15 FEB DAY 01: CHENNAI (ARRIVAL) - MAMALLAPURAM (65Kms/1.5hrs).
Upon arrival in Chennai our representative will meet you and transfer you to your Mamallapuram hotel and assist with check in. (Overnight stay in Mamallapuram).

16 FEB DAY 02: MAMALLAPURAM / SIGHTSEEING.
After breakfast checkout from the hotel and proceed for sightseeing and photography tour-shoot all the wonderful, rock caves of Mamallapuram. We visit monuments from 7th century, starting at Arjuna's Penance (Bas Relief on the face of a huge rock). Then 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). Later we proceed for the local fisherman village to shoot the life style of the local peoples. In the afternoon enjoy a traditional lunch in Mamallapuram. (Overnight stay in Mamallapuram)
Interesting place to be covered by cameras in Mamallapuram:
" Arjuna's Penance
" Five Rathas
" Krishna Mandapam
" Shore Temple
" Fisherman villages (capturing the activities of the daily life)

17 FEB DAY 03: MAMALLAPURAM - KUMBAKONAM (VIA - PONDICHERRY) (240Kms/5hrs).
After breakfast checkout from the hotel and drive towards Kumbakonam. Enroute visit Pondicherry. Pondicherry consists of four enclaves of former French India, the oval shaped city center with right-angled street intersections and the boulevard that encircles the main part of town, architecture of the 18th and 19th century Christian churches and public buildings, a promenade along the beach, and even a statue of Joan of Arc. Viewed from the sea. You can cover the white French town by your camera including the promenade beach with the peaceful atmospheres. After covering the French town drive towards Kumbakonam. On arrival check into the hotel. (Overnight stay in Kumbakonam)
Interesting place to be covered by camera in Pondicherry:
" French War Memorial
" Manakula vinayagar temple & the play full elephant - (Cameras are not allowed inside the shrine)
" 19th Century Light House
" French Consulate
" Aayi Mandapam
" Heritage building and local peoples life style
" Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Marine Street

18 FEB DAY 04: KUMBAKONAM / DAY EXCURSION.
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing to Tanjore. First photo stop is the world famous Brahadeshwara 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 the ground at any time of day but falls on its own body. Then visit the Bronze gallery at palace museum. Later you can visit the local village for shooting the paddy fields and the village people going about their daily activities. You can cover all the basic aspect of the Indian village. (overnight stay in Tanjore)
Interesting place to be covered by camera in Tanjore:
" Brahadeshwara Gopuram ( camera are not allowed inside the main shrine )
" Painting on the ceiling of temple and palace
" Classic musicians inside the temple
" Tanjore Palace
" Paintings inside the palace
" Bronze gallery
" Paddy field
" Farmers and their life style
" Traditional transports.

19 FEB DAY 05: KUMBAKONAM / DAY EXCURSION.
After breakfast proceeds for a full day excursion to Swamimalai. First we visit famous Swamimalai temple the shrine built on a hillock, dedicated to Lord Subramanian locally known as Swami- Natha. It is the fourth of the six sacred places (houses) of Lord Subramanian and we visit the Sarangapanni temple Among the 108 temples dedicated to Vishnu or Divya Desams, temples sung in praise by the Azhvars (divine saints), this temple is next only to Srirangam and Tirupati. The temple itself is built in the form of a chariot as it is believed that Lord Vishnu came to earth in his chariot (Overnight stay in Kumbakonam)
Interesting place to be covered by camera in Swamimalai & Sarangapanni temples:
" Tank between saragapanni temples (cameras are not allowed inside the temple)
" Swamimalai temple (cameras are not allowed inside the temple)
" Paintings inside the temple and outside
" Chariots & statue
" Huge pillars
" Oldest local hotels
" Pilgrims near the temples

20 FEB DAY 06: KUMBAKONAM - KARAIKUDI (120Kms/2.5hrs).
After breakfast checkout from the hotel and drive towards Karaikudi. Karaikudi is the biggest city in Chettinad, a region best known to the outside world for its distinctive cuisine. What is less well known is that this small area, comprising about 72 villages, was the setting for a fascinating period of modern Tamil history. The people are shrewd moneylenders and traders; they became the official moneylenders of the British Empire. On arrival check into the hotel and in the afternoon enjoy the traditional lunch in Karaikudi. Later proceed for the sightseeing with your cameras to cover the wonderful spicy village, visiting the Chettinad Mansion and Temples, Old buildings, Gopura karai saris and have a chance to sample delicious Chettinad dishes. Afternoon enjoy the traditional lunch in Karaikudi (Overnight stay in Karaikudi)
Interesting place to be covered by camera in Karaikudi:
" Local Villages (enroute)
" Chettinadu palace
" Heritage chettinadu Bungalow
" Heritage town

21 FEB DAY 07: KARAIKUDI - MADURAI (100Kms/3hrs).
Morning check out from hotel and drive to Madurai - the oldest city of Tamilnadu state. On arrival at Madurai check into 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)
Interesting place to be covered by camera:
" Local Market in Karikudi
" Meenakshi temple - Madurai( cameras are not allowed inside the main shrine)

22 FEB DAY 08: MADURAI / SIGHTSEEING.
After breakfast proceed for 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 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 on 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 - Flower/Fruit & Spice Market, Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Gandhi Museum, Small scale Industry like Vessel making & Cloth making. (Overnight stay in Madurai)
Interesting place to be covered by camera:
" Meenakshi Amman temple (cameras are not allowed inside the main shrine)
" Thirumalai Nayakar mahal
" Life style of the Madurai peoples
" Local transportation
" Pilgrims
" Local hotels
" Shopping inside the temple
" Markets
" Gandhi Museum

23 FEB DAY 09: MADURAI - PERIYAR (170Kms/4hrs).
Check out from the hotel and drive towards Periyar also called Thekkady, South India's most popular wildlife sanctuary spread across 777 sq km in the picturesque rainforests of the Western Ghats. The sanctuary encompasses a 26 sq km artificial lake. This is the only sanctuary in India that offers the unique opportunity of viewing wild life in their natural habitat at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. It is also the center of spice plantations such as Cardamom, Cloves, Pepper, Coffee and Tea. On arrival check into the hotel and later proceed for plantation tour with experience guide. (Overnight stay in Periyar)
Interesting place to be covered by camera:
" Farmers and cultivating style
" Spice plantation
" Wild animals while boating
" Forest view
" Tea plantation
" Village peoples and forest transports
" Lake and rivers

24 FEB DAY 10: PERIYAR / SIGHTSEEING.
Early morning at 06.00am you go on a Guided Jungle walk at the Periyar tiger reserve / national park. This 03hrs walk (not very hard) is very interesting and gives you the chance to see the wildlife life at a very close distance. If you are lucky you may even spot the rarely sighted leopards & tigers. Return to hotel and rest. At 15.30hrs 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. Other animals in Periyar are otters and porcupines. Water turtles can often be seen sunning themselves on the pieces of wood that stick out of the water. Osprey and Cormorants belong to the most important species of birds in this area. (Overnight stay in Thekkady)
Interesting place to be covered by camera:
" Wild animal & different type of spices
" Hills around the river
" Animal drinking water beside the river

25 FEB DAY 11: PERIYAR - ALLEPPEY (145Kms/3.5hrs).
Check out of the hotel and drive towards Alleppey - the land of backwaters. On arrival, at 12.00noon check-in to the private House Boat which 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. 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 on the Boarded Houseboat)
Interesting place to be covered by camera:
" Backwater life
" Traders Buying and selling through boats
" Fishing in the river
" Different type of cruises
" Shooting the Live cooking
" Bridges over the backwater
" People travelling through ordinary boat to avoid pollution
" Dressing style of the people

26 FEB DAY 12: ALLEPPEY - COCHIN (65Kms/1.5hrs).
Upon arrival to Cochin transfer to hotel and check into the hotel. Cochin is the commercial capital of Kerala with its modern part Ernakulum and the old peninsular district of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry, Cochin is situated on the southwest coast of the Indian peninsula. Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin was an important spice-trading center on the Arabian Sea coast from the 14th century onwards. It was the first European colonial settlement in India. First Portuguese followed by Dutch and British ruled over here till 19th century. On arrival check into the hotel later proceed for sightseeing to Fort Cochin and Mattancherry (Overnight at Cochin) - Transport only for arrival transfer
Interesting place to be covered by camera:
" Chinese fishing type
" Vembanad lake
" Arabian sea
" Cochin harbor
" Dutch cementery
" Synagogue ( Only out side of Shrine)

27 FEB DAY 13: COCHIN / SIGHTSEEING.
After breakfast we can go for sightseeing tour to the old part of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. Here you visit 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 fishing market and the famous Chinese fishing net - believed having been brought by trader from Kubla Khan's court in China. In the evening at 5:45 p.m. you attend the popular classical dance-drama of Kerala "Kathakali". This dramatized presentation of a play usually based on the Hindu epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas has a unique combination of literature, music, painting, acting and dance. This dance drama is famous for amazing costumes, very extensive make up, and explosive body movement and is performed exclusively by male. (Overnight stay at Cochin).
Jewish Synagogue & Dutch Palace are closed on Friday & Saturday
Interesting place to be covered by camera:
" Kathakali performers and their way of make up
" Kathakali dance

28 FEB DAY 14: COCHIN - ATHIRAMPALLI (75Kms/1.5hrs).
After breakfast checkout from the hotel and drive towards Athirampally. The waterfall is a popular picnic spot. Affording the onlookers, one of the most bewitching sights, Athirappally Falls is about 80 feet high and located in the forest area. Combined with the greenery, it infuses freshness into any tired soul. The Athirapally Falls join the Chalakkudy River after plummeting a drop of 80 feet. A tranquil and much needed escape from the troubles and stress of life. Let the soothing sounds take you to some of natures most relaxing places - the beautiful waterfalls of Athirampally and Vazhachal. The charm of the Athirampally and Vazhachal nature cannot be described by words, Starting calmly from the high ranges, and crashing through gorges overhung with trees, this waterfall is one of the best places in India to re-capture a real sense of the classical idea of the 'Picturesque' - not just calm and sweet, but something wild and natural. (Overnight stay in Athirampalli)
Interesting place to be covered by camera:
" Athirampalli water falls
" Vazhachal water falls

01 MAR DAY 15: ATHIRAMPALLI - COCHIN (DEPARTURE) (75Kms/1.5hrs).
After breakfast checkout from the hotel and drive to Cochin airport for boarding the flight to your home country.