Private Immersive culture tour of South India with guide & hotels

Day 1 Arrival and Bharatnatyam

1. 1

   Chennai (Madras)

   1 hour 30 min

   430 pm- Hotel pick up
   530 pm- Bharatanatyam Dance session
   Bharatanatyam is a unique ancient art from the temples of Tamil Nadu. Our instructor will introduce this dance form through mythical stories and spiritual ideas. Guests will learn the language, concepts, and history of this dance form.
   The demonstration will be followed by a learning session. Guests will learn to narrate an episode in a story through Bharatnatyam!

Day 2 Chennai city highlights

1. 1

   Fort St. George

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   2PM- We head towards Saint Fort George, the first English Fortress built in 1644 by the East India Company. We will visit St Mary’s Church, the oldest Anglican Church of India. We will also visit a quaint museum rich with relics of the colonial times.

2. 2

   Arulmigu Thiruvallikeni Parthasarathy Temple

   45 min Admission ticket included

   Parthasarathy Temple
   We visit Parthasarthy Temple, the 9th century architectural marvel. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu the Hindu god of preservation, there are many legends around this temple which will be brought alive during the visit.

3. 3

   Marina Beach

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We visit Marina, the world’s second longest beach and listen to the story of Chennai. Sip in the festivity and learn the legacy of the City through its statues. Experience the city's beliefs at Parthasarthy Temple. Climb an old Light House for an incredible perspective of Chennai!

Day 3 Kanchipuram

1. 1

   Ekambareswarar Temple

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We head towards Kanchipuram, located 75 KM away. We will stop on the way for breakfast and reach our destination by 9 AM. Kanchipuram was the capital of the medieval South Indian Kingdom of Pallavas. The Pallavas were instrumental in the transition from rock-cut architecture to stone temples. We visit Ekambareswarar to appreciate these architectural wonders built in 600 AD.

2. 2

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   Kailasanathar temple was built in 7th century AD and is famous for its magnificent Vimana, the gopuram over the Sanctum Sanctorum. It speaks volumes of architectural beauty that flourished in the reign of Pallava Kings. The temple is adorned with many interesting sculptures of Lord Shiva in 64 postures, which presents a picture of different aspects in mythology. The fresco paintings are beautifully embellished in the inner walls of the shrine.

3. 3

   Kanchipuram

   1 hour

   Kanchipuram is renowned for its magnificent Silk Sarees. Silk Sarees are a cultural icon in South India. Ranging in length from 6-9 yards, these Sarees are worn by women during auspicious occasions like a wedding or a birthday. There are more than 5000 families who are into the business of silk weaving. The sarees are weaved from pure mulberry silk thread. We will visit one such Weaver and it will be a memorable experience.

4. 4

   Mahabalipuram

   A 2 hour drive will bring us to Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram was known to be a trading post during Roman Times. It rose to prominence as a bustling sea port during the rule of the Pallava Dynasty headquartered in Kanchipuram during the 7th century AD. Ships sailing from South India to South East Asia used to depart from the Mahabalipuram port.
   330PM-Pancha Ratha

5. 5

   Pancha Rathas

   45 min Admission ticket included

   Panch Rathas, or the 5 chariots is our first destination. These are rock cut monolith temples dedicated to Draupadi and the 5 Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata.

6. 6

   Arjuna's Penance

   30 min Admission ticket included

   We visit Arjuna’s Penance, a 100 feet x 45 feet bas relief where an entire masterpiece from the Mahabharata epic has been carved.

7. 7

   Krishna's Butter Ball

   30 min Admission ticket included

   The next halt is at Krishna’s Butterball, a curious sight of a 5 meters diameter ball shaped boulder which is perched precariously on a slope and seems to defy Newton’s laws of gravity!

Day 4 Shore temple and Pondicherry

1. 1

   Shore Temple

   45 min Admission ticket included

   The magnificent Shore temple beckons us. This 8th century structural temple is made of granite and served as a beacon for sea farers of the time.

2. 2

   Auroville

   1 hour

   We drive 90 minutes to Auroville, the radical concept of a global village where thousands of people from across the world have given up their nationalities and are living as global citizens.
   Auroville was conceived with the vision that- “There should be a somewhere on earth, a place which no nation could claim as its own, where all human beings of goodwill who have a sincere aspiration could live freely as citizens of the world and obey one single authority, that of the supreme truth; a place of peace, concord and harmony…”.
   Guests will also get to see the various ways in which its citizens practice sustainable way of life.

3. 3

   Sri Aurobindo Ashram

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   Sri Aurobindo Ghosh is arguably the most famous citizen of Pondicherry. The tour begins with a visit to his memorial at the Aurobindo Ashram. Guests will get a brief experience of his life and times as well as his philosophy and revolutionary ideas. The memorial also has a section on Sri Aurobindo’s famous disciple Mirra Alfassa. It is the perfect place for meditation.

4. 4

   1 hour

   A French heritage walk is organized through the heart of the city where one can see glimpses of exquisite French style of architecture. This heritage walk will help you appreciate the French connection with Pondicherry.

Day 5 Chola Kingdom of Tanjore

1. 1

   Thanjavur

   We travel 165 KMs to reach the temple town of Tanjore.

2. 2

   Thanjavur Royal Palace and Art Gallery

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   Our destination is the Grand Palace of Thanjavur. Built during the Nayak rule the palace was repaired during the rule of the Marathas. Walk through the queen’s courtyard and witness divine scenes painted on the walls of the Durbar Hall. Also, search for the underground passage in this palace. There is also the Royal Museum, a gallery and the Saraswati Mahal Library stationed within the palace complex.

3. 3

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We visit the famous Brihadeeswara Temple. It is one of the greatest architectural creations in India. Popularly called as Thanjavur Big Temple it is a sculptor's dream, a historian's mine, a dancer's vision and a sociologist's scoop! The Thanjavur Big temple, which recently completed its 1000th birthday in 2010, remains the finest specimen of Chola architecture, sculpture, bronze casting and painting.

Day 6 Madurai, capital of the Pandya Kingdom

1. 1

   Madurai

   8AM- The 190 KM distance from Tanjore to Madurai will be covered in around 3 hours.

2. 2

   Gandhi Memorial Museum

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   3PM- Gandhi Museum
   We will visit Gandhi Museum. The building that houses the Gandhi Memorial Museum is the historic Tamukkam Palace belonging to Rani Mangammal of Nayak Dynasty built about 1670 A.D.

3. 3

   Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We visit the magnificent Thirumala Nayakar Palace. This was build by the Nayak Kings in 1636.

4. 4

   Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We visit the Madurai Meenakshi Temple, one of the largest Temples of the World and an Architectural marvel. Over the last 2500 years Madurai Meenakshi Temple has been the lifeline of the City of Madurai. Madurai Meenakshi Temple has played a crucial role in promoting Tamil Art, Music, Dance & Culture. In fact, Madurai Meenakshi Temple is supposed to have been the host of the third assembly of Tamil Sangam, the ancient Literature Meet. As many as 30000 sculptures can be found in the Madurai Meenakshi temple.

Day 7 Kochi, Kerala

1. 1

   Kochi (Cochin)

   730 AM- We checkout from Madurai and drive 300 KM to reach Kochi by 3PM.

2. 2

   Great K V Kathakali Center

   1 hour 30 min Admission ticket included

   6-730PM- This is a performance of Kathakali the dance form of Kerala. Kathakali is a dance drama which originated in the 17th century. Dancers get a fantastic makeup and then tell a story, often from the epic Ramayana, through their dance. You will get to see the main performance of the dancers.

Day 8 Alleppey backwaters

1. 1

   24 hours Admission ticket included

   11AM- Check into House boat. We start cruising through the lakes; enjoy the panoramic views and the glimpses of the life along the banks. We also visit a historic church. All meals are organised in the house boat itself. We anchor at night in the backwaters.

Day 9 Houseboat and Kochi

1. 1

   3 hours Admission ticket included

   Cruise starts in the morning through various canals. Check out by 9.00 AM at Alleppey.

2. 2

   Kochi (Cochin)

   We depart for Kochi. The journey will take 2 hours.

3. 3

   Kerala Folklore Museum

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We visit Kerala Folklore museum. Its an architectural and ethnographic museum. This is a treasure trove of stone, wood and bronze sculptures, ancient terracotta, Stone Age objects, jewelry, paintings, oil lamps, musical instruments, tribal and folk art, wood works, utensils, masks and traditional art forms etc. The folklore theatre also features traditional art performances.

4. 4

   Mattancherry Palace

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We visit the Mattancherry Palace. Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the Palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. The palace with a Bhagavathi Temple in the central courtyard is built like the typical Kerala style mansion - the Nalukettu - the home of the aristocracy, nobility and upper classes, with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard. The double storeyed palace building stands by the panoramic Kochi backwaters.

5. 5

   1 hour

   830PM- Flight to Bangalore from Kochi
   Arrival in Bangalore at 930PM.

Day 10 Bangalore city highlights

1. 1

   Bangalore Palace

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   Rest in the first half of the day.
   3PM- The Bangalore Palace belonging to the Wodeyar Kings of Mysore is a majestic structure built in Tudor Style. The Palace has fortified towers, battlements and turrets. Interiors look regal with elegant wood carvings, floral motifs, and relief paintings.

2. 2

   ISKCON Temple Bangalore

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Its core beliefs are based on select traditional Hindu scriptures, particularly the Bhagavad-gītāand the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. ISKCON was formed to spread the practice of bhakti yoga, in which those involved (bhaktas) dedicate their thoughts and actions towards pleasing the Supreme Lord, Krishna. ISKCON today is a worldwide confederation of more than 550 centres.
   We will visit the magnificent temple here located on a hill.

Day 11 World heritage site of Hampi

1. 1

   Hampi

   We travel 350 KM to Hampi
   2PM- Check in to Hampi

2. 2

   30 min Admission ticket included

   Badavi Linga is the biggest of all lingas in Hampi. It is made of black stone and rises 12 feet in height. A canal passes through it and hence it’s always in water.

3. 3

   Statue of Ugra Narsimha

   30 min Admission ticket included

   You can find the biggest idol of Hampi, a few feet from Badavi Linga. Ugra Narasimha is 22 feet in height and was carved by a Brahmin during Krishnadevaraya’s time. There is a serpent with open hood at the back of the head

4. 4

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We will also visit Balakrishna temple and then visit Hemunta hill. This hill has many ancient temples and is also a good place for sunset.

5. 5

   Virupaksha Temple

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We visit the magnificent Virupaksha temple It is from the Hoysala period and is the oldest temple in Hampi. The temple tower has eleven storeys and goes up 165 ft in height. The river Tungabhadra flows inside.

Day 12 Wold heritage sites of Hampi

1. 1

   Vijaya Vittala Temple

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   Vijaya Vittala temple is probably the grandest masterpiece around. It is constructed on a polyhedron foundation. Right at the front is the world renowned stone chariot made of rough quartz. You will spot figures of soldiers, hunters and even foreign visitors like Portuguese and Arabs etched on the chariot.
   The musical pillars of the temple is one of the greatest work of art by mankind.

2. 2

   30 min Admission ticket included

   King’s Balance is the next destination. This is a huge stone frame east of Purandara Mantapa. A stone beam is placed on two pillars of stone. Legend has it that the generous Kings of Vijayanagara used to weigh them with gold and gems and distribute it among the poor.

3. 3

   45 min

   Guests can choose to take a Coracle ride on the river at extra cost

4. 4

   Queen's Bath

   45 min Admission ticket included

   We will visit the Royal enclosures. Some of the memorable structures here are the Elephant stables, Queen’s bath and the Lotus mahal.

5. 5

   Zanana Enclosure

   45 min Admission ticket included

   We will also visit the Zanana Enclosure , which was the place for the royal women.

6. 6

   1 hour

   We visit Anegundi village for the cave paintings. The paintings here date back to the Iron Age around 1500 BC.

Day 13 Drive to Royal Kingdom of Mysore

1. 1

   Mysuru (Mysore)

   We drive 425 KM over 8 hours to Mysore.

Day 14 Exploring the Royal Kingdom of Mysore

1. 1

   Mysuru Palace

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We visit the grand Mysore Palace and spend the next couple of hours in this wonder built in Indo-Saracenic style with a blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. The Palace is a three-storied stone structure, with marble domes and a 145 ft five-storied tower. The guided tour will take you through the Public Hall, Private Hall, Dolls Pavilion and the Royal Wedding Hall.

2. 2

   Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum

   45 min Admission ticket included

   Next in our Cultural tour to Mysore, we visit India’s first sand sculpture museum. Conceived and built by Gowri, a leading sand sculptor, the sand museum took 4 months and 115 loads construction sand to build. There are 16 themes with 150 sculptures on display.

3. 3

   Chamundi Hills

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We will visit the temple on top of a hill which is the patron deity of the Wodeyar Kings of Mysore. Spectacular views of the Mysore city greet us on the top.

Day 15 Srirangapatnam, Somnathpur and return to Bangalore

1. 1

   Srirangapatna

   We reach the historical town of Sri Rangapatnam which was the capital of Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, in the 18th century. We will trace his life from the day he fought a tiger and killed it with a dagger, his brave battles with the British, his administrative and economic reforms and his pioneering usage of rockets in warfare. He is credited with being a pioneer in using rockets for warfare and the British later improvised on his technology during the World War I.

2. 2

   Dariya Daulat Palace - Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   We visit Dariya Daulat Bagh, the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan. It is built in Indo-Sarcenic style and has a few magnificent murals depicting the war of Tipu with the British. The most famous exhibit here is the famous painting “Storming of Srirangapatna” by Sir Robert Ker Porter.

3. 3

   Somnathpur Temple

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   Our next destination is Somnathpur which has the magnificent Chennakesava temple. This temple was built in 1268 by Somanatha, a general of King Narasimha III. We will explore the three shrines and three wonderfully carved peaks with a common Mandapa. Time is well spent here appreciating the 16 different ceilings, each depicting a different stage of a blooming banana flower, the central wall space adorned with images of deities with jewelry, bangles, crowns and anklets.

4. 4

   A 175 Km drive over 3 hours will bring us to Bangalore Airport.
   End of tour.