Destination Covered: Mumbai - Bangalore - Hassan - Mysore - Ooty - Cochin - Kumarakom - Varkala Duration: 13 Nights / 14 Days
Day 01 Arrivat at Bangalore
Upon arrival at Bangalore our representative will assist and transfer you to hotel. You will spend rest of the day at leisure. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Bangalore.
Bangalore - The Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore has managed to keep itself closer to nature than most of the other metropolitans in India. Hence, it is also known as the City of Gardens. The city highlights are the Bangalore Fort housing 16th century Ganapathi Temple, pu Palace famous for its carving and paintings, 17th century Venkataramanaswamy temple, Lal Bagh, Botanical Gardens, Bull Temple, Gangadhareshware temple or Cave Temple, the Dharmaraja Temple, the Ravindra Kalakshetra, St. Mary's Church, Gandhi Bhavan, the famous racecourse and Vidhana Soudha, a neo-Dravidian granite building near Cubbon Park.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02 Bangalore-Sravanabelgola-Hassan Drive 210 Km
After breakfast drive to Hassan enroute visiting Sravanabelgola.
Sravanabelgola - Home to the 17 m high, 10th century statue of Bahubali or Gomateshwara, Sravanabelgola presents the world's talles monolithic statue built by the sculptor Aristanemi and is one of the important Jain pilgrimage centers.
On arrival check-in at hotel and overnight.
Day 03 Hassan
After breakfast, excursion to Belur & Halebid.
Belur and Halebid - These twin cities are home to some of the best Hoysala architecture. Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid is said to have started about 10 years after the temple of Belur but even after 80 years of labor, it was still left incomplete. Adorned with innumerable Hindu deities, sages, stylized animals and birds and statues of lifestyle of the people at the time, on the exteriors, which give the temple its unique identity, it is a wonder that none of the two images are alike. The sculptures depict war, hunting, music, dance and other courtly activities.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04 Hassan-Srirangapatnam-Mysore Drive 110 Km
After breakfast drive to Mysore enroute visiting Srirangapatnam.
Srirangapatnam - The erstwhile capital of Tippu Sultan, it is 16 km from Mysore. Srirangapatnam is situated on the shores of river Cauvery and is home to the famous Ranganathaswamy temple. It was also the venue for the historic fight of the valiant Tipu, where he fought against the British, in alliance with the French. The other highlight of sthe city is the Tippu's Mosque in the fortress with its twin minarets.
On arrival check-in at hotel & overnight.
Day 05 Mysore
After breakfast full day tour of Mysore & Somnathpur.
Mysore - The City of Palaces, Mysore is home to Mysore Palace built by Wodeyars in the Indo-Saracenic style with its Golden Royal Elephant Throne, Durbar Hall, Kalyana Mandap and Gallery. The other city highlights are St. Philomena's Church, one of the largest churches in the country, monolith of Nandi bull on the slopes of Chamundi, the 2000-year-old Chamundeswari Temple and the Brindavan Gardens with musical and colorful fountains.
Somnathpur - 45 km from Mysore, it is known for the 13th century temple with star-shaped base decorated with miniature masonry elephants guarding the massive structure. It is an excellent example of the Hoysala architecture. The temple wall depict scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagvada Gita.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06 Mysore-Ooty Drive 160 Km
After breakfast drive to Ooty.
On arrival check-in at hotel and overnight.
Day 07 Ooty
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Ooty.
Ooty (Udagamandalam) - One of the most famous hill resorts of the Nilgiris, it is known for its cool climate, lovely gardens, blooming blossoms, fruit orchards laden with fruits, terraced tea plantations and beautiful treks lined with eucalyptus, pine and wattles. Colonial influence can be seen in its colonial architecture, hand rolled cigars, chocolate and cheese. The annual Derby race and hunting in the area is very popular along with the golf course at Ootacamund Club, Raj Bhavan, Kandal Cross Church, Botanical Garden, St Stephen's Church, one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiri Mountains and Ooty Lake.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 Ooty-Cochin Drive 283 Km
After breakfast drive to Cochin, on arrival check-in at hotel for overnight.
Day 09 Cochin
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Cochin.
Cochin - Kochi (Cochin) is rightly termed as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea' with a number of islands and promontories between the Arabian Sea and backwaters. It spreads across modern Ernakulam in the east and the old districts of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin in the west, which are interconnected by romantic ferries and bridges. The profound foreign influence can be seen in the architectural styles of its monuments. Some of the city's highlights are spice markets, Chinese fishing nets, Jewish synagogue, Portuguese palace, India's first European church, Dutch homes and Kathakali dance performances.
Late afternoon enjoy sunset boat cruise and overnight.
Day 10 Cochin-Kumarakom Drive 74 Km
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom, on arrival check-in at hotel for overnight.
Day 11 Kumarakom
Day free for independent activities & overnight at the hotel.
Kumarakom - 14 km from Kottayam, Kumarakom is situated on the shores of Vembanad Lake in Kerala in the 'Kuttanad region' known as the rice bowl of Kerala. A cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, the 14-acre bird sanctuary in Kumarakom is a favourite haunt of migratory birds such as Egrets, Darters, Herons, Teals and Siberian Storks. However, boat cruising in Kettuvallams, traditional houseboats of Kerala, round the islands is the best way to spot them.
Day 12 Kumarakom-Alleppey-Varkala Drive 110 Km
After breakfast embark boat to have backwater cruise Kumarakom to Alleppey.
Kettuvallams, the old rice-barges or Kera;a has now been converted into houseboats and are much popular with the tourists. Surprisingly, it is hand-made and not even nails are used to make these boats. The slow movement of the boats suits the purpose of leisurely enjoying the colorful village scenery of the South. After breakfast, cruising through Azhikkal Canal passing through Kuppapuram, Pallathuruthy, Swamy Canal, Meenappally Kayal, Muttael Canal, Kainakary Church Canal, Vatta Kayal, Venattukadu Canal, Aakkathara Canal and Paddy fields is once-in-a-lifetime experience. The cruise starts mainly from Ashtamudi Lake while the canals are well linked with Kottayam, Alleppey, Changancherry, Quilon and Kumarakom.
Upon arrival at Alleppey drive to Varkala.
Alleppey - One of the best ports along Malabar Coast and an important trade centre, Alleppey is known for a large network of inland canals. A hub and a base for most of the backwaters and boat cruises, has carved out quite a name for Alleppey and large number of tourists visit the city every year. These backwater cruises are the best way to see the glimpse of the rural life style of Kerala where natives still indulge in the traditional, outdated and laborious tasks of toddy tapping, fishing, coir-making industry and prawn farming and see the greenery and the rich avian life thriving in many of the lake islands.
On arrival check-in at hotel for overnight.
Day 13 Varkala
Day free for independent activities & overnight stay will be at hotel.
Day 14 Varkala-Trivandrum Drive 51 Km
After breakfast our representative will transfer you to Trivandrum Airport to board flight for onward destination.
