Tour description
We’ll meet up in Mamallapuram, a small 7th century coastal town with World Heritage status and where you can go to sea with fishermen. Alternatively you can bicycle through villages, stopping at a school, farms and cottage industries.
After spending three relaxing days at Mamallapuram, we’ll drive along the coast on to the secluded French colonial enclave of Pondicherry where we’ll eat haute cuisine!
Biggest temple complex in India
We’ll then move to Tanjore through Tamil countryside, enjoying the rice fields, local markets, rural villages, a silk-weaving workshop and world heritage temples en route, and eating traditional meals served on banana leaves. At Tanjore we’ll visit another famous world heritage temple to see its bronze work and glass paintings, then the craftsmen’s workshops. And we might even watch a Tamil movie!
On day 7 we’ll drive to Tiruchirappalli and visit Srirangam, the biggest temple complex in India. We’ll watch the pilgrims perform their rituals and move around town using local transport including auto-rickshaws (tuk-tuk).Mix of the exotic and the erotic
In the morning we’ll travel to Madurai, Tamil Nadu’s oldest city. Its Meenakshi temple, an odd mix of the exotic and the erotic, attracts many thousands of pilgrims. As a visitor you should prepare yourself for being blessed by the elephants (fortunately the ritual doesn’t involve being sat on!) Meanwhile astrologers will want to read your palm (no doubt you can all compare results later!) Fertility is important here. So, in the evening the God Shiva is escorted to the bedroom of his wife, the Goddess Meenakshi. Fortunately, as they’re only statues, it won’t be necessary to avert your eyes!Periyar National Park
An ecologically-friendly cycle-rickshaw will take you around the city to see cottage industries like cotton-weaving or pottery-making.
We’ll drive to a relatively-cool Kodaikanal on day 10 through small villages and local markets. Once there we’ll take a half-day trek in the woods, discovering waterfalls and other breathtaking viewpoints amidst the mist. Around Kodaikanal are some lovely walks, often above the clouds! Many Tibetans have fled up here to build a new life.
On day 12 we’ll head for the Periyar National Park, a wildlife sanctuary where we’ll walk, take a boat-trip on the man-made lake, and stalk some of the local elephants, bison, deer, wild boar and tigers. Aspiring cooks can also enjoy a guided tour of a spice plantation!Queen of the Arabian Sea
On day 14 we’ll drive to Cochin, the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’, an old town with a natural harbour and a Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial history. It’s renowned for Chinese fishing nets described by Marco Polo in his travel journals. You’ll also be able to enjoy a Kathakali show, a traditional Kerala dance drama describing an epic Hindu story. And you’ll be able to use the public ferry or the auto-rickshaw to make your way around town and amongst the islands.Backwaters experience
After two days in Cochin we are off on our travels again to visit Southern India's famous backwaters, a truly unforgettable experience.Kovalam
Finally we’ll come to a standstill at the exotic beach resort of Kovalam, where the last three days of the tour are reserved for dining in a famous ‘Lighthouse Beach’ restaurant, swimming and sunbathing.
On day 21, after a wonderful 3 weeks, the tour ends at noon in Kovalam.