CHENNAI (MADRAS)
Arrive at Night at Chennai International Airport. For the visitor wishing to explore southern India extensively, Chennai, earlier known a Madras, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, is the most convenient point of entry.

CHENNAI / COVELONG
American breakfast at the Hotel. Proceed on a brief visit of the City of Madras. Fort St. George built by the British East India Company, completed in the 17th Century, St. Mary's Church and the Government Museum for its superb collection of Chola Art. Lunch in Chennai. Continue drive to Covelong, a seaside village located only 37 CMS from China. Enroute visit the Cholamandal Artists Village and the Dakshinchitra Museum, which showcases Traditional Art, Craft and Architecture from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Checkin at your Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & Overnight in Covelong

CHENNAI / COVELONG
American breakfast at the Hotel. Proceed on a brief visit of the City of Madras. Fort St. George built by the British East India Company, completed in the 17th Century, St. Mary's Church and the Government Museum for its superb collection of Chola Art. Lunch in Chennai. Continue drive to Covelong, a seaside village located only 37 CMS from China. Enroute visit the Cholamandal Artists Village and the Dakshinchitra Museum, which showcases Traditional Art, Craft and Architecture from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Checkin at your Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner & Overnight in Covelong.

The capital of Tamil Nadu is also its principal harbor and has one of the finest beaches in Asia. It was founded at Fort St. George in 1640 AD by Francis Day of the East India Company.

It is the centre of the Hindu tradition of Bharata Natyam (classical dancing) the art of temple sculpture also comes from this part of the country, and gives expression to both the devoutness and the artistic skills of the Tamil people. Madras is the home of the ancient Dravidian civilization, one of the oldest articulate cultures in the world. It is a city where the landscape of the past lives easily with more recent history.

MAHABALIPURAM
BAS-RELIEF AT MAHABALIPURAM Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel. Morning visit the Temples and Rock Carvings that were built by the Chola Kings of Kancheepuram between 6th and 8th Centuries AD. Return to Covelong and Overnight at Hotel.

World famous for its shore temples, Mahabalipuram, was the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. 58 kilometers from Madras on the Bay of Bengal, this tiny sea side village of Mahabalipuram, is set in a boulder-strewn landscape. Tourists are drawn to this place by its miles of unspoiled beach and rock-cut art. The sculpture of this place is particularly interesting, because it shows scenes of day-to- day life, in contrast to the rest of the state of Tamil Nadu, where carvings generally depict gods and goddesses.

COVELONG / CHENNAI / MADURAI / CHETTINAD
Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer by Car to Chennai Domestic Airport. Assistance for checkin on the flight to Madurai. Jet Airways flight 9w3519. Departure at 0645 Hrs and Arrival at 0805 Hrs. Drive to Chettinad or the Land of Chettiars, a prosperous banking community who ventured overseas to South and South East Asia in the 19th and 20th Centuries and amassed great fortunes. Madurai to Chettinad is 100 Kms. Its 1.5 Hours drive.

Check-In and lunch at THE BUNGALA, a charming 75 year old Chettinad Bungalow, belonging to the Meyyappa Chettiar Family, that has been restored and converted into a heritage guest house. After lunch, explore the Karaikudi with its fabulous mansions and with its many temples. Return to Madurai.

Afternoon visit of the Chettinad Palace and the mansions at Karaikudi. Meals and Overnight at THE BUNGALA.

CHETTINAD / MADURAI
Breakfast at The Bungala and drive to Madurai. On arrival Check-In at Hotel TAJ GARDEN RETREAT. Located on a hillock called PASUMALAI, the building was constructed during British Rule. It is now taken over by the Taj Group and run as an Old World Charm Hotel.

Afternoon Sightseeing of Madurai Meenakshi Temple. Dinner and Overnight in Madurai.

After an early Dinner re-visit Temple to witness the closing ceremony, where the idols of the God and the Goddess are taken in a procession around the temple and put to sleep. Return to Hotel and Overnight at the hotel in Madurai.

Madurai, the most famous of the temple towns of the south is known for the Meenakshi Temple. Famed for its many carved and painted halls, this magnificent temple of goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundaram (Shiva) has the tallest Gopuram (temple gateway) in the world. Designed in the 16th Century the Temple Complex occupies an area of 6 Hectares and has 12 towers of different sizes, maximum being 50 meters. It also has a Temple Art Museum and a 1000 Pillared Hall.

MADURAI / THEKKADY
Buffet American Breakfast at the Hotel. This day we drive from Madurai to Thekkady in the State of Kerala. Our journey in Tamil Nadu or the Land of Tamils ends today and we begin our journey to Kerala, also known as God's Own Country.

Checkin at Spice Village, which offers a rare opportunity to enjoy South India's Wildlife and Beauty, as it is located close to the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

Installation. After some time for rest, take a tour of the plantations around Spice Village. The entire area is rich with Cardamom / Pepper / Tea / Coffee Plantations.

At dusk, proceed on a 2-Hour Water Safari on the Periyar Lake to watch some of the Periyar Tiger Reserve's wildlife. Return to Hotel. Overnight at Periyar.

THEKKADY / KOTTAYYAM / COCHIN
Buffet American Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to Cochin, passing through the hills of Thekkady, Tea/Coffee Plantations. Drive through Kanjeerapally, known for its rubber estates.. Continue driving to Cochin. Possibility of organizing Lunch the Madukakunnu House an old Traditional Kerala Home, near Kottayyam. (This is recommended only for Groups).

Check-In at Hotel.

Situated at the Harbor mouth overlooking the busy ship channel, all rooms at this hotel boast of a magnificent view of the sea and the Delta.

Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Cochin.

There are other possibilities for Hotels in Cochin. The Trident or the Taj Malabar in the Willington Island.

The Malabar House Residency at Fort Cochin.