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-: Cultural South India & Srilanka Highlights :-
Duration of Trip -::- 20 Nights / 21 Days
Key Places Covered -::- Chennai, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Tanjore, Tanjore, Trichy, Tanjore, Colombo
Day 01 : Chennai (Madras)
Arrive at Chennai early in the morning. Vacation International representative will transfer you to your hotel. Relax.
In afternoon, proceed for city tour of Chennai visiting Museum (Closed on Fridays and holidays). Drive through the flower and fruit market, High Court, Fort Museum, Marina Beach, San Thome Cathedral and Snake Park.
Return to the hotel and enjoy a seafood dinner. 
Day 02 : Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram
Breakfast will be at hotel. Proceed for Kanchipuram by surface. En-route visit few important temples and reach by afternoon.
Kanchipuram is a small rural town about 75 km from.
Enjoy the sightseeing of major temples like: VaikunthaPerumalTemple, KailasanathaTemple, EkambareswaraTemple, VaradharajaTemple, Kamashi Amman Temples, etc.
Now proceed to Mahabalipuram and check in at hotel. Overnight stay and dinner will be at Mahabalipuram.
Day 03 : Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry
Enjoy breakfast at the resort. Enjoy visit to the following places: The Mahishasuramardhini cave, Krishna Mandapam, Arjuna’s Penance, The Five Rathas, The Shore Temple, etc in Mahabalipuram.
Proceed to Pondicherry, which carries a strong whiff of the French presence in India. Reach and report in the pre-booked hotel. Overnight stay and dinner will be at hotel.
Day 04 : Pondicherry - Tanjore
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Drive to visit Aurbindo Ashram, the city of dawn, 10 km north of Pondicherry. This ashram promotes Aurbindo's ideas in bringing about a synthesis of Yoga and modern science, so as to unite the spirit and matter. Enjoy the promenade and the city. Overnight stay and dinner will be at hotel.
Later on proceed to Tanjore also known as Thanjavur (The rice bowl of TAMIL NADU) Proceed for sight seeing of Tanjore. Visit the famous Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara - A WORLD HERITAGE MONUMENT. Its bronze and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of the tour to South India. The majesty of the palaces and art gallery attached to the temple is really awe-inspiring. It is also famous for the silk. Stay overnight at Tanjore.
Day 05 : Tanjore - Trichy - Tanjore
Proceed to Trichy after breakfast. Visit the ancient temples dedicated to Lord Ganapathi. Visit SRIRANGAM, a massive temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu sprawled on Island in CAUVERY RIVER
On arrival, transfer to hotel and relax. Overnight stay and dinner will be at Tanjore.
Day 06 : Tanjore - Madurai
Breakfast will be at hotel. Drive to Madurai by surface and en route visit Karaikudi (Chettinad). This area is famous for the beautifully architecture houses and walking the streets feels like being in an open air art gallery.
Madurai is synonymous with the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Madurai’s main attraction is the Famous Sri Meenakshi Amman temple a riotously baroque example of Dravidian architecture with Gopurams carved from top to bottom in a breathtaking profusion of multicolored images of Gods.
In the evening visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva. 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. Afternoon will be free. Dinner and overnight stay will be at hotel.
Day 07 : Madurai
Breakfast will be at hotel. Enjoy sightseeing tour of the city. Enjoy sightseeing in the morning. Some most visited places are: Gandhi Museum, The Vishnu Temple, Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Sri Meenakshi Amman temple, Thousand Pillar Museum, Gandhi Museum., Thirupparankundram, Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, etc. Dinner and overnight stay will be at hotel.
Day 08 : Madurai-Kodaikanal
After morning breakfast drive to Kodaikanal. Enjoy local sight seeing. Overnight stay and dinner will be at hotel in Kodaikanal.
Day 09 : Kodikanal-Thekkady
Proceeds to Thekkady.
Day 10 : Thekkady-Munnar
After morning breakfast go for local sight seeing at Thekkady and proceed to munnar.
After breakfast we take you for a full day sightseeing trip of Munnar – covering - Mattupetty Lake & Dam, Echo Point, Kundale Lake, Blossom Garden, Rajamalai – offering a spectacular view, Eravikulam Wildlife sanctuary, home of Nilgiry Thar( very rare mountain goat), considering the ecological faunal, floral, geo- morphological and zoological significant & Tea Plantation. Later return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 11 : Munnar - Kumarakom
After breakfast check out from Hotel and drive down to Kumarakom, the lush green vegetation and the climate attract a number of tourists to this place. On arrival at Kumarakom visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and later check in at hotel in, Evening go for Sunset cruise (optional) or enjoy the beauty of backwater with lovely views all around by just relaxing near the beautiful Vembanadu Lake.
Cruise through the backwaters to Alleppey. Overnight will be at Houseboat.
Day 12 : Alleppey
After breakfast proceed to Alleppey. Alappuzha is famous for its boat races, houseboats, coir products, fish and lakes. Kuttanad is a land of lush paddy fields and is called the 'Rice Bowl' of Kerala. Check into a traditional houseboat of Kerala Style and go on a leisurely backwater cruise along the lake on a thatched houseboat. The backwaters of Kerala are a unique product of Kerala and are found nowhere else in the world. In the evening the boat will anchor by the lush paddy fields and enjoy the tranquility of the water around. Dinner would be laid out in the boat. Spend night on houseboat.
Day 13 : Alleppey - Cochin
After breakfast proceed to Kochi (Cochin). Proceed for a sight seeing tour of Cochin. A few interesting sites included in the tour are the: Chinese fishing nets, JEWISH SYNAGOGUE, etc. Later visit the interesting International Pepper Exchange, located in Jewtown. The Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow etc. are also nice for sightseeing. Take a boat ride and visit BOLGATTY PALACE and VYPPIN ISLAND.
In the evening proceed for KATHAKALI DANCE PRESENTATION.
Day 14 : Cochin
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed to visit other places in Cochin.
Board a traditional boat of Kerala and go on a leisurely backwater cruise along the lake. Discover the countryside at your own pace. The backwaters of Kerala are a unique product of Kerala and are found nowhere else in the world. The backwaters of Kerala are a self supporting Eco-system teeming with aquatic life.
Reach Aleppey which is famous for its boat races, houseboats, coir products, fish and lakes. This place remains prominent on the tourist trial of Kerala as one of the major centres for backwater boat trips. "Kuttanad" in Alappuzha is one of few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. Kuttanad is a land of lush paddy fields and is called the 'Rice Bowl' of Kerala. Kuttanad stretches for 75 Km sandwiched between the sea and the hills.
Drive back to Cochin and transfer to hotel for dinner and night stay.
Day 15 : Cochin - Bangalore
After breakfast proceed to the airport for the flight to Bangalore. Reach and take connecting flight to Colombo. Arrive at Colombo. Meet & assist on arrival and proceed to Sigiriya. Overnight will be at Sigiriya.
Day 16 : Sigiriya & around
Enjoy the breakfast at hotel. Visit the Sigiriya rock fortress.
SIGIRIYA - Sigiriya, a city, palace and garden complex centering a 200 meter high rock is a glowing tribute to the vision of King Kashyapa who created this 'Palace in the Sky' in the 5th century AD. In a sheltered pocket of the giant rock are the celebrated paintings of 5th century AD.
Enjoy the city sightseeing and evening will be at the hotel. Overnight stay and dinner will be at Sigriya.
Day 17 : Sigriya - Dambulla - Kandy
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to Kandy en route visit the cave Tample Dambulla.- a magnificent gallery of Buddha images and wall and ceiling paintings not seen anywhere else in the Island.
Proceed to Kandy after lunch. In the evening visit the Temple of Tooth Relic. Overnight stay and dinner will be at Kandy.
Day 18 : Kandy - Pinnawala - Colombo
Enjoy breakfast and then proceed on a city tour of Kandy
Gop for Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. The garden was built as a pleasure garden and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and has a amazing variety of trees, flowers and plants. This garden is easily one of the best of its kind in the world. Visit the University of Peradeniya, laid out near the banks of the Mahaweli River. This is the longest river in Sri Lanka.
Proceed to Colombo en route visit to Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Overnight and dinner will be at Colombo.
Day 19 : Colombo - Mumbai
Breakfast will be at hotel. Enjoy the day sightseeing the city. Visit the Hindu temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Dutch Church at Wolfendhal dating back to 1749, the historic Devatgahaha Mosque, Gangarama Temple and the house of Fashion for value for money ready -made garments. Shop for ceramics or visit the Lanka Ceramic center.
Proceed to the airport for the flight to Mumbai. Reach Mumbai. Transfer to hotel close to the airport. Relax in the evening and visit the CHOWPATTY BEACH for local flavor. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.
Day 20 : Mumbai
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Start a sightseeing tour of Mumbai. Principle areas to visit are: Mumbai Fort, Marine Drive also referred to as the “Queen's Necklace” because of the dramatic line of street lamps lit up at night, Gateway of India, Flora Fountain/ Hutama Chowk, Victoria Terminus/Western Railway Station, Mumbai High court, Rajabai Clock , Hanging Gardens in Mumbai, etc. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.
Day 21 : Mumbai - Home
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Take the ferry to ELEPHANTA CAVES. Return in the afternoon, freshen up and proceed to the airport by evening for flight to onward destination with the sweet memories of the Deccan India and Sri Lanka.
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