11 Days South

Assistance when arriving at CHENNAI (MADRAS) airport. Orientation tour of Chennai. Visit of
San Thome Basilica, also known as “Saint Thomas Mount”. Built in the 16th century by the
Portuguese, then remodeled into a cathedral, it would house the relics of the saint in its crypt.
The cathedral also has a statue of the Virgin Mary, about 90 cm high, brought from Portugal in
1543. And also visit Fort Saint-Georges which was built in 1654, the British presence in the
south was gradually organized. from India. With the departure of the English, this central role
has continued since today, the Fort houses part of the regional administration of Tamil Nadu.
Then Road to MAHABALIPURAM, installation at the hotel.

MAHABALIPURAM is located on the Tamil coast; the Pallava dynasty created a trading port
there, from where it exported, in the 7th and 8th centuries, its culture and civilization to
Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam. Visit the site made up of numerous temples, a
huge bas-relief fresco, carved caves with high reliefs dealing with the myths of Hinduism.
Discovery of the Descent of the Ganges also called "the penance of Arjuna", grandiose fresco
carved in bas-relief in a rock wall, of all the five Rathas, monolithic temples dug into the
granite rock, of the Shore Temple , emblematic image of Mahabalipuram, built at the end of an
immense beach of fine sand, facing the ocean.

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Road to KANCIPURAM, the "City of Gold" which was the capital of the dynasty
Pallava, in the 7th and 8th centuries. It remains one of the seven holy cities of Hinduism (the

two great currents of Hinduism, Shaivism and Vishnuism are represented there in equal parts)
It is a sacred city both for its religious centers which, from before the Christian era, welcomed
Buddhism and Jainism; it is nicknamed the city of 1000 temples because it still has no less than
125. Under the reign of the Pallava, the city became the center of the revival of Hinduism in
the South. Kanchipuram will also tell you about the colors of its saris and the art of silk
weaving, with a visit to a factory. Visit the temple of Ekambareshvara, its mandapam, hall with
a thousand pillars, Vaikuntha Perumal, built in the 8th century and dedicated to Vishnu.
Back to MAHABALIPURAM.

Free time to have fun at the beach.

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for PONDICHERY, the old French counter which seems not to have forgotten the
three centuries of French presence. It was in 1673 that François Martin, a merchant in love
with adventure, founded a counter to which he gave the name of Poudouchery (the new
village), a name which, misspelled by the scribes of Colbert, was to become Pondicherry. From
its foundation, Pondicherry was divided into a white city and a black city, separated by a canal.
Rickshaw ride in the old French quarter: the Lycée Français, the French School of the Far East,
the Church of Notre Dame des Anges, the seafront and the statue of Dupleix, etc.
Visit of the museum, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the Samadhi (cenotaph) a meditation
center located in the heart of the city. Sri Aurobindo, Bengali philosopher and poet founded,
with a French woman, the community that bears his name. He had also planned a university
city "Auroville", to accommodate scholars and artists of all nationalities. His tomb is a place of
contemplation and veneration, where a real fervor reigns.

Evening Rickshaw ride.

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Early departure for CHIDAMBARAM located halfway between Pondicherry and Tanjore. Visit of
this remarkable sacred complex characteristic of Dravidian India (Chola) of 22 ha which has
four large gopurams dedicated to Shiva Nataraja, the king of dance. Two of the gopurams are
adorned with carvings illustrating the 108 positions of the NatyaShastra, the treatise on the
dramaturgy of Hindu ritual dances.
Continuation to Tanjore with stop en route at GANGAKONDACHOLAPURAM, where stands an
imposing stone temple of the Chola period which, by its majesty and splendor, recalls that of
Tanjore. Raja Rajendra I, powerful Chola king, founded his new capital, and the magnificent

Temple of Lord Siva, nestled in a coconut grove. It is famous for its architecture and rich
sculptures. Passing in front of the great Nandi and the impressive Dwarapalika, you can admire
admirable bas-reliefs associated with the worship of Shiva, his wife Parvati and their son
Skanda.

Night at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart for Tiruchirapalli, located in central Tamil Nadu on the bank of the Cauvery River also
known as “TRICHY”.
Visit of the Vishnuite sanctuary of Srirangam, a true religious city surrounded by 7 enclosures
equipped with 21 monumental gopurams. It is the largest temple in Tamil Nadu.
In the afternoon, return to Tanjore. Explore the city: the temple of Brihadishwara, still in
operation, dedicated to the god Shiva (listed as World Heritage by UNESCO). This granite
sanctuary soars 70 meters high and is surmounted by a monolithic dome weighing 80 tons.
Visit of the very remarkable art gallery in the former Nayak Palace, dating from the 16th
century.

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Road to Madurai. On arrival Installation at the hotel.

Evening stroll in the local bazaar on foot.

Night at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the Palace of Tirumalai Nayak, founded in 1636. Discovery of the flower, fruit and
vegetable market.

In the evening, visit the temple of Sri Meenakshi (Tuk-Tuk ride to the temple of Meenakshi), a
masterpiece of Dravidian architecture which impresses with its gigantism and its abundance of
colors, with its 11 gopurams which spring from the above the rooftops

You will then attend the religious ceremony of Aarti, which Hindus practice to thank their
divinity.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Road to the PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK, located in the heart of the mountains of KERALA,
nicknamed the "Country of God." You cross tea, rubber and spice plantations and arrive in the
foothills of Nilgiri, the Blue Mountains.
Boat trip on Periyar Lake, (subject to operation or walk in the park). The park includes an
artificial lake of 26 km², created by the British in 1895 to supply water to Madurai, and which
extends to Tamil Nadu. It is home to bison, antelope, sambar, wild boar, monkeys,
semnopithecines as well as a wide variety of birds and some 750 elephants.
Walk in a spice plantation.
Night at the hotel.Breakfast at the hotel.
Road to the PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK, located in the heart of the mountains of KERALA,
nicknamed the "Country of God." You cross tea, rubber and spice plantations and arrive in the
foothills of Nilgiri, the Blue Mountains.
Boat trip on Periyar Lake, (subject to operation or walk in the park). The park includes an
artificial lake of 26 km², created by the British in 1895 to supply water to Madurai, and which
extends to Tamil Nadu. It is home to bison, antelope, sambar, wild boar, monkeys,
semnopithecines as well as a wide variety of birds and some 750 elephants.
Walk in a spice plantation.
Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Road to Alleppey, arriving boarding on your "HOUSEBOAT".
Lunch on board.
Boat trip on the back waters (lagoons and canals) of Kerala through villages and rice fields. All
along the coast of Kerala, sometimes sinking quite far inland, a series of lagoons, lakes, rivers
and canals dictate to the inhabitants of the region a very particular lifestyle, and constitute
traffic routes fascinating.
One cannot visit Kerala without spending some time navigating these waters. You will cross
shallow lakes bordered by palm trees, punctuated by Chinese squares and navigate along
narrow and shaded canals from where you will witness the loading of coir (coconut fiber),
copra (coconut kernel stripped of its shell and desiccated ) and cashews on barges.
In turn you will discover what makes the specificity of this charming town: fruit market,
temples, old houses along the canals. The peaceful town of Alleppey (Alappuzha in
Malayalam) stretches along canals lined with beautiful old trading houses. Between ocean
and rivers, this little green Venice is the scene, in August, of famous regattas reminiscent of
the maritime and warlike traditions of Kerala of yesteryear: the Nehru Cup Snake Boat Race.
On this occasion, countless "snake-boats" moved by hundreds of rowers protected by
glittering silk umbrellas compete under the gaze of thousands of spectators.
Dinner and night on board your “HOUSEBOAT”.

Breakfast on board.
Disembarkation and drive to COCHIN/KOCHI, "the Queen of the Arabian Sea", the largest
natural port in India. It is here that the first European "settlers" settled in India around 1500,
led by Vasco da Gama. A former Portuguese and then Dutch counter, the city is renowned for
its bay and the spectacle of the large fishing nets deployed (Chinese nets). Rich in its historic
past and superbly built on a group of islands and a narrow lagoon coastline, the fascinating
city of Kochi perfectly reflects the eclecticism of Kerala. You will discover the oldest European
church in India, winding streets lined with pretty Portuguese houses five hundred years old.

Visit of Fort Cochin, is beautifully located between the Arabian Sea and an estuary dotted
with islets. The natural harbor is bordered by graceful Chinese nets, large dispatch nets held
by long sticks and maneuvered by hand.
Discovery of OLD COCHIN:
The Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays) whose name was given following the renovations
carried out by the Dutch after 1663; it houses some of India's finest paintings. On the first
floor, the coronation room contains objects that belonged to the ruler of Cochin, Raja Veera
Kerala Varma (1537-1561).
The Church of Saint Francis, the oldest Indian church built by Europeans, was built in 1503 by
Portuguese Franciscan monks who accompanied the expedition led by Pedro Alvarez Cabral.
The Synagogue (closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays) founded in 1568, partly
destroyed during the Portuguese assault of 1662. It was restored two years later by the Dutch
who became masters of the city.
Kathakali show in the evening.
Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to your destination.

45 – 30 DAYS 25% travel price per person
29 – 16 DAYS 50% travel price per person
15 – 08 DAYS 75% travel price per person
07 – 02 DAYS 90% travel price per person
DAY 01 or no arrival 100% of travel price