South Indian Beat

Upon reaching Chennai International Airport, you will be greeted and assisted by our representative, who will then escort you to your hotel for check-in. After settling in and depending on your arrival schedule, you can begin to discover the “Capital of the South” with an introductory city tour. Experience the unique character of Chennai by exploring its varied districts and appreciating its significance as a guardian of South Indian culture and spirituality. Drive past the impressive Government Museum, the Romanesque San Thome Basilica, and the stately colonial-era Fort St. George. As evening approaches, enjoy a stroll along the expansive Marina Beach, where you might join a local cricket match or observe families gathering at dusk. End your day with dinner at a seaside restaurant, offering scenic coastal views, before returning to your hotel for the night.

Begin your morning with a relaxed guided stroll through the lively streets of Mylapore, weaving through the vibrant heart of this historic neighborhood. Discover the diverse customs of Tamil Nadu and the deep-rooted Hindu traditions as you explore. Stop at the striking Kapaleeshwarar Temple, known for its colorful gopuram and grand pillared halls. Your walk continues through bustling market lanes, where you might meet a fortune teller or step inside a traditional Brahmin home.

After enjoying an authentic South Indian breakfast at a local eatery, set out on a Colonial British Trail. Walk past the impressive colonial-era buildings that showcase the legacy left by the British, taking time to observe each architectural detail while your guide shares stories of the city’s past. Return to your hotel, check out, and travel onward to Mahabalipuram—a coastal town that once served as the port of the Pallava kings between the 5th and 8th centuries.

Here, along the shoreline, you’ll find a remarkable collection of ancient temples and sculptures carved from solid rock over 1,200 years ago. Unlike many other Hindu temples, these stone carvings depict scenes from daily life. After checking into your hotel, join your guide to visit the iconic Shore Temple, a symbol of Pallava architectural brilliance and maritime ambition. Continue your exploration with the rock-cut caves of Mahabalipuram, which illustrate stories from Hindu mythology, and conclude at the Five Rathas, each named for a hero-brother from the Mahabharata epic.

In the evening, savor a seafood dinner on a terrace overlooking the sea before returning to your hotel for the night.

After your breakfast and your check-out, head to Pondicherry. Settled by the French in the 18th century, this colonial town retains a tranquil atmosphere with some French architecture aesthetic. Make a first stop at Auroville, situated outskirts of the town, this spiritual community was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and a French-born woman known as „the Mother‟. Enjoy a lunch at Solar kitchen – the community Kitchen for the inmates and understand the unique living here, based on universal harmony. You will be taken through the visitor‟s center and a few of the Auroville units which innovatively work on paper, textile, bamboo and stones. Pass by the Matri mandir (the meditation centre) and learn from those who choose to join, build and live this unique lifestyle. Later on, attend a Kolam class in Alamkuppam village and find out about this traditional custom of drawing in the houses entrance with sparkling powders or fresh flowers, to invite the Goddess Laxmi to bring luck and prosperity. Reach Pondicherry and check-in at your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day free in the colonial streets. Take a hint into the lifestyle shops, wander in the bohemian chic atmosphere of the French quarter, go see the Ganesha temple around or search for inspiration at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram bookshop. Overnight at the hotel.

Early morning enjoy a bicycle tour through the French district and the Tamil quarter with a Storyteller. Pass by the white town (as the French quarter is popularly known as) with its heritage colonial buildings, keep biking toward the Tamil quarter and learn the anecdotes of the distinctiveness of Franco-Tamil culture, creating a fusion of diversity in the air of Pondy. Return back to your hotel for your breakfast and check-out. Later head to the local spot Surguru to savour a south Indian vegetarian meal. Continue your journey to Tanjore, former capital of the mighty Cholas Empire. Enroute stop at Swamimalai and observe the art of making Bronze idols by Stapathis (sculptors) as per the traditional Shilpa Sastras (craft hindu system) prevailed from the Chola period. Follow to Darasuram and see its famous Airavatesvara Chola Temple, UNESCO world heritage site, carved with vivid elephants and horses pulling chariots and dating from the 12th century. You will then be invited to meet the adjacent colony of silk weaver and discover the art of the Saree weaving, made out from their traditional wood machinery and tracing few generations. Arrive at Tanjore and check-in at your hotel for your dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, complete your check-out. This morning, delve into the heritage of the Chola Empire with a visit to the UNESCO-listed Brihadeeswara Temple, constructed in the 11th century by Raja Raja I, the “king of kings.” Enter through the Nayak gate, then pass two original gopurams adorned with intricate stucco sculptures. Inside, you’ll find several shrines, including one of India’s largest statues of Nandi, the sacred bull of Shiva. The west and north walls of the main structure feature remarkable Chola frescoes in lime plaster.

Continue to Thanjavur’s Royal Palace, which showcases the legacies of later powerful dynasties. Explore the Saraswati Mahal Library Museum, home to over 30,000 Indian and European manuscripts, and the Art Gallery, which displays an impressive collection of mainly Chola bronzes and stone carvings. Next, step into a local home to observe the making of the Tanjore veena, where the entire instrument is carved from a single block of jackwood—a tradition that has enchanted countless Carnatic music enthusiasts. Afterwards, watch a demonstration of Tanjavur painting, known for its gemstone inlay technique.

Travel south to the lively city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. After a short rest, take an auto-rickshaw to the temple, where you can witness the night ceremony as the bronze idol of Lord Shiva is carried to Parvati’s bedchamber. End your day with a rooftop dinner overlooking the gopurams of the Meenakshi temple, then return to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Begin your morning with a guided walking tour that immerses you in the authentic daily life of this ancient Tamil city. Wander through narrow lanes lined with vibrant flower and banana stalls, engage with locals, observe traditional hand-milking of cows, and explore bustling bazaars. As you sip a meter tea from a roadside stall, your guide will share the city’s 5,000-year-old legends. Head back to your hotel for breakfast, passing the region’s largest flower market, which handles up to 10 tons of blooms daily—famous for its Madurai malli (Jasmine). After checking out, visit the grand Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, a 17th-century palace known for its unique blend of Dravidian and Islamic architecture. Savor a hearty meal at Kumar Mess, sampling their spicy Biryani, before heading to Munnar, South India’s premier tea-growing area. Along the way, hop on a local state bus for a brief ride between Adipetti and Uslampatti villages. Upon reaching Munnar, check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner.

Begin your day with breakfast at the hotel before setting out to discover Munnar’s scenic hillsides. Embark on a jeep ride that winds through lush, rolling tea gardens, followed by a moderate trek leading up to the renowned Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, the world’s highest tea factory perched at 8,000 feet. Pause for a packed lunch amidst the vibrant tea bushes, taking in the tranquil surroundings. At the historic tea factory, observe the traditional tea-making process, unchanged since the British era of the 1930s, and enjoy a tea tasting session while admiring sweeping views of the surrounding mountain ridges. Return by jeep to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

After enjoying breakfast and checking out from your hotel, set out on a scenic drive to Thekkady, passing through the lush Nilgiri hills and plantations of rubber, coffee, and cardamom. Upon reaching Thekkady, check in at your hotel. Later, join a guided tour of a local spice plantation to discover and learn about the various spices grown in Kerala. Afterwards, take a boat ride on Lake Periyar, located within Periyar National Park, where you can spot wildlife and take in the stunning surroundings. Spend the night at your hotel.

After breakfast, check out and travel down the scenic Western Ghats towards the Backwaters. Around lunchtime, step aboard your privately reserved traditional houseboat to experience the charm of rural village life and the picturesque waterways. Glide through a landscape dotted with canals, lakes, and inlets, where daily life unfolds on the water. Capture memorable moments as you cruise along the backwaters. Board the houseboat at midday, enjoy an afternoon cruise, and anchor for the evening. Your luggage will remain with you on the boat. Since houseboats do not provide beverages, it’s recommended to bring your own, which the crew will gladly serve. All meals are provided, and you will spend the night on the houseboat.

Begin your morning with a serene cruise, enjoying a delicious breakfast on board. After arriving at the jetty, step off the boat and continue your journey by vehicle. This morning, explore Aymanam Village, famously featured in Arundhati Roy’s “The God of Small Things.” Immerse yourself in local culture with a traditional canoe ride along the narrow canals, observing the everyday scenes of riverside homes. Next, stroll through the heart of Kuttanad, surrounded by lush paddy fields, and spot the sacred snake groves revered by the earliest residents. Visit the home of a Kathakali artist, where you’ll be introduced to this classical dance-drama that blends ancient Sanskrit traditions with expressive storytelling. Enjoy a homemade family lunch featuring a flavorful selection of fish or meat curries served with rice. After checking out, drive to Fort Kochi and settle into your hotel for an overnight stay.

Begin your day with breakfast at the hotel before setting out to immerse yourself in the authentic daily life of Cochin on an ethnic tour. Start by seeing the iconic Chinese Fishing Nets, which stretch over the water like enormous hammocks and are a symbol of Fort Kochi. Continue to St. Francis CSI Church, the oldest European church in India, built in 1503 and the original burial site of Vasco da Gama, then pass by the impressive Santa Cruz Basilica.

Hop into a tuk-tuk, the locals’ favorite way to travel, and ride to Dhobi Khana, the traditional laundry area that now stands as a fading remnant of the past. Wander through the narrow lanes of Mattancherry to reach the bustling Fruit Market on Palace Road, where residents buy fresh, organic produce at great prices. Make sure to visit the Spice Market, where the air is filled with the scents of ginger, cloves, cardamom, turmeric, and pepper from the surrounding warehouses. Pause for a refreshing “meter tea” at a local tea stall.

There will be a chance to meet a Brahmin family, members of the highest Hindu caste known for their roles as priests and scholars, who traditionally officiate at ceremonies like marriages and births. Enjoy lunch at Caza Maria, an Indo-French restaurant overlooking the Mattancherry spice bazaar, filled with antiques.

Next, explore the Jewish Synagogue in the heart of Jew Town, followed by a stop at the Dutch Palace, renowned for its 17th-century mural paintings. In the evening, experience Kerala’s famous Kathakali dance drama at the Cochin Cultural Center, known for its expressive gestures, elaborate costumes, and intricate makeup, with stories drawn from the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. Conclude your day with a seafood dinner at the waterfront Fort House restaurant before returning to the hotel for the night.

It’s time to bid farewell. After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Cochin International Airport for your return flight home.