Must-Visit Temples Of East & South India And Kerala Backwaters 17 days

Day 1 Arrive in Kolkata

On arrival at Kolkata airport, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Rest time is free and easy to relax. O/n at the hotel.

Day 2 Kolkata

Breakfast at the hotel. Full-day city tour of Kolkata visiting Fort William, Victoria Memorial, Netaji Bhawan, Howrah Bridge, Dakshineswar Kali Temple & other landmark monuments of the city. O/n at the hotel.

Day 3 Kolkata - Bhubaneshwar (Flight)

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport to board the flight for Bhubaneswar. On arrival, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Later, city tour, visit Parasurameshwar, Mukteshwar, Rajarani & Lingaraj temples (Only Hindus can enter the sanctum). Also visit Khandagiri, Udaygiri caves & Dhauli Rock Edicts. O/n at the hotel.

Day 4 Bhubaneshwar - Puri (60kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Puri by visiting Konark Sun temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Pipili, the appliqué work village & Raghurajpur artisan village. Further visit, Ramchandi temple & Chandrabhaga beach. Also, visit the world-famous lord Jagannath temple (Only Hindus can enter the sanctum). O/n at the hotel.

Day 5 Puri - Chilika Lake (55kms one way)

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to visit Chilika Lake, the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent & home to some threatened species of plants and animals. Enjoy a boat ride, then drive to Puri and check in at the hotel. O/n at the hotel.

Day 6 Puri - Bhubaneshwar/ Chennai (flight)

Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Bhubaneshwar airport to board the flight for Chennai. On arrival, assistance & transfer to the hotel. Later, city tour visit Fort St. George, St Mary's Church inside the fortress, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Government Museum, Dakshinachitra Museum, Santhome Cathedral & Marina Beach. O/n at the hotel.

Day 7 Chennai - Pondicherry (160kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Pondicherry via visiting Kanchipuram, an ancient city famous as the city of a thousand temples. And Mahabalipuram UNESCO WHS monuments Monolithic Temples, Krishnas Butterball, Cave Temples, Shore Temple & The Arjuna Penance. On arrival, check in & o/n at the hotel.

Day 8 Pondicherry

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Auroville & Pondicherry Museum. Drive past through stunning French Quarters, which include the French consulate, Raj Nivas, Government Square, Churches & French schools. Rest time to relax on the beach. O/n at the hotel.

Day 9 Pondicherry - Thanjore (220kms)

Drive to Thanjavur by visiting Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and The Great Living Chola Temples at Gangaikonda Cholapuram & Darasuram. Arrive at Thanjavur, check in & o/n at the hotel.

Day 10 Thanjavur - Trichy - Madurai (190kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Brihadeshwara Temple & Palace Complex, built by the great Chola king in the 10th century. Drive to Madurai via visiting Trichy, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, the largest functional temple in the world, Jambukeswarar Temple & The Rock Fort, the oldest rock in the world, 230 crore years old. Continue driving to Madurai, check in & o/n at the hotel.

Day 11 Madurai - Munnar (160kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Meenakshi Temple, Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, Alagar Koil, Tiruparankundram Murugan Temple & Palamuthirsolai Murugan Temple. Drive to Munnar, check & at the hotel.

Day 12 Munnar

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Pothamedu, Mattupetty dam, Rajamala hill, Eravikulam National Park, Mattupedi Dairy Farm, Echo Point & Tea Museum. O/n at the hotel.

Day 13 Munnar - Thekkady (100kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu, one of the windiest places in Asia and being so, one can find here a wind farm generating electricity. Visit Frog Rock, Turtle Rock and the highest twin statue in Kerala called Kuravan & Kurathi. On arrival, check in at the hotel. O/n at the hotel.

Day 14 Thekkady

Breakfast at the hotel. Explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on a boat. The sanctuary is home to tigers, elephants, rare lion-tailed macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Indian bison. Later spice plantation tour to see crops of cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, etc. O/n at the hotel.

Day 15 Thekkady - Alleppey (160kms)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Alleppey boat jetty to board a houseboat and sail through the tropical countryside's enchanting backwaters. The Houseboats have generated electricity, a sitting cum dining area, a separate bedroom with attached English toilets, a sun deck and a fully loaded kitchen with a chef & driver. O/n in a houseboat.

Day 16 Alleppey - Cochin (60kms)

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin to check in at the hotel. Later, city tour visit Fort Cochin St. Frances Church, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Dutch Palace & Chinese fishing nets. Evening watch Kathakali Dance show. O/n at the hotel.

Day 17 Cochin - Departure

As per the flight schedule, transfer to the airport to board the flight for the onward destination.