|
|
|
 |
| |
|
Explore
the rich heritage of culture and tradition that pervades Southern India
on this trip: Ancient temples exquisitely carved out of stone, religious
traditions that have sprouted a thriving culture of music, dance and
art, broad sandy beaches fringed by coconut palms, gentle hills dotted
by coffee and tea plantations and so much more. Visit Hindu temples that
are more than a thousand years old, Jewish synagogues from the 16th
century and Catholic churches that are even older – all a part of the
wonder that is India! Gently cruise through lush green backwaters of
Kerala and take a ride on a 19th century mountain train and
explore the amazing diversity of landscapes that India offers. |
|
Ancient beach temple in South India |
Trip Highlights include:
-
UNESCO World Heritage listed Nilgiri Mountain
Railway
-
Mahabalipuram, ancient rock sculptures on the
beach
-
Pondicherry, once a French colony in India
-
Medieval temples of Tanjore and Madurai
-
Periyar National Park, wildlife reserve in
Kerala
-
Cochin, spice trading port since the 13th
century
-
Mysore, famous for its silk, sandalwood and
palaces
-
Belur & Halebid, spectacular temple architecture
-
Bangalore, India's garden city at the cutting
edge of technology
|
|
Trip Itinerary |
| Day 1: Depart US |
Shortly after midnight today, catch your Singapore Airlines flight
to Asia. Arrive in Singapore the next day, after crossing the
International Dateline. |
| Day 2: Chennai (Madras) |
After a few hours layover in Singapore take an evening flight to
Madras (Chennai). |
| Day 3: Chennai - Mahabalipuram -
Pondicherry |
Start exploring South India by visiting Mahabalipuram , famous for
its temples with ancient rock sculptures just next to the beach.
Although the sculptures have been eroded by the winds and waves for
more than a thousand years, they still remain very impressive.
Later, arrive in Pondicherry, the former French colony with its
distinctive streets, houses and ornamental gardens as well as the
Aurobindo Ashram, a center for international living. |
| Day 4: Pondicherry - Tanjore |
The Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram is significant, for its
architectural splendor, rich traditions of worship and ceremony and
its association with classical Indian music and dance. Continue
onwards to the ancient temple at Darasuram, well known for its
exquisite stone carving. Later arrive in Tanjore, another major
temple city in the South. |
| Day 5: Tanjore |
Famous for another spectacular, thousand year old Shiva temple ,
Tanjore is a witness to the period's brilliant achievements in
architecture, sculpture, painting, and bronze casting. |
| Day 6: Tanjore - Madurai |
Leaving Tanjore head towards Trichy for a visit to the famous Rock
Fort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a rocky outcrop.
Continue to Madurai, and its landmark Meenakshi Temple with 985
pillars, each exquisitely carved. Many of these are hewn from a
single block of granite, and each produces a different musical tone
when tapped! The city is crammed with shops and street markets,
famous for its traditional handicrafts in bronze and brass. |
| Day 7: Madurai - Periyar |
Leaving the plains and temples behind, travel through the highlands
to Kerala. With its expanse of tea and spice plantations, pristine
valleys and forests, this was a haven of peace and quiet, then as
now. Continue through the verdant countryside to the wildlife
reserve of Lake Periyar; here, during an afternoon cruise on the
lake you may see herds of wild elephants, exotic birds and other
animals. |
| Day 8: Periyar - Kumarakom |
After another boat ride through the National Park early this
morning, head for the coast. Drive past miles of rubber and coconut
plantations before arriving at Lake Vembanad, with its meandering
lagoons, mangroves and backwaters - a truly unique landscape. A boat
ride takes you to your lakeside hotel. |
| Day 9: Kumarakom |
Enjoy a free day at your resort. |
| Day 10: Kumarakom - Cochin |
Enjoy another cruise through the tranquil backwaters today, before
continuing to the port city of Cochin, one of the oldest European
settlements in India. History comes alive as you visit a Jewish
Synagogue originally built in 1344, a Catholic church where the
explorer Vasco da
Gama was buried in 1524 and a Dutch palace built by the Portuguese! |
| Day 11: Cochin to Mettupalaiyam |
Enjoy a free day in Cochin. Later this evening take an overnight
train to Mettupalaiyam.
|
| Day 12: Mettupalaiyam to Ooty |
From Mettupalaiyam
take a spectacular mountain train journey, listed as a UNESCO World
Heritage site, which winds its way
through many curves and tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines
full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens to Ooty.
"Ooty" also known as Udagamandalam, is a picturesque town in the
hills of Nilgiris, which means "Blue Mountains". |
| Day 13: Ooty - Mysore |
In the afternoon continue to Mysore, a former capital city famous
for its silk, sandal-wood and incense trade, besides its traditions
of South Indian music and culture. |
| Day 14: Mysore - Hassan |
After visiting the former royal palace in Mysore, travel by road to
Hassan.
Visit two extraordinary 12th century temple
complexes today: Belur, once the capital of the Hoysala Empire, is
famous for its exquisite temples with intricate sculptures and
friezes that took 103 years to build! The walls of the Hoysaleswara
Temple in Halebid are covered with endless sculptures of gods and
goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls, no two of which are the
same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi bull - was never
completed, despite 86 years of labor. |
| Day 15: Hassan - Bangalore -
Singapore |
Leave Hassan late this morning and head towards Bangalore, the
information technology hub of India. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour
of Bangalore, famous for its pretty gardens, temples and monuments
before you have some free time for last minute shopping. Late this
evening you will be transferred to the airport for your overnight flight to Singapore. |
| Day 16: Singapore - USA |
Land
in Singapore early this morning, and after a brief transit stop, fly
back to the US where you arrive on the same day. |
|
|
|
Chennai (Madras), Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry,
Tanjore, Madurai, Periyar, Cochin, Ooty, Mysore, Hassan, Belur, Halebid, Bangalore |
|
16 Days from $3,349 |
| |
 |
| |
2010/11
Departures |
Silver
Hotels |
Gold
Hotels |
|
4/1 - 6/4 |
$3,149 |
$3,469 |
|
6/5 - 8/20 |
$3,379 |
$3,699 |
|
8/21 - 8/31 |
$3,189 |
$3,519 |
|
9/1 - 12/5 |
$3,459 |
$3,999 |
|
12/6 - 12/12 |
$3,779 |
$4,359 |
|
12/13 - 12/23 |
$3,889 |
$4,429 |
|
12/24 - 12/31 |
$3,829 |
$4,389 |
|
1/1 - 3/31/11 |
$3,549 |
$4,159 |
|
|
Departs Daily |
|
We offer two categories
of accommodation:
Silver
hotels are carefully selected for their excellent value - all rooms
have private facilities.
Gold
hotels are better located, offer more spacious rooms with better
amenities and a higher standard of service.
The departure date determines the price applicable. All prices
are per person and based on twin-share accommodation.
A $100 fee applies for bookings made within 30 days of the
departure date. Airport taxes, meals
(other than those indicated), personal expenses and travel insurance
are not included |
|
| |
| |
|
Ornate temple tower in Madurai |
| |
|
Animal Carts are a common sight |
| |
|
South Indian classical dancer |
|
|
|
Backwaters of Kerala |
|
