Duration of South India Tour: 21 days

Group size of South India Tour: Minimum: 4, Maximum 10.

Ancient spice ports, seaside temples, tea plantations—what a colorful world southern India is! This South India Tour takes you to almost all the highlights of South India, and gets you intimate with an ancient culture. We discover Chennai, where the British built their first fort and church in India and Mahabalipuram, an awe inspiring outdoor museum of magnificent sacred architecture. We will explore tranquil rural villages with astounding temples and gigantic gopuras (towers) soaring above the palm forests and paddy fields. We will cruise on a house boat in enchanting Kerala and safari into tiger reserves to spot the elusive tiger and other mega fauna. Further, on the South India Tour, we will visit the ruins of the Vijayanagara kingdom in Hampi and explore Mysore, the city of palaces. The South India Tour ends in Goa, where you can beach bum on shady beaches with white sand and taste some excellent sea food.

If you are traveling in a group, this South India tour itinerary can be completely customized to match your budget, travel dates and interests.

On this South India Tour program we will visit:

Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry -Thanjavur -Madurai - Thekkady - Kochi – The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve – Mysore – Hassan – Badami – Goa

Questions? Contact us on info@indianexpeditions.in

Day 1 & 2: Chennai

Arrive at Chennai (formerly known as Madras), your gateway to the sunny south and capital of Tamil Nadu, a state renowned forgrandiose temple sculpture and architecture of the Chola, Cheran, Pallava and Pandya Dynasties; a city with a rich heritage indeed! The British built their first fort here and leading to the Brithish Empire in India. The Madras Presidency was one of British India’s most important divisions. The modern city of Chennai offers travelers and enthusiasts an interesting blend of the old and the new, the artistic and the academic, the historic and the scenic. We will tour of this sprawling city with its wealth of art and architecture, its National Art Gallery and Museum, Fort St. George, Marina Beach and San Thome Cathedral, and many other landmarks.

Lecture: Orientation, Art history of South India. Performing Art: Classical Concert. (depending on tour dates, please check with travel manager.) Accommodation: Luxury, Air coinditioned rooms in an International hotel chain as per your selection. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 3: Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)

We depart Chennai early and a 1.5 drive takes us to the temple town of Kanchipuram, one of India’s seven sacred cities. The ancient capital of the Pallava and Chola dynasties, Kanchipuram still boasts of about 200 ancient temples. In addition to being an important pilgrimage center, Kanchipuram is today a bustling center of commerce, known best for its handwoven silk fabrics, especially sarees.

We then proceed to Mahabalipuram and check into a beach resort. We will spend the evening part of the next day exploring the ancient 5th century port, Mahabalipuram and be amazed by ancient, exquisite rock sculptures.

Lecture: Pallava and Chola art.  Accommodation: As per your plan. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 4: Agrarian Village and Pondicherry

We will visit an agrarian village and understand the true beat of India. Here, we witness traditional farming techniques and communal lifestyles. We get to interact with traditional farmers, get a glimpse of India’s cast system, and look into chores, rituals and festivals associated with everyday life in India. We then follow the scenic East Coast Road and explore India’s French connection, Pondicherry, where we will visit the Arabindo Ashram and Auroville, a spiritual commune. We then go on to a handicraft manufacturing unit, and other places of interest in peaceful Pondy and you could even learn some French here if you want!

Lecture: French In India.  Accommodation: As per your plan. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 5 and 6: Tanjavur

We arrive post lunch and take a stroll through some of Thanjavur’s streets. Here, we will enjoy a 10th century Chola theme dinner, recipes of which have been taken from ancient rock inscriptions and manuscripts. We will visit the “Big Temple,” the magnificent Brahadeswhara Temple built in the 11th century, regarded as one of India’s most magnificient ancient structures. We will go on an orientation drive and visit a Vedic and Sanskrit school and commune, and interact with professors and students. We will view age old methods of bronze casting and attend a classical dance program, where you will have a chance to interact with traditional dancers and musicians

Lecture: Orientation, Art history of South India. Performing Art: Classical Concert. (depending on tour dates, please check with travel manager.) Accommodation: Luxury, Air coinditioned rooms in an International hotel chain as per your selection. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 7 and 8: Madurai

Madurai is one of the worlds oldest cities. We will explore the bi lanes of this ancient city and witness vibrant and mysterious rituals in the awe-inspiring Madurai Meenakshi Temple.  Madurai was known to have had links with Greece as far back as the 4th Century BC, and became became a major center for writers, builders and academics. Today, its main attraction is the labyrinthine complex of temples within the Sri Meenakshi Temple, spread over six hectares. The temple contains friezes, stone and brass images, as well as one of the best exhibits of Hindu deities in its 1000-pillared hall. Outside the temple are the Musical Pillars which when tapped, produce the entire scale of ‘swaras’ or musical notes. Your sightseeing tour in Madurai will include visits to Tkulum (Mariamman) a tank with an island temple in the middle, the museums and the bustling bylanes of the Madurai market.

Lecture: Madurai.  Accommodation: As per your plan. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 9 and 10: Periyar National Park, Thekkady

Drive on to Thekkady, the Spice Capital of India, renowned for its sprawling spice and tea gardens. At Thekkady, we spend time in the Periyar national park and a spice plantation.

Lecture: Spice Trade.  Accommodation: As per your plan. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 11 and 12: Kochi

We bid farewell to the Jungles and to all the friends that we would have made during our trip there and proceed to Kochi, the spice capital of ancient India. We will check into a home stay and experience the warmth of an Indian family hospitality. Here, you can have discussions with your host and let them show you around. We will explore ancient churches and synagogues, take walks around the beach and spot dolphins and watch fisherman catch fish using ancient style huge Chinese fishing nets.

Lecture: Kerala.  Accommodation: Home stay,  As per your plan. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 13 and 14: Jungle Retreat, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.

Jungle Retreat is one of the finest wild life resorts in India, and we stay in the stunningly beautiful Nilgiris. We safari into the Mudumalai & Bandipur Tiger reserves. You will get up close to Asian Elephants at the Elephant Camp and watch Mahouts bathe & feed them. You can visit a Hero Stone or a Tribal Village. If you are interested in birding Jungle Retreat has some of the best local birding guides around.

Lecture: Wildlife conservation in India.  Accommodation: Jungle Retreat.  Rooms as per your plan. Meals Included: All meals in Jungle Retreat.

Day 15 and 16: Mysore

We depart Jungle Retreat, which is never an easy thing and drive for 2.5 hours to Mysore. Mysore is one of the most well known destinations of Karnataka, and with good reason. The magnificent Maharaja’s Palace that marks the city’s skyline is adorned on the inside with an abundance of stained glass, mirrors and gilt. The Chamrajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysore is one of the best in India, and the Art Gallery has what is probably the finest collection of paintings and musical instruments. Another must-see, is the Durga (Kali) temple atop the Chamundi Hill, only 10 kms south of Mysore. Mysore is also the incense manufacturing capital of the country. We also visit  Srirangapatnam, the place from where Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan ruled much of southern India during the 18th Century. Built on a long island in the Cauvery River, the crumbling fort of Srirangapatnam stands as testimony to their historic resistance to the British.

Lecture:  Tipu Sultan and the Indo Carnatic Wars.  Accommodation: As per your plan. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 17: Hasan

Drive to Hospet which you will use as a base for an excursion to one of the most fascinating historical sites of south India, the ruins of Vijayanagar at Hampi, set amid a strange and beautiful boulder-strewn landscape. You will also visit the 16th Century Vittala Temple, a World Heritage Monument that stands as the pinnacle of Vijayanagar art and sculpture.

Lecture:  Vijayanagara Kingdom.  Accommodation: As per your plan. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 17 and 18: Hospet, Badami

Our next stop on this wonderful South India Tour is at Badami. Set in a beautiful countryside among red sandstone hills, rock hewn tanks and farmlands, Badami was once the capital of the mighty Chalukyan Empire, that ruled vast parts of central and south India from the 4th-8th Century. At Badami, you will see some of the finest examples of Dravidian cave temples.

From Badami, you will take a full day excursion to Aihole and Pattadakal. Aihole is where you will witness the evolution of Hindu temple architecture from the early shrines of the Lad Khan Temple to more complex structures like that of the Meguti Temple. In the centre of the village is the famous Durgigudi temple, known for its semicircular apse and the outstanding carvings that crowd the colonnaded passageway. Pattadakal, another developing ground for Hindu temple architecture, was the second capital of the Badami Chalukyans, used specially for royal coronations.

Lecture:  Chalukya Empire and Art.  Accommodation: As per your plan. Meals Included: As per your plan.

Day 19,20, 21: Beaches of North Goa

After two weeks of the Intense South India Tour, it’s time to unwind. No where else in India will you find, what in Goa  is called susegad, a luxurious laid-back
languidness especially at lunchtime. Apart from the easy going people and the serene
beaches, you can a wander around bird-filled banks of the state’s gentle rivers and poke
around centuries-old cathedrals and of taste execellent fresh sea food.

Add Ons:

If you choose to extend your vacation, we have many options as an add on, and we can tailor one to suite you best.

We can recommend excellent hotels to fit your budget. From Luxury to Budget accommodation, South India has some of the finest hotels and resorts in South Asia.  We choose the most sustainable lodges and resorts to work with. You can book directly or we can book hotels for you

.

V.N Seetharam is considered by many as one of the best South India tour guides they have ever encountered. Acknowledged by academicians from across the globe  as one of the worlds leading experts in Indian Architecture, Sculpture, Indology and culture, Seetharam makes for a fantastic travel partner. It is his bookseller roots that have made Seetharam a cultural historian of our times, much appreciated for his insights on prose, poetry, literature and scriptures alike. For decades together and all of the 90′s Seetharam dominated the book business in India with his exclusive and rich treasure, popularly known as “The Bookshop” in Chennai. The press adored his niche motley of books and tagged it as one of the best collections in India.

Today Seetharam has hundreds of fans who once visited his bookshop, admired his passion and are coming back for South India Tours with him as the trip lead.