Quintessential South India

You will be met on arrival in Chennai and transferred to Pondicherry, three hours south of Chennai.

If you in arrive in Chennai in the morning, you can visit Mahabalipuram en route to Pondicherry. Mahabalipuram is famed for its World Heritage listed 7th century rock cut temples, including one of the world’s largest bas-relief carvings, the 29m x 9m frieze entitled “Arjuna’s Penance”.

Full day to explore Pondicherry. Take a walking tour of the French heritage quarter and visit the paper and incense making units of the Aurobindo ashram (a diversified spiritual community that forms a vibrant part of the town, attracting thousands of devotees and visitors).

Pondicherry is also a shoppers’ paradise with boutiques down almost every street, catering to a wide variety of tastes, offering textiles, leather, pottery, handicrafts, aromatics, fashion, antiques, etc.

After breakfast, begin a 5-hour drive to Tanjore, with a stop en route at a bronze-casting foundry, where Hindu statues are made using an ancient wax mould process.

The Brihadeeswara temple at Tanjore is not as well known as the Meenakshi temple in Madurai – but it should be! Differing greatly in design and appearance, this temple is significant for the height of the central tower and methods used to construct it. A sunset visit gives you the best chance to fully appreciate this amazing complex.

After a leisurely breakfast, begin the 5 hour drive to Madurai, visiting the Chettinad mansions en route. Chettinad has a distinctive cuisine, which you can sample at one of the restored mansions here.

After lunch continue on to Madurai, Tamil Nadu’ssecond largest city which has been a major settlement for two millennia. It is thought to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

Spend this morning sightseeing with local guide, including visits to the fruit and vegetable market, the Gandhi Museum and the famous ‘fish-eyed goddess’ Meenakshi Temple. The temple, which has 12 outer towers, decorated with literally hundreds of thousands of deities, plays a central role in the life of Madurai.

The afternoon is free for shopping and personal activities, or take a walk through town with your guide and call into a local tea stall for a cup of chai.

This morning drive 4 hours to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. One of the most popular Parks in South India, it is situated high in the Western Ghat mountain range, on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

In the afternoon there are several activities to choose from: spend time with working elephants, washing and feeding them and having a short ride; take an energetic nature walk in the Wildlife Sanctuary with local naturalist guide; or visit a spice plantation for a tour and lunch.

This evening there is the option to see a Kalaripayyat demonstration, an ancient Keralan martial art.

Transfer to Alleppey this morning to board a houseboat for an overnight cruise. Lunch will be served on board as it meanders through the tranquil network of water canals, dotted with busy hamlets and lush green paddy fields. A houseboat ride through these placid waters, with visions of life gliding silently by, is a quintessential south Indian experience.

After breakfast on board the houseboat, disembark in Alleppey. This morning you have the option to take (short) walking tour of Alleppey conducted by a member of the Conservation Society, who will describe the traditional activities of the local economy and the preservation and restoration activities taking place in the area.

Afterwards proceed to Cochin (a 2-hour drive).

This morning tour historic Fort Kochi, with its various European, Chinese and Jewish influences. Sightseeing with a local guide will include visits to the famous Chinese fishing nets, the Dutch Palace and one of India’s last remaining Synagogues.

The afternoon is free for shopping or relaxing before an evening viewing of a Kathakali dance performance, where heavily made up and elaborately dressed artists play out the Hindu epics.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or onward travel in India, perhaps to one of our favourite R&R locations.