Enchanting South India: A Meaningful Holiday Experience
Indo Asia Tours
Southern India Sojourn: A 14-Day Deep Dive into Culture, History, and Community Engagement
Of the vast experiences that India has on offer, this journey, focussed on the Southern part of India will make you dive deeper into a meaningful holiday experience. It offers a wonderful mix of cultural, historical, and natural experiences, showcasing the rich diversity of the place. The activities included in the program not only support the local artisans / society but will also give you the opportunity to connect as well as get indulged with locals thus helping in paying back the local communities.
Day 01: Arrive at Chennai / Mahabalipuram
Arrive at Chennai. On arrival you will be greeted and assisted by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Mahabalipuram. Rooms will be available from 1400 Hrs.
With its UNESCO listed monuments dating back to the period between 7th to 9th centuries, Mahabalipuram is home to various rocks cut mater pieces that stand as an example of the Dravidian architecture.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 02: Mahabalipuram
After leisurely breakfast, enjoy excursion to Dakshinachitra. It is an exciting cross cultural living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India. (It remains closed on Tuesdays).
After the excursion, drive back and visit the UNESCO listed group of monuments in Mahabalipuram. This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel coast between 7th to 09th centuries. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges', with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03: Mahabalipuram
Morning is reserved for a bicycling trip to a nearby village with some great vistas on the way. In the village one can see angler’s life, local culture, fishing auction etc.
Drive back to your hotel for a sumptuous breakfast.
Rest of the day is free at leisure to explore the city on your own.
In the late afternoon enjoy walk to the Lighthouse with an opportunity to take a peep into some of the less explored gems of this place, which is often referred as an open-air museum.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04: Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry / Kumbakonam
After an early breakfast, drive to Kumbakonam. En route, enjoy visit of Pondicherry, a city that gained its significance as "The French Riviera of the East" after the advent of French colonization in India.
Continue drive to Kumbakonam.
Insider Tip: While travelling through the countryside make sure to stop at one of the roadside Coconut sellers to enjoy fresh coconut water.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Kumbakonam
After breakfast morning is reserved for an immersive village walk where you will also have the opportunity to visit a Silk weaving cooperative that has approx. 1000 registered weavers with about 50% of them being female weavers. The cooperative works for the benefit the local society.
Later you will be invited to visit the house of a local reformer who is keeping the ancient art form of Kalamkari alive and thriving. You are encouraged to indulge in a pep talk with the hosts to know the intricacies of the art form.
Be ready for some fantastic photo opportunities as you catch glimpses of the rustic village life on a bullock cart ride across the countryside.
The day will culminate with a bicycle ride accompanied by a local native through the narrow lanes of small hamlets, across paddy fields through the simple village temples, before leisurely cycling back to the resort.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06: Kumbakonam
After breakfast, visit the temples in Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram which holds a wealth of sculptures and painting.
Evening is free at leisure to explore on your own.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07: Kumbakonam / Thanjavur / Chettinadu
After breakfast, drive to Chettinadu. Enroute visit a local Farm in Alangudi.
Continue your drive to Tanjore. Here you will visit the Brihadeswara Temple & Fort, an outstanding example of Chola architecture which is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
There will be also an opportunity to visit the last Veena makers of India.
After the visits continue your drive to Chettinad, land of the most influential trading community of South India, The Chettiars.
Overnight at the Hotel
Day 08: Chettinadu
Let us explore the morning on a bicycle and enjoy the freshness of the day together. The program takes you in a leisure pace around the village lanes and out to the abandoned WWII airfield, now the home of peacocks and other birds.
After breakfast see the local mansions and the colorful surroundings, representative of the power and social standing of the local merchants.
Afternoon is reserved for a cooking demonstration followed by lunch on a banana leaf.
Late afternoon is reserved to visit a small workshop in Athangudy, which uses a special process to produce tiles that are used to decorate the opulent homes in the region.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 09: Chettinadu / Periyar
After breakfast, drive to Periyar.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 10: Periyar
With a packed breakfast, enjoy a guided walk through the National Park accompanied by a trained guide from one of the ethnic communities. The walk includes an interpretive sandalwood protection program and offers an excellent opportunity to observe birds, butterflies and other wildlife through a range of habitats. Also enjoy Bamboo rafting.
Afternoon is reserved for the visit of a Spice Plantation which will enable you to understand the nuances of Indian spices, their usage, history, cultivation, medicinal values, economics, etc.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 11: Periyar / Alleppey / Cochin
After breakfast, drive to Cochin that has long been eulogized in tourist literature as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’.
On the way stop in Backwaters and board a houseboat (also known as Rice boat or Kettuvallam) for a short cruising experience on the famed backwaters of Kerala. The lunch will be served on board.
On arrival in Cochin, transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 12: Cochin
Today enjoy a walk around the historic Fort Cochin area which will give you a glimpse into Cochin’s rich history and heritage, displaying the mixed Dutch, Portuguese, and British and Jewish influences that make the city unique. During the walk you will visit the old quarter of Fort Kochi, visiting the seaside promenade, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Dutch Cemetery, Chinese Fishing nets etc.
Later visit the Dutch Palace, which has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the Hindu epics of Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Also visit a Jewish Synagogue.
Evening is reserved for an enthralling Kathakali Dance performance - a traditional dance form of Kerala. The impressive facial expressions, hand gestures and dance moves will leave one spellbound.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 13: Cochin
After breakfast morning is free at leisure.
Afternoon is reserved for an excursion to Kerala's first model fisheries and tourism village with a lunch. During the visit you will experience local livelihoods like coconut farming and crab catching. Learn about coconut's various uses, from water to shell, weaving of its leaves etc. followed by a visit to a crab farm. Conclude with tea and refreshments before returning back your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14: Cochin Departure
In time transfer to the airport and connect flight back home. IMP: Room will be available till 1200 Hrs.
The program can be extended to include some days on the beach.
Inclusions
- Double room on sharing basis.
- Daily breakfast. Meals as listed in the program.
- All transfers and sightseeing using airconditioned vehicle.
- Entrance at all the monuments as listed in the program.
- Services of English/Language speaking local guides for the sightseeing.
- All walking tours as mentioned in the program.
- All activities including bicycle tours, cooking demonstration, bullock cart ride, spice plantation tour, bamboo rafting, Kathakali dance performance etc. as listed in the program.
- Currently applicable taxes.
Exclusions
- Any airfares / airport taxes.
- Any meals not mentioned in the program.
- Any expense of personal nature such as tips, phone calls, drinks etc.
- Any new tax imposed by the Government.
Lufthansa City Center