2-week tour in South India: what to visit?

Upon arrival at Chennai International airport, traditional welcome, later our correspondent/guide will be drive to Mahaballipuram, which is about an hour's drive away. We will start by visiting the imposing rock-cut remains of the ancient temples that surround this city.

The port served as a showcase for the Pallava dynasty, which sought to attract merchants from Southeast Asia to its shores. The simplicity of Mahabalipuram's structures is impressive, as is the location of some of its most famous temples, such as the Shore Temple, atop a promontory overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The reliefs of Arjuna's Penance and the Temple of the 5 Rathas are other must-sees. In the afternoon, if we wish, we can stroll along the beach and observe the activity of the fishermen who work with traditional techniques or visit the workshops where stone is still worked as in the past.

Overnight in Mahabalipuram.

We will leave for Pondicherry, the former French colony in India. Pondicherry will show us its colonial urbanism, an example of crossbreeding where French names and the taste of wine, the Sacré Cœur church and the boulevard facing the sea, coexist with a population that is predominantly ethnically Tamil. A few kilometers away is also one of the most interesting utopian experiences in the world. Auroville is a city founded in 1968 in homage to Sri Aurobindo. The lands donated by 124 countries have become a multinational community where more than half of the population is foreign and where they are working to create the universal city, without discrimination, based on the Aurobindo philosophy. Night in Pondicherry.

In Auroville, we will discover an alternative way of life in a utopian community and we will be able to enjoy its organic cuisine and its commitment to traditional arts, sustainable forms of production and fair trade.

We will leave for Thanjavur which preserves the great temple of the Chola dynasty. We will visit the thousand-year-old temple of Brihadishwara, a World Heritage Site. The dome carved in granite was placed at the top of a 6 km ramp, imitating the Egyptian technique of building pyramids. It is one of the most impressive temples in India. Night in Thanjavur.

We will leave for Madurai with a stop at Chettinadu. This region was the seat of a prosperous caste of merchants and bankers. Their homes remain in poor towns that live without a care for their majesty. What is even more impressive is that there are 99 centres with similar constructions in a small area, which is why work is underway to register them as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Later, we will travel to Madurai, one of the most famous cities in India for its religious importance and some have compared it to the Vatican of Hinduism. Pilgrims and beggars throng the old city, especially around the famous Sri Meenakshi Temple, one of the most colourful examples of Dravidian religious art. Overnight in Madurai.

We will have the whole day to visit the city. We will start with the flower market, where the temple garland vendors stock up. We will continue with the visit of the palace of the kings of Madurai, with its majestic audience and its dance hall. On the way to the temple, we can pass through the local market. This labyrinthine set of streets has interesting spaces such as the banana market. Finally, we will reach the famous Sri Meenakshi.

The atmosphere of the temple is extraordinary with the comings and goings of the faithful and the different rituals that take place there throughout the day. It is easy to get lost in the hall of a thousand columns or in an isolated chapel where the priests lead intimate ceremonies.

At night, the closing ceremony of the temple gathers the faithful to take Shiva to the room of his beloved Meenakshi, a procession of great intensity. Night Stay in Madurai.

Kerala is a narrow strip of land between the sea and the Western Ghats mountain range. Today we will climb its peaks and stay in one of the tea and spice producing areas of southern India. We can start exploring Periyar by visiting a spice plantation where they explain how these precious ingredients are grown with great care, attracting traders from all over the world. In the afternoon we can attend a demonstration of Kerala martial arts: kalaripayattu.

Early in the morning, there is the possibility of taking a 3-hour walk through the jungle with a local nature guide.

The activities within the Periyar Tiger Reserve are run by tribal people, thus offering training and job opportunities to the original inhabitants of this natural park.

After breakfast, we will continue our route towards the Arabian Sea. The slopes of Periyar are full of tea plantations that meander along the road according to the orography. If we coincide with harvesting periods, we will see hundreds of women agilely picking the most tender shoots to make the most refined infusion. The change of landscape and the air filled with the aroma of tea will fascinate us.

In the afternoon we will arrive in Cochin. The islands that form the city were the first European point of arrival in India. In the evening, those who wish can dine on the freshest catches of the city cooked to order. Overnight  stay in Cochin.

In the morning, we will visit Cochin, which is located on an island opposite the port of Ernakulam. Its streets have preserved their colonial atmosphere, which has attracted many artists and intellectuals. For all this, Cochin exudes a unique and bohemian atmosphere with charming cafes and restaurants. This is where the Portuguese landed in search of the Christians of Saint Thomas. The city was home to a large Jewish community for centuries. It is a multicultural and bohemian city where arts and literature still flourish today. Free afternoon for those who want to wander around quietly or visit the first European churches in India. We will attend a demonstration of Kathakali, the traditional ritual dance of Kerala. Overnight stay in Cochin.

Kathakali dance is a style of classical dance-theatre from the Kerala region. In it, singers narrate Hindu legends that dancers/actors personify on stage through a complex language of nrta (dance steps), mudras (hand gestures) and navarasya (facial expressions). By tradition, Kathakali is performed at all-night festivals in Hindu temples. Kathakali belongs to the tandava (male) branch of Indian classical dance, so traditionally all the characters are played by men. By attending these Kathakali dance performances, we help to give continuity to this ancient dance.

We will leave Cochin for Alleppey in the heart of the backwaters, a region where small rivers that flow down from the Western Ghats to flow into the sea form an extensive region of marshes. We will travel along the natural and artificial canals that give life to this extensive area of ​​rice fields and villages surrounded by water where the most commonly used means of communication is the canoe in a kettuvalam, the traditional rice-transporting boats.

Overnight at Houseboat

If you like to get up early, you can watch the sunrise on the shores of Lake Vembanad, as this morning we will take advantage of the extraordinary location of our accommodation in the backwaters. We will leave Allepey to travel south by train. We will go from Alleppey to Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala where the great palace of the kings of Travancore is preserved, after which we will reach the first beaches of India discovered by hippies around Kovalam. Night in Kovalam.

Today we suggest you take a day of wellness at the Ayurvedic centre where we are staying and get to know the town of Kovalam and one of the largest fishing ports in southern India. We will be surprised by its lively atmosphere and we can walk to the fish market and, perhaps, have dinner listening to the waves. Night in Kovalam.

Optionally, you can enjoy a full Ayurvedic massage or travel through the mangroves of the Neyyar River in a small boat to Golden Beach.

After breakfast we will go to Trivandrum airport to take a flight to Mumbai. The economic capital of India and one of the largest cities in the world awaits us with its cosmopolitan atmosphere and majestic British colonial architecture. Night in Mumbai.

Our complete visit to Mumbai includes neo-Gothic buildings such as the University of Mumbai and modern places such as Marine Drive. We will pass by the exterior of the Towers of Silence where the Parsis abandon their dead and visit Mahalaxmi, the largest laundry in India. We will also visit the iconic Gateway of India and the Colaba neighborhood at the tip of the Mumbai peninsula where we can close the trip with a farewell dinner and a drink in a trendy bar. Night in Mumbai.

Day 14: Departure from Mumbai

At the time schedule of your flight, transfer to the airport to take the return flight to onward destination.

AURANGABAD EXTENSION

Day 14: Mumbai - Aurangabad (Flight) – Ellora

Early in the morning we will take the flight to Aurangabad. We will be picked up at the airport to visit one of the World Heritage sites in central India: the excavated temples of Ellora. In addition to this architectural wonder, we will be able to visit the Ghrushneshwar temple, the Daulatabad fort and the Bibi ka Makbara, a tomb that replicates the Taj Mahal made by Shah Jahan's son.

Day 15: Aurangabad - Ajanta Caves

We will spend the whole day visiting a unique monument in India. The Ajanta Caves are located two hours from Aurangabad and are a group of caves that were used as cells by Buddhist monks between the 5th century BC and 5th AD. Inside there are spectacular mural paintings in an unrivalled natural space. Due to its uniqueness, this group has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Night in Aurangabad.

Day 16: Aurangabad - Mumbai (Train) & Departure

First, we will take the train to Mumbai airport to take the flight back to onward destination.

Day in Mumbai with the group. In the afternoon we will go to the airport to take the flight to Goa, the state that coincides with the Portuguese colony of India. Today Goa is a privileged holiday destination for its beautiful beaches, but it also preserves an excellent heritage that tells us about the meeting of India with Europe. Night in Goa.

Today we will explore the culture of Goa. After breakfast we will leave for the south of Goa where we will visit the churches of Velha Goa, the old Portuguese capital of which only its majestic churches remain. We will see the first cathedral in Asia and the body of St. Francis Xavier in a complex considered a World Heritage Site. We will also visit other points of interest such as the Mangueshi temple and Dona Paula. If you wish, you can take a small cruise on the Mandovi River. Night in Goa.

After breakfast we will leave for a visit to the north of Goa, which covers various famous beaches such as Anjuna and its market, Vagator, Baga or Siquirim. We will also visit Fort Aguada. We will have the rest of the day free to enjoy the natural beauty of Goa. Overnight in Goa.

We will take advantage of the last hours in Goa to take a last dip. At the schedule time of your flight, we will take the flight back to Mumbai, to connect with our international flight back to onward destination.

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