Duration : 12 nights / 13 days
Covered : Destinations : Trivandrum - Kanyakumari - Madurai - Periyar - Kottayam - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Cochin - Kovalam - Trivandrum.

Arrive Day 01: Trivandrum
Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Day 02: Trivandrum - Kanyakumari
Drive to Kanyakumari (100 km) visiting Padmanabhapuram enroute. The capital of Travancore until 1333, Padmanabhapuram is known for its fort, which encloses, among other buildings, a palace and a temple. The palace has some important art relics while the Ramaswamy temple has exquisitely carved panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana. On arrival, check-in at Cape Residency Hotel. The southernmost end of Tamil Nadu, the land's end of India or the point where the three seas meet - the Bay of Bengal, The Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Visit the Kumariamman temple dedicated to the virgin goddess Kanyakumari (Parvati) who stands guard over the country. The temple is built at the spot where the goddess is believed to have waited for her consort Lord Siva. Gandhi Memorial, constructed at the spot where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were kept for public view in an urn before a portion was immersed into the three seas. Vivekanand Memorial built on the Vivekananda Rock where the great Philospher guide Swami Vivekananda went into meditation that transformed him into one of the most charismatic spiritual leaders of this century are some of the highlights of Kanyakumari. The sunset is also a spectacular sight in Kanyakumari.

Day 03: Kanyakumari - Madurai
Drive to Madurai (280 km) and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day free.

Day 04: Madurai
Known as the Athens of the East, Madurai the second largest city in Tamil Nadu is situated on the banks of the River Vaigai. An ancient city, more than 2500 years old, Madurai is believed to have been built by the Pandyan King Kulasekara in the 6th century BC. The city is said to have got its name from the drops of nectar that fell from Shiva's locks when he came to bless its people for constructing a temple for him. Meenakshi temple located at the heart of the city is one the most important places of Hindu pilgrimage. Of its 12 gopurams, four of the tallest stand at the outer walls of the temple. The 48.8 metre high southern gopuram is the most spectacular and has over 1500 sculptures. In the Ashta Shakti Mandapam inside the Meenakshi temple, the sculpted pillars tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Siva. The Portramaraikulam or the golden lotus tank is the place where the Tamil literacy society called Sangam used to meet to decide the merit of the literary works presented to them. At the Sundaraswarar temple across the courtyard, Lord Siva is represented as a lingam and entry is restricted here. The temple Museum is housed in the hall of 1000 pillars, 985 of them richly carved. The other places are Koodal Alagar Temple built before the Meenakshi temple, which depicts Vishnu in sitting, standing and reclining postures, one of the rare temple where the vimanam dominates the gopuram. Tirumalai Nayak Mahal, 1 km from here constructed in Indo-Saracenic style in 1523 was originally four times as large as it is today.

Day 05: Madurai - Periyar
Morning drive to Periyar (160 km) and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Periyar sanctuary, spread over an area of 777 sq km, has about 35 tigers and leopards. However, sighting a tiger in Periyar is a rare occurrence. The park encompasses a 26 sq km artificial lake and is the home of sambars, wild boars, elephants and antelopes, which can be occasionally seen on the banks of the river during a boat cruise. Periyar, otherwise, blessed by Nature has enormous tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations and has lush green hills.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06: Periyar - Kottayam - Kumarakom
Drive to Kumarakom via Kottayam (176 km). Kottayam, 64 kms from Cochin, is another commercial center of Kerala. Dotted with churches and covered with rubber plantations, Kottayam is just 16 km away from Kumarakom and Vembanad Lake. To the city's west are delightful backwaters and to its east is the most fertile and scenic part of the Western Ghats having rubber, tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations. On arrival, transfer to the backwater resort.

Day 07: Kumarakom - Alleppey
Morning board a traditional Kerala Houseboat - Kettuvalam. Sail through the day making a few stops to visit temple, church, snake boat construction yard. Overnight on Houseboat.

Day 08: Alleppey - Cochin
Disembark at Alleppey in the morning and drive to Cochin (56 km) on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day free. Car at disposal.

Day 09: Cochin
Morning sightseeing tour of Cochin. Kerala's commercial center, it has a fine natural harbor. Cochin is famous for Mattanchery Palace, St. Francis Church, Wellington Island, Bolghatty Island, Chinese Fishing nets and Jewish Synagogue. Cruising on the backwaters provides glimpses of the rural life, fine view of the harbor and three islands. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 10: Cochin - Kovalam
Drive to Kovalam (225 km) and on arrival, check-in at the beach hotel. Rest of the day free.

Day 11: Kovalam
Day at leisure to enjoy yourself on Kovalam beach.

Day 12: Kovalam
Day at leisure to enjoy yourself on Kovalam beach.

Day 13: Kovalam-Trivandrum-Departure
Transfer to airport for your flight to your onward destination.