Enchanting South Women’s Exclusive

• Upon your arrival at Chennai Airport, our tour executive will extend a cordial welcome and transport you to Mahabalipuram, which is located on the Coromandel Coast and overlooks the Bay of Bengal. Once you have checked into your hotel, you are free to unwind and decompress. Overnight stay at Mahabalipuram.

• After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram, begin by visiting one of the oldest temples in south India. It belongs to the early 8th century AD and is a good example of an early temple constructed in a Dravidian style. The tour continues with a visit to the Five Rathas, where each of the five temples are created in a different style but resemble chariots. They were found hidden by sand 200 years ago and excavated. Four of the Rathas are supposed to have been taken from a single rock formation. Arjuna’s Penance, the world’s largest bas carving and wonderful depictions of Hindu mythology. The huge whaleback shaped rock contains figures of Gods, Demigods, men, beasts, birds and in fact represents creation. Just to the northwest visit the Ganesh Ratha which is a shrine to Ganesh the elephant god and nearby is a huge boulder known as Krishna’s butter ball. This boulder does not move but seems to balance quite precariously. The Mandapas which are also nearby and scattered over the main hill are amongst the earliest of the rock cut temples. Afternoon at leisure to have a massage, walk on the beach or browse the many textile and handcraft shops. Overnight Mahabalipuram.

• Morning drive to Pondicherry which has a fascinating history closely tied to the French and their imperial aspirations in India. The French connection has survived Pondicherry’s union with the Indian republic through language, food and the many visitors and residents of French origin. On arrival check in your hotel and later visit the Aurobindo Ashram and the French Quarter. In the evening you can wander in the markets or stroll along the beach promenade. Overnight Pondicherry.

• Wake up early to enjoy a cycle tour through Pondicherry. This tour is held from 7 to 9 AM, when the air is still fresh and the city just awakes. The tour will be from residential area to the seashore via Gourbet Market and the historical city hearing tips and stories from daily life and local culture of this unique city in India. Later start your drive to Kumbakonam. Enroute visit the famous UNESCO Monuments at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram. In Darasuram, you have the opportunity to visit the Silk weaving village. Later, you can visit the Bronze statue making unit, for which this area is famous. Continue a short distance to Tanjore and visit the Brihadeswara Temple, which is also a UNESCO Monument. Overnight at Tanjore

Travel to Trichy via the “Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu” following breakfast. Visit Amma Mandapam by the Cauvery River upon your arrival, where you will be able to enjoy a view of the Rock Fort Temple and Sri Rangam Temple. Experience the traditional art of Mehandi by applying henna paste to your hands to create intricate designs. Drive to Chettinadu in the late afternoon, making a halt at a distinctive village temple that features brightly painted terracotta animal offerings. Proceed to Kannudakathan for lunch and check-in. Explore the region’s renowned arts and crafts, such as hand-made mosaics, silver embellishment, and wood carving. Stay in Chettinadu for the night.

• Visit the local markets and the temples, observe the local craft of tile-making at Athangudi, Wood carving and Hand weaving of Kandangi sarees at Karaikudi. Kanadukathan is a perfect place to slow down, walk the quiet streets and meet the local people. You will also enjoy the bullock cart ride in the streets of this region. Overnight Chettinadu.

• Leisurely start your drive to Madurai, which is popularly known as the city that never sleeps. On arrival visit Gandhi Museum and later check in your hotel. Be prepared for getting the Gastronomical experience in the evening. After lunch proceed to visit the Nayak Palace and later enjoy the Madurai food safari tour where you will be taken to different restaurants to taste the local flavor and also visit a couple of road-side eateries. This tour will take around 3 hours from 6-9pm using various forms of local transport to travel between your food sampling activities. Overnight Madurai.

Early morning visit Vanakkam Madurai walking tour in the morning, which commences at 6 AM and lasts for 2 hours. Away from the typical tourist attractions, this private, interactive tour provides an immersive experience of the culture and daily life of Madurai. A member of the Vanakkam Madurai Team will provide you with an overview of the local society, traditions, street vendors, residences, and markets. Visit the renowned Meenakshi Amman Temple to conclude the morning. Later visit the doll-making and weaving facilities in Vilachery, which is located near Madurai, following lunch. An overnight sojourn in Madurai.

• Today bid goodbye to Tamilnadu and drive to Kerala, abundant in nature and popularly known as “God’s Own Country”. The hills around Periyar are also a superb growing environment for many of the spices for which Kerala is famous. On arrival check in your hotel and later visit a local spice garden. A guided walk around one of these gardens will give visitors an insight into the history of the spice trade, as well as the many uses of these health-giving plants in traditional and modern medicine as well as their more well-known culinary uses. The wonderfully pungent aromas of some plants are obvious as soon as you start to walk around the garden, while others reveal their properties only when tasted. Others still such as vanilla require quite a lot of processing before they attain their familiar aroma and appearance. The production techniques and farming practices which are used to grow the various spices will also be touched on. There are also many great places to purchase spices to take home if you wish. In the evening watch the tribal dance performance or a Kalaripayyat – martial arts demonstration. Overnight Periyar

• Descend from the hills to the backwaters , wide canals that meander inland from the coast where trade has occurred for generations. The lush green landscape is perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation. Settle in to your resort on the edge of the backwaters Ayurveda massage and Yoga classes are available here. Overnight Alleppey.

• Day at leisure for massages and pampering. Late afternoon head out on a motor boat to enjoy the sunset over the backwaters. Overnight Alleppey.

• Transfer to Cochin.  On your way to Cochin, visit a local school, a coir yarn/mat processing unit, a matchstick making unit, a church, a local tea shop, and the picturesque paddy fields or fish farm areas. After lunch, complete your short drive to Cochin. Upon arrival, check into your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Kathakali dance performance, a 400-year-old Kerala art form known for its elaborate costumes, makeup, and expressive gestures. Arrive early to witness the actors’ makeup process, followed by a brief history and explanation of the dance. The performance, lasting about 90 minutes, will depict a scene from the Mahabharata or the Ramayana. This striking art form is sure to be an unforgettable highlight of your trip. Overnight stay in Cochin.

• Your tour of Fort Cochin will be done partly on foot and partly by auto rickshaw. The various historical sites and markets are spread out allowing you the oppor-tunity to see some of the local life between sightseeing stops. The Jewish Syna-gogue was built in 1568 AD. The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament, the copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers were recorded and the exquisite Chinese hand-painted tiles are interesting features here. Later visit Dutch Palace and the Chinese fishing nets, which still use the same design as passed down by the Chinese migrants in the 16th century. Have the afternoon at leisure to explore antique shops, walk along the waterfront or book in for a facial or massage Your final dinner will be a special seafood meal, making the most of all the fresh ingredients at hand. Overnight Cochin

Today breakfast check out from the hotel and you will transfer you to the airport for your flight home or on to your onward journey.