Explore South India's Rich Heritage: A Cultural and Historical Tour

Once you land in Chennai, one of our representatives will receive you and assist you for a smooth check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at your leisure. You can either relax in the room or explore around the region by walk. Overnight stay at Chennai.

Post breakfast, start for Chennai sightseeing. Visit Fort St. George and the Government Museum. After lunch, resume your drive to visit Dakshina Chitra Museum, where you can witness the modal houses exhibiting the culture and heritage of all the South Indian States. Explore through the exhibits and continue your drive to Mahabalipuram, the most frequented South Indian coastal city. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Mahabalipuram.

This day will be for visiting the iconic locations of Mahabalipuram, flooded with tourists round the year. The stone wonders dating back to the Pallava Dynasty are depicted in the shore temples and the monolithic monuments like Arjuna’s penance, which will keep you spellbound with its intricate designs and extensive art works. The group of monuments at Mahabalipuram is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. After spending quality time visiting those monuments and the sandy shores, resume your drive to Pondicherry. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.

This day is for Pondicherry sightseeing. Post breakfast, start to visit the French Quarters of Pondicherry. Marvel at the architecture, which has an imposing French style as an impact of the French colonial powers here. Also visit the museum where the history stands still. Explore the places around before returning to the hotel. Overnight stay at Pondicherry.

Post breakfast, check out from the hotel and start your drive to the temple city Kumbakonam. En route visit Brihadeeswarar temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. This magnificent temple was built by King Rajendra Chola, son of the Great Emperor Raja Raja Chola I. The huge Linga idol in the sanctum, the number of figurines and statues in the temple can be witnessed without any hassle. Resume your drive to Darasuram Airavateeswarar temple, built in the form of a chariot. The intricate designs of the stone sculptures are truly marvelous to watch. Both these temples are listed under the Great Living Chola Temples by UNESCO. Continue your drive to Kumbakonam. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.

This day is for Kumbakonam sightseeing. Kumbakonam is a land of temples with magnificent structures dotted across. Kumbakonam is equally popular for making bronze statues, bronze lamps, and pottery. Take a look at how these crafts are made. Visit the popular temples nearby before returning to the hotel. Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.

Post breakfast, check out from the hotel and start your drive to Tanjore. Visit the world-renowned Brihadeeswara temple built by the great Emperor Raja Raja Chola I. The temple is still an engineering mystery for its huge linga and the bull idols, the tallest sanctum tower, and a monolithic stone weighing 80 tonnes atop the tower. Due to its magnificence, the temple is called the "Big Temple." After thoroughly enjoying the architectural excellence, visit the Museum and Palace, icons of Maratha rulers in Tanjore. Continue your drive to Karaikudi. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Karaikudi.

Post breakfast, start for a sightseeing tour of Karaikudi, which is best known as the region of Chettiars, the business community of Tamil Nadu. The massive palatial residences and the exclusive cuisines are the icons of Karaikudi. There are houses even with a thousand windows, and it is customary for the Chettiar community to conduct functions like weddings in their native houses. As many of them migrated to foreign countries, the huge residences are partially modified as Heritage Homes frequented by global travelers. Visit one such building called Chettinad House. Marvel at the excellent architecture with spacious halls, central squares, and other aesthetically built rooms, before resuming your drive to Madurai. Check into the hotel and rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay at Madurai.

This day will be for a sightseeing tour of Madurai city. Check out from the hotel and start your visit with Meenakshi Amman temple. Madurai is one of the world’s oldest cities with the longest surviving civilizations. The grand Meenakshi Amman temple is at the exact center of the city around which the entire city is built as concentric squares. Also visit Tirumalai Nayakar Mahal and Gandhi Museum, the iconic locations of Madurai. After exploring the city, resume your drive to Kovalam, the exotic beach destination of Kerala. En-route, you can visit Padmanabhapuram Teak Palace. Reach Kovalam and after checking into the hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight at Kovalam.

This full day is for rejuvenating yourself at the pristine beaches of Kovalam. Spend the enthralling moments with the uninterrupted waves touching your feet and the gentle wind whispering into your ears. Return to the hotel after thoroughly enjoying the abundant beauty of nature. Overnight stay at Kovalam.

Post breakfast, check out from the hotel and start your drive to Alleppey, known as “Venice of the East.” The wonderful water networks connecting the regions are amazing to watch. Embark on a cosily designed houseboat and start your cruise. Enjoy your stay in the houseboat as it moves across the shallow backwaters. Relish the gorgeous cuisines freshly prepared by the crew on board using authentic Kerala recipes. Once the houseboat is anchored, explore the lives of the natives living on the banks of the backwaters. Spend the night in the houseboat.

Post breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and continue your drive to Cochin. Check into the hotel and relax for a while. Later, visit Fort Cochin, Jew Town, and Mattancherry Palace. In the evening, enjoy a Kathakali performance, an ancient art form of Kerala. Kathakali is a form of dance drama, enacting scenes from the popular Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The highlights of the show include the unique makeup and elaborate headgears. The makeup takes about four hours for every artist to complete. Enjoy the vibrant show before returning to the hotel. Overnight stay at Cochin.

This day is for visiting some of the iconic locations of Cochin, like Hilltop Palace. Stroll around the shopping areas of Cochin and pick up souvenirs to take back. Later in the evening, enjoy the martial art form of Kerala, Kalaripayattu. The show is performed with great vigor, and it is a truly unique experience for this region. Witness the brave movements of the artists as they perform with utmost dedication. Overnight stay at Cochin.

Post breakfast, check out from the hotel. Based on your departure schedule, you will be assisted in boarding your flight at Cochin airport. The tour ends with beautiful memories of South India and its rich historic heritage!