Gods – Pepper - Palaces (IE – 29)

(From Chennai/To Kovalam)

The most remarkable feature of the temple architecture of South India are the Gopurams, huge temple towers, covered with coloured interpretations of gods and mythical creatures. The Cholas, Chalupkas, Pallavas and Hoysalas were all eagerly builders of temples. Once Kancheepuram, the "Golden City", housed 135 temples. The two Shore Temples in Mahabalipuram are on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Darasuram is India’s third largest Chola Temple.The Brihadeswarar Temple in Thanjavur is covered by a huge monolithic turret.

Chettinad region offers terrific mansions, where you are accommodated in a real palace. The Hindu temple of the fish-eyed goddess Meenakshi ist a magnet of Madurai, attracting thousands of pilgrims each day. The tea and spice plantations around Periyar are a scenic delight. The picturesque Backwaters behind the Malabar Coast with water channels, lake and lagoons with paddy fields and coconut groves, invite you to relax and are a feast to your   eyes.Cochin, once the legendary sailor city, is still today the centre of spice trade, especially for pepper, the "black Gold" of India.

Day 1: Chennai (Madras)- Mahabalipuram: Flight to Bangalore, capital of the Union State of Karnataka in an altitude of 900 metres, also known as "Silicon Valley" of India, centre of India’s computer industry and modern technologies. Transfer to Hotel.   Day 2: Mahabalipuram: Overnight in the beach hotel.

Day 3: 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 the beach hotel.

Day 4: Mahabalipuram – Thanjavur: Drive to Darasuram. The Airavateshvara Temple, built by King Rajaraja II (1146-1173), is deemed to be a masterpiece of the Chola architectur. Thanjavur was once the capital of the Chola ruler. The Brihadeswarar Temple in Thanjavur is covered by a huge monolithic turret, once a massive granite block of 80 tonnes. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 5: Thanjavur - Chettinad: Visit the huge temple complex of Srirangam with the well-known horse column hall. 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 6: Chettinad: Visit the Chettinad Region with the King Palace of the Pudukottai, temple and market. Overnight on full board basis in Chettinadu Mansion (Heritage Hotel).

Day 7: Chettinad – Madurai: Drive to the temple city Madurai, famous as city that never sleeps. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 8: Madurai: Visit Nayaka Palace, one of the best examples of Indo-Saracen 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 9: Madurai – 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 10: Periyar - Cochin: 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. The way down to the coastline of Kerala is most scenic with tea and rubber plantations dotting both sides of the road. 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 11: 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 12: 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 a rice boat on full board basis.

Day 13: Rice Boat – Kovalam: After breakfast end of the rice boat tour. Drive by car to Kovalam, a popular beach retreat. Overnight in a seaside resort.

Day 14: Kovalam: Check-out of the hotel until 12 hrs noon. Transfer to Trivandrum airport. End of programme. Flight back home or continuation of programme.

Gods,Pepper & Palaces   14 days from Chennai to Trivandrum Tourcode: IE 29 Category Superior Deluxe   Price per person in INR sharing a double room                        01.10.08 - 14.12.08 89,094 1,08,308   15.12.08 - 05.01.09     prices on request as peak season 06.01.09 - 30.04.09       01.05.09 - 30.09.09 82,125 84,715

Category Place Superior Deluxe   Mahabalipuram GRT Temple Bay GRT Temple Bay   Tanjore Sangam Sangam   Chettinad Chettinadu Mansion Visalam   Madurai Fortune Pandyan The Gateway Hotel (Taj Garden Retreat)   Periyar Cardamom County Spice Village   Cochin Taj Residency Taj Malabar/Brunton Boatyard   Backwaters A/c Riceboat A/c Riceboat   Kovalam Travancore Heritage Taj Green Cove

Minimum participants: 02 Program modifications and group prices on request Our prices include: 13 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.