SOUTH AND WEST INDIA BY RAIL

South & West India by Rail

Destinations Covered: (Mumbai (Bombay) - Aurangabad - Hyderabad - Chennai (Madras) – Trichy - Madurai - Periyar - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore - Bangalore - Mumbai or Delhi
Duration: 17 Nights/ 18 Days

Day 01: Mumbai
On your arrival in Mumbai, you will be given a warm welcome by our representative, who will escort you to a hotel, where you will check in. You can chill out in your room enjoying the delicious meal provided by the hotel. You will make an overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 02: Mumbai/Aurangabad
Next day morning after having breakfast, you will go for morning tour of Mumbai. You will be visiting Kamla Nehru Park, Hanging Gardens situated on the slopes of Malabar Hill, which offers a panoramic view of Marine drive, followed by Chowpatty Beach, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Gateway of India. You will also enjoy the drive through the Crawford Market, Marine Drive & Flora Fountain. You will check out in time for reaching the railway-station for an overnight journey to Aurangabad.

Day 03: Aurangabad
Next morning, you will reach Aurangabad. You will check in to a hotel, which would be followed by breakfast. You will then move out for a full-day tour of Aurangabad tourist attractions, covering Ajanta Caves (dating back to 2nd Century BC), which is 106 km from Aurangabad. The religious and secular life through eight centuries is depicted in epic form through the 30 rock hewn caves, which are adorned with Buddhist sculpture and the frescoes. You will return to the hotel for dinner and to retire for the night.

Day 04: Aurangabad
After having breakfast, you will head for a visit to Ellora Caves, which are 29 km away from Aurangabad. The 34 rock cut shrines signifies Buddhist, Hindu & Jain art dating from the 4th to 9th century A.D. The most amazing among them is the Kailash Temple (the best example of Rock cut architecture and an engineering excellence) is meant to be an imitation of Lord Shiva’s celestial abode. You will return to the hotel and retire for the night.

Day 05: Aurangabad/Hyderabad 
Next day after breakfast, you can spend your day at leisure. You will check-out from the hotel in time to reach railway-station for an overnight journey to Hyderabad.

Day 06: Hyderabad 
Upon your arrival at Hyderabad in the morning, you will check in to a hotel, which will be followed by breakfast. You will move out in the afternoon for a tour of Hyderabad, after having lunch. You will visit Charminar - Rectangular Four Arched Monumental Gate often described as the -The Arch of Triumph of the East, The Mecca Mosque & the Salar Jung Museum - one man collection of Manuscripts, ancient weapons, costumes & curios. You can also visit the High Court building. You will return to the hotel for dinner and night stay.

Day 07: Hyderabad/Chennai
After having breakfast, you can laze around and chill out in your room or make an optional tour to Golconda. Thereafter, you will check out of the hotel in time to reach railway station for an overnight journey to Chennai.

Day 08: Chennai 
Upon your arrival at Chennai, in the morning, you will move on to a hotel where you will check in, which would be followed by breakfast. You will have to move out for afternoon city tour, after having lunch. You will visit the prime attractions of the city which covers, the Museum, to see the Art and Bronze Gallery. You will also enjoy a drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral and Snake Park. You will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 09: Chennai/Mahabalipuram&Kanchipuram/Chennai 
In the morning after having breakfast, you will move out for a full day excursion tour of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram (the ancient capital of the Pallavas) is 64 kms away from Chennai and is well known for the 1000 Temples which still have 124 shrines. The first temple, built in the 7th and 8th century was dedicated to Lord Shiva and are ornamented with paintings on the walls.

Some other famous temples of Kanchipuram (also known for its silk) are Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy. Kanchipuram. The city of Mahabalipuram, on the other hand, is well-known for the seven pagodas. You will also get to see some fascinating groups of ancient rock hewn temples, which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture. You will check out in time for an overnight journey to Trichy.

Day 10: Trichy 
Next morning, you will arrive at Trichy from where you will be transferred to a hotel. You will check in and have breakfast. Lunch would be followed by afternoon tour of Trichy, which during the medieval period, was the fortress of the Chola dynasty. The city witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and the English in the 18th century. Both Lord Robert Clive's house the Danish Church is still there to be seen. The Rock-Fort is the landmark of Trichy. The ancient temple of Ganapati could be reached after a climb of 434 steps and a further climb would lead to a Shiva temple. You will return to city for dinner and a overnight stay.

Day 11: Trichy/Madurai
Next morning after having breakfast, you will check out of the hotel for heading towards Madurai, visiting the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara of Tanjore, on the way. The temple is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 km long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Tanjore is also known for its bronzes and handicrafts, which makes it a tourist attraction of South India. After reaching Madurai, you will check in to a hotel and retire for the night.

Day 12: Madurai
Next day after breakfast, you will move out to visit the great Meenakshi Temple, which is dedicated to the companion of Lord Shiva. Later in the day, you can visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes and arches. You will also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. You will retreat to the hotel for lunch and spend a leisure afternoon. You will retire for the night at the hotel in Madurai.

Day 13: Madurai/Periyar
Next morning after breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and head towards Periyar National Park. The park, which extends up to 777 square km, forms a part of the high mountain ranges and the Western Ghats. One can easily see the wild animals like the Elephants, wild boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc., while sailing in a motor boat on the Periyar Lake. You will return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 14: Periyar/Cochin 
After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and will be driven towards Cochin. Upon arrival in Cochin, you will be transferred to a hotel for night stay.

Day 15: Cochin 
You will move out for city tour of Cochin, after having breakfast. Cochin is one of the finest natural harbours on the Arabian Sea coast, which is created by the underwater Malabar mud banks whose quality determines that a sea would have calmer water within the harbour, if it is rough from outside. Since earlier times, Cochin has been a port of call for foreign traders. It was placed on the world map by Vasco de Gama. Apart from Portuguese churches, mosques and Hindu temples, it has a Jewish synagogue. The Chinese Fishing Nets are also there to be watched. Thereafter, you will check out of the hotel in time to reach railway station for an overnight journey to Bangalore.

Day 16: Bangalore/Mysore
You will arrive at Bangalore railway station, the next morning. From the railway station, you will head towards Mysore. You will check in to a hotel in Mysore for night stay.

Day 17: Mysore
After breakfast, you will move out to visit the palace of the Maharaja, which was built in 1911 - 1912. The palace is a magnificent example of harmonious blend of the Hindu and saracenic styles of architecture, with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures. You will also visit the Art Gallery and then you will be driven up to Chamundi hill to see the scenic view of Mysore and Chamundeshwari Temple. On your way back, you could see the Nandi Bull. After having lunch, you could spend your afternoon in leisure. Your night stay will be in the hotel.

Day 18: Mysore/Bangalore/MumbaiorDelhi
After having breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and reach Bangalore airport in time to board a flight for Mumbai or Delhi. After arriving in the city, you will be driven to the city centre. In the evening, you will head towards the International airport for onward journey.