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South India by Rail

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Duration: 14 Days
Places to Visit: Chennai (Madras) - Madurai - Periyar - Trivandrum - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore

Day 1: Chennai
Arrive Chennai. Transfer to Hotel. Overnight Chennai

Day 2: Chennai
After breakfast, full Day tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram (64 kms from Chennai) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven pagodas. Here on the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples, which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture.

Day 3: Chennai
After breakfast, city tour of Chennai. Visit the Museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery. Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral and Snake Park. Checkout at 1200 hrs from the hotel. Late evening transfer to railway-station for overnight journey to Madurai.

Day 4: Madurai
Morning arrive Madurai and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva. Later, visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stuccowork on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Afternoon free. Overnight Madurai.

Day 5: Madurai / Periyar
After breakfast, drive to Periyar National Park. It extends to 777 square kms & forms part of the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghats. Wild life can be seen while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motorboat. Elephants, wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, Langur monkeys, etc. can be seen easily. Overnight Periyar.

Day 6: Periyar / Trivandrum
After breakfast, drive to Trivandrum viewing the scenic beauty enroute. Kerala is lush green and is full of lakes and water. Overnight Trivandrum.

Day 7: Trivandrum
After breakfast, Day free in Trivandrum or optional tours to Cape Camorin (Kanya Kumari - the southern most part of India) or nearby places like Kovalam beach, etc. Overnight Trivandrum.

Day 8: Trivandrum / Cochin
After breakfast, drive to Cochin visiting the Kerala villages enroute.

Day 9: Cochin
After breakfast, city tour of Cochin. One of the finest natural harbours on the Arabian Sea coast, Kochi, earlier known as Cochin, has been a pot of call for foreign traders from early times. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the rougher the seas are outside and the calmer waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama placed it on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, mosques and Hindu temples. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Checkout at 1200 hrs. Transfer to railway-station for overnight journey to Bangalore.

Day 10: Bangalore
Morning arrive Bangalore and transfer to hotel followed by breakfast. Afternoon tour of Bangalore city, visit the Lal Bagh with a variety of old trees, fountains, lotus pools, terraces & an assortment of tropical and sub-tropical herbs. Also see the Maharaja's Palace & Government Buildings. Overnight Bangalore.

Day 11: Bangalore / Mysore
Morning arrive Bangalore railway station and drive to Mysore. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Overnight Mysore.

Day 12: Mysore
Morning visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 - 1912. The palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and saracenic styles of architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Afternoon free. Overnight Mysore.

Day 13: Mysore / Chennai
After breakfast, morning free. Transfer to rail-station to catch the train for Chennai. Arrive Chennai & transfer to hotel.

Day 14: Chennai / Onward destination
Transfer to airport for onward destination.

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