• HERITAGE TOUR

South India has an ancient history of vibrant dynasties and flourishing kingdoms. Rulers and their successors took on ambitious architectural challenges to create better civic structures, temples, courtyards, wells, water tanks, forts and lighthouses for their kingdoms. Many remnants of these projects have survived the ages in various heritage destinations in South India. Some of these heritage structures are still in daily use, while others have been taken over by the archaeological department. Many have been declared UNESCO Heritage monuments.

During this tour you will visit many of the famous heritage sites South India has to offer like Mamallapuram, Thanjavur, Madurai and Cochin. You will also visit lesser known gems like the mansions of Chettinad and the old Danish fort at Tranquebar. At Kovalam and Kumarakom you will get to enjoy the tropical side of South India.
Accommodation is in tastefully renovated heritage buildings. Please check the links to the hotel-websites mentioned in the detailed program below.

The best time to visit South India is September to March. In April and May it gets very hot and June, July and August see the monsoon rains. South India witnesses a second smaller monsoon for about 6 weeks in and around November.

• A LOOK AT EACH OF OUR 20 DAYS:

1. Arrival in Mamallapuram
Most flights from the West arrive at Chennai airport late evening or early morning. A representative of Indian Rose Tours will welcome you at the airport. He will hand over all the documents you will need during your tour. One of our cars will take you to your hotel.

Accommodation:

Heritage: Chariot Beach Resort

2. Mamallapuram
After breakfast you'll have some free time to explore Mamallapuram and stretch your legs. Mamallapuram is a small village with quaint shops and a few good restaurants - it's the perfect place to wind down from your flight and acclimatize to the hotter Indian climate.

Mamallapuram is most known for her 7th century World Heritage rock-cut monuments. The most famous of these are the Shore Temple, which looks out over the tranquil beach, and the Five Rathas, a collection of small gems resembling chariots. Arjuna's Penance is another stunning relief carving that displays scenes from the ancient epic tales of the Mahabharata. A local guide can take you to see the most important sights of this captivating village in a 3 hour afternoon walk.

Accommodation:

Heritage: Chariot Beach Resort

3. Mamallapuram
Today you can pedal your bike through the countryside surrounding Mamallapuram. You can visit, among other things, a small school in a village, and see how people live in this beautiful land. You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional thali-lunch with your guide and his family! Around 1 pm you'll get back to Mamallapuram, but you may use the bike as much as you like until it gets dark.

The people of Mamallapuram still cut impressive statues from rocks. All through the easy going village you'll see the sculptors creating amazing images from pieces of stone, coaxing flowing images out of immutable rock.

Accommodation:

Heritage: Chariot Beach Resort

4. Pondicherry
Today you'll drive about 3 hours to Pondicherry (also called Puducherry), a former French town on the Eastern coast. Pondicherry is divided in a bustling Indian part inland and the smaller and quieter French part on the Bay of Bengal. The French quarter is dominated by wide lanes shaded by trees - almost devoid of the chaotic traffic India is known for - and by large colonial buildings, most of which still belong to the French or to the Aurobindo ashram.
This afternoon you could decide to wander around the French part of town and enjoy a drink at dusk when the boulevard comes to life with Indian men jogging along Gandhi's Statue, families going for an evening walk and lovers gazing out over the Bay of Bengal.

Pondicherry has some top quality restaurants serving both Indian and French cuisines for you to enjoy.

Accommodation:

Heritage: Aurodhan Heritage Guest House

5. Pondicherry
You will visit Auroville, an international community where people of 40 different nationalities have come together with the goal of building a harmonious township where creed, nationality and colour are ignored. Their utopic vision is inspirational, and you will get to see how they make it work. In Pondicherry you'll have time to gorge on French baguettes for lunch.

During the second part of this sightseeing tour you'll set out to see the sights of Pondy, as Pondicherry is popularly known. You'll visit the Shri Aurobindo Ashram, the Ganesha Temple, the Church of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and the Gandhi Statue on the boulevard.

Accommodation:

Heritage: Aurodhan Heritage Guest House

6. Tranquebar
It's no more than 4 hours driving along the coast of the Bay of Bengal to get to Tranquebar. This coastal village used to be an important Danish port and the Danes have clearly left their footprint behind.

This afternoon is a day of leisure. You can walk around town, chill at the hotel swimming pool and go for a stroll on the beach which is known to be environmentally friendly. The water here is famed for having the second highest ozone levels in the world.

Accommodation:

Heritage: NEEMRANA HOTEL

7. Tranquebar
Today's sightseeing will take you to see the majestic 17_th century Dansborg Fort situated on the sea shore. To get to the fort you'll go through the impressive gateway built in 1792. There's a museum with an interesting display on the region's Danish history.
You will also visit a few quaint Danish homes which are currently being renovated by Danish NGO's.

After lunch your car will take you to Vailankanni (also known as Velanganni) where you will visit the interesting New Jerusalem Church which has an eclectic mix of Hindu and Christian architecture and customs. Today's sightseeing concludes with a visit to the Masilamaninatha Temple built in 1305 and dedicated to Shiva - the God of Destruction.

Accommodation:

Heritage: NEEMRANA HOTEL

8. Chettinad via Thanjavur
Today you will first be driven to the Brihadeshvara Temple of Thanjavur (also known as Tanjore). This UNESCO monument was built in 1010AD and is the crowning glory of Chola architecture. The shining black Nandi statue (Nandi is Shiva's mount) is one of the biggest in India and weighs an astonishing 25 tons!
The Cholas were a powerful dynasty which ruled most of South India from the 9_th to the 13_th century. They also controlled large parts of Sri Lanka, Bali, and South East Asia. You can clearly see the Cola influence in South East Asian architecture (think Angkor Wat) and in the fact that Thai kings are still called Rama to name just two examples. Thanjavur was the capital of the Cholas and you can still see some superb examples of Chola heritage architecture.

Thanjavur also has a tradition of classic bronze working. Today you'll get a chance to see the bronze-casters at work who will explain the lost-wax method by which they make the artefacts.

After lunch it’s another 2 hours to get to Karaikudi, an easy going village in the heart of the area known as Chettinad.

Accommodation:

Heritage: CHETTINADU MANSION

9. Chettinad
The Nattukottai Chettiars are from the Vaishya caste (merchants). After a tsunami hit the Tamil coast about 1000 years ago they moved inland where they built beautiful mansions from the profits they made by trading with Sri Lanka and South East Asia. The village is home to many old mansions. Some are crumbling and poorly looked after while others are beautifully restored to their old grandeur and are well tended to.

Today morning you will wake up in one of those tastefully renovated Chettinadu mansions. After breakfast you can wander around town and visit the old mansions the region is famed for. You can also visit the small village-temple or walk the lands surrounding the village.

This area is world renowned for its Chettinadu kitchen. For lunch and dinner you will enjoy typical Chettinadu food!

Accommodation:

Heritage: CHETTINADU MANSION

10. Madurai
It will take just 2 hours to drive to Madurai, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in all of India. City life revolves around the very colourful Shree Meenakshi Temple which is one of the holiest temples of India. The temple is dedicated to Shiva and his wife Parvati in their forms Sundareshvar and Meenakshi. Early morning the gods are taken to their respective shrines in a procession accompanied by music, and in the evening they are taken to their shrine where they spend the night together. Pilgrims from all over India come here to worship, which means this temple fills with people representative of the entire subcontinent!

Madurai is also a haven of skilled tailors, especially in the Pudhu Mandapam, a bustling market in an old part of the temple. If you're interested in having clothing made just for you, this is the place to do it!

Accommodation:

Heritage: Madurai Heritage

11. Madurai
It takes about half an hour to drive to the small village of Thiruparakundram where you'll visit the Murugan Temple. The inner sanctum of the temple was cut directly in the millennia old rocks.

In the afternoon you can visit the Gandhi Museum where you'll get a good impression of Gandhi's life and the Indian struggle for Independence.

You can also choose to stay at your beautiful heritage resort where the staff can teach you pottery and weaving. The resort is home to one of the oldest banyan trees of South Asia. There is a large pool for swimming shaped like a temple tank and every room also has its own small swimming pool. The resort was designed by the world famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa.

Accommodation:

Heritage: Madurai Heritage

12. Kuttralam
It takes 4 hours driving south to reach Kuttralam which is also known as Courtallam. The region around this small village is known for its many waterfalls. After your stay in a hectic city like Madurai you will enjoy the peacefulness of your quiet resort in Kuttralam.

Accommodation:

Heritage: SARAL RESORT

13. Kuttralam
Three of the main waterfalls are accessible by road - the Main Falls, the Five Falls and the Old Kuttralam Falls. To reach the Shenbaga Devi Falls and the Honey Falls you will need to trek up the mountain.
Near the Old Kuttralam (Courtallam) Falls you will find the smaller Tiger Falls named after the tigers that used to come here looking for water.

Today you can visit the waterfalls accessible by road but you can also choose to go for a guided trek up the mountain to visit the picturesque and quieter Shenbaga Devi Falls and the Honey Falls.

Accommodation:

Heritage: SARAL RESORT

14. Kovalam
After an early breakfast you will drive to the Padmanabhapuram Palace. Nowadays it is located in Tamil Nadu but it used to be the seat of power of the Travancore kings who ruled parts of Kerala (and Tamil Nadu). The typical Keralan architecture is has its very own style and is known for its exquisite wood carvings. The entire palace complex was built of teak and granite and the interior includes carved rosewood ceilings. The palace was built in 1550, but successive rulers made their own additions to it which has resulted in a complex with 14 different structures! Padmanabhapuram Palace sees few Western tourists. A surprise highlight!

Including the visit to the Padmanabhapuram Palace it should take no more than 6 hours to reach Kovalam-beach. In the language of Kerala (Malayalam) Kovalam means “grove of coconut trees”. Driving to this famous beach you will see why it so rightly deserves this title!

After lunch you can use the afternoon to swim in the warm water and play with the waves of the Arabian Sea (be careful of strong currents) and work on your tan on one of the tropical beaches Kovalam is home to. With a bit of luck you can enjoy a stunning sunset while sipping on a cocktail or a cold Kingfisher beer.

Accommodation:

Heritage: TRAVANCORE HERITAGE

15. Kovalam (Trivandrum sightseeing)
Trivandrum - officially called Thiruvananthapuram - is the capital of Kerala and often overlooked by travelers coming to Kerala. If you meander away from the main busy streets you'll find yourself in old Kerala with many narrow alleyways and traditional Kerala architecture. Trivandrum is home to one of the best kept zoos in India. In this complex you will also find the Napier Museum built in 1880 in classical Kerala style which houses interesting bronzes and ivory sculptures among many other artifacts. The Sri Chitra Art Gallery on the same grounds has good paintings by reputed Indian artist Ravi Varma.

The 200 year old Puthe Maliga Palace is the home of the Travancore kings. Part of this wooden palace, with marble statues and imported Belgian glass, has been turned into a museum which displays, among other things, Kathakali images and the old thrones of the maharajas.

Today a guide can show you the highlights of Trivandrum including the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Puthe Maliga Palace Museum and the zoological complex

Today evening you can witness a Kalarippayat show which, according to the Malayalis (inhabitants of Kerala), is the oldest form of martial arts in the world. It at times resembles a kind of dance, almost an Indian version Capoeira. The fighters use real (and sharp!) weapons. Don't try this at home!

Accommodation:

Heritage: TRAVANCORE HERITAGE

16. Kumarakom
Kerala means “land of palm trees” and during your travels in the state nicknamed “God's Own Country” you will see thousands of the coconut wielding trees. Malayalis use coconut oil to grease their hair and almost every dish is based on grated coconuts.

On the way to your beautiful resort in Kumarakom you can visit the Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha. This 9th century wooden temple was built in traditional Kerala style and is very popular with young families and widows venerating the God of Love.

Kumarakom is a laid back village on the shores of the Vembanad Lake which is situated near the middle of the Backwaters. The Backwaters is a network of waterways just behind the Keralan coast, the most extensive populated inland water system in the world. People built their houses on small pieces of land and live from fishing, aquaculture, cashew farming, coir-making (making ropes from coconut fibre), and other traditional trades. Life here has hardly changed over the centuries, and you can feel the pace of time slow down.

The writer Arundhati Roy is from this area and her much acclaimed novel 'The God of Small Things' is set around the Vembanad Lake.

This afternoon you can spoil yourself with a relaxing Ayurvedic massage (included in the tour price) or laze by the fantastically positioned pool. For dinner you could gorge on a traditional fish curry.

Accommodation:

Heritage: EAST END LAKE RESORT

17. Kumarakom
Today you can choose from a number of different excursions. You could visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary known for its many different species of domestic tropical and migratory birds. You could also go for a boat ride on the Backwaters. Perhaps you would like another rejuvenating Ayurvedic massage or to just chill by the pool.

At the end of the day, a sunset cruise in the Backwaters by country boat can be included in the tour price.

Accommodation:

Heritage: EAST END LAKE RESORT

18. Cochin
It takes 3 hours to reach the cultural capital of Kerala: Cochin - also called Kochi. For the past 3000 years traders have been flocking to the coast of Kerala to get their share in the spice trade. The Greeks, Romans, Chinese and the Arabs traded with the Keralites on the famous stretch of Malabar coast, and the Travancore Empire managed it all from this iconic peninsula. The Europeans have been dominating this lucrative trade since about 1500AD. The Portuguese, the English and the Dutch have all left their footprints in Cochin which is evidenced in the many colonial buildings and in the dominant religion, Christianity.

You'll be staying in a beautifully restored heritage hotel smack in the centre of the old colonial heart of Fort Cochin.

Accommodation:

Heritage: ABAD GRANDE RESIDENCIA

19. Cochin
A guide will take you around all the sights of Cochin you might want to visit on a 3 hour tour. This includes visits to Dutch Mattanchery Palace, the Dutch Cemetery, the Santa Cruz Basilica, the 16th century St Francis Church, the Chinese fishing nets and the magnificent synagogue in the area dubbed Jew Town.

Cochin is a big city, but the wide streets see very little traffic. The major sights are fairly central to each other, and it is easy to walk around this old fort town in an afternoon and feel the same pace a trader might have experienced 200 years ago. A visit to the Chinese fishing nets at the end of the day can be an equally timeless moment, not to be missed.

Your visit can include a showing of the most classical of Kerala art forms, the theater-dance Kathakali. The actors will first put on their make-up and give a demonstration of what the different hand movements and facial expressions signify the art of communicating whole chapters in a single motion. It takes many years of training before one becomes a Kathakali dancer and you'll see why. As these professionals take the stage to show you their art, you will be able to share in a piece of truly unique historical performance.

Accommodation:

Heritage: ABAD GRANDE RESIDENCIA

20. Cochin
The modern town on the mainland is called Ernakulum and can be reached by ferry. You can of course also ask your driver to take you there. The MG road is a great place to shop for anything from Levi’s jeans or Adidas shoes to the latest gadgets.

You could also head for Cherai beach to take a last swim in the Arabian Sea.

Most flights to the West leave late evening or early morning. This evening your car will bring you to the airport in time to catch your flight. You can keep your room until your departure.

Accommodation:

Heritage: ABAD GRANDE RESIDENCIA

We are happy to change the itinerary to suit your personal wishes. The tour can be adjusted to fit your budget and to accommodate any specific needs you may have (e.g. add domestic flight(s), different choice of hotels, changes in itinerary, include more excursions, etc). If you so wish, we can arrange for a knowledgeable and experienced Tour Leader to join you for the duration of the tour. If Micha is available you can request him to lead your tour. This will definitely be worthwhile in case your travel party consists of 6 or more people.

The price will depend on the number of people in your travel party, when you are travelling, which excursions you would like to see included, and how many train journeys and/or flights you would like us to book for you.
We have earned a reputation for having the most competitive prices in the market combined with the best and most personalized service.

Always included:
Meeting and assistance on arrival & departures • Clean and reliable accommodation • Daily breakfast at your hotel • All transfers, excursions and sightseeing mentioned in the itinerary • Petrol / gas costs, toll tax, parking, and vehicle insurance • Experienced English-speaking local guides for sight-seeing and excursions • General Info on travelling in India including handy tips on a wide range of subjects • Detailed day to day program • City Info of all places you will visit • All applicable taxes