Adventure in South India

After an invigorating breakfast, we set off for Mahabalipuram. On the way, visit the golden city with a thousand temples: Kanchipuram. We start with the Kailasanathar temple, with its exquisite sculptures. It has 58 small sanctuaries arranged around the main sanctuary. Also visit the Kamakshi Amman temple. Kamakshi is said to be an avatar of the princess Parvati, wife of the god Shiva. She blesses all those who revere her.

After this visit, we resume our journey to Mahabalipuram. In the afternoon, we visit a set of five monolithic temples carved out of rock. Each temple displays a particular style of Dravidian art. Stop to admire the 8th century temple built on the shores of the Bay of Bengal with granite blocks in Dravidian style.

Today, we head to Pondicherry, marked by the former French occupation in India, with its grid-laid streets, distinctive police uniforms and colonial buildings.

After settling into the hotel and enjoying a hearty breakfast, we will take a guided tour of the city to admire its French heritage. Rickshaw ride through the streets gives you an insight into French architecture. Tourist attractions include the Shree Aurobindo ashram, Auroville, the French institute and settlement, the museum and the church.

This morning, departure for Thanjavur through the fertile Kaveri delta, with its lush rice fields. Check-in at the hotel.

Thanjavur is renowned for the quality of its craftsmanship (bronze) and the manufacture of musical instruments typical of South India. Late afternoon, visit to the Brihadeeswarar temple (10th century). Listed by Unesco as a World Heritage site, it represents a brilliant example of Dravidian architecture.

Route to the colorful city of Madurai, famous for its quite complex temples. One of the oldest and most fascinating cities of Tamil Nadu, Madurai is also a thriving cultural center with a rich past. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel.

The rest of the day is free to visit the city. Its large Meenakshi Amman Temple - Temple of Sri Meenakshi Sundarewarar, built during the Nayak period between the 16th and 18th centuries is at the heart of the city and is one of the largest temple complexes in Inde.

The five gopurams surrounding the temple are known for their stucco work. The southern gopuram is the highest, measuring 48.8 m high. Worshippers bathe in the Golden Lily tank and crowd into The Hall of a Thousand Pillars, both finely decorated. Madurai is the ideal place to stroll and discover Hindu culture.

Route to the Ghats hills. After the hot plains of Tamil Nadu, the cooler atmosphere proves welcome. Wooded hills undulate on the horizon forming a new landscape. Hotel check-in. Various optional activities are offered: among others horse riding or cycling. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, drive to Munnar. At an altitude of 1600 meters in the Western Ghats, it owes its fame to English colonists who came seeking coolness during the summer months. From the colonial era, it has retained the charm of its tea plantations. The hills, carved to their summits, offer a striking landscape. With its numerous waterfalls and colorful small villages amid the plantations, Munnar offers a postcard-like scenery. The region is ideal for easy hiking. Upon our arrival, check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day allows you to stroll through the busy streets of the town.

In the morning, we travel through beautiful and lush countryside to reach the hilltops of Thekkady, a small town near the Periyar National Park, India's most fascinating wildlife sanctuary.

After breakfast we head to Alleppey . Also known as Alappuzha, the city is the starting point for backwater cruises in Kerala. We board one of the pleasure boats and begin our cruise along Kerala's backwaters, one of the highlights of the trip. These enchanting boats have been decorated and transformed into comfortable cruise ships. We wind our way along waterways lined with lush tropical vegetation, observing dazzling tropical birds and passing through idyllic villages. Our night on board is centered on the famous Vembanad Lake.

Breakfast on our houseboat before heading to a landing where we meet our vehicle. Transfer to Kochi (Cochin, former Portuguese colonial trading post. Check-in at the hotel.

Today, we visit the Fort of Kochi.. This building was founded by the Portuguese in 1503 and is surely the first European colony to have settled in India. Our visit will be at the pace of tea and spice scents, discovering colorful warehouses, aged bicycles and hand-painted trucks filled with merchandise, as well as food stalls found in every corner. In the afternoon, we visit the Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese as a gift for the Raja of Kochi. A visit to the Jewish synagogue from the 16th century is also on the program, as well as a detour to the Saint-François Church - the resting place of the famous Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. We explore the city of Kochi, its bazaars and the old port area. In the evening, an optional visit to see a performance of Kathakali, a classical dance form unique to Kerala concludes the day.