Overview
Embark on an enchanting journey through the "Temples, Backwaters & Palaces of South India." Commence your exploration in Chennai, where colonial charm and iconic landmarks await. Journey to the ancient city of Kanchipuram, famous for its temples, before reaching the coastal haven of Mahabalipuram.
Traverse to Pondicherry, blending French influences with Indian spirituality. Discover the unique blend of history and spirituality in Darasuram, Chidambaram, and Thanjore, featuring French colonies and ancient temples. Explore the architectural wonders of Trichy, Madurai, and the tranquil Periyar.
Glide through the Alleppey backwaters on a houseboat, uncover the historic charm of Cochin, and ascend to the picturesque hill station of Ooty. Continue to Mysore, with its palaces and temples, before concluding your odyssey in Bengaluru. This journey offers a seamless blend of cultural richness, historical marvels, and the serene beauty of South India.
- Recommended by 98% of travelers
- Badge of Excellence
- Free cancellation up to 6 days before
- Mobile ticket
What's included
Private AC car/van for airport transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as per the program.
Boat Safari in Periyar National Park
Lunch
Government taxes.
Bottled drinking water in the car.
Dinner
14 Nights' accommodation (if option selected) in selected price category hotels.
Breakfast
Monument entrances and activity charges mentioned in the itinerary.
English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per the program
Assistance on arrival at the airport.
Any flight ticket.
Camera charges at monuments if any.
Meals other than mentioned in inclusions.
Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet, etc.
Gratuities and optional activities.
Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.
Meeting and pickup
Pickup is offered for all travelers.
Good to know
Hotels used or similar
Chennai x 1 night
3* - Raj Park/ MGM East Woods
4* - The Raintree/ Accord Metropolitan
5* - ITC Grand Chola/ The Leela Palace
Mahabalipuram x 1 night
3* - INDeco Hotels/ Mamalla Beach Resort
4* - Ideal Beach Resort/ Confluence The Banquet & Resort
5* - Radisson BLU Resort Temple Bay/ Fisherman's Cove
Pondicherry x 1 night
3* - Shenbaga Hotel/ Annamalai International
4* - Le Pondy/ The Windflower Resort & Spa
5* - Palais De Mahe/ La Villa
Thnjore x 1 night
3* - Grand Gardenia/ Oriental Towers
4* - Sangam Hotels/ Ideal River View Resort
5* - Svatma
Trichy x 1 night
3* - Red Fox Hotel/ Grand Gardenia
4* & 5* - Sangam Hotels/ Ideal River View Resort
Madurai x 1 night
3* - Astoria by Sparsa/ Madurai’s Residency
4* - GRT Regency/ Fortune Pandiyan Hotel
5* - Heritage Madurai/ The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Pariyar (Thekkady) x 2 night
3* - Abad Green Forest/ Hotel Treetop
4* - The Elephant Court/ Cardamom County
5* - Spice village/ Cardamom County
Alleppey x 1 night
3* - Deluxe Houseboat
4* - Premium Houseboat
5* - Luxury Houseboat
Cochin x 1 nights
3* - The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza
4* - Casino Hotel/ The Avenue Regent
5* - Xandari Harbour/ Le Meridien
Ooty x 1 nights
3* - Monarch Hotel/ Hotel Darshan
4* - Fortune Resort Sullivan Court/ Sinclairs Retreat
5* - Savoy - IHCL SeleQtions/ Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel
Mysore x 2 nights
3* - Southern Star/Sandesh The Prince
4* - Fortune Park JP Palace/ Grand Mercure
5* - Royal Orchid Brindavan Garden/The Windflower Resort & Spa
Bangalore x 1 nights
3* - Ramada/ The Rialto
4* - Fortune Select JP Cosmos/ Lemon Tree Premier Ulsoor Lake
5* - ITC Gardenia, a Luxury Collection/ ITC Windsor a Luxury Collection
What to expect
Day 1 Arrive Chennai
-
Chennai District
Arrival Chennai airport assistance and transfer to hotel.
-
Marina Beach
4 hours Admission ticket included
Later sightseeing of colonial Chennai which includes Churches, Fort, Museum and government buildings. Also visit Marina beach.
Day 2 Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram (120kms/ 3hrs approx)
-
Kanchipuram
2 hours
Breakfast at hotel drive to Mahabalipuram via visiting Kanchipuram Temples. Arrive Mahabalipuram check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach.
Day 3 Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry (100kms/ 2hrs approx)
-
Mahabalipuram
4 hours
Breakfast at hotel visit temple and monuments at Mahabalipuram. Afternoon drive to Pondicherry check in at hotel.
Day 4 Pondicherry - Darasuram - Chidambaram - Thanjore (185kms/ 4hrs approx)
-
Pondicherry
4 hours
Breakfast at hotel sightseeing of French colony, churches, Temple and Aurobindo Ashram.
-
Chidambaram
2 hours
Drive to Thanjore via visiting Darasuram & Chidambaram Temple. On arrival check in & overnight at hotel.
Day 5 Thanjore - Trichy (60kms/ 1.5hrs approx)
-
4 hours
Breakfast at hotel visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Thanjore Fort.
-
Rock Fort Temple
2 hours Admission ticket included
Drive to Trichy check in at hotel. Later visit Rock Fort Temple & Srirangam Temple.
Day 6 Trichy - Madurai (140kms/ 3hrs approx)
-
Madurai
2 hours
Breakfast at hotel drive to Madurai heck in at hotel.
-
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
4 hours Admission ticket included
Later sightseeing of Meenakshi Temple, Tirumalai Nayak Mahal & Vaniyur Mariamman Teppakulam Temple.
Day 7 Madurai - Periyar (Thekkady)
-
Thekkady
4 hours
Breakfast at hotel drive to Periyar check in at hotel.
Late afternoon spice plantation tour and village visit.
Day 8 Periyar (Thekkady)
-
Periyar National Park
4 hours Admission ticket included
Breakfast at hotel explore the park by boat. The special animals in this region include wild elephants, nilgiri langur monkeys, sambar deer, wild bison, and colorful birds.
Day 9 Thekaddy – Alleppey (135kms/ 3hrs approx)
-
Alleppey Backwaters
2 hours Admission ticket included
Breakfast at hotel drive to Alleppey. Board a houseboat from here and glide over the enchanting backwaters of Kerala. Houseboat stay includes lunch & dinner on board.
Day 10 Alleppey – Cochin (60kms/ 1.5hrs approx)
-
Mattancherry Palace
8 hours Admission ticket included
After breakfast disembark houseboat and drive to Cochin check in at hotel. Later city tour of Cochin one of few places in India that has managed to preserve the remnants of its colonial past with utmost care. Visit The Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Jewish Synagogue and the Mattancherry Palace.
Day 11 Cochin - Ooty (280kms/ 8hrs approx)
-
Ooty (Udhagamandalam)
4 hours
Breakfast at hotel proceed to the hill station of Ooty, the capital of the Nilgiri ‘Blue Mountain’ that once enticed the British to escape the summer heat of plains. Check in at hotel and rest time to relax.
Day 12 Ooty - Mysore (140kms/ 3hrs approx)
-
Coonoor
2 hours
Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy the town and visit the well-maintained botanical gardens, which have over 1,000 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees. Also take a ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway that winds its way down through spectacular scenery and breathtaking views to the nearby town of Coonoor.
-
Mysore District
Afternoon drive to Mysore check in at hotel.
Day 13 Mysore
-
Wellesley Bridge
8 hours Admission ticket included
Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Mysore. First stop the Chamundi Hills, site of the Chamundeswari Temple and Nandi Bull as well as the vast City Palace, which was re-built by Henry Irwin during 1897 in an indo-saracenic style. Excursion to visit the temple complex at Somnathpur and the exquisite Keshava Vishnu temple, one of the finest in India, along with Srirangapatnam where Tipu Sultan was killed in battle against an East India Company army including Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington.
Day 14 Mysore - Bengaluru (150kms/ 3hrs approx)
-
Bangalore Palace
4 hours Admission ticket included
Breakfast at hotel drive to Bengaluru check in at hotel. Later half day city tour visiting Lal Bagh Garden, Vidhana Soudha and Bangalore Palace & Fort.
Day 15 Bengaluru - Departure
-
Bengaluru
Breakfast at hotel as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at least 6 full days before the start time: 100% refund.
Cancel between 2 and 6 days before the start time: 50% refund.
Cancel within 2 days of the start time: 0% refund.
Times are local to the experience (Asia/Kolkata).
Additional Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Each booking must include at least one adult.
FAQs about Temple, Backwater & Palaces of South India
How long does Temple, Backwater & Palaces of South India take?
It takes about 15 days.
Is pickup offered?
Pickup is offered for all travelers.
What's included?
- Private AC car/van for airport transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as per the program.
- Boat Safari in Periyar National Park
- Lunch
- Bottled drinking water in the car.
- Dinner
- 14 Nights' accommodation (if option selected) in selected price category hotels.
- Breakfast
- Monument entrances and activity charges mentioned in the itinerary.
What's not included?
- Any flight ticket.
- Camera charges at monuments if any.
- Meals other than mentioned in inclusions.
- Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet, etc.
- Gratuities and optional activities.
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.
Which places does it visit?
It visits Chennai District, Marina Beach, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Rock Fort Temple, Madurai.
Which languages is it offered in?
It is offered in English.
What fitness level is needed?
It is suitable for all physical fitness levels.
Is it suitable for children?
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Operated by Agora Voyages OPC Pvt. Ltd.
