INDIA: BEST OF TAMIL NADU + OOTY + KARNATAKA in Tamil Nadu

Facilities available

Wheelchair access

Adapted transfer

Description

16 Nights

From £3195 per person sharing (Flights quoted separately)

This wheelchair holiday to India explores the temples and palaces of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south, travelling from Chennai to Bangalore with your own private driver. Visit the Coromandel Coast, elegant Pondicherry, the temples of Tanjore & Trinchy, the hill station at Ooty, palaces of Mysore & garden city of Bangalore. English speaking city guides, disabled transfers & specified sightseeing included.

Highlights:

• Wheelchair holiday to India
• Mahabalipuram
• Mysore & Bangalore
• Tamil Nadu & Karnataka
• Pondicherry
• Disabled holiday to India
• Chenniai
• Tanjore & Trinchy
• Coromandal coast
• Ooty

Day 1

You will be met at Chennai Airport by your driver and transferred to your hotel in the city, formerly called Madras and the state capital of Tamil Nadu.

Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai is a major commercial, cultural, economic and educational centre, as well as being famous for its Madras curry.

Day 2

This morning enjoy a half day tour of the thriving city of Chennai.

We start with a visit to the Government Museum, which has some fascinating exhibits about ancient Chennai. We also visit Fort St George which dates back to the 17th century. Here you can see St. Mary’s Church, the first Christian church consecrated on Indian soil.

Our next stop is at the splendid St Thomas Cathedral Basilica, built in the 19th century by early Portuguese explorers over the tomb of Saint Thomas the apostle. It is one of the most sacred Christian sites in India and one of the world's few surviving apostolic burial sites.

Afterwards we drive along the marina to view from outside the ancient Kapaleeshwar Temple at Mylapore. This shrine to the Hindu god Shiva is over 2,000 years old and showcases the architectural splendour of the Dravidian period.

Your afternoon is free to relax at your hotel.

Note: Not all sites are accessible, but you will have some access to appreciate them. Fort St George has very limited accessibility. Your carer will need to lift your wheelchair over 4 steps into the complex, so only suitable for manual chairs and you will only be able to explore the ground floor, as there is no lift. The Fort Museum is not accessible. All temples and museums are closed on Fridays.

Day 3

This morning your driver will introduce you to the beauty of Tamil Nadu state, as we leave Chennai and travel 1.5-hours to the ancient port of Mahabalipuram, with its huge casuarina trees and silvery sandy beaches. Here a group of temples were hewn out of rock along the Coromandel Coast during the 7th and 8th centuries by the Pallavas kings. These intricately carved structures, mostly in granite, are among the oldest surviving examples of South Indian architecture.

Now a World Heritage site, the Shore Temple is the oldest of these monuments but, unlike the other, it is built - not carved from rock - and contains a Vishnu Temple and two Shiva temples (a 3-in-1 abode of the gods). More than one hundred stone relief figures of people, animals and gods can be seen here. You can also admire the five Rathas (stone chariots) and the mythology associated with the 'Descent of the River Ganges' and the 'Penance of Arjuna' carved in stone.

Another curiosity that you can view in the town is Krishna's Butterball - a very large boulder balanced precariously on a small hill, that looks as if it could roll at any moment.

Note: Not all sites are accessible, but your guide will do his best to get you as close as possible.

Day 4

Today we leave Mahabalipuram and travel 2.5-hours to the city of Puducherry, fondly called "Pondy".

Pondicherry was a market place in Roman times and has been controlled by many kings, emperors and sultans in its rich history. During the colonial era it was a French territory, with occasional interuption from the British and Dutch until it was incorporated into the Indian Union.

Day 5

This morning you will be taken on a tour of Puducherry.

We start with a visit to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram - a spiritual centre that is the home to more than 1,500 followers from around the world. Afterwards we spend time in the French Quarter with its old buildings, where you can view the Sacred Heart Basilica and drive along the Promenade with its monuments. You can also see Government Park, the Manakula Vinayagar Temple and the Roman Rolland Library.

Afternoon is at leisure to relax at your hotel and in the evening you can dine in a local restaurant.

Note: Not all sites are accessible, but your guide will get you as close as he can to view them.

Day 6

Today we travel 4.5-hours via Chidambaram, known for its famous Thillai Nataraja Temple, to Thanjavur (previously known as Tanjore), which is an important centre of southern Indian religion, art and architecture.

Thanjavur is home to one of the three exceptional Great Living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

On arrival we visit the Thanjavur Royal Palace and Museum, with its fascinating collection of 19th century royal artefacts.

Note: Thanjavur Palace is closed on public holidays. Not all sites are accessible, but your guide will do his best to give you good views.

Day 7

We spend today exploring the Great Living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. These magnificent 11th and 12th century Hindu temples were contructed during the Chola dynasty, which stretched all over southern India and its neighbouring islands.

There are three great temples. The Brihadisvara Temple complex at Thanjavur, known locally as 'The Big Temple', is one of the largest Hindu temples in India. It is enclosed within two courtyards and has an exquisitely decorated shrine. Built using granite, the tower above the shrine is one of the tallest in South India.

The Brihadisvara Temple complex at Gangaikondacholisvaram has a 53-m vimana (sanctum tower) with recessed corners and a graceful upward curve, which contrasts sharply with the straight and severe tower at Thanjavur.

The Dharasuram Temple complex at Airavatesvara features a 24-m vimana and a stone image of Shiva. These temples showcase the brilliant achievements of the Chola dynasty in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.

Note: Not all sites are accessible, but your guide will do his best to give you good views.

Day 8

Today we travel 2.5-hours to the small town of Velankanni on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. Once a port that traded with Rome and Greece, the town lost its importance as a trading centre and is now best known for its famous Roman Catholic Church dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni, also known as the "Lourdes of the East", is one of the most visited religious sites in India. The church was founded in the 16th century after three apparent miracles - the apparition of Mary and Jesus to a slumbering shepherd boy; the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor; and the survival of Portuguese sailors assaulted by a violent storm at sea, who promised to erect a shrine. The chapel was dedicated on the feast of the Nativity of Mary (8 September), the day of their safe landing, and more than 500 years later this festival is still observed and draws nearly 2 million pilgrims each year.

In the afternoon we drive 2.5-hours back to Thanjavur.

Note: The church is not fully accessible, but you will have sufficient access to appreciate it.

Day 9

We leave Thanjavur today and travel 4-hours to Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of the Vaigai River.

Madurai is at the centre of the Tamil language and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The skyline of this ancient city is dominated by the 14 colourful gopurams (gateway towers) of the Meenakshi Temple. Covered in bright carvings of Hindu gods, the Dravidian-style temple is a major pilgrimage site, visited by millions of Hindus from around the world - particularly during the Chithirai Festival each April/May, which celebrates Meenakshi and Lord Vishnu.

Day 10

Today enjoy a free day to relax at your hotel or explore more of Madurai with your guide.

We get a glimpse of Madurai's devout religious culture on a visit to the atmospheric Meenakshi Temple at prayer time, to observe an unforgettable aarti ceremony

Note: There are a few steps at the entrance to the temple, so you will need to be lifted up these in your wheelchair.

Day 11

Today we travel 5-hours from Madurai to Coimbatore.

Coimbatore (also called Kovai) is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. Situated on the banks of the Noyyal River, it is a major centre of industry known as the 'Manchester of India'.

Day 12

This morning we leave Coimbatore and travel 3.5-hours through the tea producing region of Coonoor to the beautiful hill station of Ooty in the Nilgiri Hills.

Also known as Udagamandalam, Ooty was originally occupied by the Todas but came under the rule of the East India Company at the end of the 18th century. Today the town's economy is based on tourism and agriculture.

Day 13

This morning enjoy a half day tour of Ooty, known as the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’ with its lofty eucalyptus covered mountains, dense forests and acres of tea estates.

Enjoy a stroll around the magnificent Botanical Gardens that cover over 22 acres and visit Ooty Lake. Also view Doddabetta Peak at the junction of the Western and Eastern Ghats. At over 8,600 ft (2,623 m) this is the highest point in the Nilgiri Hills.

Your afternoon is at leisure in Ooty.

Day 14

Today we travel 4-hours from Ooty to the city of Mysuru, situated in the foothills of the Chamundi Hills in Karnataka state.

On arrival relax and enjoy this city that is famous for its many palaces and for the celebrations that take place during the Dasara Festival, when the city receives a large number of visitors.

Day 15

This morning enjoy a half day tour of the city of Mysuru (formerly known as Mysore).

Mysuru is famous for its many beautiful palaces, including Mysuru Palace which we visit. It is also known for its festivals, including the 10-day Mysuru Dasara that celebrates the victory of good over evil each October, when many people visit the city.

We also visit the Spice Market and drive past the Chamundi Hill Bull Temple, which has a massive statue of a bull that is painted black and decorated with garlands.

After an afternoon at leisure, in the evening we visit the beautifully illuminated Brindavan Gardens.

Note: You will only be able to visit the ground floor of Mysore Palace. Chamundi Hill Bull Temple is not accessible, but you can appreciate this site from the outside.

Day 16

We drive 4.5-hours today from Mysuru to the 'Garden City' of Bengaluru. This is the capital of Karnataka state and the hub of the country's vibrant information technology sector. It is the Silicon Valley of India.

Along the way we visit Srirangapatna - the Summer Palace of Emperor Tipu Sultan, situated on an island formed by the Kaveri River. The most famous of its temples is the celebrated Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple that dominates the town.

Afterwards we continue to Bengaluru and enjoy a short city tour. This includes a visit to the beautiful Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens that feature a glass house, the construction of which was inspired by the Crystal Palace in London.

Note: Ranganathaswamy Temple is not accessible, but you can view it from the outside.

Day 17

Transfer to Bengaluru Airport for your flight home.

Information last updated: 04/12/2023 14:25:31