Day 01
Bangalore Arrival:

COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE will receive you on arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Bangalore is a booming city and considered fifth largest and the fastest growing city in Asia. Bangalore combines a quaint old world charm with the hustle and bustle of a modern metropolitan city. It is a delightful place with an amalgamation of various rich cultures, crafts, and heritage centers. This city while enjoying the reputation of being a modern, high-tech city, still offers a lot of places of historical interest for the avid sightseer to explore. A trip around the city can be very interesting and provides a varied sightseeing experience with Palaces, museums, temples, churches and gardens. It has an enviable posterity and presents much to be discovered. Despite being one of Asia's fastest growing cities, Bangalore remains one of the most elegant metros in India. A well-planned city, with tree-lined avenues, a large number of parks, gardens and lakes, Bangalore is aptly called India's garden city. Bangalore is even gaining the status of the "Floriculture Capital of India" due to the present blossoming of flower exports from the city. The beautiful parks like the Lalbagh and Cubbon Park are indeed a treat to the eyes.

Overnight will be at Bangalore.

Day 02
Bangalore:

After breakfast proceed for the sightseeing.

Cubbon Park: Lord Cubbon laid down the 300-acre park in 1864. A perfect place for joggers and nature walkers, it also has red Gothic structures to see such as the State Central Library with its rare treasure of books, architectural style and fluted pillars, the High Court, the Cheshire Dyer Memorial Hall, Ottawa Chatter, Museum, Century Club and the Press Club.

Lalbagh Gardens: A small fruit orchard of Hyder Ali, this garden had the glory of Tipu Sultan introducing several exotic trees here such as Cypress, Thuja, Junipers, Grapes, Guavas, Raspberries and Strawberries while John Cameron's period was certainly its 'Golden Era'. The Lalbagh Glass House once displayed the flora imported from England.

Vidhana Soudha: An imposing 46m high Bangalore granite monument that resembles the Temple architectural style houses the Legislative Chambers of the state government. The building has 22 departments and 300 rooms, four domes on all its corners and the four-headed lion.

Tipu’s Palace: Similar in many ways to the Summer Palace of Tippu Sultan at Sriangapatna, this palace was begun by Haider Ali and completed by Tippu in 1791. Known as `Rashk-e-jannat' (Envy of Heaven), it has massive wooden work and is known for five exquisitely ornamented arches with beautiful minarets and paintings on walls and ceilings.

Gandhi Bhavan: The Gandhi Smarak Nidhi (memorial of Father of India, Gandhiji) in the Gandhi Bhavan exhibits pictures and photos depicting Gandhiji's life from early childhood till the day of his death. One can also read copies of Gandhiji's letters to famous personalities of his time to fully comprehend his philosophy and his views on various subjects.

Government Museum: One of the important buildings, the Government Museum is one of the oldest in India (1886). The special attractions here are the antiquities from MOHENJODARO period. Situated nearby the museum is the VISVESWARAVA INDUSTRIAL & TECHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM named after the great engineer - statesman.

St. Mary's Church: Established by a French missionary Abbe Dubois in 1811, St.Mary's church is the only church in Karnataka state to be elevated to the status of a minor Basilica. Every September, The Virgin Mary's festival is celebrated with a procession that attracts people of all faiths. The church is situated near the Shivaji Nagar Bus Terminal.

End early and enjoy shopping or just sit in one of the numerous modern pubs in downtown area just enjoying the latest music and crowd. It will be a nice experience as the weather in this city is pleasant all through the year.

Overnight will be at Bangalore.

Day 03
Bangalore – Shravanbelagola - Hassan:
By Road 187kms/04hrs

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed to Hassan visiting Shravanbelagola enroute.

Shravanbelagola in Hassan District is an important Jaina centre. There is a pond and two stony hills, called Chandragiri and Indragiri. Chandragiri has the Chandraguptha basadis of the Gangas and the Parashwanatha basadis here is the biggest. The town below the hill has the Jaina matha whose walls have very old paintings. Indragiri has the Gommata monolith, 58' tall, installed by a Ganga general and scholar Chavundaraya, and also Siddhara basadis, Odegal basadis, Chennanna basadis and Chauvvisa Tirthankara basadis, and also the finely engraved pillar called Tyagada Brahma Pillar. The floral designs on it are excellent. To the north of town is Jinanathapura which has the Aregal basadis and the Shantinatha basadis of Hoysala times. Shravanbelagola has over 500 inscriptions, and some of them are recording death by starving (`sallekhana') by Jaina ascetics and laymen.

Reach Hassan and check into the hotel.

The Hassan City more fully and meaningfully known as the Simhasana Nagari originally, before the mutation of names made by foreign rulers is the administrative centre of the Hassan district which is the invaluable crown of the Karnataka state, whose glory is sung as being the dear offspring of the great Mother Bharata Maataa. This district is rich with natural sceneries and too with cultural wealth. It happens to be the confluence of three verities of areas namely the mountainous, the semi mountainous and the open field areas (Malenadu, Are Malenadu, and Bayalu Seeme). The Nandas, the Mouryas, the Kadambas, the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, the Lords of Vijaya Nagar Empire, the Kings of Belur, and the Monarchs of Mysore - thus several dynasties had their dominions over this land. Belur and Halebidu have revelled in History as the Capitals of the Hoysala Reign. The very first written document of the Kannada Language has been exposed to the world by this district, in the form of Halmidi Saasana (Halmidi Inscription)

It was the Gangas and the Hoysalas who have contributed the immense treasure of sculptural art work to us to be handed over from generation to generation with proper care and protective measures. Empires and Kingdoms have come and gone, but the sovereign state of the Art of Sculpture erected by them has remained immortal unto this day.

Overnight will be at Hassan.

Day 04
Hassan – Excursion to Belur & Halebid:

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed for an excursion to Belur & Halebid.

BELUR: This quaint hamlet - 38 Kms from Hassan - is located on the banks of the river Yagachi. It was once the capital of the Hoysala Empire today made unforgettable for its exquisite temples. The Chennakeshava Temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture. It took 103 years to complete and you can see why. The facade of the temple is filled with intricate sculptures and friezes with no portion left blank. They are all there - awe-inspiring in their intricate workmanship. Inside are hand-lathe-turned filigreed pillars. The Veeranarayana Temple and the smaller shrines are well worth a visit.

HALEBID: Former Dwarasamudra in Hassan district is in Belur taluk and 27 Kms away from Hassan and was the capital of Hoysala after Belur. The Hoysaleswara Temple, dating back to the 12th century, is astounding for its wealth of sculptural details. The walls of the temple are covered with an endless variety of gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls. Yet no two facets of the temple are the same. This magnificent temple - guarded by a Nandi Bull - was never completed, despite 86 years of labor. The Jain basadis nearby are equally rich in sculptural detail. Belur and Halebid are 222 and 216 Kms from Bangalore, respectively. Channarayapatna, Ramanathpur, Gorur and Manjarabad are the other places of interest around Hassan.

Overnight will be at Hassan.

Day 05
Hassan – Mysore:
By Road 110kms/04hrs

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed to Mysore. Reach Mysore and check into the hotel.

Mysore is a major tourist city of Karnataka. The city was the erstwhile capital of the state and hence has played an important role in the history of the state and of South India. Today it has developed into a modern city like many other cities in the country. But this city has not lost touch with its rich historical and cultural legacy. Mysore city is a favourite tourist destination in Karnataka. Tourist from within the country and from outside come see the splendor of the city of Mysore. The city has a number of places a person can visit. There are a number of Royal buildings, gardens, waterfalls, temples, museums and modern amusement parks.

The city of Mysore is known as the 'City Of Palaces'. There are number of buildings built by the Royal family and are exquisite examples of Dravidian architecture and display grandeur and lavish life lead by the Emperors while they ruled the state. Apart from the Palaces there are number of other tourist’s attractions that one can visit in Mysore. One of the popular spots is the Chamundi hills and the temple on top of the hills. This prominent landmark of Mysore is a favourite destination for the locales as well.

You could do some climbing to catch a great sunrise from the Chamundi Hill or a walk to the lakes.

Try some fine South Indian dishes such as the famous Mysore Masala dosa and the Mysore Pak sweet.

Mysore is famous for its silk sarees and sandalwood. You can shop at places like Cauvery Art and Crafts Emporium, and on roads like Ashoka, Sayyaji Rao and Devaraj Urs.

Overnight will be at Mysore.

Day 06
Mysore:

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed for the sightseeing.

The Chamundeswari Temple, atop the hill of Chamundi, is of great religious significance. It is dedicated to the Goddess Chamundi or Durga, who killed the demon king. This temple earlier was a small one, but later was expanded under the Wodeyar rule. It displays Dravidian influence in some of its architecture. It is quadrangular in shape, and there is a statue of the Lord Ganesha on the doorway.

Another temple to see is the Mahabaleshwar Temple, which is said to be older than the Chamundeswari Temple, which somehow lost its importance with the latter gaining significance. Inside this temple you can see images and statues which have been built in the styles of Hoysala, Ganga and Chola art.

The Mysore Palace is said to be the most magnificent and looks even more captivating on festive nights when it is lit up with as many as 97,000 light bulbs. Located in the city's centre, this is said to be the fourth one that stands there on the very same site.

This Palace is also called the Main Palace or the Amba Vilasa Palace, and it has drawn influences from Dravidian, Oriental, Roman and Indo-Saracenic architectural styles and is a three storeyed structure made of grey granite.  You enter this palace through a Doll's Pavilion called Gombe Thotti, which is home to dolls from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Another interesting feature is the seven cannons in front of this pavilion which are still used at the beginning and end of the Dusshera festival. The Palace houses 12 temples.

The museums talk about the rich cultural past of the city. A museum to visit is the Jayachamarejendra Art Gallery inside the Jaganmohan Palace, which is a reservoir of rare art, artifacts, and paintings. A three-storeyed structure, the ground floor comprises paintings depicting the lineage of the Mysore Kings; the first floor with paintings from artist’s world over and in India; the second floor, home to many musical instruments; and the third floor once again with a gallery of paintings depicting the Dusshera processions.

Overnight will be at Mysore.

Day 07
Mysore – Coonoor:
By Road 120Kms/02hrs
Coonoor – Ooty:
By Toy train in 1 hr

Drive to Coonoor after a leisurely breakfast.

Enjoy the tea and coffee plantations around you while you drive.

Reach the hill station and enjoy sightseeing and lunch at a heritage resort.

Coonoor is a fabulous hill station in the Nilgiri hills about 19 km from Ooty. Coonoor, located at an altitude of 1,856 meters, is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiri hills.

The Sim's Park with all its natural beauty was constructed in 1874 has unique trees and plants. Fascinating and unforgettable view points for tourist are Lamb's Rock, Dolphin's Nose; Lady Canning's Seat to name a few. Tourist can avail of the Toy train facility to get a detailed view of this place.

Coonoor called as a small tea garden. Coonoor is the first of the three hill stations in the Nilgiri- Ooty, Kotagiri and Coonoor. The Sim's Park with all its natural beauty was constructed in 1874 has unique trees and plants. Coonoor is a right spot for the lover of nature. It sparkles with fresh vegetation and sceneries. Coonoor has a number of ideal picnic spots which are green feast for the eyes of the visitors.

Coonoor is a fantastic spot for the tourist in India. It is noted for the different varieties of birds. Various species of vultures, eagles and owls, song birds like bulbuls, thrushes, babblers, larks, cuckoos, robins and several others act as melodious music gives new adventure effect for the visitors who are accustomed to the city sound pollution.

Take the TOY TRAIN (blue train) to OOTY. This is one of the best highlights of the BLUE MOUNTAINS and enjoys the train ride with plantations on both sides and pretty villages.

Ooty, short for Ootacamund (an anglicized name for Udhagamandalam), is a popular hill resort in the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India.

The name Udhagamandalam is derived from the TODA word "othakal-mund" which means "house in mountains". Ooty stands at 7,347 feet above sea level in the Nilgiri mountain range. It was founded in the 19th century by the British, and served as the summer headquarters of the Madras Presidency.

Located in the mountainous range called the Nilgiris ("Blue Mountains"), it draws swarms of tourists every year. The weather is quite pleasant at a mean of 15-20°C around the year, dropping to lows of 0°C during winter. The landscape is marked by rolling hills covered with dense vegetation, smaller hills and plateaus covered with tea gardens, and eucalyptus trees. Many portions of the hills are preserved as natural reserve forests, and special permits will be needed to camp in noncamp sites. Ooty is not the destination in itself, as much as it is the focal point of attraction. Auto touring the surrounding country side is certainly a must do. Unfortunately, the hill town suffers from overcrowding and erosion of natural resources. Tourism has placed an enormous strain on the natural resources resulting in pollution, water shortage and roads.

Overnight will be at Ooty.

Day 08
Ooty:

Breakfast will be at the resort.

Enjoy the sightseeing.

Botanical Gardens: This is one of Ooty's most-visited places and is 2kms from town. It dates back to the mid-18th century. Covering an area of 22 acres, it was originally meant as a ground to study the vegetation in and around the hills of Nilgiri. Today it functions as a park open to all. It is home to as many as 650 species of plants and trees, and also happens to be a bird watcher's delight. It also has a fossil of a 200 million year old tree.

Ooty Lake and Boat House: This is the most popular tourist hub in the town, just behind the bus-stand. An artificial lake, it was built by John Sullivan in the mid 18th century. One can go for various kinds of boat rides here from morning to evening. There is also a children's park and a deer park nearby.

Rose Garden: Another popular tourist spot of Ooty, Rose Garden or Mini garden is around 3-4 Kms from the Charring Cross and has a variety of exquisite blooms to see.

Thread Garden: This is home to a variety of flowers and what is unique is that these are not natural flowers but made out of threads. It is believed that it took 12 years to create this garden.

Stone House: This was the first British house built by John Sullivan, which also paved the way for further settlements in Ooty. It is located inside the Government Arts College.

Doddabetta Peak: Standing at an altitude of 2,623 mts, and 10kms from Ooty, it is the highest point in the district and one of the best spots to catch a brilliant view.

Tiger Hill: This is located at DoddaBetta Peak’s lower bend, and is an excellent place for trekking.

Enjoy local shopping picking up natural oils and spices.

Overnight will be at Ooty.

Day 09
Ooty – Cochin:
By Road 260Kms/06hrs

Enjoy breakfast at the resort and drive to Cochin.

The striking port city of Kochi or Cochin is a tourist's paradise. Lush mangroves, coconut tress reflected in the translucent waters of backwaters, ancient churches, cathedrals and fort - tourists on sightseeing tours of Cochin would find all these and more. Flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the majestic looking Arabian Sea in the west, Kochi occupies a very strategic location and has been a significant trading zone and attractive tourist destination since time immemorial. The tradition and reputation of this enchantingly quaint port city has maintained till date. Here's a list of popular sightseeing places to be seen on a tour of India.

Enjoy harbour cruise in evening.

Overnight will be at Cochin.

Day 10
Cochin:

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed for a sightseeing tour of the city.

Fort Kochi: Even a casual stroll through Fort Kochi located in the port city of Kochi in Kerala is enough to make you feel transported to another world and time. The architectural style of the buildings and the town layout easily make Fort Cochin distinct from other cities and towns of Kerala. Since Fort Cochin was under the possession of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British at different points of time, the region still bear the influence of European architecture.

Bolghatty Palace: The splendid Bolghatty Palace is located on the Bolghatty Islands, in the Cochin city of Kerala. The appeal of the palace lies in the fact that it is among the oldest existing palaces built by the Dutch in India, during the pre-British times.

Chinese Fishing Nets: The Chinese fishing nets at Fort Kochi, located in the Kochi city of Kerala, make up a very popular tourist attraction. They are fixed land installations, which are used for a very unique and unusual method of fishing.

Mattancherry Palace: Even though it is austere in its appearance, the Mattancherry Palace of Cochin has a quaint charm of its own. The credit for building this landmark monument partly goes to the Dutch, who captured Cochin city of Kerala during the pre-British period.

Marine Drive: Marine Drive is a beautiful promenade in Kochi (Cochin), Kerala state of India. The Marine Drive is built facing the backwaters of Kochi. It is a popular hangout for the local populace as well as the tourists.

Jewish Synagogue: The Jewish Synagogue in the port city of Kochi is the oldest synagogue in all the Commonwealth of Nations. Thus, it comprises the topmost slot in the itinerary of the tourists visiting the city.

Pareekshith Thampuran Museum: Pareekshith Thampuran Museum is a very good archeological museum located near the Shiva temple, on the Durbar Hall Road at Ernakulam. This museum boasts of an impressive collection of 19th century paintings, ancient monuments and coins, scriptures made in stone and Plaster of Paris, murals as well as memorabilia belonging to the Cochin royal family.

St Francis Church: St Francis Xavier's Church at Fort Kochi was built in the year 1503, by the Portuguese traders. They came here with Admiral Pedro Alvarez de Cabral, via the same route taken by the legendary Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who landed at Calicut in 1498.

Willingdon Island: The Willington Island contains the modern port serving Cochin city of Kerala. The island is an artificial man-made island created from the sand dug out while deepening Kochi port.

Museum of Kerala History: Do not take the Museum of Kerala History in the Cochin city of Kerala as any ordinary museum. The significance of this 'live' museum lies in the fact that it recounts the history of the land through magnificent and informative light and sound shows.

Overnight will be at Cochin.

Day 11
Cochin – Kumarakom:
By Road 80Kms/02hrs

After breakfast proceed to Kumarakom.

Kumarakom, a prime backwater-tour destination, is world– renowned for its bewitching backwaters and picturesque tropical landscapes. This naturally blessed land has loads to offer even for the most discerning traveler. The unique geographical terrain of the region dispersed with vast paddy fields, palm groves, mangrove forests, lagoons, canals and backwaters make Kumarakom quite distinct from any other place in Kerala. Life in this small hamlet revolves around the Vembanad Lake – the life-line of Kumarakom; people here lead a unique water-based lifestyle quite different from the rest of the state.

Check into a traditional houseboat of Kerala Style and go on a leisurely backwater cruise along the lake on a thatched houseboat. The houseboat with all modern comforts lets you discover the countryside at your own pace. You will have lunch, dinner and breakfast in the Houseboat. A ride on the houseboat is a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters.

Cruise through the backwaters towards Alleppey. Lunch will be served on the boat. The menu is simple and traditional. The cook (chef) of the boat prepares the lunch from fresh materials and even you can have a peek at the recipe.

Tea and snacks would be served in the evening. The boat will be anchored in the backwaters along a paddy field and you can go for a stroll into the village or relax at the deck of the boat.

Dinner will be on the boat. Overnight will be at Houseboat.

Day 12
Alleppey – Varkala:
By Road 110Kms/04hrs

Breakfast will be on board the boat.

Cruise through the backwaters watching the children going to school and the village markets opening.

Disembark the boat at the finishing point where your driver will be waiting for you to drive to Varkala.

Reach Varkala and check into the hotel.

Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several places of tourist interests like a beautiful beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu Temple and the ashramam- Sivagiri Mutt a little distance from the beach. At the serene Varkala beach is a quiet sea resort rich in mineral water springs. A dip in the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities and the soul of all sins; hence the name 'Papanasam beach'. A two thousand year old shrine the Janardhanaswamy Temple stands on the cliffs overlooking the beach, a short distance away. The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by the great Hindu reformer and Philosopher Sree Narayana Guru (1856 - 1928) is also close by. The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30th December to 1st January. Sree Narayana Guru propagated the ideology: "one caste, one religion and one god", in a society torn by the taboos of caste system. Varkala offers excellent accommodation facilities for tourists and is fast becoming a popular health resort with many Ayurvedic massage centres.

Overnight will be at Varkala.

Day 13
Varkala:

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Day will be free to explore and relax at the beach.

Overnight will be at Varkala.

Day 14
Varkala:

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Relax and spend the day in leisure.

Overnight will be at Varkala.

Day 15
Varkala – Trivandrum - Departure:
By Road 51Kms/02hrs

Drive to Trivandrum after a leisurely morning breakfast.

Enjoy short sightseeing tour of Trivandrum.

As per the flight timings you will be transferred to the airport to take flight back home with sweet memories of tour

...........................................................................TOUR ENDS...........................................................................

INCLUSIONS:

• ACCOMODATION AT SUGGESTED HOTELS,
• DAILY BUFFET BREAKFASTS,
    
• AIR CONDITIONED VEHICLE WITH DRIVER FOR THE TOUR,
               
• SIGHTSEEING TOURS AS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY,
• MEET AND ASSIST SERVICES ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE,
• ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE AT APPLICABLE PLACES,
• TOY TRAIN RIDE FROM COONOOR-OOTY,
• HARBOUR CRUISE IN COCHIN,
• KATHAKALI DANCE PRESENTATION IN COCHIN,
• OVERNIGHT STAY IN HOUSEBOAT,
• ALL MEALS IN HOUSEBOAT,
• ALL APPLICABLE TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES, AND
• ALL PARKING WITH DRIVER ALLWANCES AND ROAD TAXES.

EXCLUSIONS:

• LUNCHES & DINNERS,
• MONUMENT ENTRANCES,
• CAMERA CHARGES AT THE MONUMENTS,
• PORTER CHARGES,
• TIPS &
• PERSONAL EXPENSES.