GoPhilanthropic

Mumbia and Southern India

All itineraries are private and based on Luxury Accommodations - see Hotels

Day 1 - ARRIVE to Mumbai BY INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

• You will arrive early morning at Mumbai International Airport. Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, a representative will meet you as you EXIT the ARRIVALS TERMINAL building after which you would be transferred to your hotel.
• Upon arrival at the hotel, proceed for check-in at the hotel.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 2 - MUMBAI

• Morning depart for full day city sightseeing tour of Mumbai (Prince of Wales museum closed on Monday)
• Visit the Gateway of India, built to commemorate the visit of King George V in the year 1911. It is a fusion of Indo-Saracenic architecture. From here, proceed to the Afghan Church at Colaba, passing through the famous Dhobi Ghat to see the old, traditional way of washing clothes. Proceed to the Prince of Wales Museum for a visit (Closed on Monday). It is a beautiful Gothic structure designed by George Wittet in Indo-Saracenic style. Drive past the Gothic-style Rajabhai Clock Tower, in the grounds of Bombay University. The High Court next to the tower and Victoria Terminus (popularly known as "V.T", the largest railway station in India) are also in Gothic style. Proceed to visit the Jain Temple at the top of Malabar Hill. Drive en route along the shoreline of Marine Drive. The Jain temple is a colorful, quiet and atmospheric temple with superb carvings on its exterior. If you climb to the upper storey, you can look down on the masked monks tracing symbolic patterns in powder and ash before the image of God. Continue past the Hanging Gardens and the Parsi Towers of Silence before visiting the Kamla Nehru Park, which was laid out in memory of Jawaharlal Nehru's wife. Drive past Haji Ali Tomb, located in the sea.
• Finally, visit the Mani Bhavan, Gandhi's residence when he visited Bombay. There is a beautifully crafted tableau of 28 panels, depicting key events in the great leader's life. The re-creation of the simple rooms he occupied provides an insight into this legendary figure whose influence is still very much alive in Indian life and politics today -- a potent symbol of both the Indian nation and ideas of social justice.
• Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 3 - MUMBAI - CHENNAI BY: FLIGHT

• Late morning, a representative will meet you in the hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport to board flight for Chennai.
• Upon arrival at Chennai, you would be received by a TCI representative and transferred to your hotel.
• The East India Company established its presence in southern India on the Bay of Bengal in 1639 with the establishment of Fort St. George. The city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras, grew up around the fort area. It now serves as the capital of Tamil Nadu and is the fourth largest city in India, with over six million inhabitants. It sprawls over a large area yet, in spite of recent industrial growth, seems less congested than other large Indian cities. Its role as a trade center is furthered by rail, road, and air connections in addition to its seaport. It presents both modern and traditional charm, its many British influences juxtaposed with Tamil-Hindu traditions.
• Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 4 - CHENNAI

• After buffet breakfast; proceed for a city sightseeing tour of Chennai.
• Firstly you will visit, Fort St. George, which is presently, being used by the Tamil Nadu Government. Within the compound is a museum holding many remembrances of the East India Company and the British period. From the British hold of centre, you will proceed to Mylapore, which was inhabited in the 16th century by the Portuguese; visit the Saint Thomas Church, named for the Christian disciple ("Doubting Thomas") who lived and taught here in the first century.
• Return to your hotel after the sightseeing tour.
• Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 5 - CHENNAI - MADURAI BY: FLIGHT

• Early morning, a representative will meet you in the hotel and transfer you to the airport to board flight for Madurai.
• Upon arrival at Madurai airport, you would be received by another representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in
• One of the oldest cities in South India, Madurai has been the centre of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. Spread along the rocky banks of the river Vaigai in the state of Tamil Nadu, this modern industrial city is today famous as a temple town.
• In the evening, you will proceed to the Meenakshi temple complex on cycle-rickshaws to witness the evening Aarti ceremony in which Lord Shiva is carried in a palanquin accompanied by musicians, temple singers and priests to the temple of his consort Parvati to spend the night.
• Note: Foreigners (Non Hindus) are not allowed inside the inner sanctum of the temple.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 6 - MADURAI

• Early morning visit the flower market of Madurai. After the visit return to your hotel
• After buffet breakfast at the hotel, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Madurai City - The temple town is unique in that all its temples are living temples and it remains a major religious centre attracting pilgrims the year round. Madurai's main attraction is the famous Meenakshi temples in the heart of the old town, a baroque example of Dravidian architecture with gopurams (towers) covered from top to bottom with a breathless profusion of multi-colored images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. The temple complex is a city within a city and one can spend days exploring its labyrinthine corridors and halls. Another attraction is the Tirumalai Nayak Palace (1636) restored by Lord Napier, dance drama concerts are performed daily. You will then be driven to Tiruparankudram rock cut temples, which has a huge facade of blue and yellow dragons. Inside there is a maze of dark rooms filled with multi-limited sculptures. Afternoon will be at leisure for independent activities.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 7 - MADURAI - THEKKADY

• After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Madurai to Thekkady, which is also known as Periyar (140 KMS / 04 Hours DRIVE). Upon arrival, proceed for check-in at your hotel.
• In the afternoon, proceed to Periyar National Park to view the wildlife by boat. Situated within the confines of the Western Ghats in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world. The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Herds of elephant and sambar, gaur and wild pigs and wander down to the lakeside and can be observed from the launches that cruise the lake. Periyar also harbors the leopard, wild dog, barking deer and mouse deer. On the rocky outcrops along the lake, monitor lizards can be seen basking in the sun. Return to the hotel after your boat ride.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 8 - THEKKADY - KUMARAKOM

• After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven to Kumarakom (135 KMS / 03 hours drive) and upon arrival will proceed for check-in at the hotel.
• In the lush backwaters of Kottayam in Kerala, lies a veritable paradise, which is called Kumarakom, or the 'Venice of the East'. Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields, and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals are panoramic sights one can never forget. Kumarakom is Kerala's heartland of lagoons, palm fringed lakes, and paddy fields, inter-linked with hundreds of winding canals, with the typical low slung country boats that carry everything from people to fish, rice and coconuts to the milkman and newspaper boy, local politicians and priests to wedding parties.
• Late afternoon proceed for a sunset cruise on Vembanad Lake.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 9 - KUMARAKOM - KOCHI

• After a leisurely buffet breakfast, you will be driven from Kumarakom to Cochin (90 KMS / 02 hours drive) en-route stopping at Alleppey for a short backwater cruise. Inquire about adding an overnight or multi-day Alleppey cruise.
• After your cruise, continue your drive towards Cochin. Upon arrival, proceed for check-in at your hotel.
• Kochi, or more familiarly, Cochin is a city of many parts. Around for a long, long time, Kochi played a pivotal role in the development of shipping and trade in the region. Kochi's prime location on the west coast, its fine bay and protected harbor made it popular with seafarers and merchant ships who made frequent stops to stock up on spices, coffee and wood enroute to the rich markets of Europe and West Asia. And so down the ages, Kochi prospered as a busy port city and commercial centre. Its seafront is still extremely relevant to Cochin and to India: it houses a Naval Base and one of India's busiest ports. Its twin city, Ernakulam, is an important railhead and industrial centre.
• Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 10 - KOCHI

• In the morning after buffet breakfast; visit Cochin City. You will first proceed to Mattancherry, where you will visit the oldest Jewish Synagogue in India, built in 1568; it was destroyed by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Dutch a century later.
• From Jewish Synagogue you will visit Chinese fishing nets. The cantilevered fishing nets line the entrance to the harbor mouth. Chinese traders are believed to have originally introduced them in the 14th century although, today parts of the nets are known by Portuguese names.
• From the Chinese fishing nets you will visit St. Francis Church, originally named after Santo Antonio and dedicated to him as the Patron Saint of Portugal, St. Francis Church is the first church to have been in the new European-influenced tradition. The original wooden building was replaced by the present stone building. Vasco De Gamma died on the site in 1524 and was originally buried in the cemetery. 14 years later his body was removed to Portugal. The church was renamed St. Francis in 1663.
• You will also be visiting The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry, which was built in 1555 and its coronation hall and murals at Ramayana are noteworthy features.
• In the evening, you will visit a local theatre to watch Kathakali dance performance.
• Kathakali represents a synthesis of all that is best in dance, drama and music and has been recognized by connoisseurs of art, the world over as a `total art form of immense sophistication and power'. It is the impression created by make-up and the costumes that make Kathakali a visual par excellence.
• Return to your hotel after the dance performance.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 11 - KOCHI - MUMBAI BY: FLIGHT

• In the morning after buffet breakfast, a representative will meet you in the hotel and transfer you to the airport to board flight for Mumbai.
• Upon arrival at Mumbai airport, you would be received by another representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in.
• Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
• Overnight at the hotel

Day 12 - DEPART MUMBAI BY: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

• In the morning a representative will meet you at the hotel's lobby and transfer you to International airport to board your flight for back to home.