Southern India - Journey to “Land’s End”

Marvel at ancient temples dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses. Visit national parks, tea factories and cruise backwater canals. Explore southern India’s vast cultural heritage, from British, French, Portuguese and Jewish influences, to the ancient capitals of the Chola and Pallava Kings.

Our journey begins in Chennai (Madras), where we visit the Fort Museum housing relics of a by-gone era. We visit several World Heritage sites, including the Shore Temple, constructed around the 7th century, and the Brahadeeswara Temple, with its massive granite dome.

Periyar National Park provides wildlife viewing by boat and foot as we look for tigers, leopards, barking deer, wild pigs, wild dogs, flying squirrels and sloth bears. Tea, coffee, coconut and rubber plantations dot the lush, green countryside around Cochin, where we also take in a performance of the famous Kathakali dancers.

An overnight houseboat adventure is the perfect way to explore the small canals, villages and rice fields of the backwaters. Enjoy a rest at our lake resort, where you can fish or explore the 14-acre Bird Sanctuary, before we continue on to Trivandrum. We visit the majestic old Padmanabhapuram Palace with its many amazing architectural features.

Our journey concludes with a full day trip to the “Land’s End” of the Indian subcontinent at Cape Comorin, where the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.