Itineraries UK.cdr - Tamarind Tours India

MEENAKSHI TEMPLE
in the sanctum. Later, drive back to Tanjore. Overnight in Tanjore.
Day 06 Tanjore - Karaikudi (100 Kms / 2 Hrs 30)
This morning you will leave for Karalkudi; on arrival, visit a typical
Chettinad village, and see some of the local temples to appreciate
the culture and architecture. Overnight in Karalkudi.
Day 07 Karaikudi - Madurai (100 Kms / 2 Hrs 30)
This morning, leave for Madurai.
On arrival, visit the Meenakshi
Temple- the heart and lifeline of
the 2500 year old city of Madurai.
The complex houses 14
magnificent Gopurams or towers,
including two golden Gopurams
for the main deities. Continue to
the Palace of Tirumalai Nayak, an
TIRUMALAI NAYAK PALACE Indo-Saracenic building
constructed in 1523. It was built
with the help of an Italian Architect and is a classic fusion of
Dravidian, Islamic and European styles. The Swarga Vilasam, which
served as the audience hall, features a dome that rises to a height of
20m without support of any kind. In the evening, re-visit the
Meenakshi Temple to witness the evening prayer ceremony at the
temple. Overnight in Madurai.
Day 08 Madurai - Munnar (170 Kms / 5 Hrs)
After breakfast, drive through beautiful winding roads surrounded
by picture postcard tea estates, towards Munnar. Set at an
altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, Munnar was the
favored summer resort of the erstwhile British
rulers. Visit the tea plantations; tea lovers will
be particularly fascinated by the various
stages of tea processing. Overnight in
Munnar.
Day 09 Munnar
Day at leisure to walk around the tea
plantations, enjoy small treks and savour the
beauty of this lovely tea town. Overnight in
Munnar.
Day 10 Munnar - Cochin (150 Kms / 4 Hrs 30)
Today you will drive to Cochin. Kochi, formerly known as Cochin,
iis one of the principal seaports of the country. It was an important
spice-trading centre on the Arabian Sea coast since the 14th century.
In the evening, witness a Kathakali dance performance. The most
spectacular form of dance- drama in India, the origins of Kathakali
go back 500 years. Overnight in Cochin.
Day 11 Cochin
After breakfast, explore the city of Cochin. Fort Cochin is home to
some of the oldest European
architecture in India and unlike the
bustling Ernakulum, the twin cities
KATHAKALI
MUNNAR
CHINESE FISHING NETS
TAMARIND
TOURS
of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry have preserved an extraordinary
wealth of early colonial architecture spanning the Portuguese,
Dutch and the British eras. Walk to the church of St Francis, the
oldest European-built church in India. The gravestone of Vasco-da-
Gama, the first European to reach India by sailing around Africa, is
a major attraction there. Explore the amazing Chinese Fishing Nets,
strung out along the tip of the peninsula. It is believed that these
were introduced to Kochi by traders from the court of Kublai Khan.
Continue to the Jewish Quarter where you visit the historic
synagogue, built over 400 years ago. The Synagogue itself is
elaborately decorated with crystal chandeliers and carved wood with
blue and white ceramic tiles. You will also visit the Mattancherry or
Dutch Palace, constructed in 1555. It houses some of the finest
murals of Hindu temple art. Overnight in Cochin.
Day 12 Cochin -
Kumarakum (65 Kms / 1
Hrs 30 )
This morning drive to
Kumarakom, a cluster of
little islands on Vembanad
Lake. Situated on the
backwaters, it is an idyllic,
serene getaway from
civilisation. Kumarakom
KUMARAKOM
is noted for its bird
sanctuary, where many
species of migratory birds visit. In the evening, enjoy a boat cruise
through the calm green waters, watching rural life on the
palm fringed canals. Overnight in Kumarakom.
Day 13 Kumarakom
Morning at leisure. During the day, you can
choose to avail of the different activities
available at the resort. Get pampered with
some soothing Ayurvedic treatments.
Ayurveda is the ancient Indian science of
holistic healing, where a variety of natural
herbs, powders, poultices and oils are used to
cure innumerable ailments the natural way.
Alternatively, enjoy a houseboat cruise on the backwaters
with lunch. After lunch, the boat will take you to through the
backwaters to Alleppey. Enjoy the spectacle of the vast paddy fields
that surround these beautiful backwaters. The boat will stop in
villages for you to experience a glimpse of the village life in rural
Kerala. The villagers will be happy
to invite you to sip a freshly picked AYURVEDIC THERAPY
raw coconut from their own fields.
Overnight in Kumarakom.
Day 14 Kumarakom - Cochin (
60 Kms / 1 Hrs )- Onwards
Post lunch, drive to Kochi Airport
to proceed to your onward
destination.