- Day 1 - Bangalore - Chennai
- Day 2 - Mamallapuram - Chennai
- Day 3 - Pondicherry
- Day 4 - Tiruchirapalli - Thanjavur
- Day 5 - Madurai
- Day 6 - Thiruvananthapuram - Poovar
- Day 7 - Backwaters - Kochi
- Day 8 - Bangalore (return)
Detailed itinerary of Splendor of the South
Browse through the detailed itinerary of the Splendor of the South as has been given below for your perusal:
Day 1 - Bangalore - Chennai
Arrive in Bangalore and embark on a sightseeing trip across the city. The attractions you can visit on this day are the Lal Bagh gardens, the enticing Cubbon Park, and the architecturally grand Vidhan Soudha. The Leela Palace will play your perfect host in the city before you will assemble at the Bangalore Railway Station in the evening where the enchanting sojourn of the Splendor of the South waits to begin.
Dinner onboard the Splendor of the South.
Depart for the next destination in the circuit - Chennai by 2200 hours.
Day 2 - Chennai - Mamallapuram
Arrive in Chennai at 0600 hours on the next day.
Board on an exciting excursion to Mamallapuram located at a distance of about 58 km from Chennai. The attractions that you can visit while here include the temple of Rathas, the Penance of Bhagirath, and most importantly the Shore Temple.
Savor on a delectable lunch at Mahabalipuram and move ahead for sightseeing in Chennai.
The various city attractions that you may visit while here include St. Mary’s Church, Saint Thomas Cathedral, and the Fort St. George, the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, the National Art Gallery and Museum etc.
Dinner will be served aboard the train before you will proceed on to Pondicherry.
Day 3 - Pondicherry
Arrive in Pondicherry early in the morning at about 0800 hours.
Post-breakfast you will board the excursion that will take you across the once-French colony - Pondicherry. The cobbled streets and the vast French styled mansions that are scattered around the city almost take one on a sojourn of France, rather than India. Feast yourself on the gorgeous attractions of Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Later, you will return to the train to proceed towards the next destination in the circuit, Tiruchirapalli.
You will arrive in Tiruchirapalli at 2200 hours.
Day 4 - Tiruchirapalli - Thanjavur
Post-breakfast you will take a tour across Tiruchirapalli that is also known as Trichy. Visit the Rock Fort temple, Mathrubhuteshwar Shrine, and the Ucchi Pillayar Koil that are housed here.
Later, you will proceed towards Thanjavur which is most significantly known for its temples and its paintings. The Brihadeshwara temple, Alangudi temple, Chandra Bagawan temple, and the Schwartz Church are a few of the topmost attractions that you will visit on this day.
Dinner and overnight stay in the train.
Day 5 - Madurai
Arrive in Madurai by 0800 hours.
An ancient seat of learning and pilgrimage, Madurai is a modern Indian city that is still basking in the glory of the yesteryears. Visit the Meenakshi temple, the majestic Thirumalai Nayak Palace and the Thiruparangundram temple.
Dinner and overnight stay in the train.
Day 6 - Thiruvananthapuram - Poovar
Arrive in the first destination of Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram that is also the capital city of the state. Attractions you will visit on this day will be Padmanabhaswamy temple, the Napier Museum, and the Sri Chitra Art Gallery.
Later, around lunch time you will arrive in the Poovar Island. After lunch, you may explore the beauty of the beach and enjoy some moments in leisure there.
A Gala dinner and music and dance performances by local artists will be especially arranged here for you here in the evening.
Day 7 - Backwaters - Kochi
You will arrive in the backwaters region of Kerala on the 7th day of the journey by 0900 hours. The first destination that you will arrive at is Alleppey. Take delight in visiting the gorgeous backwaters locales. After a sumptuous lunch at Kumarakom, you will proceed towards Kochi - your last destination in the circuit. Kochi, a sea port houses attractions such as the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue, and the St. Francis Church.
In the evening, a special Kathakali dance performance will be arranged for you.
Post- dinner, you will depart for Bangalore at 2200 hours.
Day 8 - Bangalore (return)
Arrive in the city in the wee hours of the morning. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast onboard the train and then proceed towards the airport for your return journey back home or move ahead towards the next destination…
The capital city of Karnataka, Bangalore is a melting point of traditions and modernity. While on one hand it is known as the Silicon Valley of India, it, on the other hand also boasts of a colorful historical past remnants of which can still be seen throughout the city. Bangalore is located on the Deccan Plateau and flaunts a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons.
Chennai was earlier known as Madras and is the capital city of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Nestled cozily on the Coromandel Coast, Chennai is one of the major metropolitan cities in the country that is home to several historical monuments, pristine beaches, ancient temples and luxury hotels.
Traditionally known as Mahabalipuram, Mamallapuram is one of the most popular destinations in Tamil Nadu, renowned for its architectural wonders. Once a medieval port city (the town dates back to the 7th century), today, Mamallapuram is fondly visited by devotees and tourists alike who come here to worship in the ancient temples that are housed here.
Pondicherry is one of the 7 Union Territories in India and was the largest French colony in the country. The French connection is still exhibited through the numerous French styled mansions that are housed here and even through the numbering of the houses! The city is divided in to Ville Noire and Ville Blanche meaning the town of the blacks and the town of the whites, respectively.
Tiruchirapalli is located on the banks of the Cauvery River and is one of the largest cities in Tamil Nadu. The very fertile lands of this place are home to several attractions such as the Rock Fort, the Sriranganathaswamy temple, and the Trichy Museum. While here, do make sure that you relish on the delectable local cuisine that is painstakingly prepared and tastefully served across all restaurants housed here.
Thanjavur is an ancient seat of art and architecture and still manages to woo the spectators through its world heritage monuments that are located in and around the city. An ancient city in Tamil Nadu, Thanjavur offers a number of sightseeing attractions and excursion options to the nearby areas including the Brahadeeshwarar temple, a magnificent palace, and the Schwartz Church.
Popularly known as the temple town of India, Madurai is located in Tamil Nadu and is the oldest inhabited city in the country. It was once an important political and commercial seat of ancient Indian civilization especially of South India. Madurai boasts of a historical past that is more than 2500 years old.
The capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram is an enchanting base for all sojourns across the state. Housing a number of temples, renowned educational institutions and a host of science and technology centers; Thiruvananthapuram is a tropical city that is built on seven hills.
Located not very far away from the Kerala - Tamil Nadu border is the quaint and sleepy village of Poovar. Although small, the place nevertheless boasts of magnificent natural beauty fitted with rivers, lakes, fine silvery beaches, and a host of activities that wait to enthrall the guests on vacation here.
The colonial name for the place was Cochin that is nestled comfortably on the south-western banks of India. Owing to its strategic location and the role it has played in shaping the history of the place, Kochi is also fondly referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.
One of the most enchanting Indian lands is the Kerala backwaters. The tranquility and serenity of the place almost demarcates its non-existent boundaries making it a world on its own. Located in the Malabar Coast, the mesmerizing locations of the Kerala backwaters include areas such as Kollam, Alappuzha, Kumarakom, Kasargod, Kozhikode, and Kuttanad.
