Classic South India

This tour is a mix of history, culture and experiences

  • 19 Days, 18 Nights
  • Itinerary: Chennai – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry – Thanjavur – Trichy – Madurai – Periyar – Kumarakom – Alleppy – Kochi – Calicut – Mysore – Hassan – Bangalore.
ITINERARY
Namaste and welcome to India. Upon your arrival at Chennai Airport, you will be met by an agent and then transferred to the hotel. After checking in you have the time to recover.
After breakfast, you will explore the city of Chennai today. On the guided tour of Chennai, you will experience the well-preserved architectural legacy of the colonial era in Chennai, including Fort St George, India's oldest English fortress, created in 1644 by the British at the beginning of the East India Company. On the other side is the Catholic Basilica of St Thomas. Originally built by the Portuguese in the early 16th century to mark the burial place of the apostle. Afterward, visit the ornate Kapaleeshwara Temple and notice the deeply rooted religiosity of South India. In the evening you can walk along the longest beach of India Marina Beach. Overnight in Chennai.
After breakfast, drive approximately 70 km towards Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram is also known as 'The City of a Thousand Temples'. You will visit the Sri Ekambareswarar Temple, dedicated to the god Shiva. Then, explore the Kailasanatha Temple, the oldest temple in Kanchipuram, built in the early 8th century. In the afternoon, drive approximately 65 km to Mahabalipuram. Dinner and overnight in Mahabalipuram.
Today you visit the temples of the place, which belong since 1985 to the UNESCO world cultural heritage. Coastal temples, monolithic temples and also the cave temples were built here. In the afternoon you have free time. Relax on the beach and be tempted by the cool water. Overnight in Mahabalipuram.
Today we travel along the coast to Pondicherry, the former French colony on the east coast of India. The French anchored their merchant ships in these beautiful Indian shores around 300 years ago to do business, but ended up blending their ways with the ancient Indian lifestyle. Upon arrival in Pondicherry you will visit the Aurobindo Ashram and, about 10 km away, the planned city of Auroville, which was inaugurated on 28 February 1968. Overnight in Pondicherry.
After breakfast, drive to Thanjavur today. On the way you will visit the Nataraja Temple. Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The history of the temple goes back about 2,000 years. After the tour you will continue to Thanjavur and check in at the hotel. Overnight in Thanjavur.
After breakfast, leave Varanasi and drive further to Kushinagar. Kushinagar is the place where Buddha died. After arrival and some rest, visit the following in the town : Parinirvana Stupa : At Parinirvana Stupa, Buddha breathed his last. The present temple is built by the Indian Government in 1956 . Nirvana Temple near to the Stupa houses around 18 feet tall reclining Buddha. Ramabhar Stupa : Lord Buddha was cremated here. Ramabhar Stupa was built to mark the place of his cremation. The Stupa is around 50 feet high. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.
Today your journey takes you to Madurai. On the way to Madurai you will visit the village of Chettinad and experience the village life. Chettinad is known for its rich architecture and heritage. In addition to architecture, Chettinad cuisine is also increasingly famous throughout India. A meal is served on the banana leaf and a spicy chicken curry is the best known. In the afternoon continue to Madurai. Overnight in Madurai.
Today we are in the home of the gorgeous Sri Meenakshi Temple. Here, the goddess rules as the supreme deity and the city has grown around the temple. The temple was built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak in the 17th century, but its origins go back 2000 years. After visiting Meenakshi Temple, you will explore Nayaka Palace and the Museum of Mahatma Gandhi. In the evening you experience the evening ceremony in the Minakshi Temple and let yourself be captivated by the never-ending pilgrimage, the magnificent images of the gods and religious Hindu music. Overnight in Madurai.
Today you leave Madurai and drive to Periyar. In addition to the city of Madurai, you leave the state of Tamil Nadu and enter Kerala, God's own Country. The motto for Kerala, "God's Own Country," refers to its rich heritage, vibrant culture, lush topography and positive socio-political climate. On arrival transfer to the hotel. They are now in the hills and should notice the difference in temperature and humidity of Tamil Nadu. In the afternoon, take a boat trip to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. From the tranquility of the lake, you can enjoy the lush scenery around you and see the animals that may come down to the edges of the water - that could be an elephant family, boogers or the glorious boars Sambar stag, a big deer native to the Indian subcontinent. Watch a Kalaripayattu performance tonight, a traditional form of martial arts. The show of Indian martial arts, performed with perfection and precision, testifies to the ancient Indian culture that takes years of dedication, training and focus. Overnight in Periyar.
Before leaving Periyar visit a tea and spice plantation. During the visit, you can see for yourself where the pepper grows. Then drive about 100 km to Kumarakom. In the evening you have time for relaxation. Overnight in Kumarakom.
Today we continue to Alleppey. Here you will board a traditional houseboat, which will take you through the fascinating backwaters of the backwaters. Onboard you will find everything you need for a pleasant trip / overnight stay: a bedroom with a comfortable bed, a modern toilet with shower, a breezy lounge on the deck and a small on-board kitchen where local dishes are freshly prepared for you. Overnight in a houseboat in Alleppy.
Get up in the backwaters with the sunrise and enjoy the enchanting morning atmosphere on board. Far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life you will experience palm groves and heavenly silence, before you make your way to the port city of Cochin. Upon arrival in Kochi you will check in at the hotel. In the evening you have the opportunity to experience a traditional Kathakali dance show. Overnight in Kochi.
After breakfast, city tour in Kochi, the Pearl of the Arabian Sea, for a city tour. In the old town, you can visit Fort Cochin, the Mattancherry Palace, the Jewish Synagogue and the tomb of the Portuguese Vasco da Gama in St. Francis Church. The famous Chinese fishing nets in the harbor look like from a bygone era. You can also stroll through the colorful spice and antique markets. Dinner and overnight in Kochi.
Today we continue to Calicut. Calicut (also Kozhikode) is a city with about 430,000 inhabitants. It is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea in northern Kerala. Upon arrival in Calicut, you will check in at the hotel. Rest of the day you have at leisure. Overnight in Calicut.
After breakfast, you leave the city of Calicut and the state of Kerala as well. In the evening you enter Karnataka in the city of Mysore. Mysore is the third largest city of Karnataka. On the way to Mysore you will visit the Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan in Srirangapatna. Srirangapatna is 20 km away from Mysore. In 1784, the ruler Tipu Sultan built this palace in the style of the Mughals. The almost two-storey construction, made of deep timber, stands on a square platform in the middle of an ornamental garden. Overnight in Mysore.
Today's city tour takes you to the palace in Mysore, considered to be one of the finest in India, combining Hindu, Indian-Islamic, Rajput and European architecture. Breathe in the subsequent stroll through the flower and spice markets, the multi-faceted fragrances and let yourself be intoxicated by the intense colors. The tour ends on Chamundi Hill with a magnificent view over the whole city.
Strengthen your breakfast for the drive to Hassan. Upon arrival, guests check in at the hotel. In the afternoon you drive to the temple complexes Belur and Halebid. Thousands of filigree carved sculptures decorate the facades of religious buildings. The delicate reliefs are among the most significant examples of the architecture of the Hoysala kings. they are a true highlight of Indian stonemasonry and unsurpassed in their attention to detail and the craftsmanship with which they were carved out of the rock. Overnight in Hassan.
In Shravanabelagola, one of the most important pilgrimage centers of Jainism, worshipfully climb the sacred Mount Jain, home to the world's largest monolith statue. Your next destination is Bangalore, the capital of the state of Karnataka. The city is an example of the juxtaposition of traditional and modern IT technology. You visit the so-called Bull Temple and the Bangalore Palace. Depending on the departure time, you can refresh yourself briefly in the hotel and end your trip with a farewell dinner. Afterwards you will be transferred to the airport. Departure Bangalore - hometown In the night you start your return flight to Germany. Here ends your round trip.

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