Drive to Mahabalipuram visiting Kanchipuram enroute. Kanchipuram (64 kms from Madras) 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. Overnight Mahabalipuram.

Morning city tour. 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. Later drive to Pondicherry. Overnight Pondicherry.

The capital of French India before independence,  Pondicherry  traces its  origin  to  Saint  Agasthya, the revered sage of the south & excavations near-by reveal that a Roman settlement existed here  2000 years ago. It was the theatre of many a battle between the British. Later drive to Thanjavur. Overnight Thanjavur.

The beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 km long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts  make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India. Later drive to Trichy. Overnight Trichy.

Morning city tour. Trichy  was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the  medieval  period. In  the  18th  century   it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the  French     and the English. Lord Robert Clive's  house  is  still there  to  see  and so is the Danish Church.  The  Rock-Fort  is   the landmark of Trichy. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient   temple of Ganapati on top and a further climb to a Shiva temple. Later drive to Madurai. Overnight Madurai.

Morning city tour. Visit  the great Meenakshi Temple  dedicated to the  consort of   Lord Shiva  with  its towering gopurams (rising high above the  surrounding country  side). Later, visit the  Tirumala Nayak Palace - A   gracious building  in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco  work  on its  domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara  Kundran Rock temple. Overnight Madurai.

Morning drive to Periyar. The earliest sanctuary to be set up in 1934, 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  motor  boat. Amongst the animals which can be seen are elephants, wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc.  Overnight Periyar.

Drive to Alleppey. Embark a rice houseboat. The coastal town of Alleppey on the Arabian Sea is the Venice of the East, for the numerous canals that meander through the town. Bathing in the backwaters on the Vemband Lake is refreshing. This town holds a thrilling event of snake-boat race every year in August. It is also known for its cashew nuts, coir trade, rice, pepper  crops & coconuts. Night on board.

Drive to Cochin. Overnight Cochin.

Morning city tour. Cochin is the natural harbour created by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks whose quality ensures that the rougher the seas are outside the calmer the 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. Overnight Cochin.

Transfer to Cochin airport.
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