South India Heritage Tours - 13 Nights / 14 Days

After breakfast, start your sightseeing tour of Chennai by visiting Fort St. George and the Government Museum. After lunch, resume your drive to visit Dakshina Chitra Museum, where you can witness South Indian tribal heritage displays and traditional homes. Explore the exhibits and continue your drive to Mahabalipuram, the most frequented South Indian coastal heritage destination. Check into the hotel and enjoy a leisurely evening by the coast. Overnight stay in Mahabalipuram.

Explore the stunning UNESCO-listed Mahabalipuram monuments, where you can explore the Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance, and the remarkable Pancha Rathas -each a masterpiece from the Pallava era.

Don't miss the chance to marvel at Krishna's Butter Ball and the ancient Varaha Cave Temple. Later in the afternoon, take a scenic drive to Pondicherry, the charming French colonial town, and settle into your hotel for the night. Enjoy your overnight stay in Pondicherry.

Take a delightful tour of Pondicherry, starting with the charming French Quarter, where you can admire the stunning colonial architecture and stroll along the cafe-lined streets. Don't miss the local history museum, take a leisurely walk on Promenade Beach, and pick up some unique handcrafted souvenirs. Enjoy your overnight stay in Pondicherry.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive toward the temple city of Kumbakonam. En route, visit the  Brihadeeswarar temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. This magnificent temple was built by King Rajendra Chola, son of the Great Emperor RajaRaja Chola I.

The large Linga idol in the sanctum, along with the numerous figurines and statues throughout the temple, is easily visible.
Resume your drive to Darasuram Airavatesvara Temple, built in the form of a chariot.

The intricate designs of the stone sculptures are truly marvellous to watch. Both these temples are listed under the Great Living Chola Temples by UNESCO.

Continue your drive to Kumbakonam. Check into the hotel, and the rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.

Kumbakonam, renowned for its magnificent temples, is the perfect place to begin your spiritual journey. Observe artisans crafting the region's famous bronze statues and traditional pottery at local workshops. Visit the popular temples nearby before returning to the hotel. Overnight stay at Kumbakonam.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and start your drive to Thanjavur. Visit the world-renowned Brihadeeswarar temple built by the great Emperor RajaRaja Chola I.

The temple remains an engineering marvel, featuring a massive Linga, impressive bull idols, the tallest sanctum tower, and a monolithic stone weighing 80 tonnes placed atop the tower. Due to its magnificence, the temple is called the Big Temple.

After thoroughly enjoying the architectural excellence, visit the Museum and Palace, icons of Maratha rulers in Thanjavur. Continue your drive to Karaikudi. Check into the hotel, and the rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight stay in Karaikudi.

After breakfast, set off on a sightseeing adventure in Karaikudi, often hailed as the heart of the Chettinad region and the home of the Chettiar community, a notable business class in Tamil Nadu. This charming town is renowned for its grand palatial homes, exquisite Chettinad mansions, and its distinctive Chettinad cuisine.

Some of these historic residences boast up to a thousand windows, and it’s a tradition for the Chettiars to host lavish events, like traditional weddings, in their ancestral homes. With many community members having moved abroad, a number of these spacious houses have been transformed into heritage homestays and boutique hotels, drawing in travellers from all corners of the world.

Make sure to visit the iconic Chettinad House, where you can admire its beautiful architecture, complete with expansive halls, central courtyards, and thoughtfully designed rooms that showcase the distinctive Chettinad style.

After your visit, proceed to Madurai, one of the oldest cities continuously inhabited in India. Check into your hotel, and then enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay at Madurai.

Check out of the hotel and start your visit with Meenakshi Amman Temple. Madurai is one of the world’s oldest cities with the longest surviving civilisations. The grand Meenakshi Amman Temple is located at the exact centre of the city, around which the entire metropolis is built in concentric squares.

Also, visit the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal and the Gandhi Museum -iconic landmarks of Madurai. After exploring the city, resume your drive to Kovalam, the exotic beach destination of Kerala. En route, you can visit Padmanabhapuram Palace. Arrive in Kovalam and check into your hotel. Overnight stay at Kovalam.

Take a break and soak up the sun at Kovalam Beach, famous for its stunning golden sands, soothing Ayurvedic spa treatments, and picturesque coastline. Whether you want to relax by the waves or venture out to explore Lighthouse Beach and Samudra Beach, there's something for everyone. Enjoy an overnight stay in Kovalam.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and start your drive to Alleppey, known as the Venice of the East. The wonderful water networks connecting the regions are amazing to watch. Embark on a cosily designed houseboat and start your cruise. Enjoy your stay in the houseboat as it moves across the shallow backwaters.

Enjoy exquisite cuisines freshly prepared by the on-board crew, featuring authentic Kerala dishes. Once the houseboat is anchored, explore the lives of the natives living on the banks of the backwaters. Spend the night in the houseboat.

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and continue your drive to Cochin. Check into the hotel and relax for a while. Later, visit Fort Cochin, Jew Town, and Mattancherry Palace. In the evening, enjoy a Kathakali dance performance, an ancient art form of Kerala.

Kathakali is a dance drama that enacts scenes from the popular Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

The highlights of the show include the unique makeup and elaborate headgear. The makeup takes about four hours for every artist to complete. Enjoy the vibrant show before returning to the hotel. Overnight stay at Cochin.

En route to some of Cochin's iconic locations, such as the Hilltop Palace. Take a leisurely walk through the shopping areas of Cochin and pick up some souvenirs to bring back home. Later in the evening, enjoy the martial arts form of Kerala, Kalaripayattu.

The show is performed with great vigour, and it is a truly unique experience for this region. Witness the brave movements of the artists as they perform with utmost dedication. Overnight stay at Cochin.

Check out of the hotel after breakfast. Depending on your departure schedule, you'll be assisted in boarding your flight at Cochin Airport or the railway station. The tour concludes with wonderful memories of South India's heritage.