Heritage of South India

Upon arrival, your Curry Compass guide will be happy to welcome you and help you check-in at your hotel where you can refresh and rest. A summary of your stay will be presented to you. Depending on your arrival time you can go for a walk and have a first contact with the city. Chennai is commonly known as “Gateway to the South”, the culture of South India is indeed very different from that of the North. Visit Kapaleeshwara temple, Triplicane and Sri Parthasarathy temple. And also visit St. Thomas Cathedral, Fort St. George, Museums. Night in Chennai.

Enjoy your breakfast before heading to Kanchipuram, the historic capital of the Pallavas. Kanchipuram is also known for the quality of its locally made silk saris. Visit Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple, Ekambareshwara Temple, Kailasanatha Temple, and Vaigundha Perumal Temples. Enjoy a delicious meal, typical of South India, at a local restaurant before discovering a silk weaving workshop. After discovering the sacred city of Kanchipuram, you will be driven to Mamallapuram to spend the night.

This morning, discover one of the most beautiful sites in South India. Mahabalipuram is known for its seven pagodas. Visit the Ganges Descent, Krishna’s Butter Ball, cave temples, the five Rathas and the famous seaside temple. After discovering this rich cultural heritage, enjoy your afternoon on the beach. Overnight in Mamallapuram.

After breakfast, depart to Pondicherry, a former French colony. In the afternoon, visit the famous temple of Sri Manakula Vinayagar at the Aurobindo Ashram, the museum. Overnight in Pondicherry.

Visit Auroville to see the temple of peace, the Matrimandir. In the afternoon enjoy the beaches of Pondicherry. Overnight in Pondicherry

After breakfast, depart to Thanjavur with a visit to Chidambaram – the famous temple of Shiva. We will continue to the temple of Dharasuram before reaching Thanjavur where you will spend the night.

Visit of the great temple of Brihadisvara dedicated to the god Shiva and great bull, the museum of Thanjavur, art gallery and palace. You will then be taken to Trichy. Trichy is one of the main cities witnessing clashes between French and English in the colonial era. The house of Lord Robert Clives still exists as well as the Danish church. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient Ganesh Temple with a stop at Shiva Temple. After lunch, visit Amma Mandapam, Srirangam, Sri Ranganatha Swami Temple, Rock Fort. Night in Trichy.

You will be driven to Madurai, the city – temple where you can visit the incredible Meenakshi Amman temple, one of the masterpieces of Dravidian architecture and one of the most important active temples of India . It is dedicated to the “wife” of the god Shiva. Its eleven huge colorful Gopuram overlook the surrounding countryside. Later, visit the Thirumalai Naik Palace – an Indo-Muslim style building famous for its domes and stucco arches. Visit temple of Tiruparankundram and Gandhi Museum. At the end of the day you can attend a puja (ritual ceremony). Night in Madurai.

You will be taken to Periyar, through the tea and cardamom plantations, to reach Thekkady. It is a preserved part of dense tropical forests that cover the southwestern tip of Kerala. One can observe the wild life that blossoms around the artificial lake of Thekkady high in Western Ghats. It offers a unique point of view to its visitors. You can go for a boat ride and can observe wild animals. Elephants, gaurs (Indian bison), sambars, deer axis, leopard, black bear, langur Nilgiri, lion tailed macaque, otter, giant squirrel malabar, wild dogs, many colorful birds in their natural environment and may be the tiger. Night in Periyar.

Early in the morning, board a boat to observe wildlife from Periyar Lake. Afternoon free to enjoy the markets specialized in spices and local products. Night in Periyar.

After breakfast, you will be driven to Kumarakom, a beautiful village on the shores of Lake Vembanad. The passage through the undulating mountains of Western Ghats is an experience to live. Free evening to discover some of the many hobbies of Kumarakom. Night in Kumarakom.

Your day is free to relax on the green lawns or relax under the coconut trees to watch the sky and the water. Relax with the lake view from dawn to dusk. Watch the formation of birds entering and leaving the bird sanctuary. Night in Kumarakom.

After breakfast, it’s time to head to the “Venice of the South” – Alleppey to explore and experience the Houseboat Journey. It is an incredible experience to discover the beauty of the Kerala backwaters. On your way you will see the green fields of rice crops called paddy fields, the coconut farms.

Your luxury boat made in the ethnic style of Kerala has a living room open to the landscape, rooms with showers and toilets and a kitchen. You will enjoy the tranquility of the inland waters. This cruise will take you through the narrow canals, skirting villages, green rice fields, coconut farms, temples, churches. You can admire the “snake boats”, the coconut beer bar, the village of Kuttanad, the lifestyle of the villagers and their activities around the coconut fiber. The meals served on board will be typical dishes of Kerala. Enjoy candlelight dinner and you will be served with continental breakfast or Kerala style breakfast. Night on board in air-conditioned room

After breakfast, you will be driven to Kovalam, to beautiful beaches. Free day. Night in Kovalam.

Enjoy your day on the beautiful Kovalam Beach planted with coconut trees bordering the Arabian Sea on the other. Night in Kovalam.

After an early breakfast, you will visit the Southern most part of India, Kanyakumari (former Cape Comorin). It is the confluence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. En route, visit the Padmanabhapuram Palace. Arriving in Kanyakumari, you will take a boat trip to discover the Swami Vivekananda memorial, the statue of Thiruvalluvar. In the evening, enjoy the sunset view in Kovalam where you will spend the night.

It’s time to pack your bags and leave with unforgettable memories of India. You will be accompanied to Trivandrum airport to catch your return flight.