1. CHENNAI DANCE FESTIVAL
COCHIN + BACKWATER + PERIYAR + MADURAI + TANJORE +
MAHABALIPURAM + CHENNAI
Chennai music and dance festival is a celebration of classical music and dance of South India
(Carnatic Music) held during mid December to mid January in the capital city of Chennai. The
festival is held at a number of venues around the city by various organizations.
Chennai music and dance festival is a celebration of classical music and dance of South India
held during mid December to mid January in the capital city of Chennai. Besides the
auditoriums, well-known temple premises and heritage bungalows are being used as venues.
The month long dance and music extravaganza will have performances of famous artistes from
various parts of India.

2. The 'Chennai festival of dance and music' started early back in 1927, to commemorate the
anniversary of Madras Music Academy every December, was later adopted by various
organizations which held art festivals in different parts of the city. The Tamil month of
'Margazhi' is a sacred month of the Hindus. South Indian classical music (Carnatic Music),
which has its roots in devotion to the gods, has been a traditional form of worship from time
immemorial.
Day 01: COCHIN ARRIVAL
Fly to Cochin. On arrival in Cochin, you will be Greeted and Escorted by Indo Asia Tour
Executive to your Hotel. On arrival at hotel check in. (Room will be available from 1200 Noon)
Cochin or Kochi, as it is called now, is till date influenced by medieval Portugal, Holland and
England. The city displays a blend of different people and architecture and it is one place where
you can see a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, Dutch architecture, Mosques, Hindu
temples and Chinese fishing nets all in one day.
Overnight at the Hotel

3. Day 02: COCHIN
After breakfast visit St. Francis Church built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars where
Vasco da Gama was buried for 14 years before his remains were transferred to Lisbon. Nearby
is the Mattancherry Palace or "Dutch Palace". The central hall on the Ist floor was the
coronation hall of the rajas of Kochi.
Also visit Jew City with the Jewish Synagogue, constructed in 1568, with hand-painted,
willow-pattern floor tiles brought from Canton in the mid-18th century by a Rabbi, who had
trading interest in that city.
Evening enthrall yourself with a special presentation of the colorfully costumed Kathakali
Dance Drama. This mask dance form is originally from Kerala and 1500 years old. This classical
dance has 24 mudras expressing the nine emotions of serenity, wonder, kindness, love, valour,
fear, contempt, loathing and anger. Usually performed by males
Overnight in the hotel

4. Day 03: COCHIN – BACKWATER
After breakfast drive to the jetty to board Houseboat (Kettuvallom) on the World famous
Backwaters of Kerala.
"Kettu" literally means to tie up and "Vallom" means " boats". The boats played a major role in
the economic development of ancient Kerala, moving cargo and men from the very nook and
corner of otherwise unreachable area, cutting across the length and breadth of the land.
Enjoy your overnight stay in Kettuvallom
Day 04: BACKWATER – PERIYAR
After breakfast board down the Jetty and drive to drive to Periyar. Periyar National Park is a
unique wildlife sanctuary and is about 780 sq. km centered around an artificial lake fed by the
Periyar River.
On arrival check in at the hotel

5. Later enjoy game viewing by boats, which carry you through the jungle along convoluted
waterways and afford sightings of elephant, bison, deer and occasionally tiger. There are trees
more than 100 years old and over 50 m high.
Overnight in the hotel
Day 05: PERIYAR – MADURAI
After breakfast drive to Madurai.
Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamilnadu with the Dravidian culture reached its zenith in art,
architecture, palaces and temple buildings. Once the capital of powerful Nayaka kings, a
bustling city packed with pilgrims, businessmen, bullock carts and legions of rickshaw pullers.
On arrival transfer to the Hotel.
In the evening visit Meenakshi temple to watch the night ceremony, which is a hive of activity,
colorfully decorated temple elephant, flower sellers and performances by musicians.
Overnight in the Hotel

6. Day 06: MADURAI
After breakfast visit the city that offers a grand ceremonial tank of water called Mariamma with
its temple in the middle.
Visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a palace in Indo-Saracenic style built in 1636, with huge
domes and 240 columns rising to 12 m, a beautiful garden and an attached museum. The
celestial Pavilion an arcaded octagonal structure is curiously constructed in brick and mortar
without any supporting rafters.
Also visit the famous Meenakshi Temple that is an outstanding example of Vijaynagar temple
architecture. Meenakshi, the fish eyed goddess and the consort of Shiva has a temple to the
south and Sundareswarar (Shiva) a temple to the west. One of the biggest temples of India. Its
nine "Gopuram" Temple towers (23-30m) have wonderful stucco images of gods, goddesses and
animals from the Hindu mythology.
Overnight in the hotel

7. Day 07: MADURAI – TRICHY – TANJORE
After breakfast drive to Tanjjore.
Enroute visit Trichy / Tiruchirapalli whose skyline is dominated by the Rock Fort temple. The
temple can be reached by a steep flight of steps cut into a tunnel through the rock.
On arrival visit Sri Rangam; the superb temple complex spread over an island in the Cauvery
River. Later drive Tanjore. On arrival transfer to then hotel and check in.
Tanjore, once an old capital of the mighty Chola kings. Nowadays, Thanjavur is famous for its
mighty Shiva temples, its Chola bronzes in the Sarasvati Palace Museum and furthermore it is
one of the most famous centres of pilgrimage for the Christians, as Thanjavur is only some
kilometres away from Vailankanni. Our Lady of Good Health, popularly called "Our Lady of
Vailankanni" is in the small town of Vailankanni (with 5,000 residents) located on the shores of
the Bay of Bengal.
Overnight in the hotel

8. Day 08: TANJORE – MAHABALIPURAM
After breakfast visit the famous Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjore constructed by the Chola
Rajendra I in the 10th Cent. The temple is considered to be the culmination of the classic
architecture in South India.
Later drive to Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram, the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. This tiny sea - side
village of Mahabalipuram, is set in a boulder - strewn landscape. The sculpture, here, is
particularly interesting because it shows scenes of day-to- day life, in contrast with the rest of
the state of Tamil Nadu, where the carvings generally depict gods and goddesses.
On arrival transfer to the Hotel
Overnight in the Hotel

9. Day 09: MAHABALIPURAM
After breakfast visit the historical sites of the sea-side resort of Mahabalipuram: "City of Seven
Pagodas". The ancient Pallava port of Mamallapuram and its 7th century rock-hewn
monuments, magnificent rock temples and carvings transport you to the yesteryears. Visit the
Five Rathas (chariots) ceremonial chariots, rock-cut monoliths, named after the 5 Pandavas heroes of the Mahabharata epic and Draupadi their wife.
Next proceed to the Shore Temple by the sea surrounded by gardens designed according to
descriptions of the original layout from ancient times. Built in sandstone in the 7th century.
Also visit Bhagiratha's Penance which is a bas- relief (27m X 9m) sculptured on the face of two
enormous adjacent rocks. It depicts the penance of Arjuna alongwith myraid characters from
the Mahabharata, realistic life-size figures of animals, gods and saints watching the descent of
the river goddess Ganga to Earth.
Afternoon is free.

10. Overnight in the Hotel
Day 10: MAHABALIPURAM – CHENNAI
After breakfast check out at 1200 Noon. Later drive to Chennai
Chennai formerly Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu state. The city traces its origin to 1639
when Francis Day a trader with the British East India Company, built a trading post - Fort St.
George, near the village of Madraspatnam. Today Chennai is the fourth largest city of India
with a population of 9 million people. Also called as "Hollywood of India" it is the center for
making South Indian films.
On arrival check into the hotel
Overnight in the Hotel

11. Day 11: Chennai
After breakfast enjoy a tour of Chennai. Visit Kapaleshvara Temple in Mylapore, dedicated to
God Shiva and offers a good example of South Indian colourful temple architecture.
Fort St. George - a British trading post and powerful bastion and entrance to South India. The
16th century Portuguese old Cathedral of St. Thomas Church in which the remnants of St.
Thomas is buried who came to India in 52 AD.
Pass by the University built in Indo-sarscenic style, as well as 5 km long Marina Beach, a lovely
esplanade by the sea, and National Museum with sculptures from Pallava, Pandava and Chola
time which houses archaeology, art, exceptionally beautiful bronzes statues, with exhibits of
stone and iron age.
Later witness the dance festival.
Overnight in the Hotel

12. Day 12: Chennai
Day free to enjoy the Dance festival
Overnight in the Hotel
Day 13: Chennai Departure
On time transfer to the International Airport to board the flight for onwards journey
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