Jewels of South India

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Chennai

Arrive in Chennai at any time, pickup and transfer to your hotel included. There are no planned activities, so check into to the hotel (check-in time is 12.00 midday) and enjoy the city. In the evening you will meet your fellow group members to go over the details of your trip. Check the notice board or ask receptiont where and what time the group meeting will be held.The capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai (formerly known as Madras and the seat of power for the British East India Company), lies on the Coromandel Coast, facing the Indian Ocean. Chennai is a vibrant and bustling city, where many interesting churches still remain from the first British settlements in India. Founded in 1639 by the English merchant, Francis Day, as Fort St George, the original fort still remains,as do many remnants of "the Raj" including the Church of St Mary, the oldest Anglican church east of Suez. The coastal city has a beautiful promenade and a string of waterfront Indo-Saracenic buildings, several designed by Robert Fellows Chislom and Henry irwin. Do not miss a walk along Marina Beach at sunset, the second longest beach in the world.

Day 2-3 Puducherry (Pondicherry) (2B)

We leave Chennai and head south towards the former French colony of Puducherry (Pondicherry). On the way we visit the small village of Mahabalipuram, site of the 7th century Shore Temple, another of India’s many UNESCO World Heritage sites. Explore the site by bicycle or on foot on our guided tour, and relax with a cold Indian beer (one of the British’s best legacies was good beer) at the end of the day on the beach.The impressive group of monuments at Mamallapuram was sculpted by the Pallava kings during the 7th and 8th century A.D. Of these, the Shore Temple stands out in particular, owing to its extraordinary location abutting the sea. Actually a twin-temple dedicated both to Vishnu and Shiva, it was built by Narasimhavarman II (circa 690-715). The Five Rathas, sculpted in granite and situated nearby, were created by his predecessor Narasimhavarman I. Also known as Mamalla (A.D. 630-668), the great wrestler, it is from him Mamallapuram gets its name.After the tsunami that resulted from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the force of the water removed sand deposits that had covered various rocky structures, revealing parts of a previously unexcavated temple. Still submerged, the Archaeological Survey of India sent divers to begin underwater excavations of the area in February 2005, still presently underway.Aside from its draw as a temple site, Mahabalipuram is also a favourite shopping haunt for South Indian artefacts, both wooden and granite-based.Pondicherry’s unique identity comes from an amalgalmation of two distinct cultures; Tamil and French. The Tamil culture thrives in the many active Ganesh temples scattered throughout town. The French legacy is cherished in the red tomato-can hats of the police know as kepis, the brilliant splashes of bougainvillea and in the French delicacies served in restaurants and cafes. Pondicherry was established in 1674 by Francois Martin, the first director of the French east India Company. The town is laid out in a grid pattern. Its main promenade, the 3 km long Goubert Salai running along the Bay of Bengal, formed part of the French Quarter, with its elegant colonial mansions, tree-lined boulevards, parks, bars and cafes. Beyond this was a canal, now dry, that demarcated the Tamil Town where the local populace once lived.Auroville is something of an avante garde community 10 km from Pondicherry. Founded by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother in 1926, The City of Dawn was designed by French architect Roger Arger. The main building comprises the houses of the former two, inside the courtyard their mortal remains are enshrined. Auroville was started as an experimental commune where people of all nationalities irrespective of caste creed or religion would live together in harmony. About 550 people from different countries live in the 40 settlements of Auroville. Aside from yoga and mediation they are engaged in local crafts, education and organic agriculture. Visitors welcome daily between 8 – 12 and 2 - 6.

Day 4 Madurai (B)

Cross the border today into the state of Tamil Nadu en route to busy and colourful Madurai. At the heart of the city is Meenakshi temple, making Madurai as popular with pilgrims as it is with tourists. Duck into the cool shade of the huge, covered, stone tailor’s market, where for a few rupees rows of expert tailors will whip you up a custom shirt in a manner of minutes, all done on antique foot-pump sewing machines.Madurai has been an important commercial centre since as early as 550 AD, but it is as a temple town that it most strongly identifies itself. Although there are many temples sprinkled throughout the city, none compares to the size and detail of Meenakshi temple, named after Shiva’s consort, a princess from Hindu mythology. Even before you pass through the massive stone walls of the temple, the nine striking gopurams (towers, actually monumental gateways covered with sculpture) which distinguish the temple loom high above. The temple’s tallest spire rises as high as 60 meters, and was for many years the tallest structure in its category in Asia.Join a guided tour of the temple complex, shop for handicrafts or tailored clothing, and be sure to try one of Madurai’s popular sweet drinks, including carumbu (sugarcane) juice.

Day 5-6 Kodaikanal (2B)

Kodaikanal is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m high amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one of the most popular serene hill stations in India. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enhancing waterfalls and a beautiful lake, Kodaikanal is a charming hill station. The name Kodaikanal means ‘gift of the forest’ in Tamil.Drawn by its bracing climate and clean environs, originaly set up as a sanatorium in 1845 by the American Madura Mission, Kodai (as it’s popularly known) holds a unique distinction. It happens to be the only hill station in India to be established by Americans. They also established Kodai's International School in 1901.This picturesque town is today spread out around the man-made, star shaped Kodai Lake, created by the dam built by Sir Henry Levinge in 1863. The trail around the lake makes for a pleasant walk. On the shore is a boat house built in 1901 and east of the lake is Bryant Park, famous for its plant collection and annual flower show.Also worth a visit is the Kodai Club gives the impression of stepping back into colonial India. The lounge with its period fireplace, the piano, the Leigh Hunt prints, the library stocked with books by Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Trollope, and the bar with stuffed heads of bison, tigers, deer-horns, and a picture of the Laughing Cavalier by Franz Hals, the restaurant with old English plates, a glowing hearth-fire, and landscape prints, are all British legacies. Berijam Lake located at a distance of 21-km from Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu is one among the beautiful lakes of South India. Spread over an area of 24 hectares, the lake is star shaped and is known for its pure water.

Day 7 Periyar Tiger Reserve (B)

One of the few habitats remaining for wild tigers in India (and indeed, the world) Periyar is part of Project Tiger, a wildlife conservation project designed to protect Royal Bengal Tigers from extinction.Set high in the mountains of the Western Ghats, this protected area covers some 777 km², out of which a 350km² fors part of the core zone known as the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Famous for its picturesque (though artificial) lake and of course the tiger (which number about 40), the park is also home to 62 different kinds of mammal. The most well known of these are the park’s famous herds of wild Asiatic elephants, which often come to bathe in Periyar lake. Other mammals found here include gaur, sambar (horse deer), barking deer, mouse deer, Dholes (Indian wild dogs), mongoose and leopards and Indian Bison. For ornithologists it has over 330 species of birds including the majestic Great Hornbill.We join a naturalist-led walk in search of wildlife and to get a better understanding of the surroundings. Many of the guides are in fact former poachers. You can also take a boat ride around the lake for a more relaxing view of the park and more wildlife spotting.

Day 8 Houseboat (B, L, D)

We take a journey through the backwaters around Alappuzha area, in our private houseboat.Houseboats are a reworked model of Kettuvallams (in the Malayalam language, Kettu means "tied with ropes", and vallam means "boat"), which, in earlier times, were used to carry rice and spices from Kuttanad to the Kochi port. Such a houseboat is about 60 to 70 feet (about 18 to 21 meters) long and about 15 feet (about 5 meters) wide at the middle. The hull is made of wooden planks, usually Jackfruit, that are held together by ropes of coconut fibre. The roof is made of bamboo poles and palm leaves. The exterior of the boat is painted with protective coats of a black resin made from boiled cashew nut shells.The houseboats are simply furnished and consist of a thatched covered lounge and dining area, and depending on the size a number of bedrooms that usually consist of a twin or double beds (with mosquito nets) and a bathroom with toilet and washbasin. In the evening the boat is lit by hurricane lamps. Thatched awnings on both sides of the boat allow the breeze to flow through. In the back there is a small service area where the cook prepares simple meals using fresh produce that can be caught, bought, or taken from the water. This is a highlight - relaxing, romantic, and a chance to get to know one another better.

Day 9 Kerala Backwaters (B, L, D)

Many travelers come to Alappuzha (Alleppey) specifically to experience this idyllic region, where boats are the main transport, the humid climate is warm year-round, and signs of modern life are few and far between. Slipping silently through sleepy canals, shorelines dotted with the typical cantilevered Chinese fishing nets of the region, as the timeless landscape of Kerala’s backwaters slides by on a boat trip arranged from here.However we stay here to experience Ayuerveda, translated as the 'science of life'. Ayurveda is an ancient system of healing, so during our stay here you could experience a traditional oil massage. This holistic science of healing is practised throughout India, but the Kerala method is famous for its five-pronged treatment, panchakarma, in which medicated oils, herb, milk, massage and a special diet are used to cure all types of ailments.

Day 10-11 Kochi (2B)

To understand Kochi one must get a sense of the many travellers, traders and soldiers that passed through the city over the centuries, and the marks they left upon the landscape, culture and people. Today we tour Fort Kochi by bicycles, taking in the highlights of Jew Town, Jewish Synagogue, Dutch palace, St Francis chruch. In the afternoon head down to the harbour to watch the Chinese fishing nets before enjoying a performance of Kathakali. An important stop on the spice trading route due to its strategic location near the tip of the Indian subcontinent, Kochi (Cochin) has been a melting pot of influences since the 14th century. The city’s history stretches back much farther: by 1102, Kochi was already the seat of an eponymous princely state that traced its lineages to the Kulasekhara empire. Ancient travellers and tradesmen made references to Kochi in their writings, and in 1503 Kochi became the first European colonial settlement in India when it was occupied by the Portuguese. Also of interest is the fact that Vasco da Gama, the first European explorer to set sail for India, was initially buried in Kochi’s St. Francis Church until his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539. Later, both the Dutch and British occupied Kochi, resulting in the variety of architecture, food and other influences typical of today’s Kochi.Today Kochi is the commercial hub of Kerala state, and a growing centre of information technology, tourism and international trade. However, like other large cities in the developing world, Kochi continues to struggle with urbanisation problems like poor sanitation and traffic congestion.Considered one of the oldest dance forms in India, Kathakali is a combination of drama, dance, music and ritual. Characters with vividly painted faces and elaborate costumes re-enact stories from the Hindu epics, Mahabharatha and Ramayana.

Day 12-13 Goa/Panjim (2B)

Early in the morning we transfer to the airport for our short flight to Goa.Known the world over for its beautiful beaches and distinctive Portugese flavour. Goa ia a delightful mix of religions and cultures, and the people are fun-loving and relaxed. With a history as vast as the sea itself, the Portuguese influence can be felt everywhere in Goa, in the churches and chapels and of course the food.Goa is just 600 km south of Mumbai, situated on the slopes of the Western Ghats (Sahyadri ranges). On day 13 we will tour Old Goa and Panjim, with their fascinating churches and cathedrals. The hundreds of years of Portugese control have left their legacy of Christianity in Goa and we will visit churches such as bascilica of Bom Jesus, which is famous through out the Roman Catholic world. It contains the tomb and mortal remains of St Francis Xavier.

Day 13 Depart Goa (B)

You are free to depart at any time on Day 14, though remember check out from the hotel is 12.00 midday. Your tour leader can help you arrange any onward travel. Or why not book a G.A.P Adventures Goa beach break extension!

Trip Details

Accommodation	Hotels (12 nts), houseboat (1 nt).
Departure	Departs on selected Sundays, Aug-Apr
DepEnd	Sun-Sat
Group Size	Max 15, Avg 10
Included Highlights	Dutch palace, Jewish Synagogue, Excursion and local guide for Backwaters, Periyar Tiger Reserve and guided walk, Tour of Spice Garden, Sri Meenakshi Temple, Shore Temple, Hill stations, Goan Beaches
Local Payment	USD250
Meals Included	13 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners.
StartFinish	Chennai to Goa
Transport	Train, charter bus, auto-rickshaw, cycle-rickshaw, houseboat, plane.
Brochure Intro	Explore a 1100 year old World Heritage site, check out beautiful hill stations, and discover colourful temples on this journey through the south of India. Take a jungle safari in search of tigers and wild elephants, witness ancient dance rituals, cruise the backwaters on a comfortable houseboat in Kerala and unwind in Goa. This is an adventure in style!

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-10-12	2008-10-25	7+
2008-11-09	2008-11-22	7+
2008-12-07	2008-12-20	7+
2008-12-21	2009-01-03	5
2009-01-04	2009-01-17	7+
2009-01-18	2009-01-31	7+
2009-02-01	2009-02-14	7+
2009-02-15	2009-02-28	7+
2009-03-01	2009-03-14	7+
2009-03-15	2009-03-28	7+
2009-03-29	2009-04-11	7+
2009-04-12	2009-04-25	7+
2009-08-01	2009-08-14	7+
2009-08-15	2009-08-28	7+
2009-08-29	2009-09-11	7+
2009-09-12	2009-09-25	7+
2009-09-26	2009-10-09	7+
2009-10-10	2009-10-23	7+
2009-10-24	2009-11-06	7+
2009-11-07	2009-11-20	7+
2009-11-21	2009-12-04	7+
2009-12-05	2009-12-18	7+
2009-12-19	2010-01-01	7+
2010-01-02	2010-01-15	7+
2010-01-16	2010-01-29	7+
2010-01-30	2010-02-12	7+
2010-02-13	2010-02-26	7+
2010-02-27	2010-03-12	7+
2010-03-13	2010-03-26	7+
2010-03-27	2010-04-09	7+
2010-04-10	2010-04-23	7+
2010-04-24	2010-05-07	7+
2010-05-08	2010-05-21	7+
2010-05-22	2010-06-04	7+

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