18 Night / 19 Days
Bangalore – Hassan – Mysore – Chennai – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry – Tanjore – Chettinadu – Madurai - Periyar – Munnar – Cochin - Kumarakom Houseboat – Kovalam Beach - Trivandrum
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Programme Day 01 - Arrive Bangalore Meeting & Greeting on arrival and transfer you to Bangalore hotel. 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. 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.
Day 03 - Hassan to Mysore – 4 hrs drive After the breakfast transfer to Mysore hotel. 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. Day 05 - Chennai to Mahabalipuram – 1.15 hrs drive After the breakfast transfer you to Mahabalipuram hotel. 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. 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. 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 PalaceMadurai 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 you to Periyar hotel.
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. 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 Kochi – 4.30 hrs drive After the breakfast transfer you to 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.
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. 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. Day 15 - Houseboat to Kovalam Beach – 4 hrs drive Morning tea/coffee and enjoy a sumptuous breakfast while the boat starts cruising. 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. |
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