A World Away Travels adventure travel's complete experience… Phone 1-888-438-3612 ~email [email protected] www.aworldawaytravels.com Splendors of Southern India Daily Private Departures Visiting Southern India is a many splendored thing. Visit authentic, ancient harbors where the spice trade began and contemporary plantations where a myriad of spices are grown. Experience the cosmopolitan city of Bangalore ; the metropolitan cities of Bombai and Madras ; the rural life along the peaceful waterway of Alleppey on your own houseboat. Travel to the sacred grounds of the 8 th century Parthsarthy Temple, the game and bird sanctuaries of Periyar and Kumarakom and the peaceful gardens of Lal Bagh . Enjoy 17 th century Kathakali Classical Dance, the celebrated closing ceremony at the Meenakshi Temple, magnificent maharjas' palaces, significant symbols of the British Empire, monolithic statues of reverence, magnificent temple and palace architecture. Southern India has all of the splendors and spices of life. Day 1-2 Travel to Chennai (Madras) Upon arrival in India, you will be met by a local representative and transfer to hotel. Accommodations: Accommodations: The Park (Deluxe) Taj Cormandal (Luxury) Day 3 Chennai (Madras) Chennai, (formerly and also known as Madras), is the fourth largest city in India and is the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a region internationally-renowned for its temple architecture. Originally founded in 1639 by the British East India Company and though very modern today, much remains from the early colonial era. Fort St. George, a most powerful symbol of the British Empire, was the first piece of English real estate and originally housed barracks for the British army. Here was built St. Mary’s Church, which today is the oldest Anglican Church in Asia. Three important temples to view in Chennai are: the Parthsarthy Temple which was built in the 8th century by the Pallava kings of South India and renovated in the 16th century. It is famed for the beauty of the gapuram (arched gateway) and its impressive architecture; Kapaleeshwar Temple, situated in the Malaypore district which dates back to the 2nd century, is a Shiva temple which was constructed in the 13th century. During Hindu festivals, the bronze statues of Shiva and Parvati are adorned and pulled by boat around the temple pools; Santhome Cathedral was built over the tomb of apostle St. Thomas and is a pilgrimage center. A church was built on the site in the 11th century and refurbished in 1606 and rebuilt as a basilica in 1806. Accommodations: The Park (Deluxe) Taj Cormandal (Luxury) Breakfast Day 4 Kanchipuram and Mamallapuram Excursion Today you will enjoy an excursion to Kanchipuram which is one of the seven sacred cities of India and located about 50 miles (72 kms.) from Chennai. Although known as the “City of a Thousand Temples,” two of the best will be visited. Kailasantha was built by King Rajasimha, the Pallava king and is known for its beautiful sculptures including the image of Ardhanareeswara. Ekambareswara Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located in the temple is a mango tree which has significant religious symbolism. You will continue your journey to Mamallapuram, a little seaside village and ancient Pallavan port city. It is known for its extraordinary rock art. The temples and rock-cut formations were created between the 5th and 9th centuries and depict god, animals and scenes of everyday life and are excellent specimens of Dravidian and Pallava art. The Shore Temple, built in the 8th century, is one of the oldest temples in South India and was dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. It has recently been included in the world heritage monuments and is the second to the Taj Mahal as the most photographed monument in India. Accommodations: The Park (Deluxe) Taj Cormandal (Luxury) Breakfast Day 5 Madras-Madurai In the morning, fly to Madurai, set on the Vaigai River, former capital of the Pandya Kingdom and the third largest temple complex, a city with a history that dates back to roughly 600 B.C. The Pandyan rulers made this their capital until the 14th century and the city bloomed with writers, builders, poets and academics. Later, the Nayaks ruled from the middle of the 16th century to 1743. The twelve tall Gopurams (pyramidal gates) of the Meenakshi Temple were raised during their dynasty and are visible for miles around. It is one of the largest in India where a city within a city exists. More than 15,000 religiously visit the complex each day. Spend a full day visiting this huge complex of temples, the Palace of King Triumalay, Gandhi Museum (a rare living memorial to the “Father of India” and dedicated to the value of life) and the Temple at Alaghat Koli where you can see its beautifully carved stone lattice windows. Evening attend closing ceremony at the Meenakshi Temple. The Meenakshi Temple complex is within a high-walled enclosure, at the core of which are the two sanctums for Meenakshi and Sundareshwara, surrounded by a number of smaller shrines and grand pillared halls. Accommmodations: Accommodations: Taj Gateway Hotel Breakfast Day 6 Madurai-Periyar Depart Madurai and drive to Periyar. After a stop at the Spice Plantation, where coffee cardamom, pepper and vanilla are cultivated organically in the shade of rainforest trees and where different methods of biological pest controls are being developed and also, where medicinal plants are developed for local tribes who depend on them as their only source of healing. You will continue to Lake Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest reserves in India. Periyar is centered in an artificial lake created by the British in the 19th century as a reservoir and was the private hunting ground of the royal family of Travancore. Be on guard to spot a tiger or leopard as well as wild elephants, sambar deer, mongoose, wild pig. You’ll also see abundant bird life; there are over 260 species of birds within the reserve. Afternoon boat trip on the lake. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Periyar. Accommodations: Spice Village (Deluxe) Taj Garden Retreat (Luxury) Breakfast Day 7 Periyar-Kumarakom Early morning boat ride on the lake; view wildlife and water birds. Afterwards, enjoy a scenic drive from Periyar to the Kumarakom Sanctuary on the eastern shore. The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake. It is a beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves which line the waterways and canals. The Kumarakom bird sanctuary is spread across 14 acres and is a favorite haunt of migratory birds. A leisurely boat ride along the backwaters is in a modified rice boat. Accommodations: Taj Garden Retreat (Deluxe) Coconut Lagoon (Luxury) Breakfast Day 8 Kumarakom-Alleppey Morning to relax before driving to the Alleppey (known now as Alappuzha) Pier to embark on your house boat. Your relaxing boat trip is fascinating, as your guide discusses the history of the early explorers and traders who used this route as the main course to the sea. The traffic on Alleppey’s waterways is due to the flourishing coconut fiber trade. Many of the locals still travel this route. On the boat ride, enjoy magnificent scenery of these palm-shaded backwaters of Kerala, a beautiful region sandwiched between the sea and the hills of Cochin. A realistic glimpse through this quiet region portrays rural life of longboats as well as small farm life that speckle the canals and lake fronts. Accommodations: Private House Boat Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 9 Cochin Disembark from the house boat this morning and drive to Cochin, a city with a long and colorful history as a trading city On arrival check in at hotel. In the evening attend a Kathakali (classical dance form of Kerala which dates from the 17th century) based on story themes of Hindu mythology from the two epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is one of the oldest theatre forms. It is a group presentation, in which the dancers are elaborately made up with paint and masks, accompanied with drummers and musicians. The extraordinary costumes and make-up serve to raise the participants above the levele of mere mortals. Accommodations: Le Meridien (Deluxe) or Taj Malabhar Sea View (Deluxe) Breakfast Day 10 Cochin Morning tour is the town of Kochi (Cochin). The Malabar coastline has provided important harbors in the spice trade for more than 2,000 years. In 1341, a major flood opened the harbor of Kochi, turning it into one of the finest natural harbors in the world. You will walk the Fort Kochi area where the historical Dutch and Portuguese buildings are located. Some parts of this nearly 500 year-old Fort are still amazingly well- preserved. The Dutch Palace, circa 17th century, also known as the Bolgatty Palace and one of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside of Holland. The Jewish Synagogue was built in the 16th century but the Jewish community of Cochin dominated the trade in spices from South India to the Middle East and Europe long before the Portuguese arrived in India in 1498. Fort Kochi is also home to one of India’s oldest churches, St. Francis Church. The Roman Catholic Church was build during Portuguese rule from 1503-1663. It became a Dutch Reformist Church from 1664-1804 and an Anglican church from 1804-1947. The Portuguese explorer, Vasco Da Gama was originally buried here. The Santa Cruz Basilica was first built by the Portuguese in 1558 and destroyed by the British in 181795. In 1887 a new building was commissioned on the same site and proclaimed a Basilica in 1984 by Pope John Paul II.