Highlights of Southern India

Our tour of South India starts in Chennai. Capital of India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, the city is one of the country's most important economic hubs, partly due to its role in the development of the automotive industry. For those arriving in time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 2pm for a welcome meeting and a walking tour of the southern neighbourhood of Mylapore. Older than Chennai itself, Mylapore is an affluent and characterful quarter, home to a variety of cultural and historical sites as well as buildings influenced by the European colonies. As part of our walk, we'll visit the Kapaleeshwar Hindu Temple, rebuilt after it was destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Roman Catholic Luz Church (Our Lady of Light). If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Chennai International Airport (MAA), around a one-hour drive from the hotel. If you'd like to join the Mylapour tour, you'll need to arrive at the hotel by 2pm. If you're booking your own flights, you should give yourself one hour to clear the airport and then one hour to drive to the hotel, so the latest your flight should arrive is 12pm. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will catch you up as soon as possible.

This morning we'll drive to Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, approximately a two-hour drive from Chennai. The sanctuary is a protected area and an important breeding ground for large migrating birds such as herons, cormorants, storks, ibises, pelicans as well as other smaller species. Migrating season is generally from November to March and in the height of breeding season there can be thousands of birds here. Please note, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is closed from 31st May to the 31st October. After a spot of birdwatching, we'll drive to Pondicherry where we'll check in at our hotel and have lunch in the town's colonial French Quarters. A European influence, from a cultural and culinary perspective, thrived here after the city remained under French reign until 1954. Many of the streets retain their French names and as we walk around we'll spot several bakeries and cafes serving up fresh baguettes, crepes, waffles and croissants. The architecture makes you feel as if we were in a Parisian suburb with whitewashed colourful mansions and Pondicherry's own Arc De Triomphe and Notre Dame church (Notre Dames des Agnes). We'll also visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a small spiritual community devoted to providing its members with a balanced and healthy life. The ashram has a real presence in the town as they also run a handmade paper factory, making all sorts of goods out of waste material including wind chimes, notebooks, paper bags and birthday cards.

We'll have an early start this morning as we leave Pondicherry and travel to Tiruchirappalli to discover the Srirangam Hindu Temple. Located on an island, at the confluence of the Kaveri and Kollidam Rivers, the temple complex is one of the largest in India and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the main deities of Hinduism. We'll also visit the river ghats at Amma Mandapam, where devotees and residents of Srirangam and the surrounding areas come to bathe. After lunch, we'll continue our journey towards Madurai, where we'll arrive in the late afternoon. Madurai is a city at the heart of the Tamil and Dravidian cultures and is of huge importance to Hindus. It's been given the nickname the 'Nectar City' as it's believed drops of nectar fell from goddess Siva's locks here. In the evening we'll visit the impressive Meenakshi Temple for the evening 'bed ceremony' where the image of Siva is carried from its shrine to join his consort Pavarti in a separate part of the temple. All ceremonies carried out at Hindu temples are very spiritual as devotees say their prayers and bring offerings such as flower garlands and food to their gods. During the ceremony, we might also see musicians, temple singers and priests accompany the image of the god to their resting place for the night.

This morning we'll return to the 16th century Meenakshi Temple for a closer look around. The temple features imposing gopurams (monumental gates) and dominating colourful towers that rise above the chaotic exuberance of the seemingly endless throngs of pilgrims. We'll also visit the regal Thirumalai Nayaka Palace, a 17th century building with impressive archways framing the indoor courtyard. This afternoon is free to explore Madurai at your own pace. You might choose to visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum, which houses a small collection of artefacts belonging to the iconic figure. Alternatively, you could visit the flower market where thousands of marigolds, tuberoses and roses amongst others are traded each day.

Today we'll drive west towards Thekkady and the state of Kerala. The drive is around five hours through an ever-changing landscape. As we enter the Western Ghats Mountain range, watch as rolling hills and spice plantations pass by the window and the terrain becomes ever more green. After checking in to our hotel, we'll learn a little about how Indian spices are grown and processed with a walking tour of a spice garden. India is the world's largest exporter and consumer of spices and the soil composition in the area is ideal for growing cardamon, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, and cinnamon.

This morning we'll drive to the Kerala Backwaters, a network of low-lying waterways, lagoons and rivers running parallel to the Arabian Sea. Often lined with tropical plants and palm trees they are a haven for a variety of birdlife and local villages dot the shores. We'll board our houseboat around midday for an exotic journey, chugging leisurely along the waterways used by villagers to connect each of the communities. We'll dock in the middle of the water before dusk and watch the sun go down on the horizon. The houseboats we use are simple yet comfortable converted rice barges which have en-suite rooms and an area to relax and watch riverside life as we go by. Whilst the engine is running there will be some power supply to charge cameras, but the air conditioning will be limited to night time only.

After disembarking our houseboat, we'll drive to the fort town of Kochi. With a beautiful natural harbour that earned it the title of 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'. The town was founded on trade from Jewish and Arab spice traders in the first century AD. Its prosperity and importance increased even more with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, closely followed by the Dutch and the English, an eclectic heritage that helped produce a fascinating mix of styles and influences. After lunch, we'll walk around the fort and get our first look at the Chinese Fishing nets. First introduced by Chinese explorers in the 14th century, this style of fishing is rarely found in India and they have become a symbol of Kochi - and a great photo op for visitors, too. The rest of the day is free to explore more at your own pace and there's an option to attend a Kathakali dance performance. Thought by some to be the very essence of the culture of Kerala. The intricate make-up is unique and often dancers can take up to three hours painting their faces - the features are heavily emphasised as it is the facial expressions and coordinated eye movements which are important in the dance. Alternatively, you might want to learn about south Indian cuisine with a cookery class at a local home. During the class, you'll learn to cook typical Keralan dishes including coconut milk curries and crispy laced rice pancakes, whilst chatting to your hosts about their life and culture.

After a leisurely breakfast, we'll head to Kochi's Mattancherry Palace to explore the colonial gem. Built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, it underwent extensive renovations by the Dutch some hundred years later, which earned it its name as 'The Dutch Palace'. Today it houses murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana and other great legends. Whilst in Kochi's Jewish quarter we'll visit the oldest active synagogue in India, the Paradesi Jewish synagogue. This area is also home to antique warehouses and spice auction rooms - we'll take some time to peruse them, too. Later we'll visit St Francis Church, another fascinating example of the melting pot of cultures which have brushed past this fort town and left their mark. The church was the original burial site of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama before being returned to his native Portugal as his final resting place. Finally, in the afternoon we'll take a cruise in Kochi's harbour to watch the sun setting over the Chinese fishing nets.

Today we have a long drive ahead of us as we head north-east back into the state of Tamil Nadu and the city of Coimbatore. On the way, we'll stop in Palakkad to admire the 18th century fort. Unlike sandstone examples seen in India's Northern state of Rajasthan, Palakkad Fort is built out of granite and is surrounded by grass and a large water moat. After exploring the fort, we'll continue our drive towards Coimbatore, around a two-hour drive away. Dinner is included tonight in Coimbatore and we'll get the opportunity to sample some South Indian delicacies such as savoury dosas served on a banana leaf with different chutneys, pickles and vegetables.

Early this morning we'll travel towards Coonoor to board the toy train along the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Built by the British in the late 19th century to negotiate an otherwise difficult terrain, an old locomotive will pull us up the hill through dense green forest landscapes as we cover a distance of 19km from Coonoor to Ooty in about one and a half hours. The toy train has been running for many years so there are times where it doesn't run due to maintenance or when the weather is poor. In such circumstances, we'll drive to Ooty instead, which still makes for a scenic journey through the hills. The town of Ooty, often referred to as 'Snooty Ooty' was once a colonial hill station and home to officials from the British East India Company looking to escape from the heat of the southern lowlands. On arrival we will have lunch and have a short tour of the town including a visit to the town's botanical gardens, home to more than 1000 varieties of plants and trees arranged in a colourful way. Afterwards, we will continue our journey towards Bandipur National Park.

Today is dedicated to searching for wildlife with both morning and afternoon drives in Bandipur National Park. The park was once the hunting ground for the Maharajah of Mysuru but is today a thriving nature reserve made up primarily of dry deciduous forest. Some of the wildlife we might be lucky enough to spot includes chital (spotted deer), monkeys (especially langur), mongoose, sloth bear and gaur (Indian bison). The park's elephant population is one of the largest in the country and we might see some of them walking in the forest. Though less common, there have also been sightings of leopard and tiger and there's a variety of birdlife such as crested hawk and serpent eagle. Our wildlife drives in the park are usually at dawn and just before dusk in the afternoon when the animals are most active. We'll head out in shared 4WD trucks designed for viewing wildlife. Each safari will be around three to four hours including our drive towards the park but will depend on the wildlife we get the chance to see. In between the drives, we'll have time to relax back at our lodge just outside of the park. There's the option to unwind by the swimming pool, enjoy a massage or take a nature walk around the resort.

Early this morning we'll have the option to take one final drive in the park in search of wildlife. Alternatively, you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we drive north towards Mysore. So called the 'City of Palaces', Mysuru is today renowned as the cultural capital of Karnataka and home to one of the most ornate palaces in south India, the Maharajah's Mysore Palace, which we plan to visit tomorrow. After checking into our hotel, we'll visit the Chamundi Hills area just outside of the city. Offering views over Mysuru, the hills are home to an impressive Hindu Temple and the Nandi statue. This giant black granite bull statue is considered the vehicle of Lord Siva and is an icon of the city of Mysuru. Later in the evening, we'll head to Mysuru Palace for a sound and light show displayed on the facade of the building itself.

After a leisurely breakfast, we'll take a visit to Mysuru's Devaraja market. This vibrant market is a constant hive of activity as locals barter with sellers for the best deal. The market is a photographer's paradise with fruit, vegetable, flower, and spice stalls often meticulously displayed. After our visit to the market, we'll head towards Mysuru's must-see, the eccentric Mysuru Palace. An eclectic mix of Hindu and British architecture, the palace was originally built in the 14th century and has undergone two subsequent re-buildings. Its opulence is demonstrated through its grand proportions, shiny marble floors, ivory doors, and recognisable red domes on top of its main towers. After our sightseeing and an early dinner, we will transfer to the railway station to board our overnight train to the city of Chennai. Indian sleeper trains are a fantastic experience and a great way to meet people as we travel. We make our bookings in second class air-conditioned sleepers, which have four beds in each compartment and all bedding provided. Whilst we try to ensure the group is all together, due to overwhelming demand and the system for booking train tickets in India, it may not always be possible to have everyone in the same carriage and some reservations may be in third class. In such cases our tour leader will help everyone to find their seats and ensure you get the most out of your journey. For overnight trains, each berth is separated by curtains and has 4/6 bunk beds. Bedding (sheet, blanket, and pillow) is provided but you may wish to bring your own sleeping liner for added comfort.

Arriving in Chennai very early this morning we'll make a quick stop for a traditional south Indian dosa breakfast. These thin flat crepes are made from rice batter and often served with a side of chutney, potatoes and lentil sambars. Following breakfast, we'll travel towards the shores of the Bay of Bengal and the town of Mamallapuram. On arrival in Mamallapuram, we will check in to our hotel and enjoy some free time to relax before exploring the nearby shore temples. Mamallapuram was the chief harbour of the Pallavas Kingdom some 1200 years ago and a number of superb examples of its masterful rock carvings still exist today. We will walk around some of the areas most celebrated structures, including the 7th century Shore Temple - a UNESCO World Heritage site - and Ajuna's Penance, the world's largest bas-relief and one of the most impressive friezes in India. Although both have suffered at the hands of natural erosion over many centuries, a remarkable amount of detail remains amongst the carvings. The late afternoon is free to take a walk on Mamallapuram's sandy beaches or visit the market for some last minute shopping.

Our tour of South India ends at our hotel in Mamallapuram. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Chennai Airport (MAA), around a two-hour drive from the hotel.