SOUTH INDIA : JOURNEY OF TEMPLES AND NATURE
Chennai – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry – Tanjore – Madurai – Kottayam – Cochin – Calicut – Mysore – Bangalore.
Bewitching, fascinating, disconcerting, paradoxical… India is so multifaceted that a lifetime would not be enough to grasp all its richness. Over the course of our encounters, it is often our certainties and landmarks that collapse in the face of this state-continent of a billion inhabitants, six times the size of France. Here, the Hindu majority coexists with Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Jain and Parsi minorities, in a linguistic mosaic that includes 22 official languages and more than 1,600 recognized dialects. There, you don’t just discover a country… one discovers oneself.
Welcome to India! Welcome by your English-speaking guide, who will accompany you throughout your tour. Transfer to the hotel in Mahabalipuram and lunch on site.
Mahabalipuram: on the Tamil coast, the Pallava dynasty established a trading port, from where it exported its culture to Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam in the seventh and eighth centuries. The city seduces with its stonemasons, its tranquillity and the hospitality of its inhabitants.
In the afternoon, visit the site: temples, bas-relief frescoes and sculpted caves illustrating the great Hindu myths, all masterpieces of Pallava art.
The discovery of the Descent of the Ganges, or "Arjuna's Penance", a spectacular fresco carved into the rock; visit the Five Rathas, monolithic temples carved into the rock, and the Temple of the Shore, emblem of Mahabalipuram, built of granite by the sea. Protective vegetation and a rock protect this jewel from spray and erosion.
End of the day. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Departure for Pondicherry, a former French trading post nestled on the shores of the Indian Ocean.
This peaceful place keeps the memory of three centuries of French presence alive. Founded in 1673 by François Martin, Pondicherry comes from the Tamil Putuccēri which means "the new village". From its foundation in the seventeenth century, Pondicherry was structured into two distinct areas: the European Quarter, nicknamed the "White City", and the traditional Tamil Quarters, sometimes referred to as the "Black City". Today, this division no longer officially exists, but the organization of the city still bears the traces of it. The White City, with its orthogonal streets, colonial buildings and institutions with European architecture, contrasts with the bustling alleys, temples and markets of the Tamil side. This duality is what makes Pondicherry so charming and testifies to its multicultural past.
Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and have lunch.
In the afternoon, discover the old French city: the Museum, the Lycée Français, the French School of the Far East, the Church of Notre-Dame des Anges, Cluny, the war memorial, the statue of Dupleix and that of Gandhi on the seafront.
Depart early in the morning to enjoy the freshness and maximize the time spent in Tanjore.
Tanjore was the capital of the Chola Kingdom, one of the most powerful empires in South India. Today it is a city known for its cultural richness, its Carnatic music, its traditional painting (Tanjore painting) and especially for its monumental temple.
Visit to Brihadeeswarar Temple
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; this temple is an architectural marvel built in 1010 by King Raja Raja Chola I. It is dedicated to Shiva and has one of the largest Lingams in India. The main tower (vimana) rises to more than 60 meters, carved from a single piece of granite. The whole is adorned with detailed carvings and ancient frescoes in the Dravidian style.
Departure for MADURAI.
Arrive at the hotel and check-in.
Buffet breakfast.
You are in the heart of Tamil country. You will discover the city and the fascinating temple of Meenakshi-Sundareshvara, a masterpiece of Vijayanagar style. Admire an impressive profusion of columns and corridors adorned with numerous statues, in a lively atmosphere imbued with the faith of the Hindu faithful.
Visit the 17th-century Tirumali Nayak Palace, built in the Indo-Muslim style with an Italian influence. Take a moment to stroll through the market. Madurai is renowned for its silk and finely crafted wood carvings.
Return to your hotel for lunch.
Free time with your guide and transportation available. You can go back to the Meenakshi Temple Market to enjoy more and do some souvenir shopping.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to Periyar, one of the most beautiful reserves in India located in the heart of the mountains. This park covers 777 km2 in part of the Western Ghats, a high mountain range. Periyar is home to a splendid artificial lake surrounded by forests populated by water birds such as heron, egret and kingfisher. This habitat is ideal for Asian elephants.
Upon arrival, lunch at the hotel.
In the afternoon, guided tour of the gardens and spice plantations. Ayurvedic massage is available.
At the end of the afternoon, we checked into the hotel. Dinner and overnight on site.
Drive through the Cardamom Mountains, crossing the plantations of tea, rubber trees and spices (pepper, nutmeg, cardamom...) towards Kottayam.
Continue the journey to the pier to board the traditional houseboats called Kettuvallam, for a peaceful cruise on the backwaters of Kerala. These tranquil canals will take you through lush tropical countryside, lined with coconut palms and verdant rice paddies, between lagoons and small floating villages where local boats glide.
The houseboats have a bedroom with private bathroom, a kitchen with a traditional Puthenangadi cook, a navigator/guide, and a platform to admire the landscape.
Lunch, dinner and overnight on board.
Breakfast on board.
Disembarkation in Alleppey, then drive to Cochin, nicknamed "the Queen of the Arabian Sea", which is home to India's largest natural harbour. Cochin is a group of islands and cities, marking one of the first anchor points of Europeans in India as early as 1500, with the arrival of Vasco da Gama, who died here in 1524 as Portuguese Viceroy of the Indies. Cochin is now one of the main commercial ports of Kerala.
Free time in the antique dealers' district, then in the late afternoon, walk on the seafront, famous for its Chinese fishing nets – impressive devices inherited from the first Asian sailors.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
After breakfast.
Visit the Paradesi Synagogue (closed on Fridays and Saturdays), dating from 1568, the oldest in the Commonwealth, and the Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays), also known as Mattancherry Palace, notable for its sacred murals among the most beautiful in South India.
Lunch in town or at the hotel.
In the early evening, head to the traditional theatre: you will first attend the make-up of the artists, then a performance of Kathakali, a spectacular art combining dance, mime and theatre, inspired by the great epics of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Early breakfast, then transfer to Cochin train station to take the train to Calicut. On arrival, continue by road (about 3h30 of journey) to Wayanad.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel.
After lunch, depart for a day of exploring the heritage village of Nellarachal, located on pristine land bordered by water on three sides. This authentic village is renowned for its spices, plantations, and tribal communities.
Meet Vellan, one of the last tribal artisans to make the Thudi, a traditional instrument used by the Paniya tribes of Wayanad. Her house is located about 20 km from Kalpetta.
Uravu Bamboo Craft Village: this craft center managed by an NGO allows you to explore ancestral know-how around bamboo. You will also discover plantations of spices (coffee, tea, cardamom) and rare Ayurvedic plants, typical of the Wayanad hills.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast and departure to Mysore.
Arrive at the hotel and check in.
After lunch,
Visit the sumptuous Maharajah's Palace, which testifies to the splendour of India's princely courts: fluted pillars, minarets, domes, canopies, onion domes... The interior is full of wonders: grandiose halls and corridors, ornate silver portals, mahogany domes, coloured glass ceilings, not to mention the fabulous golden throne, surrounded by mysteries and legends.
Walk through the local market, full of colours and scents. Mysore is renowned for its sandalwood, silk sarees and incense, produced in family-run workshops. You'll discover Devaraja Market, famous for its brightly coloured fruits, vegetables, and powders.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Departure by road to Somnathpur, taking a pleasant country road. Visit the Keshava Temple, a remarkable star-shaped building, whose walls are entirely covered with magnificent stone carvings, a masterpiece of Hoysala architecture.
Take the opportunity to stroll through the village of Somnathpur, with its colourful houses and friendly locals, who are often happy to pose for a photo if you ask them with a smile.
Continue the day to the fortress island of Srirangapatna for the visit of the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, a sacred place classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dedicated to Vishnu.
Lunch during the visit.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure by road towards Bangalore, the dynamic capital of Karnataka.
Lunch on site.
In the afternoon, walk in the botanical garden, a real haven of greenery in the heart of the city and visit TIPU SULTAN summer palace. Lunch at a local restaurant and transfer to the airport.
Departure for the night flight to Brussels (no hotel).