Bangalore –
Mysore – Ooty – Cochin – Alleppey – Periyar
– Madurai – Chennai
Duration: 15 Days Season:
Oct - Mar
DAY 01. FLY TO BANGALORE
Fly to Bangalore, a modern south Indian city.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 02. ARRIVE BANGALORE
Arrive Bangalore International airport, after meet and greet by
Tour Manager, transfer by chartered a/c transport to hotel. Rest
of the day at leisure.
Located 1000m above sea level, this
bustling capital city of Karnataka, has a perpetual holiday atmosphere.
Founded in 1537 by a local chieftain Kempe Gowda, Bangalore has
seen much and imbibed even more.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 03. IN BANGALORE
After breakfast, visit two of India’s lesser known historical
sites – Belur, the original capital of the Hoysala empire
which boasts the superb Chennakesava Temple (1116 A.D.) and Halebid,
which superseded Belur as the capital. Halebid's main attraction
is the Hoysalasvara Temple, whose entrance is flanked by carved
friezes from the Ramayana. There is also a small Nandi bull. Afternoon
at leisure.
Night Stay: Hotel |
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DAY 04. BANGALORE – MYSORE Drive 139 Km
Morning depart and drive to Mysore, a splendid city of palatial
buildings and tree-lined boulevards. Afternoon visit the magnificent
Maharajah’s Palace and the black granite Nandi Bull on Chamundi
Hill.
Night Stay:
Hotel
DAY 05. IN MYSORE
Morning visit the Somnathpur Temple, with its exquisitely-carved
scenes from Hindu mythology, and the summer palace of Tipu Sultan
at Srirangapatnam. Tipu Sultan, the ‘Tiger of Mysore’,
was the powerful local ruler who challenged the British in the
late 18th century, inflicting two punishing defeats on the forces
of the East India Company before finally being overcome in 1799.
Afternoon at leisure for personal activities.
Night Stay:
Hotel
DAY 06. MYSORE – OOTY Drive 159 Km
After breakfast depart and drive south into the Nilgiri Hills
to Ootacamund, the Queen of Hill Stations. During colonial times,
the British administrators in Madras and other southern cities
escaped to the hills in the hot season to enjoy the cooler climate.
Arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon sightseeing includes the
Botanical Gardens, laid out in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweedale,
Governor of Madras and is spread over 22 hectares ascending the
slopes on the hill at an elevation of 2400 - 2500 meters and St
Stephen's Church, it is the first church built in Ooty in 1820.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 07. OOTY – COCHIN Drive 281 Km
A long drive today takes us to Cochin. Arrive and check in at
hotel, rest of the day at leisure.
Cochin, on the Malabar coast, is an attractive city influenced
by many cultures - Arab, Dutch, British and Portuguese - and is
rich in maritime history.
Night Stay:
Hotel
DAY 08. IN COCHIN
After breakfast explore the sites of Cochin, visit Fort Cochin,
the oldest part of the city, the 16th century Church of St. Francis,
the Mattancherry or ‘Dutch’ Palace this double storeyed
palace building which stands by the panoramic Kochi back waters
has an exquisite collection of murals collectively covering over
300 sq ft of its walls. Chinese fishing nets characteristic of
the Kerala coast. Afternoon at leisure.
Night Stay:
Hotel
DAY 09. COCHIN – ALLEPY Drive 63 Km
Morning depart and drive to Alleppey, arrive and check in at Hotel.
Afternoon we take a walking tour to see the typical Keralian architecture
and also see how they build their boats.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 10. ALLEPY – PERIYAR Drive
Morning we spent in Alleppey (optional Boat Cruise to coconut
Lagoons for lunch). Afternoon drive through coffee and pepper
plantations to Periyar. Arrive and check in at hotel.
Here the high ranges of the Western
Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen, moist deciduous forests
and savannah grasslands. Below this thick green canopy roam herds
of elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and
Nilgiri langurs.
Night Stay:
Hotel
DAY 11. PERIYAR – MADURAI Drive 160 Km
Morning cruise on Lake Periyar, where we may see a variety of
birdlife including herons, hornbills and egrets. There are approximately
795 elephants in the Periyar Reserve. Afternoon drive to Madurai,
one of the great pilgrimage centers of the south.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 12. IN MADURAI
After breakfast visit Meenakshi Temple, one of the biggest temple
complex in India, including the beautiful 16th century Court of
a Thousand Pillars. The whole complex is alive with pilgrims and
traders, its bazaars abounding in spices and temple offerings.
Tirumalainaik Palace, built in 1636, with its splendid Main Hall,
where dancers, musicians and court magicians used to entertain
the ruler and his guests. Afternoon at leisure for personal activities.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 13. MADURAI – CHENNAI Fly
After breakfast transfer to airport and fly to Madras (Chennai),
founded by the British in the 17th century. Arrive and transfer
to hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour includes Fort St. George,
t was built in 1640 AD, by the British East India Company under
the direct supervision of Francis Day and Andrew Cogon. This bastion
achieved name from St. George, the patron saint of England. The
fort houses St. Mary's Church and fort museum. Sri Kapaleeswar
Temple, this temple has some beautiful sculptures, among which
the bronze idols of 63 Saivite Saints(Nayanmars) which adorn the
outer coutyard are rare specimens. The Marina Beach, Stretching
two miles from the Coovum River's mouth, south of the Fort, till
the northern boundaries of the 16th century Portuguese town of
San Thome, is this magnificent beach drive and promenade. At the
southern end of the Marina is the San Thome basilica, built in
1896.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 14. IN CHENNAI
Full day excursion to the holy city of Kanchipuram, one of the
seven sacred cities of India, famous for its marvelous 6th century
Hindu temples, and Mamallapuram, with its sculptured rock cut
temples, including the spectacular Shore Temple decorated with
a row of Nandi bulls. Return to Chennai and check in at hotel.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 15. DEPARTURE
Transfer to international airport for onward journey.
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