Namaste and welcome to India!
Arrive Chennai and as you exit the arrival halls, you will be greeted by a Sodha Travel representative waiting to receive you with a placard bearing your name.
You will then be assisted & transferred to your hotel.
Overnight is at the hotel.
Standard check-in is at 1400 hours
Today morning after a leisurely breakfast, check-out of the hotel and transfer to visit Mahabalipuram (Approx 02 hours)
Mahabalipuram - Famous for being a sculptor’s delight. There are 14 cave temples, nine monolithic rathas, three stone temples and four relief sculptured rock panels. Built in the Dravidian style in the 7th and 8th century, most of them are dedicated to Vishnu or Shiva. Sights include the Shore temple (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Arjuna’s Penance, the Five Rathas and various mandapams etc. The sculptures here depict deities, animals, Hindu fables and scenes of everyday life.
Later continue your drive to Pondicherry (Approx 02 hours) and check in at the hotel and relax.
Overnight is at the hotel.
Post breakfast, we will proceed for Special Auroville Experience with Gopi & Community followed by lunch.
While in Pondicherry, make your visit to Auroville truly special by joining Gopi, a lifelong Aurovilian, for an immersive walk through the community. Gopi offers a unique insider’s perspective on Auroville’s philosophy, its social and economic initiatives, and the daily life of its residents. This is not just a sightseeing tour—it’s a deep dive into the spirit of Auroville.
To enrich the experience, enjoy a wholesome community lunch prepared in Auroville’s shared kitchen—a reflection of their values of unity and sustainability.
Later you may enjoy a leisurely stroll through the 3 km long promenade and hop into one of the beachside café’s for some delicious food while the sea breeze sets everything else right.
Overnight is at the hotel.
Note: The Auroville experience is not available on Saturday afternoons or Sundays.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Chettinad (approximately 4 hours).
En route, we will stop at Thirubuvanam Handloom Weaving Village / Silk Cluster.
Break for lunch at Mantra Koodam.
Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Evening experience a traditional saree-draping session at the hotel and learn the cultural significance and methods behind this beautiful attire.
Dinner and overnight is at the hotel.
Post breakfast, check-out of the hotel and proceed for Mansion walking tour.
The mansions of Chettinad are the region’s signature attraction. The mansions are of varying sizes depending on the prosperity level of its owners. The mansions are replete with the finest Italian marble, Burmese teak, Belgian chandeliers, French crystal and European granite. Local legend has it that the mansion walls were polished with a paste made out of egg whites to give them a smooth texture. Some of the homes are so big that their entrance and exits are on parallel streets.
Also, visit the tile-making workshop and see the fascinating way in which these skilled tile makers create amazing designs on tiles right in front of your eyes. Athangudi tiles are made by hand through an interesting process that has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Chettinad tiles are used across India mostly for decoration and embellishment. The designs and colours used in these tiles are still those of a bygone era.
Next, drive to Madurai (Approx 02 Hrs) and check-in at the hotel.
The ancient city of Madurai is one of southern India's oldest with a recorded history going back to the 6th century B.C., has been a seat of learning from time immemorial and the center from which the Tamil language developed and flourished. It was well known to the Greeks and Romans with whom the city carried on active trade. The town has been patterned on the lotus flower with the temple of Goddess Meenakshi at the center.
Evening visit Sri Meenakshi temple to witness the night ceremony.
As the evening draws in experience the extraordinary ‘Going to Bed Ceremony’ at Sri Meenakshi Temple. Each night the image of Shiva (in the form of Sundareswarar) is carried from his shrine to join his consort Parvati (in the form of Meenakshi) at hers, in another part of the temple. Each morning, he is returned to his own place of rest.
Overnight is at the hotel.
Morning is at leisure.
Afternoon again visit magnificent Meenakshi Temple which is an outstanding structure dedicated to the “fish eyed goddess” and the consort of Shiva who also has a temple dedicated to him.
In the evening, we will experience a food trail.
Madurai has a lively food scene and a recorded history that spans two millennia. Join us on the food trail and eat your way through some of that history. Every mouthful of its street food will get you an earful of stories - of its people, its culture and way of life.
We will also indulge in as many local sweets as possible.
Overnight is at the hotel.
Start a little early today to visit the famous wholesale flower market in the city. Just north of the Sri Meenakshi Temple, the daily flower and vegetable market is a labyrinth of bustling laneways strewn with aromatic herbs and vegetables. In the thick of it on the 1st floor of a nondescript cement building is the gorgeous flower market. Vendors dexterously heap mountains of marigolds and jasmine onto scales for the temple flower sellers here.
Later check out of the hotel and transfer to Munnar (Approx. 4 Hrs).
Check-in to your accommodation and relax.
Overnight is at the hotel.
Today morning post breakfast proceed for Letchmi Hills Ridge Trek.
Walk through the tea plantations for about 30 to 40 minutes. On reaching the summit, the trek will continue for a couple of hours on the ridge through stunningly beautiful grasslands with rocky mountain slope on one side and the tea plantations on the other with interspersed patches of Shola forest. On a clear day, we can see Anaimudi “The highest peak in South India”.
Afternoon procced for the tea trail to the area where ladies will be picking tea leaves. Once in the area, you will join them in picking tea leaves and weighing the same, while interacting with the workers to understand their way of life.
Overnight is at the hotel.
Lockhart Tea museum remains closed on Mondays.
Later in the morning, check-out of the hotel and drive to Kumarakom (Approx 02 Hrs).
Kumarakom is a charming village on the Eastern bank of Vembanadu Lake surrounded by paddy fields. The lake's majestic canals, streams, and distributaries weave an intricate and enchanting web.
Check-in at the hotel.
Spend the afternoon at leisure lazing around the beautiful environs.
In the evening, we will go for a sunset cruise (organized by the hotel).
A sunset cruise is the perfect way to unwind and witness nature's breathtaking beauty as the sun dips below the horizon at Kumarakom. Every day, step aboard a luxurious boat and let the golden hues of the setting sun paint the sky with a palette of warm colors. Set sail and let the beauty of twilight envelop you.
Overnight is at the hotel.
A 45 mins Ayurvedic Massage followed by steam bath at Kumarakom is included during your stay. Request you to please choose your preffered slots at the time of check in.
Morning is at leisure for spa activities.
Later visit the farm at Philipkutty's Farm followed by cooking demonstration with Lunch. (Approx 20 minutes)
Set on a beautiful small farm island that was reclaimed from the backwaters in the early 1950s by the owner’s grandfather. The working farm, which practices sustainable/organic methods of farming, is two meters below the lake level and has coconut, toddy, nutmeg, banana, cocoa, and pepper cultivation not to forget the jumbo prawn (scampi) and karimeen (pearl spot) found in some of the farm canals. Though accessible by road (up to the opposite bank), it is the ‘vallam’ (country boat) that will finally take you across.
Drive back to your hotel and relax.
Overnight is at the hotel.
Post breakfast, check-out of the hotel and transfer by road to Kochi (Approx 02.5 hours)
On arrival, check-in at the hotel.
Evening visit a local family for a Keralan Cooking Demo followed by dinner. An interactive session which gives you an opportunity to learn a little more about Keralan cuisine.
Overnight is at the hotel.
After breakfast, check-out of the hotel and proceed for heritage walk through the historic neighborhood of Mattancherry and Fort Kochi.
Mattancherry is rich with more than 30 different communities from across India who made this their home. Abandoned spice gods owns are now transforming into internationally acclaimed art galleries, and some of the ancient buildings have been converted into conservation projects including some hotels and restaurants. The day trips and activities offered by us gives an insight into the past, present and the future engagements of these quaint towns that are an ideal gateway to the cultural richness of the land of Kerala.
Fort Kochi is said to have formed in the 1340’s due to cataclysmic floods. Visit St. Francis Church. Fort Kochi being the natural gateway to the Kochi harbor grew in importance as travelers from far and wide came to Kochi: the Arabs, the Chinese, the Dutch and the Portuguese.
The large rain trees, beautiful colonial buildings, streets lined with many shops, dining options, the Chinese fishing nets, the Parade Ground, the Jain temple, the beach area, St. Francis Church, the Vasco house all make this an interesting area.
Next visit The Paradesi Synagogue, built in 1568, this is perhaps the oldest surviving Synagogue in India and stands testament to the cultural diversity of Kochi. The synagogue still preserves the Old Testament and the ancient copper plates that recorded the grants of privilege left by the Kochi rulers.
Later transfer to Port Muziris hotel for check-in and wash & change.
In time transfer to Kochi Airport to board your flight for onward destination.
Bon Voyage!
Standard check-out at all hotels is 1200 hours.
