Mamallapuram Dance Festival is organized during the months of January and February in the city of Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu.This event witnesses performances on the Indian classical dances such as the Bharat Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Mohiniattam, Odissi and Kathakali. Four week Mamallapuram Dance Festival is held at the venue of Arjuna's penance, a bass-relief sculpted on the face of two enormous adjacent rocks, in Mamallapuram. The magnificent backdrop that is provided by the Pallava Rock Sculptures provide an aesthetic touch to this cultural dance festival.
(Overnight stay in Mamallapuram)

DAY 03: MAMALLAPURAM TO PONDICHERRY (100km/2.5 hrs approx).
Depart from hotel after breakfast for the Heritage Walk around Mamallapuram where you will visit monuments from 7th century, Sculpture studio and a local snake charmers snake show including small magic right from his sleeve. This 3-hours walk we will start at Arjuna's Penance (Bas Relief on the face of a huge rock). After we proceed to visit the monuments Five Rathas (architectural prototypes of Dravidian temples which symbolizes equality between man and woman), Krishna Mandapam (a rock cut temple of Krishna) and the Shore Temple (temple with 2 shrines, for Shiva and for Vishnu). Late afternoon drive to Pond cherry. On arrival check in the hotel and in the evening we will undertake a walk on a promenade where on the sea front you can see several landmarks: the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jeanne d'Arc, and Dupleix, the elegant War Memorial. (Overnight stay in Pond cherry)

DAY 04: PONDICHERRY TO KUMBAKONAM (175km / 4.5h)
Enroute Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive towards KUMBAKONAM. Enroute sightseeing of Gangaikonda Cholapuram (famous Shiva temple) with its beautiful high towers full with many small sculptures depicting stories of old epics. On arrival check in the hotel and depart for the sightseeing of Kumbakonam visiting a Silk Weaving center. Untouched by regular tourist and no hassle of shop keepers/sellers, this visit will give you glimpse on weaving industry and the hard work behind it. (Overnight stay in Kumbakonam)

ABOUT PONGAL:
Pongal is a unique festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu in January (the month of thai in local calendar) after the abatement of winter. The festival is in the honor of the sun god and spans three days. On the first day called Bhogi Pongal homes are thoroughly cleaned and people spend time with their families.

DAY 05: KUMBAKONAM TO TANJORE (60km / 1.5 hrs approx).
After breakfast check out from hotel and drive to Tanjore - the Chola Citadel. On arrival check in the hotel and depart for the sightseeing of Tanjore visiting - the world famous Bridhadeshwara temple (houses one of Asia's biggest Nandi -the bull). The temple built by the cholas is very special for its architecture. The most exiting is that the temple does not have a shadow falling on ground at any time of day but falls on its own body. (Overnight stay in Tanjore)

DAY 06: TANJORE TO MADURAI (58km /1hrs approx).
Check out from hotel after breakfast and drive towards the old city of Tamilnadu - Madurai. On arrival check in to hotel and in the evening visit to Meenakshi temple for the night ceremony where God Shiva (Meenakshi`s husband) is taken in a palanquin to the bedroom of Meenakshi. This is a daily procession and next day early morning before sunrise God Shiva is brought back to his shrine with in the temple complex. God Shiva here is known as Sundareshwar. The temple has its full name as "Meenakshi Sundareshwar "temple. (Overnight stay in Madurai).

DAY 07: MADURAI SIGHTSEEING.
Morning after breakfast sight seeing tour of Madurai by Cycle Rickshaw. The Bi-Cycle Rickshaw tour of Madurai offers you a memorable experience of being in this old city. It takes you to the interesting narrow streets & lanes of Madurai showing the typical life of people in here. The Rickshaw pullers of Madurai were getting very unpopular with the locals, as the locals preferred the more modern mode of transport. The Cycle Rickshaw - the most eco friendly form of transport was fast being phased out, and the hundred and twenty rickshaw pullers of Madurai were being deprived of a lively hood as they were unable to buy the modern forms of transport like the auto rickshaw/taxi etc. To give these pullers another lease of life we at Hi-tours have designed this tour as part of our commitment to promote responsible tourism. By taking this tour you are supporting the rickshaw pullers and at the same time, encouraging the locals to use the rickshaws and all of this in a very eco friendly way. By Cycle Rickshaw we visit - Meenakshi temple (one of the largest temple complexes in south India), Flower/Fruit & Spice Market, Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Gandhi Museum, Small scale Industry like Vessel making & Cloth making. Later return to hotel. (Overnight stay in Madurai).

DAY 08: MADURAI TO PERIYAR (160km / 4 hrs approx).
Check out from hotel after breakfast at 08.00am and drive to Periyar (also known as Thekkady). The name Periyar comes after the Dam made here by the English in 1895. A wild life reserve hence is an ideal place to track down wild life such as Elephants, Bison, Deer and numerous other varieties of birds. The landscape here is with very tropical and you will be surrounded by tea, coffee & other spices. On arrival check on to hotel and at 16.00hrs leave for a guided plantation tour to the nearby garden where in various species of spices and other aromatic plants are cultivated. The guide explains & clarifies your doubts on this tour. Depending on the day's opportunity you will also taken to visit a tea factory nearby. (Overnight stay in Thekkady)

DAY 9: IN PERIYAR/THEKKADY.
Early morning at 06:00 a.m. you will go on a guided Jungle walk in the Periyar tiger Reserve National Park. This 03-hour-walk (not very hard) is very interesting and gives you a chance to see wildlife life at a very close distance. Periyar Reserve is a home to herds of elephants, sambar, gaur, macaques and Nilgiri langur. If you are lucky you may even spot the rarely sighted leopards and tigers. In the afternoon we leave for the most popular boat trip at the National Park - the best way to observe game in wild is by boat. There are many animals to see, including herds of elephants, bison's and packs of wild boars that roam through the woods and parade along the shores of the lake just before sunrise and sunset. You can also see also different species of apes. The golden langur monkey that lives here is rarely seen in the rest of India. (Overnight stay in Thekkady).

DAY 10: PERIYAR - COCHIN -( 165km /5h approx ) KUMARAKOM (90km/2h approx).
Depart from hotel after Breakfast and drive to Cochin where you will visit the old part of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. First you will visit the Dutch Palace which was built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin King in the 16th century and the St. Francis Church - the oldest European church in India, Santa Cruz Basilica - built by Portuguese in the 16th century, the Dutch Palace, also built in 16th century, the fishing market and the famous Chinese fishing net - believed having been brought by trader from Kubla Khan's court in China after sightseeing drive to Kumarakom - replete with meandering lagoons, coconut trees, endless rows of paddy fields interspersed by waterways and canals. (Overnight stay in Kumarakom).

DAY 11: KUMARAKOM.
Day at leisure at Kumarakom - The quaint town is a cluster of little islands, located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake in the Kuttanad region of Kerala. Renowned for its natural beauty. (Overnight in Kumarakom) .

DAY 12: KUMARAKOM TO ALLEPPEY (45km/1h Approx)
Cruises: Alleppey round trip
After breakfast drive to Alleppey - the land of Backwaters. On arrival at Alleppey, you get onto a private House boat that is waiting to take you on a tour through the backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the landscape from the protection of the cabin. The population's whole life takes place here on the water. The people sail, fish, swim and bathe here. They do their washing and their washing up. They are so adapted to the water that you can see people talking for an hour, while they are up to their necks in water. Peddlers take care of the supplies and the public transport goes on the water. Countless water birds wait for their chance to catch a fish. The trip goes through a wonderful area full of palm trees, rice fields and floating water plants that surround the boat like emerald Green Island. (Overnight onboard Houseboat).

DAY 13: ALLEPPEY TO KOVALAM (165km / 4 hrs approx).
After breakfast disembark from the houseboat and drive to Kovalam - the land of sandy beaches. On arrival check in the hotel and rest of the day free for own activities. (Overnight stay in Kovalam).

DAY 15: (Jan 22) TRIVANDRUM.
Check out from the hotel and drive towards Trivandrum airport to board flight,