East coast to west — Chola bronze masterpieces, Pondicherry's French quarter, Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, Mysore Palace, and Kerala's backwaters.
Tour Highlights
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Day by Day Itinerary
Arrive into Chennai and transfer to Mahabalipuram. This afternoon get acquainted with the coastal city and visit some of the famous temples and rock carvings dating from the 7th century reign of the Pallava dynasty including the Shore Temple, one of India's oldest stone buildings.
Visit Kanchipuram, the capital of the Pallava Dynasty and one of India's most important temple cities, as well as being renowned for its high quality hand woven silk saris. Explore the temples with their intricate carvings, artistic panels and columned halls before heading to Dakshin Chitra.
Continue your journey through the Pallava Dynasty by heading inland to visit the Gingee Fort complex, set across three hills and featuring formidable defenses with watchtowers and barracks surrounding a citadel, temples, granary and a beautiful mahal. Drive back to the coast and the city of Pondicherry, with its colonial-style French quarter, take an evening rickshaw ride around the bougainvillea filled streets.
Visit the temple complex of Nataraja, dedicated to Shiva as the Lord of the Dance, this Chola Temple has beautiful carvings including on the four gopurams (towers), the many pillared halls and the passageways. The complexes at Darasuram and Gangaikonda Cholapuram are also renowned for their carvings and gopurams.
Head to Thanjavur, capital of the great Chola empire and home to many UNESCO listed temples and monuments. In the centre of the city you will see the Brihadishwara Temple, one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Chola empire and still in use with worshippers and pilgrims coming and going. Continue to Chettinadu.
Explore the extraordinary Chettinadu palace mansions — the homes of the Nattukotai Chettiars who built these remarkable structures using materials imported from around the world.
Drive to Madurai to explore the extraordinary Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple — one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture with its 14 towering gopurams covered in thousands of brightly painted sculptures.
Morning exploration of the Meenakshi Temple before the overnight train to Mysore.
Arrive in Mysore and explore the remarkable Hoysala temples — visit Somnathapura's extraordinary Chennakesava Temple and the magnificent Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid.
Full day in Mysore — the extraordinary Mysore Palace, the Chamundi Hill temple, the Devaraja market and the remarkable Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery.
Drive to Nagarhole National Park and Kabini for an afternoon boat safari on the Kabini River — one of South India's best wildlife experiences.
Dawn safari then drive to Calicut (Kozhikode) for a Kalarippayattu demonstration.
Explore Calicut then drive to Cheruthuruthy, home of the Kerala Kalamandalam.
Visit the Kalamandalam before driving to the backwaters at Kumarakom.
Two extraordinary nights on the Kerala backwaters aboard a traditional houseboat.
Disembark and drive to Kochi for a walking tour of Fort Kochi's remarkable heritage.
A final full day exploring Kochi independently.
After breakfast the tour concludes. Kochi airport has direct international connections.
About This Journey
The ultimate South India journey — 21 days from Chennai’s Bay of Bengal coast through Tamil Nadu’s extraordinary Chola temple heartland, the Chettinadu palace mansions, Mysore, Nagarhole wildlife, Kerala’s backwaters and Kochi. A comprehensive journey covering the full breadth of South India’s cultural and natural heritage in one extended and deeply satisfying circuit.
Highlights
Mahabalipuram’s UNESCO Pallava rock temples including the Shore Temple. Chettinadu palace mansions — among India’s most extraordinary domestic architecture. Meenakshi Temple at Madurai — one of the grandest Dravidian temples in India. Nagarhole National Park and Kabini — outstanding South India wildlife. Kerala backwaters two-night houseboat cruise. Fort Kochi’s layered colonial heritage.
Accommodation Used On This Tour
Malabar House
Kochi's first boutique heritage hotel, Malabar House occupies a 1755 colonial residence beside the Parade Ground in Fort Kochi. Its rooms blend period architecture with contemporary South Indian art, its restaurant is one of Kerala's most celebrated, and the location is unmatched for exploring the old town on foot.
Coconut Lagoon
A CGH Earth heritage resort on Vembanad Lake accessible only by boat, Coconut Lagoon is built from transplanted tharavads — traditional Kerala mansions rescued from demolition. Its canals, Ayurvedic centre and lakeside pool make it the definitive Kumarakom backwater address.
Kabini River Lodge
The original safari lodge of South India, Kabini River Lodge occupies the former hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Mysore on the banks of the Kabini reservoir. Run by Jungle Lodges & Resorts, its colonial bungalows, boat safaris and expert naturalists have made it a legend among Indian wildlife destinations.
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. Please refer to the detailed itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
Where You Stay
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
October to March offers the most comfortable weather — warm days, low humidity and minimal rainfall. April and May are hot; June to September is the southwest monsoon, which brings lush green landscapes but heavy rain on the Kerala coast.
Traditional Kerala houseboats (kettuvallams) are converted rice barges with private bedrooms, en suite bathrooms, a dining area and sun deck. A dedicated crew of two or three — including a cook preparing fresh Keralan meals — accompanies each boat as you cruise the palm-fringed backwater canals.
Kerala cuisine is generally milder than North Indian food, with coconut, curry leaves and seafood at its heart. Hotels and houseboats readily adjust spice levels, and vegetarian options are outstanding throughout the region.
Yes — beach extensions, additional wildlife parks, Ayurvedic retreats and different hotels can all be woven in. Contact us to shape the perfect South India journey.
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