Southern India & Dubai 17 Day Tour

** Religion Culture: Indian architecture, which has evolved through many religion such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. In southern part of India, you will see many colonial style architecture
** Tirumala Nayak Palace: a classis fusion of Dravidian and Rajput styles, built in 1635 by King Thirumalai. A must visit for people who admire history and architecture
** Backwater Excursion: The houseboat once was an aged cargo vessels, now renovated to modern amenities. Cruising through the narrow canals, not only you will enjoy beautiful sceneries, also you will come across unique aspects of daily life of local people
** Cape Comorin: Located in the southernmost tip of peninsular India, surrounded on three sides by the Laccadive Sea
** Tanjore: a city in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. An important center of south Indian religion including Airavatesvara Temple
** Periyar National Park: Located in the mountainous Western Ghats of Kerala. This wildlife sanctuary is home to tigers and elephant population

Today, we will take overnight flight to Mumbai, India.
Mumbai: – Formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city has approximately 14 million people and, along with the neighboring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, Mumbai forms the world’s 4th largest urban agglomeration with around 19 million people. Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbor. Mumbai’s port handles over half of India’s maritime cargo.

Upon arrival in the evening meet and greet by our airport representative at airport. Then transfer to Hotel and assist Check –in.

Meal: Not Included
Hotel: Sea Princess or similar

After breakfast, city tour will follow: visit ★ Elephanta caves, ◎Prince of Wales museum, ◎The Gateway of India, ◎ Marine drive, ★ Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(aka: Victoria Station) and ◎Dhobi Ghat.
** Elephanta Caves located on Elephanta Island near Mumbai. The sculptures were created at the beginning of late Gupta Empire. Elephanta Island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 to preserve the artwork.
** Gateway of India: A monument located on the waterfront in South Mumbai, a basalt arch 85 ft. high.
** Prince of Wales Museum: Founded in early 20th century, to commemorate the visit of the then Prince of Wales.
** Dhobi Ghat is a well-known open air laundromat in Mumbai. The washers work in the open space. There are rows of open-air concrete wash pens, each fitted with its own flogging stone.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel             Lunch: Local Cuisine                    Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Sea Princess or similar

After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Trivandrum, upon arrival, transfer to hotel. After lunch, city tour will follow: ◎Sri Pamanabahaswamy Hindu Temple (outside visit), ◎ Napier Museum and★ Kovalam Beach.
** Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, built in an Intricate fusion of the indigenous Kerala style and the Dravidian style of architecture associated with the temples located in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century Gopuram.
** The Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum established in 1855.
** Kovalam is a beach town by the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India.
** Please note when entering Hindu Temple, you must NOT wear shoes, socks are fine.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel         Lunch: Local Cuisine                    Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Hycinth by Sparsa Hotel or similar

After breakfast, depart for Kanykumari. Upon arrival, take ★boat excursion to visit Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekandar Rock memorial.
** Kanyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin, a town in Kanyakumari District in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The name comes from the Devi Kanya Kumari Temple in the region.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel       Lunch: Local Cuisine                     Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Hycinth by Sparsa Hotel or similar

After breakfast depart for Alleppey, upon arrival transfer to Premium Houseboat and start ★ Backwater excursion through lakes, canals, we will overnight on houseboat.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel           Lunch: Local Cuisine                      Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Premium Houseboat or similar

After breakfast, depart for Kumily en route to Periyar wild life sanctuary, we will ★cruise along the river, you will see many variety of wild life.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel         Lunch: Local Cuisine                     Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Spice Village or similar

After breakfast, city tour will follow: to ★spice plantation and ★tea factory. The geographical and cool climate and its elevation make Kumily a perfect location for spice cultivation. Later depart for Madurai.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel        Lunch: Local Cuisine                       Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Taj Garden Retreat or similar

After breakfast, city tour will follow: to ★Meenakshi Temple, ★Tirumala Nayak Palace and ★Gandhi Memorial Museum.
** Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of lord Shiva with its towering gopurams
** Tirumala Nayak Palace: a gracious building famous for the stucco work on its domes and arches

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel      Lunch: Local Cuisine              Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Taj Garden Retreat or similar

After breakfast, depart for Tanjore en route to Tiruchirapalli, we will visit Sri Rangaswamy Temple, Birhadisvara Temple.
** Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Hindu deity, Vishnu.
Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture.
** Birhadisvara Temple: A Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. It was built for Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 CE.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel         Lunch: Local Cuisine               Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Paradise Resort or similar

After breakfast, city tour will follow: to ★Airavatesvara Temple & ★Nataraja Temple, later depart for Pondicherry
** Airavaesvara Temple: A Hindu temple of Dravidian architecture. It was built by Rajaraja Chola II in the 12^th century CE and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
** Thillai Natarajah Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is known as the foremost of all temples to Saivites.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel        Lunch: Local Cuisine           Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Hotel Accord Puducherry or similar

After breakfast, city tour will follow: visit Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville and Pondicherry Museum.
Later, depart for Mahabalipuram.
** Pondicherry: it was one of the French settlements other than Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. It is a union territory where the French connection on the architecture and culture is strongly visible.
** Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the final resting place of Sri Aurobindo, a saint-cum-yogi who synthesized yoga and modern science.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel       Lunch: Local Cuisine         Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Hotel Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay Mahabalipuram or similar

After breakfast, city tour will follow: visit Mahabalipuram Temple, ★Sri Ekambarananathar Temple and Kailasanatha Temple.
** Kanchipuram is a spectacular temple city. The temples and gopurams are exquisite reminders of the beauty of Dravidian architecture. Ekambarshwara Temple covers nine hectares, has a 59 meter high gopuram, 1000 pillared hall and a sacred mango tree which is about 3500 years old.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel          Lunch: Local Cuisine       Dinner: Local Cuisine
Hotel: Hotel Courtyard by Marriott or similar

After breakfast, city tour will follow: visit ◎ Santhome Church, ◎Kapaleeshwarar Temple and ◎Marina Beach.
** Santhome Basilica is a Roman Catholic basilica in Santhome. Built in the 16^th century by Portuguese explorers, over the tomb of St Thomas, an apostle of Jesus.
** Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a temple of Shiva, built around 7^th century CE in Dravidian architecture.

Meal: Buffet breakfast at hotel      Lunch: Local Cuisine       Dinner: Local Cuisine

This morning, depart for your next destination Dubai. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel & check-in.

Meals: Breakfast/American Breakfast                          Dinner/Local Cuisine with Belly Dance
Hotel: Asiana Hotel Dubai or Similar

After breakfast, depart for Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE. Upon arrival, city tour will follow: along Ethihad Square featuring the giant coffee pot and Frankincense burner, Telecommunications building. We will visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, then to Emirates Palace Hotel for lunch. Shortly after return to Dubai. We will have dinner at Burj Al Arab; a luxury hotel stands on an artificial island as the sail of a ship, designed by architect Tom Wright of Atkins.

Meal: American Breakfast at hotel    Lunch/ Buffet at Emirates Palace Hotel     Dinner/ Buffet at Burj Al Arab
Hotel: Asiana Hotel Dubai or Similar

After breakfast, transfer to airport for homebound flight to US and ends this unforgettable journey.

Meal: American Breakfast at hotel