South India 

01 :  Arrive Hyderabad
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to Hotel. 

 

The Pearl City, Hyderabad with its unmatched blend of history and modernity, hypnotizes everyone, whoever sets his/her foot in this beautiful city of Nizams. With a history as old as 400 years and the status of metropolitan city, Hyderabad promises a unique refreshing experience to all. From historical monuments to natural getaways to mouth-watering world famous cuisine to appealing shopping places and thrilling entertainment parks, this city has it all to keep you glued.

 

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

 

02 : Hyderabad  
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing. 

 

Visit Golkonda Fort - Just 11 km away from the city, the architectural marvel Golconda Fort is well connected to the rest of the city. Built by Qutub Shahi Kings, this fort presents an impressive structure, with eight gates and 87 bastions.

 

Its impressive structure has majestic walls which are as high as 15 to 18 foot and a parameter of close to 11 km. Along with brilliant architecture, this fort also captivates its visitors with its system of acoustics, its water supply system, 'Rahban' cannon and Ramdas’ prison which has carved Hindu deity in it. Please note that Camera Tripods are not allowed inside.

 

Qutub Shahi Tombs  - Consisted of the tombs of 7 Qutub Shahi rulers, these are known to be one of the oldest heritage sites of Hyderabad. Qutub Shahi Tombs are located only at a distance of 850 m from the Banjara Darwaza of Golconda Fort.

 

Presenting a combination of Persian and Indian architecture, these tombs were built by the Qutub Shahis. Later in 19th century, these were renovated by Salar Jung III, Mir Yousuf Ali Khan.

 

Constructed with grey granite, these quadrangular structure with dome shape roofs are ornamented with beautiful designs. The garden ‘Ibrahim Bagh’ which surrounds the tombs is popular as picnic spots. These tombs are now also used a venue for Deccan festival by the state Government.

 

Overnight at the hotel. 

 

03 : Hyderabad
After breakfast full day excursion to Ramoji Film City.  

 

Since 1991, Ramoji Film City has been alluring tourists from every corner of the country. One of the largest film studios in the world it has the capacity to house almost 50 film units within a given point of time.

It is also listed in Guinness Book of World Records as well. Spread over 2500 acres, it is situated about 30 km away from Hyderabad. Its brilliant architecture and sound technical facilities make it suitable for all the pre and post production of a film.

 

Its various sets like London Street, Hollywood sign, Japanese gardens, etc; landscapes; vintage buses; and many other features such as Filmi Duniya, Action, Interactive Entertainment, etc, makes a trip to Ramoji memorable.

 

On your return visit Charminar. The very well known Charminar of Hyderabad is located at the Old City. This square shaped structure with a height of 56 m and breadth of 30 m was constructed in 1591. It was built by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in the honor of his wife Bhagmati.

 

Also referred as the ‘Arc de Triomphe of the East’, Charminar is adorned with four towers in each corner. The minarets on each side, is of 48.7 m height, each with four storeys. Chaminar has a small mosque as well on the top floor. There are 45 prayer spaces which are still visited by people, particularly on Fridays. Lighting in the evening is quite glamorous and makes for a worth watching site.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

 

04 : Hyderabad – Srisailam (220 Kms/ 06 Hrs)

After breakfast drive to Srisailam and on arrival check-in at the hotel. 

 

Srisailam is known for its Shiva Temple Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple (dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy i.e. Shiva) and is one of the 12 Jyotirlings Shiva temples in India. 

 

Evening darshan at the Temple.  The shrine of God Mallikarjuna picturesquely situated on a flat top of Nallamalai Hills, Srisailam is reputed to be one of the most ancient kshetras in India. It is on the right side of the River Krishna in Kurnool District. This celebrated mountain is also names as Siridhan, Srigiri, Sirigiri, Sriparvatha and Srinagam. It has been a popular centre of Saivite pilgrimage for centuries.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

 

05 : Srisailam – Tirupathi (380 Kms/08-09 Hrs)
After breakfast drive to Tirupathi and on arrival check-in at the hotel. 

 

Tirupati and Tirumala are places well known all over India. Sri Venkateshwara, the presiding deity of Tirumalaor engadam, is revered by lakhs of people all over the country who visit His famous temple throughout the year, traveling long distances. 

 

The chief centers of pilgrimage are Sri Venkateshwara's temple on the Tirumala hill, the shrine of Govindaraja in the town of Tirupati and the shrine of Padmavati, situated in Tiruchanur, three miles to the south of Tirupati. Of minor temples, mention may be made of the Kapileshwara temple at Kapilatirtham, the Rama temple in the town of Tirupati and the Parasareshvara temple at Jogiallavaram, situated a furlong to the west of Tiruchanur.

 

The Hill on which the temple of Sri Venkateshwara stands popularly known as Venkatachalam is low and surrounded by many hills of an altitude, as is the case with the hill on which is located the Mallikarjuna temple Of Srisailam, The hill to the north is 3426' high, the height to the east is 2750' high, the hill to the south is 2920' high and the hill to the southeast is 3620' high. 

Overnight at the hotel. 

 

06 : Tirupathi

 

Morning Darshan at the Venkateshwara’s Temple on the Tirumala Hill. Tirupathi – the one among six abodes of Lord Muruga. The Temple is situated on a hillock and has 365 steps. 

Also have Darshan at Kapeleshwarar Temple at Mylapore. 

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

 

07 : Tirupathi – Kalastri -  Vellore  (125 Kms/03 Hrs)
After breakfast drive to Chennai en route visiting Kalastri  and Vellore.

Srikalahasti Temple (36 Kms from Tirupathi) is located in the town of Srikalahsti . It is one of the most famous Shiva Temples in South India, and is said to be the site where Kannappa was ready to offer both his eyes to cover blood flowing from the Siva linga before the Siva stopped him and granted him mukti.

Vellore Golden Temple (160Kms/04 Hrs from Srilakahasti Temple). The Golden Temple of Sripuram is a   Spiritual park situated at the foot of a small range of green hills in a place known as “Malaikodi” in the city of Vellore in Tamil Nadu. The temple is at the Southern end  of the city of Vellore, at Tirumalaikodi. 

The salient feature of Sripuram is the Lakshmi Narayani Temple or Mahalakshmi Temple whose “Vimanam” and “Ardha Mandapam” have been coated with gold both in the interior and exterior.

 

Overnight at the hotel. 

 

08 : Vellore – Chidambaram (218 Kms/05 Hrs) – Tanjore (128 Kms/03 Hrs)
After breakfast drive to Tanjore en route visiting Chidambaram. 

 

If you are looking for the purest of Dravidian culture, Chidambaram is the best place to go to in South India and is a spot for performing pilgrimage by devotees of Lord Shiva. The town belonged to the Cholas of Southern India and is one of the most famous and sought-after travel destination when it comes to culture tourism. 

 

The other name of this town is Thillai because in the olden days, this was a forest of mangrove trees by the name of Thillai. The two renowned saints, Patanjali and Vyagrapada, lived here and as the legend goes, Lord Shiva was so pleased by the devotion and dedication of these two saints that on the day of Thaipoosam, Lord Shiva performed the Nataraja dance. Revolving around this legend, life in this town developed and so did contemporary history; the golden hall of dance was built by Sundra Pandya covering it in gold plates.

 

After visiting Chidambaram drive to Tanjore and check-in at the hotel.

Modern Thanjavur (Tanjore) is a fertile plain which is referred to as the “rice bowl” of Tamil Nadu. Located on the eastern cost of central Tamil Nadu, it has the distinction of having been the capital of the Cholas, one of the greatest dynasties of the South. The Cholas were great temple builders an Tanjavur bears witness to this being dotted with no fewer than 74 temples – the most famous of which is the Brahadeeswarar temple, a World Heritage monument.

Overnight at the hotel.

 

09 : Tanjore – Trichy (59 Kms/01 Hr) - Madurai (138 Kms/03 Hrs) 

 

After breakfast visit Brahadeeswarar Temple, this is a magnificient Shiva Temple built in 1003 AD by King Rajaraja I, the Chola King. 

 

Drive to Madurai enroute visiting Trichy. Tiruchirapalli is siutted in central Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the Cauvery River. It is 320  Kms from Chennai and 150 Kms from madurai. It as a Chola citadel during the Sangam Age and was also briefly ruled by the Pallavas and the Pandyas. Today, Trichy is a blend of history, a pilgrim center and a thriving commercial city. 

 

Visit ancient Temples dedicated to Lord Ganapathy, The Rock Fort, 434 steps cut into the Rock side and interspersed which shrines, lead to the temple, yet another flight leads to the temple of Lord Shiva. Visit Srirangam a massive temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu which contains within its walls a bazaar as well and the Samayapuram Mari Amman Koil. 

 

Later drive to Madurai and on arrival check-in at the hotel. 

Madurai  is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu. Madurai lies on the banks of the River Vaigai the Temple and the old city are on the southern bank while modern Madurai with its textile mills, engineering industries and large university sprawls   around.
Overnight at the hotel. 

 

10 :  Madurai
After breakfast visit Tirumala Nayak Palace – A gracious building in the Indo sacracenic style,  famous for the Stucco work on its domes and arches ,the Pazhamudir Solai Temple, and the Kallazhagar Koil. Later visit the Great Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to consort of Lord Shiva with its towering Gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side). 
Evening witness Aarti at the temple. 

Overnight at the hotel. 

 

11 :  Madurai – Rameshwaram (160 Kms/03 Hrs)
After breakfast drive to Rameshwaram and on arrival check-in at the hotel. 

Rameshwaram is an island hallowed by the Ramayana. A devotee who visit Varanasi is also expected to visit this place to gain the full fruit of his prayers, This place is sacred to Shaivites and Vaishnavites.

Visit Sri Ramanthaswamy Temple – which is built in the Dravidian style architecture. This temple is famous for its collection of Lingas, which were made up of sand, salt, stone and other elements. According to stories, there are 112 ponds here out of which only 12 are left. (5 AM to 1 PM & 3 PM to 9 PM).

 

Lakshmana Tirtham – This is  one of those popular places to visit in Rameshwaram and around that are spiritually and architecturally attractive. If you wish to soak in more bliss while you’re out and about in the serene land of Rameshwaram, this is the place to be. Being famous as a sacred pond near the temple of Lakshmana, this place is situated in close proximity to the glorious Ramanathaswamy Temple. People visiting the Lakshmana temple, often prefer to take a dip in this pond.

 

The Five faced Hanuman Temple - Situated just 2 km from Rameshwaram Temple, this temple is famous for the five manifestations of Lord Hanuman and is listed among the most prestigious places to see in Rameshwaram. This famous idol is carved out of a large Senthooram Stone which was considered very precious in ancient times. The Hanuman Temple is said to house stones used to build the Rama Setu, the bridge built by Hanuman’s army of monkeys in order to rescue Goddess Sita from Lanka. (6 AM to 7 PM).
 
Overnight at the hotel. 

 

12 :   Rameshwaram – Dhanuskoti (20 Kms/ 1/2 Hr)
Early morning visit Dhanushkodi to witness sunrise.  Dhanushkodi is an abandoned town at the south-eastern tip of Pamban Island of the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is situated to the South-East of Pamban and is about 18 miles west of Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. The town was destroyed during the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone and remains uninhabited in the aftermath.

Return to the hotel for Breakfast. After breakfast  drive to Kanyakumari. 
Afternoon drive to Kanyakumari and on arrival check-in at the hotel. 

 

Kanyakumari is a coastal town in the state of Tamil Nadu on India's southern tip. Jutting into the Laccadive Sea, the town was known as Cape Comorin during British rule and is popular for watching sunrise and sunset over the ocean. It's also a noted pilgrimage site thanks to its Bagavathi Amman Temple, dedicated to a consort of Shiva, and its Our Lady of Ransom Church, a center of Indian Catholicism.

Evening enjoy the sunset. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 

13 : Kanyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram (89 Kms/03 Hrs)
Morning enjoy the Sunrise.

 

Visit Thanumalay Temple (Morning Timings : 0430 to 12 PM) situated in Suchindram, Kumari Amman Temple (Morning Timings : 0430 AM to 1230 PM), Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Tiruvalluvar Statue, Gandhi Mandapam and sunset point. Evening enjoy the sunset.

 

Afternoon drive to Kovalam and on arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. 

 

14 : Thiruvananthapuram 

Morning visit Sree Padmnabhaswami Temple. The marvelous idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy is seen reclined on the mighty five hooded serpent Anantha. 

The supreme God is in conscious cosmic slumber with the head positioned to the south and the feet to the north. Anantha (or the endless) spreads its hoods above the head of the idol. The three coils represent the three characteristics of mankind Sattya, Rajas and Tamas and its five hoods indicate the Panchendriyas (five senses) or the five elepents (Panchabhootas). 

 

From the navel of the Lord emerges a lotus on which Lord Brahma, the creator, is seated. Just below the stretched right arm of the Lord is the Shiva Linga of the Destroyer. Brahma, Vishnu (Padmanabha) and Shiva represent the “Shrushti, Stithi and Samharam”.

 

Afternoon transfer to Airport /Railway Station to board Flight/Train for onward destination.

End of the program.

 

Check-in at 1400 Hrs & check-out time is at 1200 Hrs at the hotels.