Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala: Discover their remarkable cities, thought-provoking temples and astonishing natural wonders.
Less familiar than the north, visiting the south of India is an incredible journey of discovery: we'll see amazing thousand-year old rock-cut and granite temples, intricately carved, rising to over 200ft high, packed with pilgrims and devotees and remarkable forts, mansions and churches from British, French, Dutch and Portuguese colonial periods. We'll sail on converted rice barges through the tranquil backwaters of Kerala and walk through fragrant spice plantations and pristine tropical forests of the Western Ghats. Staying in colonial hotels, lakeside bungalows, thatched cottages and hundred-year old original traders' mansions and we'll experience a cuisine and hospitality renowned throughout India. All blended together; this outstanding eclectic mix will ignite your imagination.
Southern India and specifically the vast states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, are worlds away from New Delhi, Agra or Rajasthan. It's much more laid back here, slower paced and a simpler way of life. There are no deserts here and lush fertile land yields plentiful harvests of rice and every sort of tropical fruit. In the higher elevations of the Malabar Hills in the Western Ghats, the altitude and temperature are perfect for every type of spice - the 'black gold' of 500 years ago was not oil but pepper from these very hills. Vast fortunes were made and lost, battles and campaigns were fought and colonies founded just to control the spice trade. We'll stay in Kumily, at 2,600ft, markedly cooler than the plains below, with its lush spice plantations and Kerala's best-known Nature Reserve, Periyar, where we'll explore the enchanting forest during a fascinating walk with a naturalist guide.
The great temple cities of Tanjore and Madurai are quite unique - there is nothing like them anywhere else in India. The astonishing craftsmanship and sheer scale of these temples is extraordinary. But the real beauty here is that they are not mere tourist attractions; they are working Hindu shrines, many locals visit daily and many more travel great distances. You'll see young people and families, from every walk of life, coming to pay their respects.
In Chennai, we'll visit Fort St George, the British fortification where Clive of India first rose to prominence from a lowly clerk with no military training, to a Major-General securing India for the East India Company and ultimately the British Crown. The fascinating museum houses some of his letters, period military uniforms, cannons and arms.
Less familiar than the north, visiting the south of India is an incredible journey of discovery: we'll see amazing thousand-year old rock-cut and granite temples, intricately carved, rising to over 200ft high, packed with pilgrims and devotees and remarkable forts, mansions and churches from British, French, Dutch and Portuguese colonial periods. We'll sail on converted rice barges through the tranquil backwaters of Kerala and walk through fragrant spice plantations and pristine tropical forests of the Western Ghats. Staying in colonial hotels, lakeside bungalows, thatched cottages and hundred-year old original traders' mansions and we'll experience a cuisine and hospitality renowned throughout India. All blended together; this outstanding eclectic mix will ignite your imagination.
Southern India and specifically the vast states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, are worlds away from New Delhi, Agra or Rajasthan. It's much more laid back here, slower paced and a simpler way of life. There are no deserts here and lush fertile land yields plentiful harvests of rice and every sort of tropical fruit. In the higher elevations of the Malabar Hills in the Western Ghats, the altitude and temperature are perfect for every type of spice - the 'black gold' of 500 years ago was not oil but pepper from these very hills. Vast fortunes were made and lost, battles and campaigns were fought and colonies founded just to control the spice trade. We'll stay in Kumily, at 2,600ft, markedly cooler than the plains below, with its lush spice plantations and Kerala's best-known Nature Reserve, Periyar, where we'll explore the enchanting forest during a fascinating walk with a naturalist guide.
The great temple cities of Tanjore and Madurai are quite unique - there is nothing like them anywhere else in India. The astonishing craftsmanship and sheer scale of these temples is extraordinary. But the real beauty here is that they are not mere tourist attractions; they are working Hindu shrines, many locals visit daily and many more travel great distances. You'll see young people and families, from every walk of life, coming to pay their respects.
In Chennai, we'll visit Fort St George, the British fortification where Clive of India first rose to prominence from a lowly clerk with no military training, to a Major-General securing India for the East India Company and ultimately the British Crown. The fascinating museum houses some of his letters, period military uniforms, cannons and arms.
- Visit Chennai’s Fort St George, where Clive of India began his glittering career
- Tour of elegant Pondicherry, a French colonial outpost until 1954
- See the breathtaking Meenakshi Amman Temple of Madurai, southern India’s greatest cultural icon, plus enjoy a tuk tuk ride and explore the bustling markets
- Cruise overnight the picturesque backwaters and canals of Kerala on a houseboat
- Visit to Periyar National Park and enjoy a nature walk through primeval virgin forest
- See the extraordinary World Heritage Site of Tanjore’s Brihadeeswara Temple
- Visit Cochin on the Malabar Coast, India’s first European colony, settled by the Portuguese, Dutch and finally, the British
- Explore the fascinating Chettinad region, visiting and staying in one of its extraordinary traders’ mansions
- Visit a 500-acre spice plantation high up in the stunning Western Ghats to learn how the most popular spices are grown
