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Chennai to Bangalore (5 Star) - 18 days
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Highlights
Chennai - Discover colonial and sacred landmarks from Marina Beach to Fort St George, Santhome Cathedral and Kapaleeshwarar Temple
Kanchipuram - Admire the facades of Kailasanatha and Ekambaranatha Temples, noting towering gopurams and carvings without interior entry
Mahabalipuram - View Shore Temple, Five Rathas and Arjuna’s Penance from designated viewpoints beside the Bay of Bengal
Pondicherry - Experience French Quarter streets, Sri Aurobindo Ashram frontage and Promenade Beach, capturing colonial architecture and coastal ambience from the outside
Pondicherry - Experience French Quarter streets, Sri Aurobindo Ashram frontage and Promenade Beach, capturing colonial architecture and coastal ambience from the outside
Thanjavur - Appreciate Brihadeeshwara Temple’s monumental vimana and granite cupola from the complex exterior, emblematic of Chola engineering
Trichy - Survey Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple’s vast gopurams and the dramatic Rock Fort skyline from riverside and city viewpoints
Madurai - Behold Meenakshi Amman Temple’s colourful gopurams and lively precincts from outside, a revered centre of worship and legend
Munnar - Wander through tea-clad hillsides and scenic viewpoints, with chances to spot Nilgiri Tahr at Eravikulam from permitted public areas
Periyar - Scan forested lakeshores for wildlife from designated vantage points, appreciating habitats without committing to boat safaris
Alleppey - Sail leisurely by houseboat through palm-lined canals and Vembanad Lake, watching village life unfold along the backwaters
Kochi - Stroll Fort Kochi’s lanes to see Chinese fishing nets, colonial churches and spice warehouses from the outside
Thanjavur - Appreciate Brihadeeshwara Temple’s monumental vimana and granite cupola from the complex exterior, emblematic of Chola engineering
Trichy - Survey Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple’s vast gopurams and the dramatic Rock Fort skyline from riverside and city viewpoints
Madurai - Behold Meenakshi Amman Temple’s colourful gopurams and lively precincts from outside, a revered centre of worship and legend
Munnar - Wander through tea-clad hillsides and scenic viewpoints, with chances to spot Nilgiri Tahr at Eravikulam from permitted public areas
Periyar - Scan forested lakeshores for wildlife from designated vantage points, appreciating habitats without committing to boat safaris
Alleppey - Sail leisurely by houseboat through palm-lined canals and Vembanad Lake, watching village life unfold along the backwaters
Kochi - Stroll Fort Kochi’s lanes to see Chinese fishing nets, colonial churches and spice warehouses from the outside
Itinerary
PRIVATE TOUR: Discover South India on this 18-day journey from Delhi to Bangalore, travelling through ancient temples, serene backwaters, lush hills and lively cities. Visit Chennai’s colonial gems, the rock temples of Mahabalipuram, and the French quarters of Pondicherry. Explore Tanjore’s Chola heritage, Madurai’s sacred splendour and Munnar’s tea gardens. Cruise Alleppey’s backwaters, spot wildlife in Periyar, and uncover the charm of Cochin, Mysore and Hassan before ending in Bangalore.
day 1 - Arrival in Chennai & Half Day City Tour
On arrival at Chennai Airport, you will be met by our representative, before transferring you to your hotel. After check-in, take some time to relax.
In the afternoon, you will explore Chennai on a half-day city tour. Starting at Marina Beach, a 12-kilometre stretch where you can enjoy the sea breeze and watch the sun dip below the horizon. Continue to Fort St George, built in 1640 by the British East India Company. Inside the fort, you can visit St Mary’s Church, the oldest Protestant church in the East, and the Fort Museum, which displays colonial coins, uniforms, paintings and other artefacts.
You will then visit Santhome Cathedral, believed to hold the remains of St Thomas the Apostle, who is said to have come to India in 52 AD. Continue to the National Art Gallery, established in 1857, to see its fine collection of art, sculpture and natural history exhibits. Your final stop is the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, a striking Dravidian-style shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
After, you will return to your hotel, where you will have the evening at leisure.
OverNight:Chennai
day 2 - Drive to Kanchipuram
Chennai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram. Today, you will drive to Kanchipuram, one of India’s seven sacred cities, and once a major centre of learning for Tamil and Sanskrit. Known in ancient times as Kachi, it is believed to have been visited by the Chinese scholar Hsuan Tsang. The city was once home to more than a thousand temples and remains renowned for its fine silk sarees.
You will visit the 8th-century Kailasanatha Temple, built in the Pallava style with a pyramidal tower, pillared hall and intricate carvings. The temple’s inner walls feature fresco-style paintings, and 58 small shrines surround the main sanctuary. Continue to the Ekambaranatha Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, where the 57-metre Rajagopuram is one of South India’s tallest towers. Within the temple stands a 3,000-year-old mango tree said to bear four different varieties of fruit.
Later, you will continue to Mahabalipuram and check in at your hotel. The evening is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Mahabalipuram
day 3 - Wonders of Mahabalipuram & Pondicherry
Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry. This morning, you will enjoy a guided tour of Mahabalipuram, famed for its rock-cut monuments and temples by the sea. Visit the 7th-century Shore Temple, one of South India’s earliest Dravidian-style structures, designed to catch the sunrise and glow under moonlight.
Continue to the Five Rathas, monolithic temples carved from single rocks. The smallest, Draupadi Ratha, contrasts with the grand multi-storeyed Dharmaraja Ratha. Though unfinished and weathered, these shrines remain remarkable examples of Pallava artistry.
You will also see the Varaha Cave, a finely carved rock-cut hall with detailed reliefs, and Arjuna’s Penance, the world’s largest bas-relief depicting the descent of the River Ganga.
Conclude at the Shore Temple complex, dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, before driving to Pondicherry, where you will spend the night.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Pondicherry
day 4 - Exploring Pondicherry
After breakfast, you will set out on a full-day excursion in and around Pondicherry, formerly known as Puducherry. Located on India’s eastern seaboard, the city still retains traces of its French heritage, seen in its colonial architecture and relaxed coastal atmosphere.
You will visit Auroville, an experimental township founded with the vision of human unity, and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a centre of spiritual learning established by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Continue to the Promenade Beach, a pleasant stretch along the Bay of Bengal, and explore the Pondicherry Museum, which houses fine collections of sculpture, archaeological artefacts and French period furnishings.
You will also visit the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an elegant Gothic-style landmark, and the Manakula Vinayagar Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha and known for its vibrant carvings and peaceful atmosphere. Return to your hotel in the evening.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Pondicherry
day 5 - Drive to Chidambaram & Thanjavur
Pondicherry - Chidambaram - Thanjavur. You will drive from Pondicherry to Thanjavur, stopping at Chidambaram, the sacred town dedicated to Lord Nataraja, Shiva in his cosmic dancing form. Built by the Cholas, the temple is one of the few where Shiva and Vishnu are enshrined together and where Shiva is represented by an idol rather than a Lingam. Spread over forty acres with gopurams on each side and five courts, it is also closely linked to the art of Bharatanatyam.
You will then continue to Thanjavur, known as the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. After checking in at your hotel, you will visit the Brihadeeshwara Temple, crowned by an eighty-ton granite cupola raised using a six kilometre ramp, an ancient engineering feat. You will also see the Royal Palace and Art Gallery, home to Chola era bronze and granite sculptures.
You will have the rest of the day at leisure to relax at the hotel, grab dinner or explore.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Thanjavur
day 6 - Trichy & Madurai
Thanjuvar - Trichy - Madurai. This morning, you will drive to Madurai, stopping en route to explore Trichy, short for Tiruchirappalli. You will visit Srirangam, located about five kilometres from Trichy on an island formed by the Kaveri River. This 600-acre temple town is enclosed by seven concentric walls and centred on the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. The complex features twenty-two gopurams, including the tallest in India, a thirteen-tiered tower rising seventy-two metres high and visible for miles.
You will also visit the Rock Fort, Trichy’s most famous landmark. Rising eighty-three metres above the plains, this ancient rock is among the oldest in the world. The main attraction is not the fort itself but the temple perched at its summit, offering fine views of the city below.
After sightseeing in Trichy, continue your drive to Madurai and check in at your hotel on arrival.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Madurai
day 7 - Meenakshi Temple and drive to Munnar
Madurai - Munnar. Today, you will visit the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple, one of the oldest and most important temples in India. Dedicated to Lord Sundareswarar, a form of Lord Shiva, and Goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, the temple’s name reflects their divine qualities. Sundareswarar means the beautiful lord, and Meenakshi means the fish-eyed goddess.
According to Hindu legend, Madurai is the holy city where Lord Shiva appeared to marry Goddess Meenakshi. The temple is also regarded as one of the four most sacred abodes of Goddess Parvati, along with Kamakshi at Kanchipuram, Akilandeswari at Thiruvanaikaval and Vishalakshi at Varanasi.
After your visit, you will drive to Munnar and check in at your hotel.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Munnar
day 8 - Munnar and its surroundings
After breakfast, you will set out for a full day of sightseeing in and around Munnar, one of the most popular hill stations in South India. Situated 1600 metres above sea level at the confluence of the Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala streams, Munnar was once the summer retreat of the British administration in South India.
You will visit the vast tea estates that stretch across the hills like a green carpet, creating one of the most picturesque landscapes in the region. The area’s winding roads, cool climate and tranquil scenery make it a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. Continue to Eravikulam National Park, home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, the mountain goat native to this region. Please note that the park remains closed during January and February.
The rest of the day is free for you to explore Munnar at your own pace or simply unwind amid the peaceful surroundings.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Munnar
day 9 - Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Munnar - Periyar. You will visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India’s finest natural reserves. Located around the serene Periyar Lake, the sanctuary is home to elephants, deer, bison, wild boar and a variety of bird species. You can enjoy a peaceful boat ride on the lake, where you may spot wildlife along the forested shores.
The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the nearby spice plantations and local markets at your own pace.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Periyar National Park
day 10 - Backwaters of Kumarakom
Periyar - Kumarakom. This morning you will travel to Kumarakom, a peaceful cluster of small islands on Vembanad Lake in Kerala. The area forms part of Kuttanad, known as the ‘Wonder Land’ for its stretches of land that lie below sea level. It is a region of calm waters, green paddy fields and coconut palms that create a truly relaxing setting.
You will have the rest of the day at leisure to relax and enjoy your hotel’s facilities. You may choose to take a traditional Kettuvallam houseboat cruise, an unforgettable way to experience life on the backwaters.
If you prefer to explore further, you can visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, where you may see cormorants, teals and other ducks between October and February, and darters, night herons, egrets and Siberian storks from February to July. Resident species such as the golden backed woodpecker, crow pheasant and white breasted water hen can be seen throughout the year.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Kumarakom
day 11 - Houseboat Cruise to Alleppey
Kumarakom - Alleppey. Today you will board your houseboat in Kumarakom and begin a gentle cruise across the beautiful Vembanad Lake. The calm waters and lush greenery create a soothing atmosphere, perfect for relaxing your mind and body. You can unwind on deck, watch the scenery drift by or simply enjoy the peaceful rhythm of life on the lake.
As you sail through the backwaters towards Kumarakom, you will have the chance to observe village life along the shores, where locals go about their daily routines in harmony with the water.
Later, continue to Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha. This tranquil town is a favourite for those seeking rest and renewal amidst nature. With its network of canals, serene beaches and traditional charm, Alleppey offers the ideal balance of calm and activity, inviting you to enjoy its timeless beauty.
Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
OverNight:Alleppey
day 12 - Exploring Kochi
Alleppey - Kochi. After checking out of your houseboat, you will travel to Kochi, a city with a long history of sea trade. With one of the finest natural harbours on the Arabian coast, Kochi showcases a fascinating blend of cultures reflected in its architecture and heritage.
You will then explore the city, starting with Fort Kochi, where colonial-era streets and buildings still display strong European influence. You will visit the Santa Cruz Basilica, one of Kochi’s most striking landmarks, and St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. At the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568, you can admire the beautiful Chinese tiles, Belgian chandeliers and ancient scrolls of the Old Testament.
Later, you will continue to the spice market, where the air is rich with the scent of cardamom, cinnamon and pepper, reminders of the trade that once brought merchants from around the world. You will also see the distinctive Chinese fishing nets, believed to have been introduced by traders from the court of Kublai Khan.
In the evening, you will enjoy a performance of Kathakali, Kerala’s most famous classical dance, known for its vivid costumes and expressive storytelling.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Kochi
day 13 - Kochi to Ooty
Kochi - Ooty. You will travel by road to Ooty, often called the Queen of Hill Stations. On arrival, you will check in at your hotel.
Located in the Western Ghats at an altitude of about 2,240 metres, Ooty, or Udhagamandalam, serves as the headquarters of the Nilgiris district, where two mountain ranges meet. The town is known for its pleasant climate, scenic landscapes and colonial charm, making it one of South India’s most popular hill stations. You will have the rest of the day at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Ooty
day 14 - Discovering Mysore
Ooty - Mysore, This morning, you will depart by road for Mysore. On arrival, you will check in at your hotel, where you will have free time.
In the afternoon, you will take a half-day city tour beginning with the grand Maharaja’s Palace, built in 1897 and considered one of the largest in India. You will then visit Srirangapatna, once the capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, followed by St Philomena’s Church. At the Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery, housed in the Jagmohan Palace, you can view an impressive collection of paintings.
If time permits, you may also visit the Brindavan Gardens, known for their musical fountains and illuminated displays on select evenings. You will spend the night at your hotel in Mysore.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Mysore
day 15 - Belur Temple & Travel to Hassan
Mysore - Hassan. Today you will head to the Belur Temple, an outstanding example of South Indian architecture. The famous Chennakesava Temple complex here includes several shrines showcasing the detailed craftsmanship and intricate carvings that define the region’s golden architectural style.
After your visit, you will return to the hotel to check out and continue your journey to Hassan. On arrival, you will check in at your hotel for the night.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Hassan
day 16 - Excursion to Shravanabelagola
In the morning, you will visit Shravanabelagola, one of the most important Jain pilgrimage sites. Set between the Vindhyagiri and Chandragiri hills, it is home to the remarkable 57-foot statue of Gommateshwara Bahubali, a striking symbol of peace and renunciation.
You can spend some quiet time here taking in the serene surroundings before returning to your hotel for the night.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Hassan
day 17 - Exploring Bangalore
Hassan - Bangalore. This morning you will depart by road for Bangalore, known as the Garden City of India. On arrival, you will check in at your hotel. The city combines a rich past with a modern outlook; its graceful parks and colonial architecture date back to the 16th century, while its leading role in India’s technology sector has earned it the title of Silicon City.
In the afternoon, you will take a city tour that includes the impressive Vidhan Soudha, a grand example of neo-Dravidian architecture that houses the state legislative assembly. You will also visit Cubbon Park, a green haven in the city centre, and Lal Bagh, known for its beautiful red roses and glasshouse. The tour concludes at Bangalore Palace, one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks. You will spend the night at your hotel in Bangalore.
Meals:1 Breakfast
OverNight:Bangalore
day 18 - Departure from Bangalore
After breakfast, you will have some time at leisure before checking out from the hotel at 12 PM. You will then be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!
Meals:1 Breakfast
What's Included
Accommodation
16 nights in 5-star hotels & 1 night in a deluxe Houseboat
Meals
17 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 1 dinner
Transport
Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and airport departure transfer on day 18All relevant transfers and transportation in private, air-conditioned vehicles
Others
Services of local, English-speaking guides for included sightseeing & activitiesGuided sightseeing in Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondichery, Thanjuvar, Madurai, Kochi, Mysore, Hassan & BangaloreTea Plantation tour in MunnarSpice Plantation tour in PeriyarBoat ride in PeriyarKathakali Dance show in KochiComplimentary drinking water
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