South India Tour
Duration : 19 Days
Destinations : Mumbai - Bangalore - Mysore - Ooty - Cochin - Kumarakon
- Periyar - Madurai - Trichy - Mahabalipuram - Mumbai
Day 1 Mumbai
Arrival in Mumbai. Transfer to the hotel. Check in time is 1200 hrs.
Day 2 Mumbai/Bangalore
Morning transfer to the domestic airport to connect your flight for Bangalore,
the capital of Karnataka, famous as the `Garden City', was once a summer resort
of the British Raj. It is one of the most attractive cities in India with its
beautiful parks, avenues and impressive buildings. It is referred to as the
`Silicon Valley' where most of the big electronic and computer companies have
their centres.
On arrival in Bangalore transfer to the hotel. Check in at the hotel.
Half day sightseeing of Bangalore, the garden city including a visit to the
Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens. The gardens are said to be laid out by Haidar Ali
and his son Tipu Sultan as a summer garden in the 18th century, has numerous
flowers, hundred year old trees from many countries and the lotus Pond. There
are over 1800 species of tropical, subtropical and medicinal plants and a Floral
Clock. The Glass House holds temporary exhibitions. Then to Bull Temple in dravidian
style with the huge monolith statue of Shiva's vehical, the sacred Nandi Bull,
nearly 5 m high and 6 m long., in grey granite polished. Vidhan Sabha (legislative
assembly) with its impressive facades and portals of pure sandal wood. Finally
to City Museum that was opened in 1886, one of the oldest in the country. Has
18 galleries including Neolithic finds from the Chandravalli excavations, and
from the Indus Valley, especially Mohenjodaro antiquities. Also antique jewelry,
textiles, coins, art, miniature paintings and geology.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Bangalore.
Day 3 Bangalore/Mysore (140 km)
After breakfast drive to Mysore. En route visit Srirangapattnam, a fortified
Island site in the Kaveri river, it has been the home to religious reformers
and military conquerors. The fort was built under the Vijaynagar kings in 1454.
150 years later the last king handed over authority to the Hindu Wodeyars of
Mysore. In the second half of the 18th century it became the capital of Hyder
Ali and his son Tipu Sultan from where they ruled southern India before being
finally defeated by the British.
Continue your drive to your hotel in Mysore and check-in.
Mysore, the former capital of the princely state is the second largest city
in Karnataka. It is a beautiful city of stately palaces, gardens, parks and
museums. Sandalwood and a centre for the manufacture of incense sticks. The
city is famous for the scent of jasmine in the spring.
Overnight stay at hotel in Mysore.
Day 4 Mysore
After breakfast excursion to Somnathpur, East of Mysore. This tiny village has
one of the best preserved and the only complete magnificent Hoysala Temple (13th
century) of approximately 80 Hoysala temples dedicated to God Keshava. Small
but exquisite the temple has excellent ceilings which show the distinctive features
of the late Hoysala style.
Afternoon visit the Maharaja Palace (1857): that was once the residence of the
Wodeyars, Built in Indo-Saracenic style in grand proportions, with domes, arches
and colonnades of carved pillars and shiny marble floors. One of the largest
palaces in the country with some art treasures,
The Chamundi Hill has the temple of Durga (Chamundeswari) celebrating her victory
over the buffalo god. She became the guardian deity o the Wodeyars. On the road
to the top is the giant Nandi Monolith carved in 1659 (4,8m x 7,6m huge bull
sculpture).
Overnight stay at the hotel in Mysore.
Day 5 Mysore/Ooty (160 kms)
Early morning drive to Ooty through beautiful tea, coffee and pepper plantations.
Visit a tea factory before you arrive Ooty. Udhagamandalam - (Ooty), had been
inhabited by Toda tribal people, who lived in villages or munds consisting of
a handful of huts. Known as `Queen of the Blue Mountain' it is famous for its
rolling hills covered in pine and eucalyptus forests and its coffee and tea
plantations. Because of its climate, the British developed it as a summer retreat.
Ooty lies at an altitude of 2.286 m and is surrounded by deep jungles and tea
plantations.
Upon arrival check-in to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Ooty.
Day 6 Ooty
Today morning, you visit the Botanical Garden, that have more than 1000 varieties
of plants, shrubs and trees including orchids, ferns, alpine and medicinal plants
among beautiful lawns and glass houses. There is a small lake with a 20 million
year-old fossil tree trunk by it. The gardens were developed by Marquis of Tweed
dale in 1847, who got a Kew gardener to transform it into an ornamental garden.
Furthermore you see the huts of the Toda tribe. You have enough time to wander
through bazaars and experience the colonial past. About the Todas it is supposed
that they are the descendants of the Greek soldiers of Alexander's army. They
have still maintained their tradition and speak their own language.
Afternoon is at leisure or trek your way to the Ooty Lake, constructed between
1823 and 1825 through the initiative of the collector Mr. John Sullivan, as
an irrigation tank. Although artificial, the winding lake looks beautifully
natural. Enjoy the activities around the lake. Return to the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Ooty.
Day 7 Ooty/Cochin (281 km)
After breakfast drive to Cochin. On your way you pass through tea, coffee, pepper
and cardamom plantations. You can visit a spice garden, en route. Evening arrival
in Cochin, check-in to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel in Cochin or Kochi
as it is called now.
Day 8 Cochin
If Kerala is India's most beautiful state, which many tourists believe, then
the lovely port of Cochin is its jewel. It has been variously hailed as Queen
of the Arabian Sea, Venice of Orient, etc. Some choose to call it simply a museum
city for its rich past and colorful present. Cochin displays a blend of peoples
and architecture. It is one place where you can see a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese
churches, Dutch architecture, a couple of mosques, Hindu temples and Chinese
fishing nets all in one day.
After breakfast sightseeing of Cochin, a city till today influenced by medieval
Portugal, Holland and England. You visit St. Francis Church, built in 1503 by
Portuguese Franciscan friars where Vasco da Gama was buried for 14 years before
his remains were transferred to Lisvon. His tombstone still stands. Nearby is
the Mattancherry Palace or "Dutch Palace". The central hall on the
Ist floor was the coronation hall of the rajas of Cochin. Other rooms depict
scenes from the Ramayana and Puranic legends connected with Hindu gods. Amazing
are the Chinese fishing nets. These cantilevered fishing nets line the entrance
to the harbour mouth. They were introduced by traders from the courts of Kublai
Khan. You also see the Jew City with the Jewish Synagogue , constructed in 1568,
with hand-painted, willow-pattern floor tiles brought from Canton in the mid-18th
century by a Rabbi, who had trading interest in that city.
Evening enthrall yourself with a special presentation of the colourfully costumed
Kathakali Dance Drama. This mask dance form is originally from Kerala and 1500
years old. This classical dance has 24 mudras expressing the nine emotions of
serenity, wonder, kindness, love, valor, fear, contempt, loathing and anger.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Kochi (Cochin).
Day 9 Cochin/Kumarakom
After an early breakfast, drive to Alleppey, where you board boats and drift
through the backwaters of Kerala for a couple of hours to Kottayam. Enjoy a
boat ride through the back waters of Cochin, an idyllic experience. Waterside
activities of coir-making, toddy tapping, fishing, rice growing along the palm
lined banks and narrow strips of land that separate the water-ways, and the
constant traffic are typical. It also offers the opportunity to see tropical
vegetation, bird life and crops. From the boat you see papaya, mangoes, jack
fruit and tapioca. Get down of the boat Kottayam and drive to Kumarakom (14
kms from Kottayam).
Overnight stay at the hotel in Kumarakom.
Day 10 Kumarakom/Periyar (117 km)
After breakfast drive to Thekkadi the Periyar National Park through the cardamom
country.
Arrival in Periyar National Park, a unique wildlife sanctuary, is about 780
sq. km centered around an artificial lake fed by the Periyar River.
This afternoon game viewing is on board boats, which carry you through the jungle
along convoluted waterways and afford sightings of elephant, bison, deer and
occasionally, tiger. Small animals include black Nilgiri langur, bonnet and
lion tailed macaque, Giant and Flying squirrel. There are some 246 species of
birds and 112 species of butterfly. There are trees more than 100 years old
and over 50 m high.
Overnight in the hotel at Periyar.
Day 11 Periyar/Madurai (136 km)
After breakfast drive to Madurai. It is the cultural capital of Tamilnadu. Here,
the Dravidian culture reached its zenith in art, architecture, palaces and temple
buildings. Once the capital of powerful Nayaka kings, a bustling city packed
with pilgrims, businessmen, bullock carts and legions of rickshaw pullers. Its
narrow overcrowded streets seem to be bursting at the seams with activity. Southern
India's oldest center for pilgrimage and learning. Upon arrival check-in to
the hotel.
The Meenakshi - Temple an outstanding example of the Dravidian temple architecture
from the Vijaynagar kingdom. Meenakshi, the fish eyed goddess and the consort
of Shiva has a temple to the south and Sundareswarar (Shiva) a temple to the
west. One of the biggest temples of India. Its nine "Gopuram"-Temple
towers (23-30m ) have wonderful stucco images of gods, goddesses and animals
from the Hindu mythology.
In the evening enjoy a rickshaw ride to Meenakshi temple to watch the night
ceremony. The temple is a hive of activity, colorfully decorated temple elephant,
flower sellers and performances by musicians. At 21:30 hours, the image of Shiva
is carried in a procession accompanied by musicians, temple singers and priests
from his shrine. Enroute Shiva visits the other deities before entering Parvati's
(Meenakshi) temple to sleep with her for the night.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 12 Madurai
After breakfast another visit to Meenakshi Temple and the Museum. You see "Hall
of thousand Pillars". Its "Gopuram"-Temple towers (23-30m) have
wonderful decorations with sculptures from the Hindu mythology. The Art Museum
exhibits temple art and architecture, fine brass and stone images, friezes and
photos. The museum to the right is a cluster of five musical pillars carved
out of a single stone. Each pillar produces a different note that vibrates when
tapped. You get an opportunity to climb one of the Gopuram towers to have an
overview of the temple complex.
After this visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a palace in Indo-Saracenic style built
in 1636, with huge domes and 240 columns rising to 12 m, a beautiful garden
and a attached museum. The celestial Pavilion, an arcaded octagonal structure
is curiously constructed in brick and mortar without any supporting rafters.
Rest of the day is free.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Madurai.
Day 13 Madurai/Trichy (213 km)
After breakfast drive to Trichy, one of the other important cities of South
India. Drive via Tanjore, you will see the Jewel of South India, the great Brihadisvara
Temple, built in 9th century. The magnificent main temple has a 62 meter high
vimana ( the tallest in Inida), which is topped by dome carved from an 80 ton
lock of granite. A 6.5 km long wooden ramp was built to climb it. This temple
is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Evening arrival in Trichy, check-in to the hotel. Overnight at hotel in Trichy.
Day 14 Trichy/Mahabalipuram
After breakfast drive to Mahabalipuram. Enroute visit Srirangam, the big temple
city, which lies on an island on the Kaveri. The Ranganathasvami Temple dedicated
to Lord Vishnu, one of the largest temple in South India, is famous for its
superb sculpture - the 21 impressive gopurams and its rich collection of temple
jewellery. There is a huge statue of Lord Vishnu. Not to forget the hall with
1000 pillars and horse sculptures. Finally visit the Jambukeshwara-Temple dedicated
to Lord Shiva, is one of the oldest and largest temples of Tamil Nadu, has five
walls and seven gopurams. Here the unusual lingam under the Jambu tree always
remains under water. After sightseeing drive to Mahabalipuram. On arrival in
Mahabalipuram check in at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Mahabalipuram.
Day 15 Mahabalipuram
Sightseeing of Mahabalipuram : " City of Seven Pagodas". This ancient
Pallava port of Mamallapuram is famous for its 7th century rock-hewn monuments.
After breakfast transport yourself to the yesteryears, the magnificent rock
temples and carvings. Five Rathas (chariots) ceremonial chariots, rock-cut monoliths,
named after the 5 Pandavas - heroes of the Mahabharata epic and Draupadi their
wife. The Shore Temple by the sea surrounded by gardens designed according to
descriptions of the original layout from ancient times. Built in sandstone in
the 7th century. Bhagiratha's Penance is a bas- relief (27 to 9m) sculptured
on the face of two enormous adjacent rocks, depicts, the penance of Arjuna,
myraid characters from the Mahabharata, realistic life-size figures of animals,
gods and saints watching the descent of the river goddess Ganga to earth. After
sightseeing drive back to hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 16-17 Mahabalipuram
Free to relax.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Mahabalipuram.
Day 18 Mahabalipuram/Chennai/ Mumbai
After breakfast drive to Chennai.
Formerly Madras is now Chennai. The city traces its origin to 1639 when Francis
Day a trader with the British East India Company, built a trading post - Fort
St. George, near the village of Madraspatnam. Today Chennai is the fourth largest
city of India with a population of 5,5 million people. Also called as "Hollywood
of India" it is the center for making South Indian films.
Enjoy a tour of Chennai, visit Kapaleshvara Temple in Mylapore, dedicated to
God Shiva and offers a good example of South Indian colourful temple architecture.
An opportunity to mingle with the pilgrims. Fort St. George - a British trading
post and powerful bastion and entrance to South India. The 16th century Portuguese
old Cathedral of St. Thomas Church in which the remnants of St. Thomas is buried
who came to India in 52 AD. Pass by the University built in Indo-Sarscenic style,
as well as 5 km long Marina Beach, a lovely esplanade by the sea, and National
Museum with sculptures from Pallava, Pandava and Chola time which houses archaeology,
art, exceptionally beautiful bronzes statues, with exhibits of stone and iron
age.
Transfer to the airport to connect flight to Bombay. Arrival in Bombay transfer
to the hotel.
Day 19 Mumbai/Home
Around midnight transfer to the airport for the flight to Europe.
Click
Here for Reservation
