South India Festival and Backwater Tour

Welcome to Chennai, the gateway to South India. On arrival at Chennai International Airport, our representative will greet you and assist with your transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to your pre-booked hotel. After check-in, receive your tour documents and a briefing covering the itinerary and travel arrangements. If time permits, enjoy a short introduction to the city with a visit to the local market and Marina Beach, one of Chennai's defining waterfront landmarks. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, explore Chennai, a major cultural centre of South India with a heritage shaped by Tamil traditions and the Bay of Bengal. Begin with a visit to Kalakshetra and join the Heritage Walking Tour, which begins at 8:30 AM and runs for approximately three hours. Continue to Fort St. George, Santhome Cathedral and Snake Park. In the evening, you may optionally visit the flower and fruit market before spending time along Marina Beach. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, drive towards Mahabalipuram, visiting Kanchipuram en route. Once a major Pallava capital and one of India's sacred cities, Kanchipuram is renowned for its historic temples and traditional silk weaving. Visit Kailasanathar Temple along with other important temples including Vaikuntaperumal, Ekambareswarar and Kamakshi Amman Temple. Browse the city's renowned silk markets before continuing to Mahabalipuram. In the afternoon, explore its UNESCO-listed group of monuments, including the Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, Arjuna's Penance, Krishna Mandapa, Mahishasuramardini Cave and Varaha Cave. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, check out and drive to Pondicherry, the former French colonial settlement on the Bay of Bengal. After check-in and refreshment, explore the city's cultural and architectural heritage with visits to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and École Française d'Extrême-Orient. Continue to Auroville, the experimental international township founded on ideals of unity and peaceful living. Later, stroll along the seafront promenade, passing landmarks including the Mahatma Gandhi Statue, French War Memorial, Mairie heritage building and the old lighthouse. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out and drive towards Tanjore, visiting Chidambaram and Kumbakonam en route. At Chidambaram, visit the celebrated Nataraja Temple, one of Tamil Nadu's important pilgrimage centres and a major expression of the region's temple traditions. Continue to Kumbakonam, known for its concentration of historic temples, including Adikumbeswarar Temple and Sarangapani Temple. Later continue to Tanjore and transfer to the hotel. During the festival season, take an evening walk to experience the local Pongal celebrations. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Tanjore, the historic Chola capital and an important centre of South Indian art and architecture. Visit the magnificent Brihadeshwara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest achievements of Chola temple architecture. Continue to Thanjavur Palace and the Saraswati Mahal Library, home to an important collection of manuscripts. Later drive to Trichy and visit the hilltop Rock Fort Temple, followed by the vast Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam and Jambukeshwara Temple. Return to Tanjore and, during the festival period, experience the local Pongal celebrations. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out and drive towards Madurai, visiting Chettinad en route. Explore the region's distinctive heritage through its traditional mansions and architectural landmarks, including Chettinad Palace, a Chettiar clan temple and the historic Athmanathaswamy Temple. Chettinad is celebrated for its elaborate homes, spacious courtyards and distinctive use of materials such as marble and Burma teak. Continue to Madurai and transfer to the hotel. If travelling during Pongal, visit a local home to experience the harvest festival and its traditions honouring the Sun, nature and cattle. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore historic Madurai, one of Tamil Nadu's most important cultural and pilgrimage centres. Visit the magnificent Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple, renowned for its vast complex, sculptural detail and vibrant religious life. Continue to Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple and Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple, followed by the ornate Thirumalai Nayak's Palace. In the evening, return to the Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple to witness the traditional Aarti and experience the temple's evening rituals. During Pongal, local celebrations and traditional festivities add a seasonal dimension to the day's cultural experience. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Periyar, also known as Thekkady, in Kerala's Western Ghats. After arrival and hotel check-in, visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, a major protected area and tiger reserve centred around the scenic Periyar Lake. Enjoy a boat excursion offering opportunities to observe wildlife including elephants, sambar, gaur and wild boar, along with a variety of birdlife. In the evening, visit a spice plantation to learn about crops such as cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee and tea. On the return journey, you may browse the local market for Kerala's fragrant spices. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out and drive through the Western Ghats to Munnar, Kerala's celebrated hill station. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and explore the landscapes surrounding the town, where tea plantations, forested hills and lakes shape the scenery. Visit Eravikulam National Park, home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, before enjoying views across the surrounding tea country. Continue with a visit to a tea plantation and Munnar Lake. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, continue exploring the landscapes around Munnar. Visit Pothamedu for views across the region's tea, coffee and cardamom plantations, followed by Devikulam, a scenic hill destination surrounded by greenery. Continue to Blossom International Park, then visit Mattupetty Dam and its reservoir. The day's sightseeing continues to Kundala Lake and Echo Point, offering opportunities to enjoy Munnar's mountain scenery and plantation landscapes. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Alleppey, Kerala's renowned gateway to the backwaters. On arrival, board your traditional houseboat and begin cruising through a network of palm-fringed canals, waterways, paddy fields and small riverside villages. Along the journey, watch for traditional Chinese fishing nets, local boats, waterbirds and village life unfolding beside the canals. Enjoy the peaceful scenery from the houseboat's sun deck and, if you wish, try your hand at fishing. As evening approaches, watch the sunset over the backwaters before enjoying dinner prepared and served on board. Overnight stay on the houseboat.

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin, Kerala's historic port city. Explore Fort Kochi and St. Francis Church, associated with the early European maritime presence on India's Malabar Coast. Continue to the historic Jewish Synagogue and Mattancherry Dutch Palace. In the evening, experience a performance of Kathakali, Kerala's renowned classical dance-drama tradition, known for its elaborate costumes, distinctive makeup and expressive storytelling. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time in Cochin for individual activities and souvenir shopping. The city's markets and curio shops offer a selection of traditional handicrafts and locally made items, including products crafted from coir, wood, bamboo, shells, brass and sandalwood. Later, check out from the hotel and transfer to Cochin International Airport to board your scheduled flight for the onward journey. Your South India Festival and Backwater Tour concludes with your departure from Cochin.