From Tamil Nadu to Kerala 15 Nights

From Tamil Nadu to Kerala

15 Nights

The best of Tamil Nadu and Kerala brought together in this 2-week circuit: the religious fervor of Tamil Nadu, the luxuriant nature of Kerala, without forgetting the Indian magic!

 

Take inspiration from this tour to create your own tailor-made trip to Tamil Nadu and Kerala!

Your itinerary :

Day 1: Chennai International Airport – Mahabalipuram

A very warm welcome will be reserved for you by the staff of MJ Tours & Travel upon your arrival! You will be transferred to Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram, a fishing village, located an hour and a half south of Chennai. The Pallavas, who reigned in South-East India between the 3rd and 9th centuries, made this village the place of their port facilities. They bequeathed us fabulous temples and sculptures.

Day 2: Mahabalipuram

If possible early in the morning, you will start the guided tour in French of the archaeological site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will discover the temple of the shore, dedicated to Shiva and known to be the oldest Hindu temple in South India, the Pancha Pandava Rathas – temples in the shape of processional chariots -, the asceticism of Arjuna – a giant fresco outdoors — the Krishna Mandapam— a magnificent excavated temple — or the “Butter Ball of Krishna”, a giant natural rock. Don’t miss any of them! The village of the five Rathas is also home to many sculptor craft shops. Most of these sculptors were trained at the government college of sculpture located 2 km from Mamallapuram. Here you can play a game: discover the perfect Buddha! About the size of your fist, the Buddha will have to present a perfect balance between its masculine and feminine characteristics. Mamallapuram is above all a fishing village. You will be invited to a family of fishermen for a delicious lunch. In the evening, you can contemplate a magnificent sunset on the village beach. Night on site.

Day 3: Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry

You will drive along the coast to reach Pondicherry , another extraordinary destination, endowed with a rich colonial past. Portuguese, Dutch and then French successively occupied the city and its region. Returned to India in 1954, this cosmopolitan city, now called Puducherrypreserves not without nostalgia, like a perfume of this distant France. After lunch, your French-speaking guide will introduce you to the historical heritage of the city, an opportunity to learn a multitude of things about Franco-Tamil architecture. Finally you will discover a mysterious place: the Ashram of Sri Aurobindo, whose development contributed for an important part to the history of the city during the 20th century. Spiritual seekers from all over the world come here to meditate. You will end the day with a pleasant walk on the seafront. Overnight stay.

Day 4: Auroville

A day tinged with spirituality awaits you, during which you will go to Auroville , the ideal city imagined by Mira Alfassa, called “Sweet Mother” by her devotees, who was the spiritual companion of Sri Aurobindo. You will visit the famous Matrimandir, which literally means “Mother’s Temple” in Sanskrit. You will be struck by the sight of this magnificent dome — an extraordinary place to practice meditation. Fifty years after its creation, the utopian community of Auroville brings together just under 3,000 inhabitants. In the afternoon, you can go for a walk on the nearby beaches: Auro Beach or Serenity Beach. Overnight in Pondicherry .

Day 5: Pondicherry – Kumbakonam

After breakfast, you will take the direction of Kumbakonam. Along the way, you will stop at Chidambaram for the Nataraja Thillai shrine . It is one of the five temples known as Pancha Bootha Sthalangal which are, in Hinduism, the manifestations of the five elements – earth, water, air, fire and sky -. This temple is associated with the element Sky. Shiva here embodies the cosmic dancer and is called Nataraja. An hour’s drive separates you from the fabulous temple of Gangaikondacholapuram, immersing you in the heart of the Cholas era. Former capital of the Chola Empire, it was built at the beginning of the 11th century. You will be served a delicious meal in a typical restaurant near the temple – in Tamil Nadu,which means restaurant in Tamil. After lunch, you will continue towards Darasuram, your last temple of the day! The Airavatesvara Temple offers a wonderful, truly peaceful atmosphere. Near the temple you will have the opportunity to meet families of craftsmen who make silk saris for weddings. Sarees are usually available in 3 qualities: cotton (basic quality), polyester (for everyday use) and silk (for ceremonies and festivities). Finally you will arrive in Kumbakonam for the night – the city being located only 3 km from Darasuram and home to some 188 temples! Some of them are really huge. You might visit a few the next day!

Day 6: Kumbakonam – Trichy

In the morning, you will be choosy by visiting only one temple, the Kasi Viswanathar temple, dedicated to Shiva, presented as the supreme god in the Tevaram , a collection of Tamil canonical texts. After lunch, you will leave towards Trichy. Walking among the landscapes of rice fields, you will arrive in Tanjore . Its magnificent temple, built during the reign of the Cholas. Called a big temple by the British — Peruvudaiyar Kovil in Tamil — it is an exceptional example of Dravidian architecture. You will take the road again towards Trichy where you will settle down for the night.

Day 7: Trichy – Dindigul

After breakfast, you will go to Srirangam, one of the most popular religious cities of South India, dedicated to Ranganatha, the representation of Vishnu, lying down. A peculiarity of Hindu deities is that they take many appearances. You will also discover the Rock Fort — Uchi Pillaiyaar Koil in Tamil — a fortified temple built on a rocky outcrop and dedicated to Ganesh, the very joyful elephant god. After lunch, you will leave for Dindigul, a stronghold of many different dynasties and empires, built at the foot of a formidable rock with a rounded shape and steep slopes like a Dhindu .— pillow in Tamil — hence the name of the city! Once there, you will climb the rock and visit the impressive fort built on its summit in the 17th century, and its temple. Typically Indian, Biryani is a very popular dish and Dindigul is sometimes known as the city of Biryani. You will continue to reach your hotel, a haven of peace nestled in the heart of nature.

Day 8: Dindigul-Coonoor

Complete change of scenery, direction the Western Ghats, this mountain range on the border of Kerala. By mid-afternoon, you will be surrounded by rolling green hills, arriving at Coonoor, a hill station located 1800 meters above sea level. Night on site.

Day 9: Coonnoor-Ooty-Coonnoor

It’s in Mettupalayam, at the foot of the Nilgiri— the Blue Mountains — which you will board one of India’s last steam and cogwheel trains. On the other hand, you will have to get up very early, around 5 a.m. to live this great experience. Once you arrive at Coonoor station, you’ll head to Ooty, a 45-minute drive away, for lunch. Ooty is the most popular mountain resort in the region, where the British colonial elite came to take refuge in their time, fleeing the strong summer heat of Madras. Ooty is also known for the Kurinji flower which only blooms every twelve years. Its flowering only takes place between mid-October and the end of October. You will find plenty of shops offering delicious English chocolates! You will visit the fabulous Fernhills Palace, which was the residence of summer of the Maharaja of Mysore. Built in 1844 and resembling a Swiss chalet, this palace spreads over a vast estate of more than 20 hectares including an elegant green lawn garden and dense forest, and is blessed with breathtaking views of the tea plantations. Green lawns are rarely seen in India due to the need for constant watering apart from the monsoon season. Then you will head to the lake, a popular destination, for a boat trip. Overnight in Coonoor. Green lawns are rarely seen in India due to the need for constant watering apart from the monsoon season. Then you will head to the lake, a popular destination, for a boat trip. Overnight in Coonoor. Green lawns are rarely seen in India due to the need for constant watering apart from the monsoon season. Then you will head to the lake, a popular destination, for a boat trip. Overnight in Coonoor.

Day 10: Coonnoor – Arattupuzha

The day will be long! Depart for Nilambur. Along the way, you will visit a tea plantation, created by a Frenchman, as part of an ecotourism project to help local people. Meals on the farm. Then drive to Nilambur where you will take the train again, another way to discover the country. Descent to Pudukad. From there, you will be transferred to your hotel located in a village in the vicinity of Thrissur, Arattupuzha.

Day 11: Arattupuzha

You will enjoy the privileged natural setting of this village. Early in the morning, what could be more pleasant than a walk in the heart of nature. For lovers of bike rides, there are huge rice fields available to you. For the more athletic, accompanied by a local guide, you can hike aboard inflatable kayaks. Finally shortly before sunset, you will cross the mangroves, frequented by hundreds of species of birds. Night on site.

Day 12: Arattupuzha – Fort Kochi

You will leave for the city of Kochi (or Cochin), the main port of Kerala and a former Portuguese trading post. In the early afternoon you will visit Fort Cochin, the historic heart, including the Saint-François church, near Vasco de Gama square, the Dutch palace dating from the 8th century, as well as the old Jewish quarter and its synagogue, still in activity. In the evening, a visual treat awaits: a Kathakali dance performance. Don’t miss the artists’ make-up session before the performance! The show will start at 5:30pm and end around 7:30pm. You will be accommodated in a lovely charming hotel located in the heart of the old town.

Day 13: Fort Kochi – Backwaters

It’s the long-awaited day when you will reach Alleppey, a very popular destination in Kerala, known for its enchanting scenery made up of a myriad of canals and lagoons. Sometimes called “the Venice of India”, the city is located 60 km south of Cochin. At the end of the morning, you will board a private barge for a trip to Lake Vembanadu, the largest lake in Kerala and will criss-cross fabulous landscapes of savannahs and coconut groves. This day will be memorable! Night and meal on board the House boat .

Day 14: Backwaters – Mararikulam

Back from your stay on the backwaters , you will be installed in a magnificent room overlooking the beach of Mararikulam. It is a very calm and clean beach. You will arrive around noon, reinvigorated after an Ayurvedic massage given to you at a clinic in Alleppey. You will enjoy the beach the rest of the day. You can’t find a better beach than Mararikulam to soak up the sun and relax.

Day 15: Mararikulam

Privileged moment, you will get up early this morning, like the locals, to watch the sunrise aboard a Kerala canoe. Back on the mainland, bicycles will be made available to you for strolling around the area. These last moments will be an opportunity to appreciate a little more the sweetness of this region and its inhabitants.

Day 16: Kochi International Airport

Transfer to Kochi airport. MJ Tours & Travel hopes you have made the most of your time in South India.