STARTING OUT AT CHENNAI, India’s fourth largest city and the site of the first settlement of the East India Company in 1639, the itinerary journeys through the three southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala to take you to some of the most well-known places. In Tanjore, marvel over the Brihadeshwara temple a World Heritage Monument; at Madurai once the center of Tamil learning there is the Meenakshi temple with its towering gopuram. Stop at the artisans’ village in Mahabalipuram; visit Pondicherry and Auroville, that unusual combination of European culture and Indian traditions; the grand palace in Mysore capital of the powerful Wodeyar dynasty that ruled the state of Karnataka for some 150 years.

An exhilarating and unique ride on the Toy Train takes you through the natural beauty of the Nilgiris ‘blue mountains’ from Ooty to Coonoor. There’s more of nature’s bounty amidst the scenic beauty of Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary that slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries that weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web around the countryside.

Cruise the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of Kerala villages. Pause at wildlife sanctuaries – at the Periyar National Park, in the shadow of the western Ghats. Roam elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri langurs. You can watch them frolic at the edge of the lake from the safety of a boat.

It would not be far from the truth to assert that vast diversity that is South India cannot be encapsulated in in one itinerary. However, at the risk of leaving out cities and sites that are in no way secondary, we have attempted to capture the flavour of region as a curtain raiser that will tease and tantalize you into returning to uncover the details. The hotels in each city are the best, giving you a balanced mix if both heritage and modern.

DAY 01: ARRIVAL CHENNAI

Reception and welcome at Chennai airport followed by transfer to your hotel. Spend the afternoon sightseeing museums and the profusion of suburb Indo-Saracenic buildings.

DAY 02: CHENNAI

Drive out in the morning to the nearby town of Kanchipuram well known for the exquisite silk saris that are woven here. On the way back to Chennai stop at the Kalakshetra, the centre for traditional performing arts, and the flower and fruit markets.

DAY 03: CHENNAI / MYSORE BY TRAIN

Take an express train to Mysore. You are booked here for two nights.

DAY 04: MYSORE

The city has more than enough to keep busy all day.

DAY 05: MYSORE / COONOOR BY SURFACE

Drive to Ooty in the morning. After lunch take the exhilarating ride on the unique Toy Train that connects Coonoor and Ooty.

DAY 06: COONOOR / KOCHI BY SURFACE

A long and interesting drive takes you to Kochi, previously known as Cochin, on the west coast of India.

DAY 07: KOCHI

A boat cruise in the morning to see the Chinese fishing nests and the old city at Fort Cochin. Enjoy a Kathakali dance performance in the evening.

DAY 08: KOCHI / KUMARAKOM BY SURFACE

A breathtakingly beautiful sanctuary on the banks of Vembanad Lake.

DAY 09: KUMARAKOM / PERIYAR BY SURFACE

An early lunch will give you enough time to stop at spice plantations en route to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

DAY 10: PERIYAR

Spend the day with nature and take a boat ride on the lake that is the heart of the sanctuary.

DAY 11: PERIYAR / MADURAI BY SURFACE

Drive to lotus-shaped Madurai, once the seat of Tamil learning.

DAY 12: MADURAI / TRICHY / TANJORE BY SURFACE

Leave early to drive to Tanjore with a stopover at Trichy en route.

DAY 13: TANJORE

Explore the city and the World Heritage Site at the Brihadeshwara Temple.

DAY 14: TANJORE / KUMBHAKONAM / DHARASURAM / SWAMI MALAI BY SURFACE

En route to Swami Malai, stop at the temple town of Kumbhakonam and the temple of Dharasuram.

DAY 15: SWAMI MALAI / PONDICHERRY BY SURFACE

Gangaikondacholapuram makes for an interesting halt on the way to Pondicherry and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

DAY 16: PONDICHERRY / CHENNAI BY SURFACE

Drive back to Chennai via Mahabalipuram, visit the Shore temple and the rock-cut murals that adorn the caves here.

DAY 17: DEPARTURE CHENNAI

The day is at leisure to spend as you will, as you await transfer to the airport in time for your flight out.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION:

3 nights at Delhi with an excursion to Agra to see the famous Taj Mahal.