18 Nights / 19 Days
Mumbai – Bangalore – Mysore – Hassan – Coorg – Calicut – Cochin – Kottayam – Kovalam – Periyar – Maduri – Thanjavur – Pondicherry – Kanchipuram – Mahabalipuram – Chennai
Arrive Mumbai airport (West India). Meet and assist by our representative and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure and overnight in hotel.
Morning visit the Elephanta Caves – located across the sea from the Gateway of India and accessible by ferry is the island of Elephant that has 1200 years old rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Later visit Gateway of India -an impressive arch overlooking the harbour welcomes you to the city, the Prince of Wales Museum with its fascinating Indo-Saracenic exterior and equally fascinating interior of rare Mogul paintings, exquisite jades and exciting natural history specimens, Flora Fountain, the Haji Ali Mosque surrounded by the sea etc. Evening free at leisure and overnight at hotel.
Moning after breakfast transfer to airport to borad the flight for Bangalore. On arrival check in to hotel. Later sight seeing of Bangalore covering the Vidhan Saudha – Government Secretariat, The Lal Bagh, Cobbon botanical Garden opposite the Vidhan Saudha. Overnight at hotel.
Morning after breakfast drive to Mysore, enroute visiting Srirangapatnam, the capital of warrior King Hyder Ali and his son King Tipu Sultan. A kilometer east of the fort is the Daria Daulat Bagh, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan built in 1784.
On arrival check in to hotel and have your lunch. Afternoon visit the Mysore Royal Palace, which was once the residence of the Woodeyars. This Palace was constructed in the year 1912 in the Indo-Saracenic style one of the beautiful monuments. Other tourist destinations you visit are the Golden royal Elephant, Durbar Hall and musical colour water fountain in Vrindaban garden. Have your buffet dinner in hotel and overnight.
Morning after breakfast visit to Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery that is housed in the Jagmohan Palace and has a collection of exquisite paintings dating back to the year 1875. St. Philomena’s Church that was built in the Gothic style is one of the largest churches in India. The temple of Goddess Chamundeshwari that is located atop the Chamundi hills. Afternoon free for shopping famous for its Silk clothes. Overnight at hotel.
Morning drive to Hassan. Enroute visit Sravanbelogada to see the massive statue of Lord Gomteshwara (Vishnu). Visit the Chenna Kesava temple, Hoysaleswara and Kedareswara temples in Belur and Halebid. On arrival check in to hotel.
Morning drive to Coorg also known as the Scotland of India, where we visit a coffee plantation. The Coorgies are known to be the descendents of Greek soldiers. On arrival check in to hotel for overnight.
After breakfast we drive through the thickest rainforest of India, to Calicut (Kozhikode in Kerala). Transfer to hotel on arrival. Evening free at leisure. Overnight.
After breakfast drive to Kochi, enroute visiting the construction of DHOW, a typical Kerela hand made boat. We will travel along the coast line and cross various water streams running into the ocean and the back waters coming into the land. The drive is a very eventful one. Evening at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Morning flight to Cochin . On arrival you are met and escorted to your hotel. Afternoon a half-day tour of Cochin City visiting Fort Cochin, Mattancherry Palace, Parikshith Thampuram Museum, etc. Evening enjoy a Kathakali Dance show. Overnight at hotel.
Morning drive through the countryside to a jetty near Kottayam to board the Riceboat. It is an unique experience to cruise in the boat and spnd the the night in traditional way.
After breakfast on riceboat drive further on to Kovalam. Afternoon & evening at leisure to enjoy one of the finest beaches in the area and enjoy the back water here. Overnight at hotel.
Drive to Periyar, the most famous wild life sanctuary of South India. As you drive through the Blue Hills you will see thick rubber plantations, tea plantations, and cardamom & pepper growing all along the road side. Enjoy the winding roads and the landscape. On arrival cheick in to hotel for overnight.
Early morning walk in the jungle. Come back to hotel for fresh and change. Afternoon take the 2nd jungle safari to watch the wild life. Overnight.
After breakfast drive to Madurai. In the aftrenoon visit the Sri Meenakshi Temple built in the Dravidian architecture form of temple architecture. Overnight.
Morning depart for Thanjavur to visit the famous Brihadeshwara temple. We also visit the Museum which has one of the finest Bronze collections. We continue onward to Pondicherry to reach by evening. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast we drive to Kanchipuram the erstwhile capital of the Pallava and Chola rulers. Later drive to Mahabalipuram. Overnight.
This town was the port city of the Pallava Kings (7 century A.D). After breakfast, visit the Group of five Rathas Temples, rock-cut monoliths named after the heroes of the Epic – Mahabharata. The rock carving depicting the penance of Shiva is one of the finest peace of stone carving and end the visit at the Shore Temple. Afternoon free at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Morning is free to relax and enjoy the beach. After lunch, drive to Chennai and visit the Saint Thomas Cathedral, Fort St. George (now the secretariat) and the High Court buildings. Late evening transfer to international airport to board the flight for onward journey.
