Grand South India Tour (17 Days from Bangalore)

Guaranteed Departure Tours for 2017-2018

Travel through South India’s stunning architecture, wildlife and water world.▼

The coastal area of South India is surrounded by the Great Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Tourism in South India comprising of five states Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, , Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territories of Puducherry

(Pondicherry) and Lakshadweep. South India offers large no. of tourism possibilities from age old history, diversified culture, amazingly

carved Hindu temples, Flora and Fauna, Backwaters of Kerala, Palaces and obviously gorgeous beaches. The Grand South India Group

Tour designed by Max Holidays is an attempt to introduce the travellers to some of the most popular and some less visited tourist attractions of South India. Starting from the Silicon city of Bangalore the journey goes through the great heritage sites of Belur, Hassan,

Helebidu, the great palace of Mysore, green mountains of Ooty , Portuguese and Dutch sites of (Calicut) and Kochi (Cochin), calm and quaint backwaters of Kerala, Tiger reserve of Periyar, Temples of Madurai, Trichy, Tanjore and Mahabalipuram, French colony of Puducherry (Pondicherry) and many other awe inspiring sites with will leave you stun and make these 17 days in India an everlasting travel experience you will cherish forever. Come, explore the grand south India group tour sites with people of similar interest and

different region. Contact our travel expert now and check for the availability for your participation.

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Visit th etury Tipu Sultas Palae smooth drive away from Bangalore. On the Detailed Itinerary which is a French rosewood building, way stop at the Jain pilgrimage site of Worlds largest graite oolith statue of Shravanabelagola which is famous for 17 Day 01 Arrive Bangalore Bull Temple, The botanical gardens of meter high naked statue of Gomateshwara Lalbagh and the finest architecture of (Bahubali). This status is the tallest The hub of Internet Technology in India, Vidhan Soudha. monolithic statue in the world. Later Bangalore or Bengaluru is one of the most continue drive to Hassan which is about 52 important gateway city of South India kms from Shravanabelagola. Hassan is a tourism with benevolent weather suitable place and has convenient access to conditions, variety of dining options, the great sites of Belur, Halebidu and beautiful gardens, shopping areas and eye Mysore. catching architecture in its forts and buildings. Arrive Bangalore and get shifted to your hotel for night stay.

Included meals : no meal Included entrances : no sightseeing trip Included meals : Breakfast Day 02 Bangalore Included Entrances : Tipu Sultan’s Palace

After delicious breakfast start your South Day 03 Bangalore to Hassan India Tour package with other group Included meals : Breakfast members. The first day you will visit most Travel to the quiet and peaceful town of Included Entrances : No Entrance famous tourist attractions of Bangalore. Hassan today. Hassan is about 185 kms

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Day 04 Hassan to Mysore botanical gardens home to more than 2000 sanatorium and Guruvayura elephant species of plants and it is considered to be sanctuary. In the morning after lavish breakfast in one of the most popular sight in Ooty. Ooty your hotel take a guided trip to the famous is also a popular destination for movie sites of Belur and Halebid. Belur is the shootings in South India. capital of Hoysala Dynasty is famous for its beautifully carved temples Chenekeshava Included meals : Breakfast Temple. Belur is often called as the Included Entrances : Botanical Gardens Benaras (Varanasi) of the South India Tourism and sometimes called by the name Day 07 Ooty to Kozhikode of Dakshina Varanasi too. Also visit the (Calicut) beautiful Hoysala Temples at Halebid and then continue drive to Mysore. Drive to Kozhikode after breakfast. Also known as Calicut it is an important region Upon reaching Kochi, spend leisurely time, of Malabar. It was once the trade and and late afternoon witness live Kathakali commerce centre for Arab, Chinese and dance show performed by local artists of east African traders. It is the place where Kerala. It can be a good experience to see the Portuguese merchant Vasco Da Gama the artists getting ready for their landed first in India with 3 vessels carrying performance with colourful costumes and 170 men. Visit the less crowded and painted faces.

unspoiled Beach, Beach, : Breakfast Included meals Beyport Fort, Bird sanctuary and Included meals : Breakfast Included Entrances : Belur temples, Halebid Archaeology Museum. Calicut is famous for Included Entrances : Guruvayoor Elephant temple beautiful beaches, sea port, festivals and Sanctuary, Kathakali Show hospitable people. Day 05 Mysore to Ootacamund Day 09 Cochin (Ooty) In the morning get ready to explore the city of Cochin blended with British, Jewish and This is your fifth day in South India Group Portuguese culture and buildings. The Tour package. Today after breakfast you gateway city to the backwaters of Kerala, will be taken for sightseeing tour of Mysore Cochin sightseeing trip offers a visit to visiting the stunning architecture of Mattancherry Dutch Palace built by the Mysore Palace, the huge Nandi bull statue Portuguese in 1557 and renovated in 1663 at Chamundi Hill, the 12th century by Dutch, more than 100 years old Jewish Chaudeshari Teple ad Tipu Sultas Synagogue which displays rare antiques, summer palace. Later drive to Ooty known Jews Street, St. Francis Church famous for : Breakfast as the Quee of the Hills in South India. Included meals its architecture and ambience and Chinese 7500 ft above sea level in Nilgiri hills Ooty Included Entrances : Beypore Fort, fishing net. is a picturesque destination, a former Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, Museum summer retreat of British Empire and a Included meals : Breakfast favourite destination for honeymoons. Day 08 Calicut to Kochi Included Entrances : Jewish Synagogue, Spend relaxed evening in the beautiful Dutch Palace atmosphere and surroundings of the Ko as the Gateay to Kerala ad destination. Quee of the Araia Sea Cohi is a Day 10 Kochi to Alleppey vibrant city on the south-western coast of Included meals : Breakfast India. Besides being a prominent Get ready for a delightful experience of Included entrances : Mysore Palace, commercial port of Kerala, Kochi (or travelling in a backwater houseboat of Chamundi Hills Cochin) is also very popular among Kerala today. Have your tasty and healthy travellers for the indelible marks of British, breakfast at your hotel and the take a short Day 06 Ooty Dutch and Portuguese rule in this part of drive to Alleppey (Alappuzha) which is the India. Today, you will drive to Kochi via hub of all Kerala backwater journeys. On Ootacamund popularly known as Ooty is a Guruvayur where the main attractions are reaching Alleppey check into your air- gem of the Nilgiri hills. The sightseeing trip the beautiful Guruvayurappan Temple conditioned houseboat to start your of Ooty today will include a visit to St. (non-hidus are ot alloed iside the overnight tour to breathtakingly beautiful Stephen Church, Ooty Club, beautiful Ooty teple) ad orlds largest elephat and calm backwaters of Kerala. Consisting Lake and Botanical Gardens of Ooty. The

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of a network of lagoons, lakes and canal cities of India Madurai is the soul of Tamil Ganapati on top and a further climb to a the backwaters of Kerala can be best Nadu state. Travellers both Indians and Shiva temple. After visit continue drive & experienced on a Kerala backwater foreigners visit Madurai mainly to explore upon arrival check-in at hotel for 01 night houseboat trip. Sail throughout the day on the great Meenakshi Amman Temple stay. the backwater, enjoy your meal and have a dedicated to Sundereshwara and his wife cup of hot coffee/tea and view the natural Meenakshi (Lord Shiva and Parvati). Later visit to the beautiful Chola Temple of beauty of Kerala on the bank of the water Situated on the bank of river Vaigai Brihadeshwara which is capped by a bodies. In the evening after sunset, the Madurai has rich cultural heritage more monolithic cupola made of a single granite houseboat will be hooked near the bank than 2500 years old. Also visit Tirumala block weighing 80 tons which was taken to and you will enjoy staying and sleeping in Nayak temple. the top with the help of a 6 km long ramp, your well decorated and well equipped an old technique used by the Egyptians for room on the houseboat. building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India. Also you will visit Thanjavur Palace & Museum, which houses a library, museum and art gallery. The area, known for its craft industry, is covered with fertile plains, whose rice plantations cover most of the

requirements out of rice for Tamil Nadu.

Included meals : Breakfast Included Entrances : Meenakshi temple, Included meals : Breakfast Included meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Thirumalainayak Palace Included Entrances : Tanjore Art Gallery Included Entrances : No Sightseeing. Day 13 Madurai to Tanjore Day 14 Tanjore-Pondicherry Day 11 Alleppey to Periyar Jump to Tanjore (or Thanjavur) this Today after breakfast head to Pondicherry The floating hotel (houseboat) will start morning. A historical town and a temple which was once the French Colonial town sailing on the backwaters after sunrise and city of Tamil Nadu, Tanjore was once the and still bestows the same culture. It was you will enjoy watching the early morning capital of Chola Kings. On the way to taken over by the Indian government in activities of the villages on the other side of Tanjore, stop at Trichy to visit the Rock Fort November, 1954. Now Pondicherry is the bank. Breakfast will be served and after famous for its Auroville ashram which was this you will disembark from the houseboat founded in 1926 by a French woman. The to take drive to your next beautiful Auroville ashram brings forward spiritual destination of Periyar which is also known code of belief that represents a fusion of as Thekkady or Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. yoga and modern science. Sightseeing tour Periyar is South Idias ost popular and a stay at Pondicherry. wildlife sanctuary spread over in an area of 777 sq Kms, having an artificial lake spread in an area of 26 sq kms. Take a spice plantation tour and enjoy boating in the beautiful lake Periyar inside the wildlife reserve. Periyar is also a favourite place of The day begins with a drive to Tanjore , travellers for buying fragrant spices which is also known to be as Thanjavur a available at the local markets here. historical town and popularly known as the temple city. It was also once the capital of Included meals : Breakfast Chola Empire as well. En route visit to Included Entrances : Periyar Forest, Spice Trichy, you will visit the Rock-Fort that was Plantation Tour the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the Included meals : Breakfast medieval period. In the 18th century, the Included Entrances : no entrance Day 12 Periyar to Madurai fort witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and the English. Lord Robert Clive's and a Danish Church you can

Having enjoyed the jungle games in Periyar also see within the church. The Rock-Fort is Wildlife Reserve today you move to the landmark of Trichy. A climb of 434 Madurai. One of the holiest and oldest steps leads to the ancient temple of

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Day 15 Pondicherry – in 12th century AD, as an important window at the basilica depicting the story Mahabalipuram Shakthisthalam, known as of St Thomas and the central hall that has Parabrahmaroonpini. The main deity is 14 wooden plaques depicting events from seated on Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Eswara the last days of Christ. Today morning on the Grand south India & Sadasiva. group tour you visit Mahabalipuram, a While concluding the 17th day trip the last town famous for its rocks carvings and destination is the eight-century monolithic sculptures. Upon arrival check- Kapaleeshwarar temple constructed in in at hotel Pallavan architecture style. Kapaleeshwar Temple is located in Mylapore in Chennai Later, visit the Shore temple (one of the and is considered by the Hindus to be one oldest temples in south India, belonging to of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimages in the early 8th century AD), Arjuna's the Southern Part of India. penance (the world's largest bas-relief measuring 27m x 9m - this huge rock In time transfer to the airport to catch the consists figures of Gods, men, beasts, birds flight back to home. and represents the entire creation) and Included meals : Breakfast Five Rathas (five monolithic temples, each Included Entrances : No Entrance Fees having its own style - also known as the Included meals : Breakfast "Panch Pandav Rathas". Included Entrances : Fort St. George, Day 17 Mahabalipuram – Museum, Santhome Cathedral Church Chennai – Departure ------On the grand group tour of south India, the 17th day begins in the morning with a drive to Chennai, the gateway and the capital of What’s Included Tamil Nadu. The first destination on arrival  Airport Services - Private air on sightseeing of Chennai is government conditioned car with driver Company museum that has a good collection of staff for airport assistance paintings and sculptures both traditional as  Accommodation - 15 nights in

well as modern. handpicked hotels, 01 night in AC Deluxe houseboat Included meals : Breakfast  Meals - 16 Breakfasts, 01 Lunch, 01 Included Entrances : Five Rathas & Shore Dinner Temple  Transport - All ground transport for sightseeing trips Day 16 Mahabalipuram –  Guides / Escorts - Expert local tour Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram guides for sightseeing tours  Entry Tickets - Monument and Today, we will proceed for the day return museum tickets Activities - Boat Ride in Periyar, trip to Kanchipuram, which is one of the  seven holy cities in India. In ancient and Kathakali Dance, Spice Plantation Visit Other inclusions - Govt of India taxes medieval India, it was considered as a city After that, next spot to be toured in  and Company service charges of learning for both Tamil & Sanskrit and Chennai is Fort St. George that was was considered to be visited by Hsuan originally a warehouse for storing stocks, Tsang, the famous Chinese traveller. The but founding of the St George for security What’s not included next trip of Day 16 is Kailasanatha Temple, purposes in 1939 led to the birth of city of  Flights - International or domestic made in 8th Century AD in the typical Chennai. Within the Fort, the museum has flights are not included Pallava style, with a pyramidal tower, a many relics from British period in India on  Travel insurance - Please carry a valid pillared hall & vestibule, enclosed by a display as collection of contemporary travel insurance wall. Ekambaranatha, ancient temple is paintings as well as rare military  Visa - Visa fee and charges Other Fees - Video / still camera fees dedicated to lord Shiva. The 57 metres high paraphernalia as weapons, uniforms, coins,  wherever it is applicable Raj Gopuram in the temple is one of the costumes and medals. The Next Meals - Meals not specified tallest towers in South India. The 3000 year destination Santhome Cathedral at the  old mango tree inside the temple has 4 southern tip of famous Marina beach  Personal Expenses - Any kind of personal expenses/bills branches each yielding different variety of features the beautiful stained glass mangoes. Kamakshi Amman Temple, built

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Accommodation style you are a single traveller booking the trip Grand South India tour package offers you ultimate mixture of on twin share price we will be offering you accommodation style. 10 nights at modern city hotels, 02 nights in accommodation with a traveller of same hill resort at Ooty, 01 night at Periyar in a wildlife lodge, 01 night in a gender only. In the event we do not find any other single traveller willing to share beautiful floating houseboat of and 02 nights in a resort near beach at Mahabalipuram. the room, you will be offered a single room only with additional single room Kerala backwater houseboats are floating hotels with basic amenities for guests. The supplement cost. For more information in houseboats float during the daytime and are hooked near the beach for night stay. this connection you may also contact our South India group tour specialist in India.

For all our fixed departure South India with almost no interruption. However, it is Group Tour packages, the maximum size of Trip Map to be noted that inclement weather the group is 24, but in the event of higher conditions, flight delays, political reasons, demand on any given date, it may increase social ceremonies and many other reasons upto 30 only. may cause some changes in the itinerary. Such reasons may also cause changes in Indian food is a sheer delight for the time, place and order of sightseeing trips of traveller. On our India Group Tour South India group tours. Packages mostly breakfasts are a part of the package. In addition to it we also All sightseeing points are mentioned in the include few lunches and dinners based on itinerary and will be visited by our expert our experience for giving you a special local tour guides. Tickets to such monuments in experience. For the rest of the meals, we India Group trip are included for the prefer to offer the travellers flexibility and mentioned monuments and museums etc. freedom of choosing meal and local For sightseeing trips other than the planed, restaurant of their choice. Our guides will the traveller must inform our office in suggest you restaurants you can try for a advance or communicate to our staff or meal. This not only offers you budgeting local tour guide. Such additional flexibility but also keeps you free to try sightseeing trips will be subject to something apart from the group activities. Trip Disclaimer availability and can be booked at additional cost only. Our staff and guides work under It is the responsibility of the traveller to To provide the most accurate and updated the supervision of our local expert team in respect the local culture, customs and information most our tour itineraries are each city, to ensure your safety and nature. Keep the places you travel clean, updated every year. We keep into minimize any sort of risk. Though we try to do not encourage beggars by tipping them. consideration the reviews of our past offer the travellers the lowest possible travellers on such trips and if need be we price for the trips, but sometimes our price It is strongly recommended that while incorporate immediate changes for may be slightly higher than our travelling in public areas and crowded betterment so that our future travellers competitors since at Max Holidays there streets or/and otherwise too, keep your can be benefitted from it. While booking a are a team of many local experts engaged passport, money etc in a neck wallet. Do seat on our Grand South India Group Tour in organisation and execution of your not carry your valuable jewellery items etc package of India with us, we recommend Grand South India Group tour. To ensure during the trip as you will not require them that you read reviews of our past your safety and quality of services, we for the trip. Many hotels also provide the travellers, trip notes on the page, FAQs and recommend that, in the event of any facilities of safety lockers which can be terms of bookings etc. and ensure that the additional sightseeing trip, additional hotel used as per the hotel policy. same are meeting to your plans and bookings, flight tickets etc you contact our satisfaction. If you are interested in our staff in Delhi head office, directly. Though it is not mandatory for the South India group tour package and have travellers but in India tour guides, drivers, some queries before preceding the Important Notes porters etc expect tips for their service. bookings, you can contact our team via This is not included in our price and is

email or phone. Our South India group tour totally at your own discretion. The prices indicated with each trip are experts will ensure that all your queries are based on twin share basis. If you are a answered with the best available single traveller and wish to stay in a single information. The length of this South India room only, you must pay the single room group trip is 16 nights and 17 days and we supplement mentioned with each trip. If have been operating such trips successfully

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Once your booking request for South India How to Book group tour package has been received by Visa & Insurance our team, they will communicate with you It is very easy and simple! To book yourself It is compulsory that, on all Max Holidays over the phone or email and upon on one of our Grand South India Group trips including small group tour packages of receiving the booking amount from your tour packages you require selecting date of India, you carry a valid travel insurance side they will enrol you in the group departure from the list. Please click on the atleast covering your medical expenses in departure. the event of health issues. It is also utto – Dates & Offers, sroll the page to check all available dates and recommended strongly that the travel For immediate assistance, you may contact special offers, to view the offers click the insurance you carry should cover additional our team at following contact addresses: date of your choice and if the dates, price expenses or loss due to any sudden Phone : ++91 11 40504050 (board no.) etc are matching with your schedule and cancellation, delay in the trip, flights email : [email protected] rescheduling etc and other personal udget siply proeed ith Book No option. This option will take you to an liabilities. It is required that on demand For our complete contact information, or online form which you can fill and send our from our team you present them a copy of to locate our local office near you, please office to check availability of seats on the your valid travel insurance and visa for isit our otat us page. trip. their records and booking requirements.

To visit India one must carry a valid Indian While rosig through the Dates ad visa and the same can be obtained easily Offers page, you ill see ios shoig from Indian Embassy or Consulate near Early Bird Offers ad Last Miute Deal, How to Pay you. India offers the facilities of eTV or to know more just scroll the mouse on the TVOA (Tourist Visa on Arrival) for travellers For your bookings with us, you can make io. Fillig fast io idiates the Grand from about 150 countries listed herein South India group tour departures which payments by any of the following methods: below. E Tourist Visa is completely online are becoming favourites among the service by Indian Govt. and no facilitation is travellers. The red coloured button 1. Swift Bank Transfer / Telegraphic Transfer required by any intermediary. indicates the booking for the specific dates 2. Online Credit Card Payment using 'Secured Online Credit Card Payment hae ee losed. If you are still Transport interested in joining our group on such a Gateway' powered by Visa and Bus, Car, River boat, Kerala Backwater date, we recommend that you immediately MasterCard.. Houseboat contact our India head office by phone or email. We shall try our best to accommodate your request and if not we will definitely offer you alternative trips.

List of the countries approved under eTV scheme for VOA (India Visa on Arrival)

Albania, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia,

Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, China, China- SAR Hongkong,

China- SAR Macau, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,

Do minican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,

Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati,

Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius,

Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New

Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,

Republic of Korea, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa,

San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland,

Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Island, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, United

Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Useful links

Visa on Arrival : indianvisaonline.gov.in

Indian Embassies Abroad : www.mea.gov.in www.maxholidays.com

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Important : While compiling this information utmost care has been taken for accuracy. This information gives you the tentative idea about the trip. Though we try to offer all services as in shape but circumstances beyond our control may attract changes in the sightseeing, hotels etc. The cost of the trip shown are subject to change unless booked. For more information please read FAQs and Booking Terms on our website.

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