From Chennai to Cochin, explore the senses.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Chennai

  

  Arrival at Chennai International Airport, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, founded in the 17th century by the British Empire. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  Chennai to Mahabalipuram (141 km - 4 hours)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by road to Mahabalipuram. On the way, visit Kanchipuram, known as the "Golden City" with its thousands of temples. It is one of the 7 sacred cities of Hinduism and the former capital of the Pallava dynasty. Enjoy a hand weaving demonstration. Continue to Mahabalipuram. This seaside resort, with its white sandy beaches and clear waters, located on the Coromandel coast, is particularly famous for its 7 pagodas. More than 2000 years ago, this city was a renowned port for trade between Phoenician, Arab, and Greek merchants. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  Mahabalipuram

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Mahabalipuram site, the cradle of stone architecture in southern India: the Shore Temple, carved on the western face of the rocky outcrop, illuminated by the sunrise. This 27 by 9 meter panel tells the legend of the descent of the Ganges, which Lord Shiva received in his hair to save the Earth from the river's destructive force. The Shore Temple is therefore dedicated to Shiva, as evidenced by the many independent statues of the bull Nandi that you will see in the courtyard. You will discover the Five Rathas, temples in the shape of procession chariots (rathas), as seen in southern India. These small monolithic monuments are adorned with high-relief sculptures representing gods from the Brahmanic pantheon, such as Shiva, Durga, and Indra. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry (96 km - 2 hours)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Drive by road to Pondicherry, the former French colony with the discreet charm of a French sub-prefecture under the tropics. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Visit to the Government Museum (closed on Mondays). Then, visit to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram, the residence where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother lived, attracts people from all over the world.

• day 5

  Pondicherry to Thanjavur (183 km - 5 hours)

  

  After breakfast, depart by road for Thanjavur. On the way, stop at Chidambaram, which was the capital of the Chola rulers from 907 to 1310. It was towards the end of this period that the Nataraja temple was built. This 22-hectare complex has four large Gopurams adorned with finely carved bas-reliefs depicting Hindu myths and facing the four cardinal points. Next, continue to Gangaikondacholapuram, the former capital of the Chola Empire, built by King Rajendra around 1025 to commemorate his victory over the Pala dynasty of Bengal. An inscription indicates that King Rajendra ordered the defeated princes of Bengal to carry sacred water from the Ganges to his new capital, where he built a huge reservoir to store it. The city is now in ruins, with only the Rajendreshvara temple remaining. Stop at Kumbakonam, where you will visit a school (Sankara mutt) where young children live and train to become priests. In addition to strict adherence to tradition, the children learn the Vedas (ancient Hindu religious texts). It takes seven years to complete their education. If you inform the priest in advance, you can listen to a prayer recited by the students of the school. You can then interact with the students and the teacher, who serves as an interpreter. Finally, arrive in Thanjavur and check in at the hotel. Thanjavur (or Tanjore) was the former capital of the Chola, Pallava, Pandya, and Chera monarchs. Endless struggles tore apart these dynasties that succeeded each other in power. The city is famous for its Shiva temple and its art gallery. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  Tanjore

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. City tour: the Shiva temple, called Brihadeeshwara, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built by the Chola king Rajaraja between 1003 and 1010. Rajaraja attended the installation of the copper pot (kalash) at the top of the 13-storey vimana, 66 meters high, crowned by a monolithic block weighing 81 tons. Enjoy our special "Discovery of the Vina" program when you are in Thanjavur. Ask to be taken to one of the houses where these magnificent instruments are still produced. The Vina is one of the three celestial musical instruments, along with the flute and the mridangam, with references in Vedic times. You can observe how these traditional instruments are hand-carved and talk with the owner, whose family has been making Vinas for generations. The instrument is made from a specific type of jackfruit tree trunk that grows only here. Next, take an excursion to Trichy and visit the fort perched on the hill and its temples. Explore the Sri Ranganathaswami Vishnu sanctuary, located on an island in the heart of a religious city surrounded by seven enclosures with 21 pyramid-shaped gopurams (towers). Return to Thanjavur. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  Tanjore to Madurai (190 km - 4 hours)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by road to Madurai. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel, then visit of the city of Madurai. The Meenakshi Temple, with its pointed towers (the highest measures over 48 meters), is one of the largest and most impressive temples in India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort, the goddess Meenakshi. The main attractions of the temple are the Golden Lotus Tank, the Great Hall of a Thousand Pillars, and the temple's art museum. The 18th-century Thirumalai Nayak Palace is a beautiful example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. It is remarkable for the proportion and size of its huge arches, supported by sculpted and painted columns, surrounding the large courtyard adorned with trees. Enjoy a tuk-tuk ride. In the evening, attend the Shiva bedtime ceremony. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  Madurai to Munnar (153 km - 5 hours)

  

  Visit to the flower market. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Departure by road to Munnar. Munnar is a small town surrounded by the hills of Devan Kannan. It is famous for its lakes and forests, but above all for its tea plantations. Its tea production is one of the largest in the world. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Munnar

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Then enjoy an interesting program: "Make your own tea." This program is offered by the Lockhart Tea Factory. Its goal is to offer guests a unique experience of making tea with their own hands. The activity includes picking green leaves, rolling dried leaves, and breaking the rolled leaves. Finally, you can taste the tea you made yourself. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  Munnar to Alleppey (169 km - 5 hours)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by road to Alleppey, known as the Venice of the East and famous for its backwaters. Upon arrival, board a houseboat at the Alleppey jetty for an overnight cruise on the backwaters. The backwaters are a unique natural environment in the world. It is a network of lakes, canals, estuaries, and deltas of 44 rivers that flow into the Indian Ocean. It is a unique ecosystem with its own aquatic flora and fauna. The freshwater rivers meet the salty ocean water in this region. The canals connect the villages to each other. Out of the 900 km of waterways, transport is done by small motorboats, traditional canoes, or houseboats. Lunch, dinner, and overnight on the houseboat.

• day 11

  Alleppey to Cochin (54 km - 2 hours)

  

  After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and depart for Cochin. Kochi is a tapestry woven with silk threads over the centuries. Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences have left many architectural monuments, with the old palace square being the best example. Today, Kochi is an important port that still offers many tourist attractions. The city stretches over a group of islands and promontories, bathed by the Arabian Sea and the Backwaters. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Free time. Enjoy an evening walk in Cochin starting with the discovery of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry to immerse yourself in its different communities that make this place very attractive. You will visit a local Gujarati dessert factory and meet Greshma and her daughter Reshma, specialists in Mehandi (henna tattoos). Next, head to the Brahmin alley for an interaction with one of the families who perform the daily Kollam ritual (a daily ritual to protect the house from evil spirits). In the evening, attend a Kathakali dance performance. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 12

  Cochin

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. City tour and its attractions, namely: The Dutch Palace, also known as Mattancherry Palace: it was built by the Portuguese and offered to the Raja of Cochin in the 16th century. Its rather surprising name of Dutch Palace was given in the 17th century, when the Dutch expanded the city and restored the building. Neither the Portuguese nor the Dutch ever lived there. The interior is decorated with frescoes depicting the Ramayana. It also contains beautiful examples of royal costumes and palanquins. (Closed on Fridays and during Jewish holidays) The Synagogue: it was built at the end of the 16th century. Inside, you can find Old Testament scrolls, copper plates engraved with the city charter, and beautifully decorated Chinese ceramic tiles. (Closed on Friday afternoons, Saturdays, and during Jewish holidays) The Chinese fishing nets: they stand on the seashore and are still used by local fishermen during high tides. It is believed that they were brought by traders from the court of Kublai Khan. St. Francis Church: built in the 15th century by the Portuguese, it is considered the oldest European church built in India. This is where the great explorer Vasco da Gama was initially buried before his remains were repatriated to Portugal 14 years later. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 13

  Departure from Cochin.

  

  Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport.