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Elephants, Mountains and Gourmet (IE – 31)

(From/To Chennai)

On this tour you are guided to the most interesting places of South India: The twin temples of the Hoysalas in Belur and Halebid are striking with their beautiful plastic sculptures from the Hindu mythology. In the Maharaja Palace of Mysore, "City of Fragrance" the fabulous halls and splendid fixtures are awe inspiring. In Tipu Sultan’s capital Srirangapatana you will find the tombs of his family with mural paintings in the so-called Summer Palace.

Experience India’s Wildlife in Bandipur or Nagerhole National Park, two of India’s best known sanctuaries with elephants, deer like Sambar and Chital, monkeys, birds - with a little bit of luck watch also wildcats like the tiger and the elusive leopard. The journey from the mountains down to the lowlands and coastline of Kerala goes via Calicut, earlier the headquarters of the legendary Zamorin Kings. Cochin, the old city of sea men, is till today the centre of the spice
trade.An absolute must on a South India tour is an overnight on a rice boat through the picturesque Backwaters, a system of lagoons and lakes behind the coastline. Enjoy the journey again up to the mountains to the spice growing area of Thekkady and Periyar. The Hindu temple of the fish-eyed goddess Meenakshi ist a magnet of Madurai, attracting thousands of pilgrims each day. With Trichy, Tanjore, Kancheepuram and Mahabalipuram you may gain more insights into the temple art and architecture so unique of South India.

Day 1: Chennai (Madras):
Flight to Chennai, four largest City of India at the Bay of Bengal. Arrival at midnight. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 2: Chennai:
Sightseeing with the Catholic St. Thomas Church, named after the holy Apostle Thomas. Pass the High Court, the Madras University and visit the Kapaleshvara Temple, dedicated to God Shiva. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 3: Chennai – Bangalore – Hassan/Chickmaglur:
Travel on board Shatabti Express to Bangalore (departure at 06.00 hrs). Drive by car to Hassan/Chickmaglur. En route visit Sravanbelgola with the 17 m high monolith sculpture of the naked Jain Holy Gomteshwara (1,200 years old) on a hill with 600 steps to go. The principle of the Jain sect is non-violence, non-killing and tolerance without exception. The view from the top down to the lush green landscape is unique. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 4: Hassan/Chickmaglur - Mysore:
Visit Halebid, in 11./12. century one of the last big capitals of the Hoysala Dynasty. The Shiva Temple is a double temple made of soapstone with gorgeous plastic sculptures depicting the Hindu mythology. Nearby is Belur, once the "religious capital" of the Hoysalas, famous for sandalwood products such as incense sticks and soap. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 5: Mysore: The magnificent Maharaja Palace (1911-12) is a fairy tale castle with inestimable antiquities in the middle of the city. Visit also Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill overlooking Mysore and the 4,9 m high Nandi, riding animal of Hindu god Shiva. See the enchanting temple complex of Somnathpur (35km), one of the best preserved of the Hoysala’s (13. cent.).
Drive through a mellow landscape with rice and sugar cane fields. Visit Srirangapatana, earlier capital of the mighty Moslem ruler Tipu Sultan (18. cent.), the Summer Palace with beautiful frescos and inlay work and the Gumbaz, his and his father’s mausoleum. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 6: Mysore – Bandipur:
Drive to the hilly Bandipur National Park on foot of the Nilgiri Mountains, once the hunting ground of the Maharajas of Mysore. PM: Jeep ride (elephant, Gaur, antelope, Sambar, tiger, leopard). Overnight in the Jungle Lodge.

Day 7: Bandipur – Calicut:
Early morning another Jeep ride. After breakfast drive down the mountains to the west coast of Kerala to Calicut (Kozhikode), once capital of the legendary Zamorin Kings. Overnight in a private guest house, owned by a family of doctors. The 150 years old typical Kerala wood house was inhabited by the ancestors of the Kadathanadu, a royal ruling family.

Day 8: Calicut - Cochin:
Drive to Cochin, second largest seaport of India on the legendary Malabar coast. In the evening experience a Kathakali dance performance, typical, 400 years old dance drama, based on old legends and tales from Hindu mythology. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 9: Cochin:
Cochin is the so-called "Queen of the Arabian Sea" on the Pepper Coast. Sightseeing with St. Francis Church, where 1524 the Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama was entombed. See the Mattancherri Palace or Dutch Palace with excellent preserved mural paintings and the Jew Town with Synagogue (1567). A distinctive feature are the "Chinese Fishing Nets", a catch method, passed over 700 years ago by traders from the court of Kublai Khan. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 10: Cochin – Rice Boat:
Drive to Alleppey. At lunch time you go on board of your Rice Boat and navigate through the picturesque Backwaters, a huge system of water channels behind the coast. The vegetation left and right is lush green with paddy fields an coconut groves. The so-called Kettuvalams are the same ones that were used to carry loads of rice through Kerala and therefore called Riceboats. These boats have now been modified and constructed for the tourists with sun deck, bedroom, dining area and a small kitchen. Overnight on the rice boat on full board basis.

Day 11: Rice Boat – Periyar:
Leave the plains drive up the mountains to the Western Ghats (900 – 2,000 m) to Thekkady and Periyar, the spice growing area of India (cardamom, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla). Overnight in Hotel.

Day 12: Periyar - Madurai: Early morning boat ride on Periyar Lake. The protected area covers 777 km, bounded by mountain ridges of over 1,700 m altitude. The sanctuary surrounds the picturesque Periyar Lake. Elephants and a variety of water birds are domiciled here. Drive down to the green plains to Madurai. Visit Nayaka Palace, one of the best examples of Indo-Saracenic art.
The Meenakshi Temple, main temple of the city and one of the biggest in India, is dedicated to the fish-eyed Goddess Meenakshi. Evening ceremony in the Meenakshi Temple. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 13: Madurai – Chettinad:
Drive to Chettinad region, the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiars, a prosperous banking and business community. In the 19th/20th centuries many of whose merchants migrated to Burma, Malaysia and Singapore. The money they earned was reinvested in art and architecture. Their legacy are terrific mansions embellished with Italian marble and Burma teak. Chettinad is also known for its culinary delicacies. Overnight on full board basis in the Chettinadu Mansion (Heritage Hotel), a palace, where no costs were spared.

Day 14: Chettinad - Tanjore - Trichy:
Drive to Tanjore. En route visit Srirangam Temple, one of the largest temple compositions of India, the walls of the temple surround the whole city. Tanjore, also Thanjavur was the old capital fo the Chola rulers. Famous here is the Brihadeswarar Temple, a real masterpiece (985 – 1014) and one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Trichy visit Rock Fort, located on the south Bank of the River Cauvery, dedicated to God Ganesh, the Remover of Obstacles. Pilgrims ascent the hill by passing two cave temples. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 15: Trichy - Mahabalipuram:
Drive to Mahabalipuram. Overnight in a beach hotel.

Day 16: Mahabalipuram:
Sightseeing in Kancheepuram, the "Golden City", with more than 1000 years old temples. In Mahabalipuram visit the famous "Shore Temple", the "5 Rathas" and Arjuna’s Penance, with 27 x 9 m largest stone relief in the world. Overnight in a beach resort.

Day 17: Mahabalipuram – Chennai:
Day free. Room until airport transfer. In the evening Transfer to Chennai airport. End of programme.

Day 18: Mahabalipuram – Chennai:
Flight back home or continuation of programme.

Elephants, Mountains & Gourmet
18 days from/to Chennai	Tourcode: IE 31
Kategorie	Superior	Deluxe
Price per person in INR sharing a double room


01.10.08 - 14.12.08	1,15,330	1,49,348
15.12.08 - 05.01.09	prices on request as peak season
06.01.09 - 30.04.09
01.05.09 - 30.09.09	1,14,960	1,26,287

	Category
Place	Superior	Deluxe
Chennai	GRT Grand	Taj Connemara
Hassan/Chickmaglure	The Gateway Hotel (Taj Garden Retreat)	The Gateway Hotel (Taj Garden Retreat)
Mysore	Regalis	Lalitha Mahal Palace
Bandipur/Nagerhole	Cicada Kabini	Cicada Kabini
Calicut	Heritage Home Stay	Heritage Home Stay
Cochin	Taj Residency	Taj Malabar/ Brunton Boatyard
Backwaters	A/c Riceboat	A/c Riceboat
Periyar	Cardamom County	Taj Garden Retreat
Madurai	Fortune Pandyan	The Gateway Hotel (Taj Garden Retreat)
Chettinad	Chettinadu Mansion	Visalam
Trichy	Sangam	Sangam
Mahabalipuram	GRT Temple Bay	GRT Temple Bay

Minimum participants: 02
Program modifications and group prices on request

Our prices include:
17 overnights with breakfast in the mentioned hotels or similar, transfers, round trip in passenger car with air-condition, English speaking local tourist guides for the sightseeing, excursions, entrance fees as per program

Our prices do not include:
Flight to India and back, domestic flights, airport taxes, landing and security duties as well as duties on departure, visa for India, travel insurance, health insurance etc., lunch and dinner, beverages, camera/Video film fees, tips, personal expenses, compulsory Christmas and New Year dinners

Travel documents :

To visit India every traveller needs a visa and a valid passport, valid 6 months beyond the date of return journey We recommend a travel and a health insurance