centre for the coir industry. It is also the centre of Kerala's backwaters with many interesting homestays in villages around the town. Caressed by the Arabian Sea in the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh-water rivers crossing it, this backwater country shelters some unique animal and birdlife.

Mararikulam A sea-side village with a pristine wide sandy beach

Situated 56 km south of Kochi and just a few kilometres north of Allapuzha, Mararikulam offers one of the most fabulous stretches of soft sandy beach fringed with swaying palms. In the village life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. It is an idyllic retreat for those who want to "get away from it all".

Kochi A port city full of historical landmarks

Kochi (or Cochin) is set on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas and has one of the best natural harbours in the world. The famed `Malabar Spices' were exported from this very port, bringing to Kochi visitors as varied as the Arabs, the Dutch, the Portuguese and, finally, the British. All of them have left their mark on the architecture, making Kochi one of the most unique and fascinating towns in India.

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Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including: