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SAT 25 FEB DEPART USA
Depart USA
DAY 01 (SATURDAY) ARRIVE BENGALURU
Arrive Bengaluru International airport
On arrival transfer to Taj West End Hotel (Luxury Room)
Hotel check in 14:00 hours
Overnight at hotel.
DAY 02 (SUNDAY) BENGALURU
Morning sightseeing tour of Bengaluru city.
Formally known as Bangalore, the “Garden City” because of its numerous parks and avenues of jacaranda, gulmohur and cassia. Visit Tipu’s Summer Palace, originally built by Tipu Sultan’s father, Haider Ali and completed by Tipu in 1791. The Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, built by Haider Ali in 1760 and the Bull Temple at Basavanagudi which is home to the huge 5m high black granite ‘Nandi’ bull are both worth visiting. Drive past the magnificent Vidhan Soudha, the State legislature built in 1956, and for those all-important souvenirs, a trip to the Mysore Arts and Crafts Centre is essential.
Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight at hotel.
DAY 03 (MONDAY) BENGALURU – GOLDEN CHARIOT SPLENDOR OF THE SOUTH
Morning at leisure
Note: Hotel check out at 12:00 hours
15:00 – 16:00 hours Check-in for Golden Chariot at Taj West End
16:00 – 17:00 hours High Tea at Banquet Hall
17:00 – 17:30 hours Presentation on The Golden Chariot tour, Dos and Don’ts, safety and security, etc.
20:00 hours Arrival at Yeshwantpur Railway Station, Platform No – 6
20:00-20:30 hours Traditional Indian welcome at platform and escorting to respective cabins onboard The Golden Chariot
Dinner onboard
22:00 hours Departure to Chennai
Overnight on board the train.
DAY 04 (TUESDAY) MAMALLAPURAM AND CHENNAI
06:00 hours Arrive at Chennai
08:00 hours Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
09:00 hours Excursion to Mamallapuram (approximately 01 hour drive each way)
Excursion to Mamallapuram, an ancient coastal port, south of Chennai, world famous for its shore temple.
Lunch at Mamallapuram
After lunch proceed to visit the city of Chennai
Chennai – India’s fourth largest city, is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu.
Proceed for a sightseeing tour of Chennai. The tour begins from the ‘St. Mary’s Church’, built in 1678 – 80, was the first English Church in Chennai. Also visit the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, an ancient Shiva Temple, constructed in pure Dravidian style. Other attractions include the National Art Gallery and Museum, which house some beautiful temple friezes, the bronze gallery, and archeological section. Drive past the High Court Building, Fort St. George and the famous film studios. Towards the evening return to the train and dinner onboard.
18:30 hours Drive back to Chennai Railway Station
20:00 hours Dinner onboard The Golden Chariot
23:00 hours Depart to Puducherry
Overnight on board the train
DAY 05 (WEDNESDAY) PUDUCHERRY
Puducherry – In the Northern Tamil Nadu region,is quite a contrast to the temple heritage.Sightseeing tour of Puducherry, visiting Auroville.
08:00 hours Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
09:30 hours A tour through Auroville – Ashram and Matrimandir Sightseeing tour of Puducherry, visiting Auroville
13:30 hours Lunch onboard The Golden Chariot
22:00 hours After dinner depart for Tiruchirapalli
Overnight on board the train.
DAY 06 (THURSDAY) TIRUCHIRAPALLI AND THANJAVUR
05:00 hours Arrive at Tiruchirapalli
07:00 hours Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
Trichy (Tiruchirapalli) – Situated on the banks of the River Kaveri,is just 320 kms from Chennai. Finally at the top of the hill, is the Ucchi Pillayar Koil – A Lord Ganesh Temple, offering a commanding view of the city.
Proceed for a sightseeing tour of Tanjore (approximately 02 hours and 30 minutes drive each way) where you will visit temples built during the 10th and 14th centuries.
16:30 hours Drive back to Tiruchirapalli
19:00 hours Dinner onboard The Golden Chariot and later depart to Madurai
Overnight on board the train.
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DAY 07 (FRIDAY) MADURAI
08:00 hours Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
09:30 hours A visit to the famous Meenakshi temple
11:00 hours Lunch on board The Golden Chariot
Proceed for a sightseeing tour of Madurai – The primary interest is the Meenakshi Temple (only Hindus are allowed inside this temple). The tour also includes a visit to the – Thirumalai Nayak Palace & Thiruparangundram temple.
Overnight on board the train.
DAY 08 (SATURDAY) KANYAKUMARI – THIRUVANANTHAPURAM AND KOVALAM
The tour begins in the morning with Sunrise at Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari is the southern most district of Tamilnadu state.
Breakfast and Lunch will be served on board and in the afternoon depart to Thiruvananthapuram. Visit Palace of Thiruvananthpuram and stroll through Kovalam Beach. In the evening there will be a Gala Dinner and Cultural Show at The Leela Kovalam.
Overnight in train while it departs for Alleppey.
07:00 hours Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
12:30 hours Arrive at Thiruvananthapuram
13:30 hours Lunch onboard The Golden Chariot Relax and enjoy the facilities on board The Golden Chariot.
17:00 hours A stroll through Kovalam beach
19:30 hours Gala dinner and cultural show at The Leela Kempinski Hotel, Kovalam
Overnight on board the train.
DAY 09 (SUNDAY) BACKWATERS AND KOCHI
09:00 hours Arrive at Alappuzha
From Alappuzha enjoy the bewitching Vembanad lake, the largest backwater stretch in Kerala, cruising along in a traditional boat. We will take you to Kumarakom, one of the prime tourist attractions of Kerala. On reaching Kumarakom, you enter another world of wonders. This small backwater village, which is a cluster of islands, has a life of its own, with a slow, serene rhythm.
Lunch at Kumarakom and afterwards drive to Kochi
On arrival sightseeing tour of Kochi city (Jewish Synagogue is closed on Friday and Saturday and Mattancherry Palace is closed on Friday)
The tour of Kochi begins from “The Dutch Palace also known as Mattancherry Palace, built by Portugues in 1555. Adjacent to the palace is the Jewish Synagogue (closed on Fridays & Saturdays) built in 1568. Also visit the St. Francis Church (closed on Sundays), established by the Portuguese Franciscan friars in 1503.
The tour also includes a visit to the seaside where one can still see the, nearly a century old Chinese fishing nets, which, are still in use.
In the evening enjoy Kathakali dance and dinner
22:00 hours Depart to Bengaluru
Overnight on board the train .
DAY 10 (MONDAY) BENGALURU (DISEMBARK THE GOLDEN CHARIOT)
07:00 hours Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot.
Arrive Yeswanthpur railway station, farewell by the entire crew On arrival transfer to Taj West End Hotel (Luxury Room)
Note: Hotel check in 14:00 hours
Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight at hotel
DAY 11 (TUESDAY) DEPART BENGALURU
Note: Hotel check out 12:00 hours
Later transfer to Bengaluru International airport to board flight for onward journey
Overnight at hotel.
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