The Golden Chariot - Southern Splendour - Itinerary

Tour Details: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Places Covered: Bangalore - Chennai - Mamallapuram - Pondicherry - Tiruchirapalli & Thanjavur - Madurai - Thiruvananthapuram & Poovar - Backwaters & Kochi Bangalore

Day 1

Bangalore

12.00 noon: - Check-in at the Leela Palace followed by lunch at Jamawar or Citrus

03:00 pm: - Depart for Bangalore sightseeing: Tippu's Palace, Bull Temple & Lalbagh

08:00pm: - Arrive at Yeshwantpur Railway Station, Platform No. 6; to a Traditional Indian welcome. Dinner on board The Golden Chariot.

10:00 pm: - Depart to Chennai

Day 1 - Bangalore Alternate Itinerary*

11am onwards: - Check in at Our Native Village

12 Noon to 2.00 pm: - Lunch

2.30 pm to 3.00 pm: - Briefing on The Golden Chariot

3.00 pm to 3.30 pm: - What is it that makes us a 100% eco resort - Resort tour

3.30 pm to 4.00 pm: - The Revivalist movement - Art and culture tour

4.00 pm to 4.30 pm: - Living an organic life - Herbal & Medicinal plant tour, Organic farm tour

4.30 pm to 5.30 pm: - Pottery session & Explore the simplicity of village games - playing Indian village games & Bullock cart rides

6.00 pm to 6.30 pm: - Rest and depart to Yeshwantpur Railway Station
*Optional itinerary for those who do not opt for Leela Palace check-in and Bangalore sight seeing.

Day 2

Chennai

6.00 am - Arrival in Chennai

8.00 am - Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot

9.00 am - A drive through the Beach road

9:50 am - A visit to the famous St. Thomas Church

11:30 am - A visit to the Cholamandala Art Village - Art & Sculpture gallery.

Mahabalipuram

1:30 pm - Lunch at GRT Temple Bay.

4:30 pm - Guided tour of Five Ratha's Temple, Shore Shiva Temple and the caves.

6.30 pm - Drive back to Chennai railway station

8:00 pm - Dinner on board the Golden Chariot.

11:00 pm - Depart to Pondicherry. Overnight in the train.

Day 3

Pondicherry

7:00 am - Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot

9:30 am - A tour through Auroville - Ashram and Matrimandir

1:30 pm - Lunch onboard The Golden Chariot.

4:30 pm - A visit to the French town, shopping or take a stroll in the pristine beach.

7:00 pm - Reach the Eco-Dune Resort for cultural show followed by dinner.

11:00 pm - Depart for Trichy. Overnight in the train.

Day 4

Tanjore

5:00 am - Arrive in Trichy

7:00 am - Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot.

11:00 am - A visit to the Brihadeshwara temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1:00 pm - Lunch at Sangam Hotel

4:30 pm - Drive back to Trichy

7:00 pm - Dinner onboard The Golden Chariot and later depart to Madurai.

Day 5

Madurai

7:00 am - Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot

9:30 am - A visit to the famed Meenakshi temple

11:00 am - Madurai market tour

1:00 pm - Lunch onboard The Golden Chariot

4:30 pm - Shopping at Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium

6:00 pm - Light & Sound show at the Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal

8:00 pm - Dinner and traditional folk art show at The Heritance. Overnight in the train.

Day 6

Thiruvananthapuram / Kovalam

5.30 am - Depart to Thiruvananthapuram. During the day journey enjoy the scenic beauty of the remote locales of Tamilnadu and Kerala.

7:00 am - Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot

12:30 pm - Arrive at Thiruvananthapuram

12:30 pm - City tour and shopping

1:30 pm - Lunch onboard The Golden Chariot. Relax and enjoy the facilities onboard The Golden Chariot.

5:00 pm - A stroll through Kovalam beach

7:30 pm - Gala dinner and cultural show at The Taj Green Cove Resort, Kovalam.
Overnight in the train while it departs for Alleppey.

Day 7

Thotapalli / Alleppey

5.00 am - Depart to Alleppey

7:00 am - Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot.

8:30 am - Arrive at Alleppey

9:00 am - Houseboat cruise

1.00 pm - Lunch at the Poonamallee restaurant

3:00 pm - Arrive at Kochi

3:30 pm - Visit the Jewish Synagogue, church and the Dutch palace at Fort Kochi.

6:00 pm - Sunset cruise followed by gala dinner and cultural show at the Brunton boatyard.

11:00 pm - Depart to Bangalore. Overnight in the train.

Day 8

7:00 am - Breakfast onboard

- Arrival at Yeshwanthpur railway station and farewell by the entire crew.