This 28-day incredible tour takes you through practically the whole of South India, consisting of the four major States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, as well as the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
Tamil Nadu is known as the State of Temples and you will be visiting the famous 7th century rock cut temples of Mahabalipuram, and the gigantic masterpiece - Meenakshi Temple of Madurai, dedicated to Goddess Parvathi – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While in Tamil Nadu, enjoy the toy train ride to Ooty, the beautiful hill station. At the southernmost tip of India lies Kanyakumari, where you will witness the three mighty oceans, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea meet. Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the Sunrise and the Sunset are some memories that you will cherish always.
In the State of Karnataka, you will be taken to the capital Bangalore, also known as the Silicon Valley of India. You will be visiting the famous Botanical garden here. In Karnataka lies Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its ruins of monolithic sculptures and monuments, reminder of a glorious past. Badami in Karnataka is famous for its ancient rock cut cave temples. While all these places have a majorly Hindu theme, the monuments in Bijapur and Gulbarga were majorly built by the erstwhile Muslim rulers. Therefore, you will witness a confluence of Hindu and Muslim history in Karnataka.
Now lets take you to an entirely different place – Pondicherry, which comes as a breath of fresh air. It is a coastal city with a pronounced French flavour, as this place was ruled by the French till 1954. The cafes and churches are a firm reminder of foreign influence here. Surprisingly Pondicherry is also famous for its spiritual essence – it is home to Aurobindo and Auroville Ashrams where many Indian and foreign seekers dwell. You can wind up your day after the spiritual experience, on any of the beautiful beaches in the region.
This tour also takes you through the length and breadth of Kerala – widely known as “God’s Own Country”. Kerala is an entirely different world – clean, green and glorious, with a multitude of attractions. While camping at premium resorts in Kerala, you will experience the wildlife safari at Periyar (famous for tigers and elephants), an overnight cruise on a houseboat in Alleppey backwaters, a visit to the mesmerizing hill station of Munnar with tea plantations all around . You will also get a chance to watch the iconic Kathakali dance performance in Kerala.
Also lies on the western coast of Kerala is Cochin, with its distinct flavour, as the place was occupied by the Portugese for a long time. It is a favorite place with tourists with its mesmerizing views of the sea, the backwaters, the forts, places and churches. Kochi is also the financial and commercial capital of Kerala and therefore also called the Queen of the Arabian Sea.
Finally in Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. You will get to explore the famous architectural wonders that would teleport you to era of the erstwhile Nizams rule.