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Best of Tamil Nadu 17 Nights / 18 Days
Destinations covered: Chennai - Covelong - Pondicherry - Tanjore - Madurai - Ooty - Bandipur national park - Nagarhole National park - Mysore - Hassan - BangaloreDay 01: Arrive Chennai
On arrival Transfer to Cove long. Remainder of the day is at leisure to explore city. Overnight at hotel in Chennai.
hennai is the fifth largest city in India and the capital city of the Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandal coast of the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the Musical and Cultural Capital of India. The city is known for its classical dance shows and Hindu temples. The Tamil film industry, known as Kollywood, the second largest after movie industry (after Bollywood) in India, is based in the city.
Day 02: Chennai - Covelong (40 km -1 hr drive by road)
After breakfast transfer to resort at Covelong beach. Silver waves washes shore again and again seems greeting and inviting to relish the picturesque view of swaying palms and cool azure water .This beach is well suited for beach surfing, swimming and basking on beach. A short is enough to realise the tranquillity and invisible charm of this place. This all makes it a cherish tourist destination of coromandal coast.
Remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy beach. Overnight at resort.
Mahabalipuram - A UNESCO World Heritage site is a architectural marvel of Dravidian style incorporating Buddhist elements. These rock cut and monolithic monuments constitutes cave temples and monolithic chariots (Rathas). A walk around these monuments inspires to connect a bond with thousands of years old royal dynasty of Pallava.
Day 03: Covelong - Pondicherry
After breakfast proceed for Pondicherry en route visit Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram -A UNESCO World Heritage site is a architectural marvel of Dravidian style incorporating Buddhist elements. These rock cut and monolithic monuments constitutes cave temples and monolithic chariots (Rathas). A walk around these monuments inspires to connect a bond with thousands of years old royal dynasty of Pallava.
On arrival check in resort and Evening is at leisure to explore city.
Pondicherry - "The French Riviera of the East" -Puducherry, till recently known as Pondicherry used to be a French colony. It was finally ceded to the Indian federation in 1962, Puducherry or Pondicherry is a beautiful and well planned city. The French element is noticeable everywhere in the city, and gives a distinctive look. The colonial government buildings, the beautiful avenues and the old cottages make this otherwise modern city exude a colonial charm shared by very few other Indian cities. The major tourist spots to be visited during the tours of Puducherry include the beach, Auriobindo ashram, Auroville, the museum, botanical gardens, and the Anglo-French textile mills.
Day 04: Pondicherry
After breakfast proceed for city tour visit paradise beach, serenity beach, karaikal beach Auriobindo ashram, Auroville, the museum, botanical gardens, and the Anglo-French textile mills. Paradise beach is renowned for dolphins and beautiful crescent shaped beach. Just revive your spirit for full day unfettered fun and relaxation.
Day 05: Pondicherry to Tanjore (190 kms / 5 hrs drive by road)
After breakfast proceed for Tanjore enroute visit Rock Fort Temple in Trichy.On arrival check in hotel. Remainder of the day is free to take a retrospect of history of Tanjore and explore its grandeur.
Tanjore is the "Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu" and famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple was constructed more than thousand years ago by the King Rajarajan, is an architect's marvel. It is a flourishing centre for bronze sculpture and painting. The pastimes and life of Lord Krishna are seen in Tanjore paintings. The uniqueness of the Tanjore paintings is their extraordinary gold leaf work, attractive jewellery with stones, dazzling color design, and eye catching engraved glasses.The laissez-faire application of gold leaf and precious and semi-precious stones like rubies and diamonds speaks the greatness of the adroit artists of those times. The characteristic of Thanjavur painting is that the figures in the paintings have a round body and egg shaped effulgent eyes and are surrounded by curtains and arch. These paintings will illuminate in the dark room.
Day 06: Pondicherry to Tanjore (190 kms / 5 hrs drive by road)
After breakfast visit Brihadeeswarar temple originally called as Peruvudaiyar Koil in Tamil, is an ancient Hindu temple located at Tanjore in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. This 10th century CE temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples", is a prominent example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. The central temple known as the Periya Kovil (Big Temple) stands within a fort, whose walls were later additions built during the 16th century. The name periya kovil came from its original name "periya aavudayar kovil" (aavudayar being a local name of Lord Shiva). This awe inspiring temple has many especial feature in its architectural marvel one of them is the sky touching vimana (main tower) of the temple is approximately 65 m (215 ft) high and is the tallest in the world. It was so designed that the vimana never casts a shadow at noon during any period of the year.
Day 07: Tanjore - Madurai(200 Kms-6 hrs drive by road)
Morning arrive Madurai and check in to hotel.
Madurai: One of South India's great temple towns, Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, Madurai has a rich cultural heritage passed on from the great Tamil era more than 2500 years old. Madurai was an important cultural and commercial centre even as early as 550 AD. It was the capital city for the great Pandya kings.
After breakfast visit the great Tirumala Nayak Palace, Alagar Hills, Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Spare your evening to immerse in divine beauty of Meenakshi Temple.
Over night at Madurai.
Day 08: Madurai - Coimbatore(227 Kms-6 hrs drive by Train)-Ooty(99 Kms-2:30 hrs)
On arrival to Coimbatore straight transfer to Ooty. As serpentine road approaches Ooty gurgle of streams, beautiful mist make a impression of welcome to Ooty. On arrival check in hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to explore green valley and green meadows with gust of cool air.
Ooty:Situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level it is one most popular hill station of india.Some noted tourist attraction of Ooty includes botanical garden, Ooty lake, Doddabetta,Coonoor etc. Overnight in Ooty.
Day 09: Ooty
Morning breakfast and proceed for full day sight seeing visit to Botanical Garden - is spread over 22 hectares ascending the slopes on the hill, Rose Garden - the rose varieties planted in this park were assembled from different sources with 17,256 rose plants from 1919 varieties, Aquarium: It is close to bus station and is run by Dept. of Fisheries. In this aquarium, department rears exotic fish varieties. Deer Park - It is one of the high altitude animal park in India, Doddabetta- Commanding a panoramic view of District is perched on altitude of 2637, the merging point of eastern and Western Ghats, is the highest peak of Nilgiri. Enjoy boat ride in Ooty Lake.
Return to hotel and overnight at hotel.
Day 10: Ooty - Bandipur National Park(80 Kms- 3hrs)
After breakfast proceed for Bandipur National park. On arrival check in resort.
Bandipur National Park –This national park has been declared Tiger Reserve by Indian Government. Situated at 90 Kms from Mysore it adjoin Mudumalai National Park in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, the Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, and the Nagarhole National Park to the northwest. It is home to around seventy tigers and over three thousand Asian elephants (as per the 1997 census , along with leopards, dholes, Gaur and sloth bears. Bandipur is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. After lunch enjoy evening safari. Overnight at resort.
Day 11: Bandipur National Park - Nagarhole National Park(80 Kms- 3hrs)
After breakfast proceed for Nagarhole National Park. On arrival check in resort.
Nagarahole National Park This Park is also known as "Rajiv Gandhi National Park", is located 94 km from Mysore. Sprawling between Mysore and Kodagu districts of Karnataka it covers an area of 640 sq km. The exclusive hunting ground of the former rulers of Mysore, the park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls.
This forest is home to large elephant population, tigers, leopards, wild dogs, and sloth bears. The large predators prey on a variety of ungulates, like gaur, deer, spotted deer, common muntjac, four-horned antelope, mouse deer and wild boar. Gray langurs, lion-tailed macaques and bonnet macaques represent the primates in the park. Mostly jungle comprises Rosewood, Teak, Sandalwood and Silver oak trees. On Border Mountain area Nilgiri tahrs and Nilgiri langurs are found. Enjoy evening safari of park and overnight at resort.
Day 12: Nagarahole National Park - Mysore(80 Kms / 2hrs drive by road)
After breakfast proceed for Mysore. On arrival check in hotel. Mysore is defined by magnificent palaces, scenic gardens, fragrant sandalwood, luxurious silks, flamboyant festivals-- Mysore is a veritable tourist extravaganza with its glorious history and rich tradition. Located 140 Kms from Bangalore, this City of Palaces bursts at the seams with a mindboggling array of attractive destinations.
Afternoon visit to Maharaja Palace-built in 1911-12 by Wodeyar Rulers, the palace is a splendid structure in the Indo-Saracenic Style, it's attraction is a magnificent gold throne. Visit Chamundi Hill, Brindavan Garden - the famous gardens at the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam. Evening return to hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 13: Mysore - Srirangapatnum (13 Kms, 20 min drive by road)
After breakfast proceeds for Srirangapatna. The great Emperor Tipu Sultan is notable for his bravery in India.Visit Island fortress of Tippu Sultan, the legendary Tiger of Mysore who put up a valiant fight against British domination. Visit Tippu’s Summer Palace, Mosque, and Sriranganatha Temple. Evening return back to hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 14: Mysore - Hassan (127 Kms, 3 hours drive by road)
After breakfast proceed for Hassan. On arrival check in hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to revive your spirit for a untoward experience of Indian temple architecture.
Hassan- This place serves a base to visit remnant of one of prominent Royale Dynasty of Hoysala Empire. Era of Hoysala Dynasty was an important period in the development of art, architecture, and religion in South India. A excursion to visit Belur and Halebid awards an firsthand experience of understanding development of art, architecture, and religion in South India. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15: Hassan
After breakfast proceed for excursion to Belur and Halebid.
Belur - This quaint hamlet - 38 Kms from Hassan - is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. It was once the capital of the Hoysala Empire today made unforgettable for its exquisite temples. The Chennakeshava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It took 103 years to complete and you can see why. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank.
Halebid - It is 27 Kms north-west of Hassan and 17 Kms east of Belur. The temples of Halebid - like those of Belur - bear mute testimony to the rich, cultural heritage of Karnataka. The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 12th century, is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi Bull - was never completed, despite 86 years of labour. The Jain basadis, Channarayapatna, Ramanathpur, Gorur and Manjarabad are the other places of interest around Hassan.
Overnight in Hassan.
Day 16: Hassan - Bangalore (194 Kms -04 hr drive by road)
After breakfast proceed for Bangalore Enroute visit Shravanabelagola.
Shravanabelagola - 51 Kms southeast of Hassan, this is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centres. Here is the 17 m high monolith of Lord Bahubali - the world's tallest monolithic statue. Thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka -a spectacular ceremony held once in 12 years, when the 1000 -year- old statue is anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. Evening arrival in Bangalore and transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.
Bangalore - Reputed as garden city of India Bangalore is a delightful place with an amalgamation of various rich cultures, crafts, and heritage centres. This capital of Karnataka houses finest temple and garden. Bangalore is even gaining the status of the "Floriculture Capital of India" due to the present blossoming of flower exports from the city. The beautiful parks like the Lalbagh and Cubbon Park are indeed a treat to the eyes. A trip around the city can be very interesting and provides a varied sightseeing experience with Palaces, museums, temples, churches and gardens.
Day 17: Bangalore
Afternoon visit to Lal bagh, Cave temple- Built by Kempe gowda and known for its four monolithic pillars and rare idol of Agni, the God of fire. On Jan. 13/14th every year, the rays of the setting sun enter through the window; pass between the horns of the Nandi and shine on the Shiva lingam, in a unique phenomenon, Hesaraghatta. Remainder of the day is free to explore commercial section of city.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 18: Bangalore
After breakfast check out your room and proceed for onward journey.