- India Private Tours
- Sacred South India - Private Tour
Embark on a magical tour through the spiritual and cultural riches of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Marvel at the magnificence of ancient Shiva temples built by Chola kings a thousand years ago, admire the fusion of European and Asian architectural styles in Pondicherry and Kochi, and savour the scenery in the misty hills and tea plantations around Munnar. Along the way, delight in the unique flavours of South Indian cuisine.
Dinner
On arrival, you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
British presence in India was established in Chennai, formerly Madras, by the East India Company in 1639. Today India’s fourth largest city is a technology boomtown but there is some interesting history behind the modern facade. The drive along the elegant promenade by the world famous Marina Beach takes you to Mylapore, the old heart of Chennai. Look inside the San Thome Basilica, resting place of “Doubting Thomas”, the Apostle who ended his days preaching on the nearby beach.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today morning visit Fort St. George, completed in 1653 as a bastion of British power. Its museum gives a fascinating insight into early colonial life, and nearby St Mary’s is the oldest Anglican church in India. Proceed on to visit to the monolithic shrines and rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram, once a thriving port city under the Pallava dynasty between the 4th and 9th centuries AD. Highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the Shore Temple, built to honour Lord Shiva c700 AD; the cluster of temples known as the Five Rathas; and the incredible 'Arjuna's Presence' bas-relief carving. From here continue to Puducherry and a relaxing dinner at you hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, take a rickshaw ride around the serene boulevards of Puducherry's French Quarter and savour the Gallic colonial style of architecture, especially the 200-year old Raj Niwas, the former Governor's residence. This laid-back seaside town was under French rule until 1954 and the legacy is brilliantly illustrated in the Puducherry Museum, even down to Governor Dupleix's bed! Don't miss Pondy's most attractive church, the Notre Dame des Anges, where you'll see a rare painting of Our Lady of the Assumption - a gift from Napoleon III. Then discover your inner yogi with a visit to Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the famous spiritual commune whose followers practice a form of yoga that involves practical community work more than meditative retreat. See how the New-Age philosophy was extended in the 1960s at nearby Auroville (the 'City of Dawn'). It's as futuristic in appearance as it is idealistic in principle, with around 1,500 residents from 35 countries involved in an enlightened experiment in alternative living.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today visit Thiruvannamalai which is the spiritual hub of South India, and top of this morning's agenda is a trip to the majestic Arunachaleswara Temple. This is a sacred place for Hindus where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Agni Linga ('the form of fire'). The temple complex, which covers 10 hectares, lies at the foot of the mystical red mountain of Arunachala, today's next port of call, which for many is as sacred as the temple itself. A short walk away from the main temple, on the way to Arunachala, we'll pass the sanctum sanctorum which houses the ancient Agni Linga itself - a place where the linga has remained unmoved for millennia. Whilst exploring the Arunachala mountain, see the Virupaksha cave on this extinct volcano - reputed to be one of the world's oldest mountains - where Sri Ramana Maharshi meditated for 23 years from 1899 to 1922. Return to Puducherry for dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set off for Kumbakonam, stopping en route at Chidambaram to visit the magnificent Nataraja Temple, one of Tamil Nadu's five Pancha Bhuta temples - this being aligned with the element of 'space'. Notice the heavy emphasis on dancing, with carvings of the 108 sacred positions of the classical Indian dance form Bharatanatyam. The temple is a dedication to Shiva as the Natajara - Lord of the Dance - and a representation of the exuberance of creation. The five-temple structure was built in the Chola times and boasts a golden roof and four massive gopuram towers, the whole complex covering around 35 acres. It is believed to have been consecrated by Patanjali, the 'Father of Modern Yoga', more than 2,000 years ago. The beauty and intricacy of the various carvings, murals, shrines, and images are awe-inspiring. Continue your journey to Kumbakonam and on arrival, check in at your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a mouth-watering cooking demonstration of vibrant South Indian cuisine.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning takes in a visit to the incredible Brihadeeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built at vast expense by the Chola King Rajaraja a thousand years ago. As you look at the colossal 230 ft tower over the inner sanctum you can only wonder at the engineering skill and architectural vision, whilst the beautiful fresco murals on the inner walls rank alongside those in the Ajanta caves. Before lunch there’s still time to see the nearby Royal Palace, built as the home of the Nayak rulers and later the Marathas in the 16th century. Admire the huge corridors and spacious halls, and take in the fabulous view from the Arsenal Tower. Part of the palace has been turned into an impressive art gallery with much to admire, mostly from the Chola period. After lunch, drive to Madurai and on arrival, check in at your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Madurai is one of the oldest cities in the world. This morning take a visit to the flower market which is at its busiest in the morning hours. While Jasmine rules this flower market other species like red & pink roses, gladiola, and marigolds can also be seen here. Later, visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering Gopurams, rising high above the surrounding township. Also visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace, a gracious building in the Indo-Saracenic style, famous for the stucco work on its domes and arches. After lunch take a fascinating excursion to the nearby "Potters Village" of Vilacheri, where everyone is engaged in the craft of turning wet clay and papier-mache into dolls, idols, and other figures. In the evening visit Meenakshi Temple to see the closing ceremony, where the idols of Lord Shiva and his Goddess Parvati, are carried in a riotous procession, to be confined to the bedchamber for the night. Please note non-Hindus are not allowed in the sanctum of the temple but can still see the ceremony.
**Due to renovation work at the Madurai Meenakshi Temple taking up to 18 months please note from December 2024 to June 2026 we will also be additionally stopping at Koodal Azhagr Temple. **
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast drive to the scenic hills of Munnar, South India's largest tea-growing region nestled in the UNESCO-listed Western Ghats. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, soaking in the cool mountain air and lush green landscapes.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today you’ll discover the lush beauty of this region, with tea-covered, mist-shrouded slopes, refreshingly cool climate and spectacular mountain scenery. Gaze upon the mirror-like waters of the lake created by the Mattupetty Dam. Listen to your own echo bouncing around the surrounding hills at Echo Point. Learn about the origins of your morning cuppa at a tea plantation. Return to the hotel for a well-earned rest and reviving dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
In the morning, drive to Kochi and on arrival check in to your hotel. The afternoon will be at your leisure to relax. Meet for dinner and enjoy an evening watching a Kathakali dance performance.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast enjoy a walking tour through the old streets of Fort Kochi. In 1341 it became one of the finest harbours in the world by accident, thanks to a massive flood, making it the first port of call for Arabs, then Chinese and finally Europeans. In just a few hours the walk gives an insight into hundreds of years of history that have created a unique melting pot where fourteen languages are spoken and myriad cultures combine. Watch fishermen hoisting their catch from the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that line the shore. Then stop by St. Francis Church, India's oldest European church. Other highlights among many include the Santa Cruz Basilica, Mattancherry (Dutch) Palace and the Paradesi (Jewish) Synagogue.
Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK or continue onto your chosen extension.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
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Very good tour guide (Cleetus) and coach crew. Overall, an excellent tour!
Mark Kirby
26 MarchIt was interesting to stay in a range of different hotels and sample local food. The tour was well organised and excellent value for money. For anyone interested in art and architecture this is a wonderful itinerary. We also saw some stunning landscapes. It was nice to visit a less visited area of India compared with the North. It felt very safe and people were welcoming.
R Reilly
18 MarchReally enjoyed the trip such interesting places, journeys not too long thankfully. The guide and driver made it very good and the hotels were good too. I look forward to booking again.
M Seel
21 OctoberOur guide Cleetos was exceptional in his care and attention to make sure we had a great time. Also, our driver was excellent and we had complete confidence in his ability to handle some hazardous conditions, Paneer the coach helper was a great asset in helping us on and off the coach and making sure we had fresh water.
Jean Taylor
17 OctoberThe order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day to day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
A visa is required for entry into India. British Citizen Passport Holders will need to obtain a tourist visa. You can apply for an E-visa no more than 30 days in advance. Your E-visa must be valid for your whole trip so please ensure the expiry date is for the whole duration of your stay. Alternatively you can visit The Indian Visa Application Centre in London: 142-148 Goswell Road, London, EC1B 7DU. We also work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. Additionally, you will need to complete an e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before your arrival. This can be done on the Indian visa website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/. Additionally, you must complete an Ebola Self-Declaration Form before departure. This form can be completed online at https://airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in/. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months before you enter India. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace of Sacred South India is rated Intermediate. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, and you will be getting on and off coaches, trains and boats and climbing steps which may be irregular. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary. Early morning trains and flights depending upon the schedule and some early morning sightseeing’s are also in this tour.
The currency in India is the Rupee or Rs. The Rupee is a closed currency and officially you are not allowed to take any cash out of India. US Dollars and GBP are also widely accepted in India should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. There are restrictions on taking Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including tourists, are not permitted to take any amount of Indian currency into the country. You can take cash or travellers' cheques (in pounds sterling or another foreign currency) and/or a bank card with you and exchange or withdraw rupees once in India. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in your local currency. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £400 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.
It is customary to tip your guide and driver. This is at your discretion, but we recommend you allow approximately £4-£5 for each guide and £2-£3 for each driver per person per day. It is asked that you tip in pounds and not local currency, please do not give coins as these are difficult to exchange. This will total to approx £85 per person. If you want to additionally tip your Bell boy, porter etc this is up to your discretion, We would estimate general tipping to cost approx £20 per person. All tips will be collected by your guide at the beginning of your tour for your convenience. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however, it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged
This is a fully escorted tour. A national guide will meet you on arrival and accompany you throughout your trip. In certain cities, local guides will join you to provide expert insight based on the sites visited.
For private tours, you will travel with either a Driver Guide or a Driver plus local guides. They will accompany all sightseeing. Private tours can depart any day of the week, subject to transport schedules and attraction opening times. These tours follow the brochure itinerary unless otherwise advised and include all listed meals, sightseeing, and excursions.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and India. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
A triple room is available but please note that this will be a twin room with a fold away bed for the 3rd passenger.
Breakfast is always a combination of Indian and western style and served in the hotel each morning (sometimes a packed breakfast depending on train journey). Lunch and dinner where applicable will be taken in hotel/wayside restaurants. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian and non-spicy meal options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being, two bottles of drinking water will be provided on touring days.
There are some dry hotels in India, and some hotels where alcohol can be consumed on the premise but must be brought in from outside. Your guide will pre-warn you of this and if anyone in the group would like to purchase drinks before getting then he will arrange for you to visit a local shop and get what you need wherever possible.
Please note that Kerala has strict laws regarding the governance of the sale of alcohol in public places including hotels and restaurants. The sale and consumption of alcohol is therefore often restricted in hotels, varying from one establishment to another. You may however bring your own alcohol with you for private consumption in your room.
Dry days are when the sale of alcohol is not allowed. Most of the Indian states observe these days on major national festivals/occasions such as Republic Day in January, Independence Day in August and Gandhi Jayanti in October. Dry days are also observed during elections in India. Tiruvannamalai being a religious city, alcohol is generally not available locally. In Kerala the liquor shops are closed on the 1st of every month and public holidays.
During visits to Churches/Temples please note long trousers or skirts should be worn to cover knees, Long sleeved tops should be worn to cover shoulders and ladies should bring a scarf to cover your head.
On your arrival in Chennai you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Earthen Experiences, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Earthen Experiences representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
If you need to contact Earthen Experiences during your stay the details are:
Earthen Experiences, 2 DDA Commercial Complex, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi, 110017
Telephone Number: 0091 11 4921 1000 (09:30 – 18:00)
Monday to Fridays E-mail: info@earthenexperiences.com
Please find below the emergency contact details for Earthen Experiences:
Mr. Mohammad Kaushar – General Manager: 24 hour number: 0091 98 9974 0800
E-mail Address: mohammad.kaushar@earthenexperiences.com
Mr. Anuj Negi – Director: 24-hour number: 0091 9910859004
E-mail Address: anuj.negi@earthenexperiences.com
