Cuisine and Culture in South India

On arrival at the international airport , our representative would meet the clients and transfer them to the hotel booked .

Chennai : also known as (Madras the Official name until 1996) is the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, it is the biggest cultural, economic and educational centre of south India.. National Geographic mentioned Chennai as the only South Asian city to feature in its 2015 "Top 10 food cities" list.

With temples, beaches and centres of historical and cultural significance, including the UNESCO Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram, Chennai is one of the most-visited cities in India. The city serves as the gateway to the southern part of India with tourists landing in the city and then visiting the rest of the region.

Breakfast at the hotel

Post breakfast we proceed for the city tour of Chennai including the historic Fort St George- the first fortress in India built by British in 1644. Continue visit San Thome Church, also known as St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Thomas is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Santhome, in the city of Chennai (Madras), India. It was built in the 16th century by Portuguese explorers, over the tomb of Saint Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. In 1893, it was rebuilt as a church with the status of a cathedral by the British. The British version still stands today. Visit Kapaleeswar Temple a Hindu temple and Vivekananda House,

Lunch is your first opportunity to sample a Tamilnadu meal known as thali meal. This is the staple lunch of most of, much of the population of Tamil Nadu and consists of a large selection of gravies, spices, chutneys and condiments served with rice and an array of breads and rice-flour concoctions.

Post Lunch visit Government Museum, second oldest museum in India after the Indian Museum in Kolkata. It is particularly rich in archaeological and numismatic collections. It has the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside Europe. Also visit National art gallery one of the oldest Art galleries of India. This gallery is famous painting from Tanjavur

Breakfast at the hotel

Post breakfast drive to the sacred temple city of Kanchipuram(70 kms 1.5 hrs ) ,also known as Kanchi, is an ancient city in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state. Considered a holy pilgrimage site by Hindus, it is home to many temples. The 8th-century Kailasanathar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a vast complex with intricate sandstone carvings. Ulagalanda Perumal Temple houses a huge statue of Lord Vishnu. A mango tree in the Ekambareswarar Temple courtyard is thought to be sacred. Visit various temples

Lunch at the famous South Indian restaurant

Post-Lunch, continue driving to the beachside town of Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram today is a sleepy town but its legacy of the past is rich and the temples and rock carvings here are outstanding for their craftsmanship and sheer beauty. On arrival check in at the hotel.

Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Mahabalipuram. visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed monuments which are the highlights of this one-time trading port and dynastic capital.

Dinner at WHARF 2.0 Inspired by the five elements – space, fire, air, water and earth – Wharf 2.0 offers an experience for the senses. Indulge in fresh seafood from the coast, grill-fired steaks and crisp seasonal produce. Picturesque views of the Bay of Bengal act as a backdrop to a memorable meal filled with delicious bites and fine wine

Breakfast at the Hotel

Post breakfast drive to Pondicherry (3 hrs ) , a former French colony and as such quite different in atmosphere and culture to the surrounding areas. Although the French left Pondicherry more than half a century ago, the city retains a strong Gallic feel. Rooftop restaurants serving a variety of excellent continental Indian dishes, Spicy Tamilnadu foods, superb bakeries and wonderful cafes are all testimony to the lasting continental influence.

Visit the famous attraction of Pondicherry

Auroville an experimental township founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa (known as "the Mother") Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity.

Dinner at the Le Dupleix Restaurant might be slightly expensive, but it’s definitely worth a shot. Their French Onion Soup comes to mind first. But if you are up for some fusion food – they’ve got some dishes that do an interesting play of Indian and European recipes

Overnight in Pondicherry.

Breakfast at the hotel

Post breakfast; drive to Tanjore ( 4 hours ) , site of one of south India's most spectacular temples. Tour the temple, palace and art gallery with a local guide

On arrival check in at the hotel

Visit 11th-century Brihadeeswarar Temple, a vast Chola dynasty–era complex with a frescoed interior. Thanjavur Maratha Palace is home to the centuries-old Saraswathi Mahal Library, with palm-leaf manuscripts, and Thanjavur Art Gallery, with bronze statues.

Return back to the hotel .

Later Listen to the Vedic Chanting at Svatma – calm your mind & purify your soul. Experience the divine vibration at surroundings of Svatma that is resonates with the chants. The Priest engage our guest and explain the meaning and purpose behind the ancients scripture.

Cooking Demo and Dinner at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel

Post breakfast; drive to temple town of Trichy with recorded history begins in the 3rd century BC. The most prominent historical monuments in Tiruchirappalli include the Rockfort, the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam.

Later drive to drive to Chettinad and upon arrival check-in at the hotel

Chettinad cuisine is the cuisine of a community called the Nattukotai Chettiars, or Nagarathars as they call themselves, from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu state in South India. Chettinad cuisine is perhaps the most renowned fare in the Tamil Nadu repertoire. It uses a variety of spices and the dishes are made with fresh ground masalas.

Walk around the town to see the mansions. The Chettinad region is well known for its 19th-century mansions, whose wide courtyards and spacious rooms are embellished with marble and teak. Construction materials, decorative items, and furnishings were mostly imported from East Asian countries and Europe. The marble was brought from Italy, chandeliers and teak from Burma, crockery from Indonesia, crystals from Europe and wall-to-wall mirrors from Belgium.

Evening cooking demo and dinner at the hotel

Post breakfast; drive to Madurai ( 3 hours ) ,one of the major cities in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu`. Madurai is closely associated with the Tamil language, and the third Tamil Sangam, a major congregation of Tamil scholars said to have been held in the city. The recorded history of the city goes back to the 3rd century BCE, being mentioned by Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the Maurya empire,

Post check in at the hotel proceed for the sightseeing tour of Madurai visiting Meenakshi Temple a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE monument and Thirumalai Nayak Palace is a 17th-century palace erected in 1636 AD by King Thirumalai Nayak, a king of Madurai's Nayaka dynasty who ruled Madurai from 1623–59, in the city of Madurai, India. This Palace is a classic fusion of Dravidian and Rajput styles. The building, which can be seen today, was the main Palace, in which the king lived. The original Palace Complex was four times bigger than the present structure. In its heyday, the palace was considered to be one of the wonders of the South.

Madurai is also a best place to dine. For the dinner we take you to a residence of an Indian family for cooking demo and dinner .

Breakfast at the hotel

Check out and drive towards Kerala state -next destination is Periyar; you will drive through lush agricultural areas and spice Market which is one of the largest in South India.

Periyar wild life reserve  one of the best reserves in South India famous for elephants , Bison , tiger and many more animals . This place offers many opportunities for treks and mountain walks

Upon arrival check in to the hotel and enjoy the traditional lunch at hotel restaurant.

Later proceed to visit Periyar wildlife sanctuary by boat cruise. After visit spend some time in evening for touring a spice garden and seeing the origin of many of the condiments we take for granted in our kitchens at home.

Later proceed for a cooking class by experienced chef and learn the art of Kerala cooking significance of spices in Kerala cuisine. Followed by preparation of rich meal to be served as dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel

Drive down the hills towards the Keralan midlands, reaching Alleppey .and board/ embark a houseboat for an overnight stay on the houseboat

The scenic backwaters of Kerala comprise serene stretches of lakes, canals and lagoons located parallel to the coast of the Arabian Sea. The backwater regions of Kerala are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The tranquil backwater cruises are a once in a lifetime experience. Alappuzha, known as the 'Venice of the East', is especially popular for its houseboat cruises where you can soak in nature at its finest form.

Lunch on board. Kerala Fish and chicken curry are must to try dishes in Kerala. Enjoy the scenery and drive around in Backwater .

Dinner on the houseboat

Post breakfast; Disembark from the houseboat and drive to Cochin

Kochi (also known as Cochin) is a city in southwest India's coastal Kerala state. It has been a port since 1341, when a flood carved out its harbor and opened it to Arab, Chinese and European merchants.

On arrival check in at the hotel Later take you around the city of cochin for a half day guided tour where you will be shown some important places such as Jewish Synagogue one of the oldest in Asia constructed in year 1568. , Dutch Palace originally constructed by Portuguese and later by Dutch , ST. Francis Church, and Chinese Fishing Nets introduced by Chinese travelers in 14th century but still used in these parts of Kerala

In the evening attend the traditional "Kathakali Dance Show". One of the famous dance forms of India where male actors tell a story by wearing facemasks and colorful costumes

Dinner at THE HISTORY (Hotel Brunton Boatyard) There is live music every evening. Chuttulli Meen is a popular Jewish inspired dish that is basically grilled fish cooked in spices. Other dishes to try out is the Portuguese inspired Fisherman’s stew and the Railway Mutton curry from the British Raj era

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to the international airport for onward flight