DURATION : 16 NIGHTS/17 DAYS
DESTINATION COVERED: MUMBAI - BANGALORE - HASSAN - MYSORE - OOTY -
COCHIN - KUMARAKOM - VARKALA
DAY 01 ARRIVE MUMBAI
Arrive Mumbai Airport by International flight.
Meeting, assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel for overnight.
DAY 02 MUMBAI
After breakfast proceed for Elephanta Caves by motorlaunch.
Elephanta Caves - The rock-cut Hindu temples at Elephanta, an island 6
miles across the harbour provide an exciting glimpses of Indian
sculpture dating from 600 AD. Huge panels depict episodes relating to
Lord Shiva, the central one being the most imposing one - a five metre
bust of the God, represents his three aspects as creator, preserver and
destroyer. Motor-launch takes about an hour to reach the island where
the caves are situated.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Mumbai.
Mumbai - Political capital of Maharashtra and commercial capital of
India, Mumbai is many cities in one. As the world's largest textile
market, a major industrial center and country's busiest port handling
over 40 percent of India maritime trade. Mumbai has no recorded ancient
past. Mumbai 's colonial legacy is the Gateway of India built to
commemorate the royal visit of George V and Queen Mary in 1911. Places
of interest are Prince of Wales Museum commemorates George V's first
visit to India in 1905 houses collections of Indian sculpture, miniature
paintings and Nepalese and Tibetan art. Flora Fountain, St.Thomas
Cathedral, Crawford Market, Chor Bazaar (thieves market), Marine Drive,
Malabar Hill, Hanging Gardens & Kamla Nehru Park are the other
places of interest. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 03 MUMBAI-BANGALORE FLIGHT
After breakfast transfer to airport in time to board flight for
Bangalore (1020-1155 - 9W 443).
Assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour
of Bangalore.
Bangalore - A modern, bustling city and an important industrial center,
is pleasant round the year. It is also one of India's mosr progressive
and liberal cities. Vidhan Soudha constructed of granite in the
noe-Dravidian style of architecture is one of the most spectacular
buildings. Cubbon Park, covers 120 hectres, laid out in 1864 is a
beautiful shady park, full of flowering trees. The Government Museum,
one of the oldest in India, established in 1886 and houses collections
on geology, art, numismatics and relics from Mohenjodaro, dating back
5000 years. Lalbagh covering 96 hectres was laid out in the 18th century
by Hyder Ali.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 04 BANGALORE-SRAVANABELGOLA-HASSAN DRIVE 210 KMS
After breakfast drive to Hassan enroute visiting Sravanabelgola - Said
to be the world's tallest monolithic statue rises, 17 metre high of
Bahubali (Gomateshwara). The statue was built in 981 AD by the sculptor
Aristanemi. On arrival check-in at hotel and overnight.
DAY 05 HASSAN
After breakfast excursion to Belur & Halebid.
Belur & Halebid are the masterpiece of most artistically exurberant
periods of Hindu culture development. The Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid
was constructed about 10 years after the temple of Belur, but despite 80
years labour was never completed. Every cm of the outside walls and much
of the interior are covered with an endless variety of Hindu deities,
sages, stylized animals and birds depicting the life and time of the
Hoysala rulers. No two are alike. Scenes which depict war, hunting,
music and dance and some very sensual sculptures explicity portraying
the après temple activities of the dancing girls.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 05 HASSAN-SRIRANGAPATNAM-MYSORE DRIVE 110 KMS
After breakfast drive to Mysore enroute visiting Srirangapatnam.
Srirangapatnam - 16 kms from Mysore, is situated on the banks of
Cauvery River. Once the capital of Hyder Ali and Tippu Sulta, it is from
here that Tippu Sultan, in alliance with French, fought the British.
Inside the Fortress there is a Tippu's Mosque with its twin minarets.
The famous Ranganathaswammay temple is also at Srirangapatnam.
On arrival check-in at hotel & overnight.
DAY 06 MYSORE
After breakfast full day tour of Mysore & Somnathpur.
Mysore - The seat of Maharaja of Mysore until independence is most
famous for Indo-Saaracenic Palace. Just south of the city is Chamundi
Hill, toped by an important Siva Temple. North of the city lie the ruins
of the fortress of Srirangapatnam, built by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.
To the east is the beautiful temple of Somnathpur while to the West,
below the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam, are the Brindavan Gardens.
Somnathpur - 45 kms from Mysore is known for its Hoysala architecture.
Built in 1268 AD the temple is seated on a star shaped base, set on a
chiseled plinth and guarded at intervals by miniature elephants. The
temple wall depicts from Ramayana, Mahabharata & Bhagvata.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 07 MYSORE-OOTY DRIVE 160 KMS
After breakfast drive to Ooty. On arrival check-in at hotel and
overnight.
DAY 08 OOTY
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Ooty.
Ooty (Udagamandalam) - Is an integral part of the great plateau
occupaying the junction of the Eastern & Western Ghats. Located at
2240m, Ooty is the headquarters of the Nilgiris disctrict. Apart from
coffee and tea plantations, trees like confiers, eucalyptus, pine and
wattle dot the hillside in ooty and its environ. The paradise remained
unknown to the great southern dynasties and it took the British to
discover it in the early 1800s. Even today the atmosphere of the Raj
lingers in places like the club, the Nilgir Library and St.Stephen's
Church. The places of interest in Ooty include Botanical Gardens where "Summer
Festival" is held each year during the month of May; the articial
lake and dodabetta peak which is the highest point in the district at a
height of 2623 m.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 09 OOTY-COCHIN DRIVE 283 KMS
After breakfast drive to Cochin, on arrival check-in at hotel for
overnight.
DAY 10 COCHIN
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Cochin.
Cochin - Kerala's commercial center, it has a fine natural harbour.
Cochin (Kochi) gateway for Kerala is famous for Mattancherry (Dutch)
Palace, St. Francis Church, Wellington Island, Bolghatty Island, Chinese
Fishing nets and Jewish Synagogue. Cruising on the backwaters provides
glimpses of the rural life, fine view of the harbour and three islands.
Late afternoon enjoy sunset boatcuirse and overnight.
DAY 11 COCHIN-KUMARAKOM DRIVE 74 KMS
After breakfast drive to Kumarakom, on arrival check-in at hotel for
overnight.
DAY 12 KUMARAKOM
Day free for independent activities & overnight at the hotel.
DAY 13 KUMARAKOM-ALLEPPEY-VARKALA DRIVE 110 KMS
After breakfast embark boat to have backwater cruise Kumarakom to
Alleppey.
Travelling by boat on the backwaters in Kerala is one of the most
unique experience. The boats cross, shallow, palm-fringed lakes and
travel along narrow shady canals providing glimpses of small settlement
on the narrow land, shops, schools and trading on boat, lush green rice
fields. These canals are well connected between
Kottayam-Alleppey-Changancherry-Quilon & Kumarakom on the edge of
Asthamudi Lake. The delightful backwaters of Kerala begin from this
picturesque town.
Upon arrival at Alleppey drive to Varkala. On arrival check-in at hotel
for overnight.
DAY 14 VARKALA
Day free for independent activities & overnight.
DAY 15 VARKALA
Day free for independent activities & overnight.
DAY 16 VARKALA
Day free for independent activities & overnight.
DAY 17 VARKALA-TRIVANDRUM DRIVE 51 KMS
Breakfast & transfer to Trivandrum Airport in time to board flight
for onward destination.
