St. Francis Church → Chinese fishing nets → Kathakali performance

Fort Kochi packs five centuries of trade history into a walkable peninsula - the 16th-century St. Francis Church, the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets worked by hand at the harbour, and an evening Kathakali performance where face paint and hand gestures do the storytelling. Dinner follows at the hotel, unhurried, the way most days on this Kerala Tamil Nadu tour tend to end.

TTI Insider : Visit the Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town - over 400 years old, and home to one of the world's oldest Jewish communities, now down to just six Paradesi families.

Drive to tea hills → Optional boating or trekking

Munnar sits at 5,200 feet, where tea plantations run in dark emerald rows over rolling hills wrapped in mist for most of the year. The Malayalam name means "land of three rivers" - a small fact your guide will mention that most guests remember for years.
​​​​​​​Boating, trekking and paragliding are all optional add-ons for guests who want the hills at a faster pace.

TTI Insider : Ask how to say "moon-aar" correctly at breakfast - it signals immediately that you are travelling with a guide who actually knows Munnar, not just its postcard views.

Cardamom Hills drive → Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Periyar National Park in the Cardamom Hills holds South India's best-known wildlife sanctuary - elephants, deer and birdlife moving through forest around a lake built by the British in 1895.

A spice plantation walk in Thekkady is worth adding on if time allows; this is cardamom, pepper and cinnamon country, and the smell alone explains why colonial traders fought over it.

TTI Insider : Skip the crowded double-decker boat tour if offered - the paddle-driven bamboo raft is quieter, gets closer to the wildlife, and is guided by tribal youth trained by the Forest Department.

Drive to Alleppey → Overnight houseboat cruise, full board

Alleppey's backwaters are Kerala's most-photographed landscape for a reason - a houseboat cruise through canals, lagoons and rice paddies earns the "Venice of the East" tag honestly. Village life along the banks continues at its own pace: washing on the water's edge, children in the shallows, kingfishers darting through the palms. Night is spent on board, full board included.

TTI Insider : Ask if a short canoe detour into the narrow backchannels is possible - houseboats cannot fit there, and it is the closest this backwaters tour gets to everyday village life.

Early morning hurry to board 2 hours train journey for Trivandrum.

Morning visit the well-renowned Napier Museum. This museum is an amalgamation of Mughal, Indian, and Chinese cultures. That being said, another highlight of this place is the natural air-conditioning system.

Secondly, visit the Sri Chitra Art Gallery. It exhibits rare paintings belonging to the Tanjore, Rajput, and Mughal school of art. The oriental collection of paintings hailing from Tibet, Bali, Japan, and China will give a refreshing perspective.

In the evening board your train for Madurai. On arrival get transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. 

After a tasty breakfast, we'll explore the ancient Meenakshi Amman Temple, a marvel of Dravidian architecture. Later, immerse yourselves in the vibrant bazaars surrounding the temple, perfect for finding unique treasures and jewelry before our lunch break.

In the afternoon, we'll visit the impressive Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace. Admire its grand courtyard, throne chambers, and the striking stone-carved horses at its entrance. This historical site offers a fascinating glimpse into Tamil Nadu's rich heritage before we proceed on our 13-day Kerala Tamil Nadu train tour

Board a scenic 2-hour train ride to Trichy, known for its historic and pilgrimage sites. Visit the Rock Fort Temple, built in 508 AD, and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, originally constructed by the Dharma Varma Chola and later expanded by King Killivalavan. These temples offer a spiritual experience with their grandeur and history. After exploring, head to Tanjore for an overnight stay.

Today visit the famous Lord Brihadeeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This impressive building was built by King Raja Raja Cholan a thousand years back. This monument is considered among the splendid architectural accomplishments of South India.

Next visit the spectacular Maratha Palace, within a maze-like complex; walk through the open courtyard Art Gallery displaying priceless collections of superb Chola bronzes and stone carvings and visit the Saraswathi Mahal Library.

Morning you will by travelling by train to Pondicherry. On arrival at a railway station near Pondicherry you will be transferred to Puducherry.

Your journey along the coast takes you to enchanting Pondicherry, a former French colonial settlement that still retains its carefree French atmosphere and architectural legacy. In the charming Old Quarter, with its tree-lined cobbled streets, colonial villas are draped with fragrant bougainvillea, and sidewalk cafes abound. Even the policemen are dressed in traditional French red hats and belts!

Enjoy your French life in Pondicherry. Night stay is in Pondicherry

Today visit serene Auroville, City of Dawn famous for the meditation center inspired by the teachings of the Indian yogi Sri Aurobindo. Many spiritually minded visitors come here and stay to nurture his vision of human unity. Next, view the golden-domed Mother Temple. Later, tour a factory where delicate individually handcrafted papers are produced followed by a visit to Aurobindo Ashram. Take a rickshaw ride around the French, Hindu and Muslim quarters of Pondicherry.

In time you will be driven away to Mahabalipuram. Night stay is in Mahabalipuram

Today, explore Mahabalipuram, home to the 12th-century Shore Temple by the sea, with its striking bas-relief and twin towers. Visit the Five Rathas and Arjuna’s Penance, a massive bas-relief depicting the Ganges’ descent and scenes of daily life, showcasing early Southern Indian architecture. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the beautiful beaches before an overnight stay.

As the captivating tapestry of our 13-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu train odyssey gently concludes, you'll be seamlessly transferred to Chennai airport. Carry with you indelible moments of sun-drenched backwaters, majestic temples, and the rhythmic chug of the rails, as you embark on your onward flight. Our services ends. 

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