Day 01 – Arrive Bangalore
Meeting & Greeting on arrival and transfer you to Bangalore hotel.
Afternoon visit of Bangalore city.
Bangalore: – is India’s 5th largest city and the capital of Karnataka State. This bustling metropolis is also widely known as India’s Silicon Valley. The city is also referred to as Garden city, airconditioned city, Pub hopper’s paradise, Shopper’s hotspot and so on. The city boasts of several historic monuments, sprawling gardens, bungalows and avenues reminiscent of the Raj era, coupled with contemporary shopping malls, chic boutiques and handicraft stores. A racecourse, golf courses bowling alleys, multiplexes, theme parks, etc. add to the city’s charm.
Day 02 -Bangalore to Hassan – 4 hrs drive
Morning transfer you to Hassan hotel.
Afternoon visit of Belur & Halebid
Belur: is known as Dakshina Varanasi or South Banaras for its temples. The serenity of Belur is attributed to the celebrated temple of Channakeshava, built by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana in 117 A. D.
Halebid: is also called as Dwara Samudra, the wealthy capital of the Hoysala Kingdom. Halebid has several striking beautiful Hoysala temples and Jain Shrines.The Hoysaleshwara temple, standing on platform like a casket, is a sculptural extravaganza, richly endowed with most finely detailed scroll work in stone. Sculptor’s virtuosity seems to have surpassed even the goldsmith’s skill in its sheer intricacy.
Day 03 – Hassan to Mysore – 4 hrs drive
After the breakfast transfer to Mysore hotel.
Afternoon visit of Mysore
Mysore: is a city of palaces, gardens, shady avenues and sacred temples and retains some of the charm of the old world with its many institutions that propagate Carnatic Classical music and dance.
Day 04 – Mysore to Chennai by train
Transfer to Mysore Railway station to board train to Chennai.
Meeting on arrival at Chennai station and transfer to hotel
Day 05 – Chennai to Mahabalipuram – 1.15 hrs drive
After the breakfast transfer you to Mahabalipuram hotel.
Afternoon visit of Mahabalipuram:
Mahabalipuram is famous for its Shore temple, a relic of Pallava art, the temple is a world Heritage site. The 7th century town is famous for its rock-hewn temples, sculptures and the world’s largest stone bas-relief. The five-storied Shore Temple on the beach side was built by the Pallava King Raja Singha at the end of seventh century in pure Dravidian sculpture. This temple was the last work of Pallava dynasty. Visit the “Five Rathas”, a group of monolithic monuments and animal figures carved out of solid rock, almost like an artist’s experiment in variety of form. Mamallapuram is a sculptors delight. Among the noteworthy sites in the vicinity of the town are Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna Mandapam, Varaha Mandapam, and Mahishasurmardhini Caves.
Day 06 – Mahabalipuram to Pondicherry – 2.15 hrs drive
After the breakfast transfer you to Pondicherry hotel.
Afternoon visit of Pondicherry
Visit includes, Sri Aurobindo Ashram-: founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926 is one of the most affluent. Its spiritual tenets are based on a synthesis of Yoga and modern science. After Aurobindo’s death, spiritual authority passed to one of his devotees, a French woman known as ‘The Mother’ who died in 1973. Auroville:-The brainchild of ‘The Mother’ was meant to be an experiment in international living where men and women could live in peace and progressive harmony with each other above all creeds, politics and nationalities.
Day 07 – Pondicherry to Thanjavur – 4.30 hrs drive
After the breakfast transfer you to Thanjavur hotel.
Afternoon visit of Tanjore
Visit the Shri Brihadishwara temple built by “Raja-Raja” in 1010, which is the crowning glory of Chola temple architecture. The temple, set in spacious grounds, has several pillared halls and shrines. Inscriptions record the names of dancers, musicians and poets a reminder of the significance of this area to the development of the arts. Also visit the Tanjore Palace & Museum which has an eclectic collection of regal memorabilia most of it dating from the early 19th century.
Day 08 – Thanjavur – Chettinadu – Madurai (4.30 hrs drive)
After the breakfast transfer you to Madurai hotel, enroute visit of Chettinadu.
Day 09 – Madurai
Morning visit of Madurai Meenakshi Temple & Thirumalai Nayaka Palace
Madurai is synonymous with the Sri Meenakshi temple, dedicated to Sri Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Shiva. The temple complex is one of the biggest in India. It has gopurams covered from top to bottom with a breathless profusion of multi-coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. The temple seethes with activities from dawn till dusk and its many shrines attract pilgrims from all over India.
Day 10 – Madurai to Periyar – 4.30 hrs drive
After the breakfast transfer to Periyar hotel.
Afternoon you can go for different activites in Periyar , like spice plantation visit, elephant ride, boat ride or jungle walk (on your direct payment basis). Some of the activities can be done next day early morning also.
Periyar Tiger Reserve, 777 sq km. in area is set in a rich, mixed deciduous forest, interspersed with open areas of tall grass. Periyar has a splendid artificial lake dotted with snags of dead wood, which provide a perch for water birds; darter, grey heron, egret and kingfisher. It is one of the finest habitats for the Asiatic elephant. These enormous mammals swim in the waters and streams and usually they can be observed during the boat ride. Periyar also holds, apart from Tiger, leopards, sambar, wild dog, barking deer, the lion tailed macaque, the Nilgiri langur. The forest harbours a variety of woodland birds.
Day 11 – Periyar to Munnar – 3.30 hrs drive
After the breakfast transfer you to Munnar hotel.
Afternoon you can visit Tea Musuem
Day 12 – Munnar
Today you can visit around Munnar.
Munnar (1520 m) – is a abode of environmental purity situated at the confluence of three mountain streams, Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. A major centre of Kerala’s tea industry is a genuine hill station and nature lover’s paradise. It is surrounded by about 30 tea estates, among the highest in the world. There are enchanting high ranges, lakes and streams and beautiful view of low-lying clouds and the mist filled valleys. It has many interesting walks. Your visit includes:- Eravikulam National Park, Madupetty Dam & Lake, Echo Point, Swiss Farm Project (Entry to Swiss project is now banned, you can watch it only from outside while you drive to Echo point). The drive around Munnar is itself a sightseeing tour, which gives you one of the finest and breathtaking views of the Tea Estates.
Day 13 – Munnar to Cochin – 4.30 hrs drive
After the breakfast transfer you to Cochin
Afternoon visit of Cochin
Kochi – the palm green commercial town of Kerala has one of the finest natural harbours in the world. A town with a hoary past, Cochin is the gateway to Kerala. The Jewish Synagogue – built in 1568 AD contains Grand Scrolls of the Old Testament and the copper plates containing the privileges granted to the Jews by the Cochin rulers. The floor of the synagogue is paved with exquisite Chinese hand painted tiles. The Dutch Palace was built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin Raja in 1555 AD. 17th century murals depicting scenes from the Indian epic, the Ramayana can be seen here. St. Francis Church, built originally by the Portuguese in 1510 AD is believed to be the first church built by Europeans in India. Vasco da Gama was originally buried here. The Chinese fishing nets can be seen at the entrance of the harbour. The Chinese through trade contact taught this technique of catching fish.
Day 14 – Kochi to Kumarakom Houseboat – 2.30 hrs drive
After the breakfast transfer you to Kumarakom Houseboat.
Welcome drink on arrival and start cruising through the Vembanad lake which is the largest fresh water lake in Asia, visit R-Block & C-Block (where paddy is cultivated much below the sea level), Pathiramanal Island and also enjoy the panoramic views and the glimpses of the Kerala backwater village life along the banks. Kumarakom is a beautiful village stocked with divine mangroves and coconut groves, lush green paddy fields. Kumarakom bird sanctuary is home to migratory birds. Many luxury Resorts can be seen on the bank of Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom.
Lunch break stop 1300 to 1400 hrs. Continue cruising.
Tea/coffee, snacks provide in the afternoon
Houseboat will anchor in the evening and will not move during the night. You can also get a chance to go out and walk along the riverside or villages.
Dinner & overnight in the boat.
(Air-condition in the bed room will be switched-on only during the night sleep)
Day 15 – Houseboat to Kovalam Beach – 4 hrs drive
Morning tea/coffee and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast while the boat starts cruising.
At 0900 hrs. check-out from the House Boat. Transfer to Kovalam Beach hotel
Day 16 – Kovalam Beach
Day free at the beach or optional ayurveda massage.
Day 17 – Kovalam Beach
Day free at the beach or optional ayurveda massage.
Day 18 – Kovalam Beach
Day free at the beach or optional ayurveda massage.
Day 19 – Kovalam Beach to Trivandrum airport drop
Transfer to Thiruvanathapuram airport.