Day 2: Chennai- Mamallapuram: 58 kms | 2 hrs by road
After breakfast, drive to Mamallapuram (or Mahabalipuram), famous for its shore temple. En route visit Kanchipuram, capital of the Pallava kingdom. Visit the main temples, the most striking of which are the Kailasanath temple and the Ekambeshwar temple. On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the shore temples, the renowned Arjuna's Penance, the Five Raths and the other rock carvings. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Mamallapuram- Pondicherry: 131 kms | 3-4 hrs by road
After breakfast, drive to Pondicherry . On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville on the outskirts. A unique city conceptualized by the Mother, it was designed by a French architect and opened in 1968. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Pondicherry- Tanjore: 177 kms | 4 hrs by road
After breakfast, drive to Tanjore (or Thanjavur), famous for its distinctive art style. En route visit the Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram where Shiva is said to have revealed a vision of his cosmic dance. On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Brihadishwara Temple built during the 10 th century and admire the large monolithic Nandi, the bull mount of Shiva. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Tanjore- Trichy: 54 kms | 2 hrs by road
After breakfast, drive to Trichy. On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, take a city tour of Trichy. Visit the Rock Fort Temple which is perched on a rocky outcrop above the plains and offers spectacular view of the countryside. Also visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam dedicated to Vishnu. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Trichy- Madurai: 128 kms | 3-4 hrs by road
After breakfast, drive to Madurai , one of the oldest cities in the south and a center of learning and pilgrimage. On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the Goddess Meenakshi, consort of Lord Shiva. Also visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace built in 1636 by the Nayaks in Indo- Saracenic style of architecture. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Madurai
After breakfast, take an excursion to Rameshwaram, one of the holiest cities in India and an important pilgrimage for Hindus. Also visit the 17 th century Ramanathaswamy temple famous for its massive sculptures and long corridors. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Madurai- Periyar: 160 kms | 4-5 hrs by road
After breakfast, drive to Periyar. On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy game viewing at Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary an assortment of wildlife including elephants, flying squirrels, striped- necked mongoose and a variety of birds. The forests also have a healthy population of leopards and tigers. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Periyar- Kumarakom: 185 kms | 5-6 hrs by road
Early in the morning, take a boat ride on the Lake Periyar inside the wildlife sanctuary and see wild animals in their natural habitat. Drive to Kumarakom in the afternoon. It is situated in the scenic backwaters. On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. Enjoy rest of the day at leisure. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Kumarakom- Cochin : 60 kms | 1 hr by road
After breakfast, drive to Cochin . On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, take a city tour of Cochin . Visit the Mattancheery Dutch Palace , the 16 th century Jewish Synagogue and the Church of St. Francis . Walk around the Fort Cochin area and admire the Chinese fishing nets. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 11: Cochin- Kovalam: 270 kms | 6 hrs by road
After breakfast, take a backwater cruise along palm- fringed waterways in hues of green. In the afternoon drive to Kovalam. On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 12: Kovalam
After breakfast, take an excursion to Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of India . En route visit the Padmanabhapuram Palace and the Sucheendram Temple . Also visit the Gandhi Memorial and the Kumari Amman Temple . Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: Kovalam- Trivandrum: 15 kms | 30 mins by road | Trivandrum – Chennai: 1 hr 10 mins by air
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Chennai. On arrival, proceed for onward travel.