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 Tour Duration : 10 Nights / 11 DaysDestinations Covered: Chennai (Arrival) Mamallapuram - Swamimalai - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Kanyakumari - Trivandrum (Departure) Package Inclusions: . Accommodation on twin sharing room with daily breakfast at listed hotels or equivalent . Transportation/Transfers by Air Conditioned car for entire tour as per itinerary . Entrances at sightseeing places as per the itinerary . Service of English speaking tourist guide at Mamallapuram, Tanjore, Trichy, Madurai only . Traditional lunch at Mamallapuram . Cycle rickshaw tour at Madurai . All applicable taxes Package Exclusions: . Meals at hotels except those listed in above inclusions . Camera fee . Expenses of personal nature such as tipping, porters, laundry, telephones, etc.. . Inland / International flight charges any . All other than those listed in above inclusions Day 01: Chennai Airport To Mamallapuram / Arrival Transfer (65km / 1.5h) Upon arrival in Chennai, our Executive will meet you followed by transfer to the Hotel. Check in and rest of the day free for own activities. (Overnight stay in Mamallapuram) Day 02: Mamallapuram Sightseeing After breakfast depart for the sightseeing of Mamallapuram visiting - "Arjuna's Penance" the large bas-relief on the face of a huge rock which depicts animals, deities and other semi divine creatures, the "Five Rathas", composed of five monolithic temples where each temple is created in a different style and derive their names from the champions of the Mahabharata. Afterwards, we visit the world heritage listed "Shore Temple", a small romantic temple in the final phase of Palava art. For lunch we take you to a traditional Indian restaurant. (Overnight stay in Mamallapuram) Day 03: Mamallapuram To Swamimalai (225km / 5h) Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive towards Swamimalai. Enroute visit Dharasuram temple (built in memory of the White elephant - AIRAVATH from the gods family), the temple has its original name as "Airavatheshwar temple". On arrival check into the hotel (heritage & unique building) and the rest of the day is free for own activities. (Overnight stay in Swamimalai) Day 04: Swamimalai To Tanjore (60km / 2h) Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive towards Tanjore the chola citadel. On arrival at Tanjore check in the hotel and depart for the sightseeing of Tanjore visiting - the Brihadishwara Temple, an exquisite example of the Chola architecture built by Raja Chola in 10th Century AD, declared a world heritage monument with several pillared halls, shrines and 250 linga enshrined along the outer walls. Further you will visit the Maratha Royal Palace and museum was built partly by Nayaks and partly by Marathas - royal family resides in this Palace. It is a fascinating building with huge corridors, specious halls, decorated rooms, tall observation towers, beautiful stucco works, wonderful fresco painted walls and ceilings, an underground tunnel and intricate carvings. The Royal palace museum has a superb collection of Chola bronze statues from 9th to 18th century. (Overnight stay in Tanjore) Day 05: Tanjore To Trichy (55km / 1.5h) Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive towards Trichy. On arrival check in the hotel and depart for the sightseeing of Trichy visiting - Srirangam one of the most important pilgrims center, which is located in an Island just 7 km from Trichy. The little Island of a town flanked by the rivers Cavery and Kollidam from both sides, is enclosed within seven walls of the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple with 21 Gopurams, among that Rajagopuram is the largest one. Next we will visit the spectacular Rock Fort temple, 83 m high rocky outcrop, it has main two temples: Sri Thayumanaswamy Temple, dedicated to Shiva, halfway to the top and Vinayaka temple which is dedicated to Ganesh. It is a stiff climb to the top up the 437 stone - cut steps from where you can get wonderful view from the top. (Overnight stay in trichy) Day 06: Trichy To Madurai (140km / 3h) Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive towards Madurai - the oldest town in Tamilnadu. On arrival check in the hotel and in the evening we attend a fantastic night ceremony at Meenakshi Temple, where the moveable images of the God and Goddess are carried to the bed chamber. The ceremony was accompanied by a horn, drum and cymbalist, among other sounds. The enormous temple is dedicated to Shiva and his wife Meenakshi and has a stunning architecture. Its soaring towers rise from solid granite bases, and are covered with stucco figures of deities, mythical animals and monsters painted in vibrant colours. (Overnight stay in Madurai) Day 07: Day Excursion To Rameshwaram After breakfast depart for the day excursion to Rameswaram visiting Ramanathaswamy Temple. The temple was build by rulers of different dynasties from 12th century and onwards. The temple complex is constructed in an area of 265m x 200m and is famous for its 1200 gigantic granite columns, the 54-meter tall gopuram (gate-tower), 1220 meters of magnificent corridors, the flamboyant columns embellish and render fame to the temple. The water in each of the 22 sacred wells in the temple tastes different. In a distance just of 24 kilometers from Rameshwaram is a shore of Sri Lanka. In fact the entire area of Rameshwaram is associated with various incidents from the Ramayana. Rameshwaram belongs to one of the most important religious sites of India. (overnight stay in Madurai) Day 08: Madurai Sightseeing After breakfast we take you on a cycle rickshaw tour around Madurai which gives you a memorable experience of this ancient city. You drive through the narrow streets and lanes of Madurai showing the typical life of local people. The cycle rickshaw - the most eco friendly form of transport was fast being phased out, and the hundred and twenty rickshaw pullers of Madurai were deprived of their livelihood, as they were unable to buy the modern forms of transport like the auto rickshaw or taxi. To give these pullers another lease of life we at Hi-tours created this tour as part of our commitment towards responsible tourism. By taking this tour, you not only support the rickshaw pullers but also encourage the locals to use this eco friendly transport. By cycle rickshaw you visit Meenakshi temple - one of the largest temple complexes in South India, the typical example of the Dravidian architecture. Its soaring towers rise from solid granite bases, and are covered with stucco figures of deities, mythical animals and monsters painted in vibrant colours. (Overnight stay in Madurai) Day 09: Madurai To Kanyakumari (235km / 5h) Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive towards Kanyakumari. On arrival check in the hotel and rest of the free for own activities. (Overnight stay in Kanyakumari) Day 10: Kanyakumari Sightseeing In the early morning we visit Kanyakumari. Located on the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent where the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. Kanyakumari is famous for its on the sea built, large Vivekanda Memorial. It has been built on the Vivekananda Rock where the great philosopher went into meditation that transformed him into one of the most charismatic spiritual leaders of this century. We undertake a boat trip to have a glance at this impressive memorial. Afterwards we visit the Gandhi Memorial, which was built on the spot where the urn containing his ashes was kept for the public to pay the last respect, before immersing at the confluence of the three seas. The memorial is a testimony to a blend of rich Indian heritage and modern architecture. (Overnight stay in Kanyakumari) Day 11: Kanyakumari To Trivandrum Airport / Departure Transfer (110km / 2.5h) Check out from the hotel and drive towards Trivandrum airport to board the onward flight to respective destination Hotel check out time: 12.00 noon (Vehicle: only transfers) End Of Services TOUR LODGING INFO: 10 Nights Hotels Accommodation is provided on room with breakfast basis at listed hotels or equivalent. For Lunch and dinner there would be an additional supplement. The Superior Category comprising of 04 Star Hotels and the Deluxe Category comprising of 05 star hotel. A hotel list is as follows:
Tour Prices:
PRICE INFO AND VALIDITY: * The above quote is valid from 01 OCT 2010- 31 MAR 2011 * The above quote is valid for the mentioned paying persons only * The above quote is subject to change with a proviso that incase of hike in price of fuel/tax, the given quote may vary accordingly |
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