Gems of Sri Lanka & South India

Colombo – Negombo – Sigiriya (183 km, & 04 Hrs)

On arrival at Colombo International airport, meet, assist & drive to Sigiriya. En route visit Negombo fish market on the beach. Negombo is at the northern end of a lagoon that is renowned for its lobsters, crabs and prawns. PM visit Sigiriya. The town is famous for its Rock, Gardens and Sanctuary. A must-visit this giant rock rises above the surrounding plains to a height of 200m, and served as the palatial fortress and home of one of Sri Lanka’s early Kings in the 5th century AD. And it is declared as one of the UNESCO world heritage site. Later arrive at the hotel,

Check in & overnight at the hotel.

Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Anuradhapura – Sigiriya (236 km, & 05 Hrs)

AM excursion of Polonnaruwa a UNESCO world heritage city. It is one of the famous ancient cities of best planned archaeological relic sites in the country with many well preserved ruins of palaces and monasteries.The second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated Cholas invaders in 1070 to reunite the country once more under a local leader.

PM continue visit of Anuradhapura, the ruins of this first capital founded in the 05th century BC. Anuradhapura has the largest number of ancient monuments found in one great civilization and a UNESCO World Heritage city. Visit Ruwanweli stupa or the Mahatupa is a Bubble shaped dome which covers the Relic Chamber of Lord Gautama Buddha's bodily remains and is a very sacred place for the Buddhists. Also visit twin pond, and stone bridge. Drive back to Sigiriya.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Sigiriya – Dambulla –Kandy (95 km, & 03 Hrs)

AM drive to Kandy. En route visit Dambulla, situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka with the largest deposits of rose-quartz in South Asia. Here you will visit the Rock cave temple, a UNESCO world heritage site. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, a vast isolated rock mass with its five caverns is the largest best preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. Continue drive to Kandy. Also visit a spice garden & batik factory in Matale. On arrival at Kandy, check in at the hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Kandy – Pinnawala – Kandy (85 km, & 03 Hrs)

AM excursion to Pinnawala, where you will visit the Elephant orphanage. The orphanage was established to feed, nurse & house young elephants found abandoned by their mothers. Witness the feeding of elephants & observe them as they take their daily bath in the river nearby, which gives marvelous photo opportunities.

Later drive back to Kandy. In the Evening you will visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. There after enjoy the Kandyan Cultural show at the Kandyan Arts & Cultural Centre. The show features the graceful and rhythmic dancers and drummers culminating in an impressive fire walking display.

Overnight at the hotel.

Kandy – Peradeniya – Nuwara Eliya (86 km, & 03 Hrs)

AM drive to Nuwara Eliya. En route visit Peradeniya royal botanical garden which is well known for its variety of plants which has more than 5000 species of ornamental, decorative, useful & medicinal plants.  The garden is best known for its collection of orchids the largest in Asia. Continue drive to Nuwara Eliya the 'heart' of the tea country. Here you will visit a tea factory and witness how the raw green leaf which was plucked is converted to the familiar dark brown product through a process of drying, cutting, rolling and fermentation. At the factory, also learn to taste tea and try to identify the subtle differences in flavor produced at the factory.

On arrival at the hotel, check in & overnight stay at the hotel.

Nuwara Eliya – Yala (191 km, & 04 Hrs)

AM drive to Kataragama, Drive past the picturesque valley of Ella which offers spectacular views of the southern mountains and highlands. Also visit the statue of Buddha at Buduruwagala. Continue drive to Yala & en route visit the sacred city of Kataragama.

On arrival at Yala, check in at the hotel and embark on a safari to the Yala national park is the second biggest national park in Sri Lanka. Small & large herds of elephants, spotted deer, monkeys-the pinkish rhesus and the Grey-faced Langur monkey, wild buffalo, wild boar and found in abundance at this national park.

Yala– Galle – Colombo (295 km, & 05 Hrs)

AM drive to Colombo, En route view the still fisherman of Weligama fishing and also visit the old Portuguese fort, later rebuilt and extended by the Dutch.

Continue drive to Colombo. En route visit the fortified city of Galle. Here the Dutch fort, a UNESCO world heritage site, was built in 1663, which after more than 423 years maintains a polished appearance. Many Old Dutch buildings are still intact inside the fort.

On arrival at Colombo, check in at the hotel. PM visit the commercial center, Pettah Colombo's bustling bazaar area, a cinnamon garden, which consists of large residences.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

AM transfer to Colombo international airport for connect flight to Cochin.On arrival at Cochin, meet, assist & transfer to hotel.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Cochin – Alleppey (58 km, & 02 Hrs)

AM embark on a city tour of Cochin. Visit the St. Francis Church which is the oldest European Church in India.Also visit the Santa Cruz Basilica originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese. The Dutch Palace, Spice market at the narrow streets. Fort is famous for Chinese fishing nets, picturesque beaches and architectural style of the buildings. European style is clearly evident and that makes this small town stands apart from other towns in Kerala.

Later drive to Alleppey, referred to as the 'Venice of the East' by travelers from across the world, Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty. Caressed by the Arabian Sea in the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and freshwater rivers crisscrossing it, this backwater country shelters some unique animal and bird life.

On arrival at the jetty, embark on an overnight Rice boat cruise along the backwaters of Alleppey to Kumarakom which offer magical views of the life on the banks of these backwaters in Kerala.

Overnight stay onthe boat.

Kumarakom – Periyar (64 km, & 02 Hrs)

AM disembark at the Kumarakom jetty & drive to Thekkady. On arrival at Thekkady, check in at the hotel. PM embark on a boat cruise to the Periyar National Park which has a huge of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. The Periyar forests of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India. Later visit Kerala spice foundation and the town of tea factories.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Thekkady – Madurai (138 km, & 04 Hrs)

Morning drive to Madurai the second largest city in Tamil Nadu the city is referred as a "Athens of the East". On arrival, check into hotel Later visit great Meenaskhi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering Gopurams, rising high above the surrounding township. Later visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - a gracious building in the Indo-Saracenic style, famous for the stucco work on us domes and arches. Also visit the Algar Hills and TiruparaKundran Rock Temple. Later visit TirumalaiNayak Palace is Madurai's second biggest attraction. It is built in 1636 by the king Thirumalai Nayak, also visit Gandhi Memorial Museum, Saint Mary's Cathedral

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Madurai – Trichy – Tanjore (190 km, & 04 Hrs)

Morning depart Madurai by surface for Tanjore, en-route visiting Trichy. Here you will visit the ancient temples dedicated to Lord Ganapathi, 434 steps cut out into the rock side and interspersed with shrines, lead to the temple and yet another flight leads to the temple of Lord Shiva. The ascent is climaxed by magnificent view of the sacred Kaveri River. Visit Srirangam, a massive temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu which contains within its walls a bazaar, as well. On arrival check into hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Full day excursion to Dharasuram, Kumbakonam, Gangakondacholapuram. Dharasuram is famous for its Airatesvara Temple built in the middle 12th century, a superb example of Chola architecture. Stories from the epics are depicted on this sculpture. Kumbakonam is noted for its innumerable temples with their colorful semi-erotic sculptures. Sarangapani Temple is the largest Vishnu temple and Kumbeshwara is the largest Shiva temple there. 35 km north of Kumbakonam. Gangakondacholapuram was built by one of the Chola emperors in the early 11th century in the style of the Brihadishwara Temple at Thanjavur (Tanjore). The ornate tower is about 55 meter high. Close to the temple there is a museum exhibiting the remains of a palace that once stood nearby.

Overnight at the hotel.

Tanjore –Mahabalipuram (300 km, & 05 Hrs)

Morning depart by surface for Mahabalipuram and on arrival check into hotel. Mamallapuram occupies a stunning position on a rocky outcrop between the beach and a lagoon. Built by the Pallava rulers in the seventh century the complex comprises of 14 cave-temples, nine monolithic "Rathas", three stone temples and two relief sculptured rock panels. These two rock-panels give a graphic description of Arjuna's penance when he prayed for the powers of Shiva and form the largest Bass Relief in the world. Particularly of interest is the shore temple built on the water's edge with an east-facing altar designed to catch the rising Sub, this has now been declared a World Heritage Site.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day free at leisure for time at the beach.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Mahabalipuram - Chennai (56 km, & 02 Hrs)

AM free at leisure. Later assisted departure transfer to Chennai International airport for connect flight to your home destination.