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Day 1.
Arrive Mumbai
Traditional welcome on arrival and meeting assistance at
the airport. Transfer to hotel.
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Day 2.
Mumbai / Aurangabad
Mornign boat excursion to the Elephanta Caves with its
fine cluster of 6th - 8th, Century rock cut figures.
Singhtseeing of Mumbai - Includes magnificent colonial
buildings, drive past marine drive and sombre Tower of
Silence. Later fly to Aurangabad.
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Day 3.
Aurangabad
Full day return excursion to Ajanta caves that date back
to the 2nd century BC where 30 rock-hewn caves are adorned
with Buddhist sculptures and paintings.
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Day 4.
Aurangabd / Mumbai
Visit the Ellora caves which comprise of rock - cut
shrines representing Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art dating
from 4th to the 9th century A.D. Later fly to Mumbai.
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Day 5.
Mumbai / Bangalore / Mysore
Fly to Bangalore, and then drive on to Mysore.
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Day 6.
Mysore
City tour of Mysore includes visit to the City palace of
the Maharaja of Mysore (Once among the richest men in the
world). Later visit Chamundi hills to see the Sri
Chamundeswari Temple, with a seven storey Gopuram 40
meters high.
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Day 7.
Mysore / Bangalore
Drive to Bangalore - City of Gardens. Afternoon
sightseeing includes palace of Tipu Sultan, Cubbon Park
and Vidhana Soudha.
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Day 8.
Bangalore / Chennai (Madras)
Fly to Chennai - Gateway to the sunny south. Evening
witness the performance of classical South Indian dances.
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Day 9.
Chennai
Morning drive to Mahabalipuram to visit the rock-cut
monoliths named after the heroes of the Epic - Mahabharata.
Later drive back to Chennai and visit the Saint Thomas
(the first apostle) Cathedral, and Fort St. George.)
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Day
10. Chennai / Madurai
Fly to Madurai - City of Festivals. Afternoon
sightseeing of thefamous Meenakshi temple. Evening a
lecture on the traditions and culture of Dravidians.
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Day
11. Madurai / Lake Periyar
A scenic drive to Lake Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary driving
through spice and tea plantation.
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Day
12. Lake Periyar / Kumarakom (Backwaters)
Early morning boat ride on Lake Periyar to view wildlife
such as Bison, Wild Elephants, Wild Boar. Later
drive through Pineapple, spice and rubber plantations to
Kumarakom.
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Day
13. Kumarakom
Take a relaxing cruise by country boats through the
backwaters. Also go for a sunset cruise by boat or
optional Ayurvedic Herbal Massage / Rejuvenation therapy
at the spa.
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Day
14. Kumarakom / Cochin
Kumarakom to Allepy by boat cruise & then transfer
from Allepy to Cochin.
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Day
15. Cochin
Today tour Cochin on motorboat. Visit Fort Kochi and
St. Francis Church - One of the oldest European Churches
in India. Also visit Chinese fishing nets a legacy
of the ancient trading between Cochin and China, the Dutch
Place, and Jewish Synagogure. Evening witness
spectacular dance performance of Kerala - Kathakali.
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Day
16. Cochin / Mumbai / Depart Mumbai
Fly to Mumbai. In the evening farewell dinner and
transfer to international airport for flight back home.
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You
will see and experience a different India in the Deep South. No
other region of the country reflects ancient India as it does
here. The contrast with the rest of the country will amaze you for
life here today still reflects a bygone age. The landscape is
studded with magnificent Temples; the Gopurams soaring skyward to
reach the myriad of Hindu Gods, hidden backwaters relax and sooth
the weary traveller, the origin of Ayurveda and several spas.