Karnataka

You will arrive in the evening at Banglore’s International Airport. Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, a SITA representative will meet you as you EXIT the ARRIVALS TERMINAL building after which you would be transferred to your hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, proceed for check-in at the hotel. Built in the 16th century by the feudal lord, enlarged by the legendary Tipu Sultan and later laid out by the British, Bangalore is undoubtedly one of India’s most gracious cities. The wide roads and open spaces, architectural landmarks and beautiful gardens lend it a deceptively unhurried appearance. But contrary to that, ‘India’s Silicon Valley’ is one of Asia’s fastest growing cities.Fortunately the gardens are still there as is the ambiance of a graceful, gracious township, a legacy of the Wodeyars, the erstwhile rulers of Mysore state. Its gardens, sprawling parks and tree-lined roads give it a green and fresh appearance. It has a pleasant climate nearly all the year round. Proceed for a short city tour of Banglore visiting Lalbagh, the botanical garden spread over 240 acres and having a wide variety of exotic trees and plants. You will drive past The Vidhan Sudha which houses the State Legislative assembly and part of the secretariat. Finally visit the Bull Temple believed to have been constructed in the 16th century, has been carved out of a single granite block. Also drive past, the Maharaja Palace, Indian Institute of Science and the Public library. Later you will be driven from Bangalore to Hassan (195 Kms/5 Hours) On arrival proceed to check in at your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast at the hotel you will be driven from Hassan to Mysore (120 Kms/7 Hrs) enroute visiting Belur, Halebid Temples. Drive to Belur & Halebid Temples. Situated on the banks of the river Yagachi, Belur was the capital of the Hoysala Empire 800 years ago, before it was shifted to Halebid. Today, Belur is a small town basking in the glory of one of the greatest monuments of medieval art in India - the 12th century Chennakesava Temple. The exterior is covered with a variety of intricately carved sculptures and friezes. The interior contains exquisite panels and richly carved pillars. Halebid - 16 kms from Belur, lies the ancient capital of the Hoysala Empire. Of the many buildings of this ancient city, only a few have survived Muslim invasions. Notable among them is the imposing Hoysaleswara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. After the tour you will be driven to Mysore. Upon arrival, proceed for check-in at your hotel. Once the capital of a princely state, Mysore still carries on its placid shoulders the aura and glamour of palaces, the grandeur of festivals of times gone by, but all of it with a quiet, unhurried dignity. Mysore is often called the Jewel of Karnataka - its arts, culture, buildings, festivals, gardens and parks being the quintessence of the state’s heritage. Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast proceed for a city tour of Mysore. Your infatuation with Mysore begins with the Maharaja’s Palace, at the heart of the city. It is a veritable treasure trove of exquisite carvings and works of art from the world over. Proceed to the Rajendra Art Gallery has some remarkable selections of paintings by Raja Ravi Verma, Nicholas Roerich and traditional paintings in the Mysore style. Afternoon drive upto Chamundi hill to see Chamindeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On your way back, see the Nandi Bull. Also visit flower market. Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast at the hotel you will be driven from Mysore – Ooty (160 Kms/5 Hrs). Upon arrival proceed for check-in at the hotel. Ooty, [actually known as Ootacamund], with its beautiful gardens, wooden rolling hills, pine and eucalyptus forests and cool climate has earned the name, Queen of Hill Stations. The Nilgiris are known for their tea and coffee plantations and for the eucalyptus oil used as base for medicines for coughs and colds. Afternoon visit the Botanical Gardens spread over 22 acres having a wide variety of exotic plants and colourfully laid out ornamental gardens. Move on to the beautiful Ooty Lake where boating is a favourite pastime for tourists. The Dodabetta Peak is the highest point in the Nilgiri mountains from where you get a splendid view of the mountains on a clear day. Besides Ooty has a myriad walks and treks to choose from. Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Ooty to Cochin (285 Kms / 08 Hours). Upon arrival in Cochin, proceed for check-in at the hotel. Cochin, a commercial city of the state of Kerala, has one of the best natural harbours in the country. It is set amidst lagoons and backwaters with aromatic backdrop of swaying coconut palms. Kochi, a commercial capital city of the state where land and water share extraordinary kinship. This land which is believed to have sprung forth from the sea womb, continues to bask in the tender life giving care of the waters that lap gently on its coast, cascade, down its hills and valleys and collect into exotic backwaters and lagoons. Traders from the west came to Kerala as far back as the 3rd century BC and took back with them spices, ivory and teak. Much later, in the 15th century, the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British came to this region in the guise of merchants, some to stay on as colonial rulers. Each nationality left its imprint on this coast; Cochin itself became home and safe harbour to Jews down through the centuries, specially following the inquisition in Iberia. Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast you will proceed on a sightseeing tour of Cochin City. Proceed to Mattancherry, where you will visit the oldest Jewish Synagogue in India, built in 1568, it was destroyed by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the Dutch a century later. In 1776 a wealthy Dutch Jewish trader, Ezekiel Rahabi added a clock tower and a exquisite Chinese Blue and white porcelain floor tiles, each hand painted in a different design. Its fascinating interior includes 19th Century Belgian Chandeliers, a ladies gallery and an elegant brass pulpit. The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry was built in 1555 and its coronation hall and murals at Ramayana are noteworthy features. From Jewish Synagogue you will visit Chinese fishing nets, the cantilevered fishing nets line the entrance to the harbour mouth. Chinese traders are believed to have originally introduced them in the 14th century although, today parts of the nets are known by Portuguese names. From the Chinese fishing nets you will visit St. Francis Church, originally named after Santo Antonio and dedicated to him as the Patron Saint of Portugal, St. Francis Church is the first church to have been in the new European influenced tradition. Originally a wooden building was replaced by the present stone building. Vasco De Gamma died on the site in 1524 and was originally buried in the cemetery. 14 years later his body was removed to Portugal. The church was renamed St. Francis in 1663. Evening you will visit a local theatre to watch Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali represents a synthesis of all that is best in dance, drama and music and has been recognized by connoisseurs of art, the world over as a `total art form of immense sophistication and power’. It is the impression created by make-up and the costumes that make Kathakali a visual par excellence. Return to your hotel after the dance performance. Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven to Alleppey (65 kms / 2 hrs). From Alleppey you will enjoy a motor boat ride for Kumarakom which takes around 2 hrs to 2 hrs 30 minutes for the trip. Upon arrival, proceed for check-in at the hotel. In the lush backwaters of Kottayam in Kerala, lies a veritable paradise, which is called Kumarakom, or the 'Venice of the East'. Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields, and the neat tiny hamlets lined up along either side of the canals are panoramic sights one can never forget. Kumarakom is Keralas heartland of lagoons, palm fringed lakes, and paddy fields, inter-linked with hundreds of winding canals, with the typical low slung country boats that carry everything from people to fish, rice and coconuts to the milkman and newspaper boy, local politicians and priests to wedding parties. Evening enjoy the beuty of Vembanad Lake. Overnight at the hotel.

After buffer breakfast you will be driven to Periyar (127 kms / 03 hrs) On arrival proceed to check in at your hotel. Late afternoon, proceed to Periyar National Park to view the wildlife by boat. Set in the heart of the Cardamom Hills of Kerala the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, offers a rare opportunity to enjoy South India’s wild life and beauty. The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Herds of elephant and sambar, gaur and wild pigs and wander down to the lakeside and can be observed from the launches that cruise the lake. Periyar also harbours the leopard, wild dog, barking deer and mouse deer. On the rocky outcrops along the lake, monitor lizards can be seen basking in the sun. Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Periyar to Madurai (145 Kms/ 4 Hrs.30 Min) Proceed for a sightseeing tour of Madurai City. The ancient city of Madurai is one of southern India's oldest with a recorded history going back to the 6th century B.C., has been a seat of learning from time immemorial and the centre from which the Tamil language developed and flourished. It was well known to the Greeks and Romans with whom the city carried on active trade. The town has been patterned on the lotus flower with the temple of Goddess Meenakshi at the centre. The temple town is unique in that all its temples are living temples and it remains a major religious center attracting pilgrims the year round. The most spectacular of all its temples is Meenakshi and its boundaries include most of the city. Its bazaars sell temple offering, garlands and spices. You can visit its museum and climb up the gapuras for a superb view of the town. Later, proceed to a weaving village, where our clients will have an opportunity of interacting and witness how saree weaving in every house. Return to your hotel after the tour. Overnight at the hotel.

After buffet breakfast you will be driven to Trichy (132 kms / 03 hrs). Tiruchirappalli: Known as Trichy or Tiruchi for short, is at the head of the fertile Kaveri delta. Ptolemy mentioned the Town in the 2nd century BC. A Chola fortification from the 2nd century, it came to prominence under the Nayakas from Madurai who built the fort and the town, capitalizing on its strategic position. In legend its name is traced to a 3-headed demon Trisiras who terrorized both the gods and me until Siva overpowered him in the place called Tyiruchi. On arrival proceed to check in at your hotel. Afternoon: Visit Sri –Ranganathaswami-Temple and Sri-Jambukeshwara-temple. Sri Jambukeshwara Temple The Sri Jambukeshwara Temple is located 5 km from the town, dedicated to Lord Siva. The legend has it that an elephant worshiped Lord Shiva near the Jambu tree, hence the temple was named Jambukeshwara. There are seven gopurams and 5 concentric walls, which are completely covered with splendid carvings. These carvings are so life-like that they virtually transport the beholder into the past realm. It is built around a Siva Lingam, which is completely submerged in water that comes from a spring in the sanctum sanctorum. Although non Hindus are not allowed inside the temple, but such tourists can experience the structural beauty of the complex from outside which also is worth the time. Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple) The temple of Sri Ranganatha is the largest temple in India. It is of great importance to all Hindus as it is considered to be the supreme temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is located some 6 km from Trichy and is on the banks of River Kaveri. This 13th century temple is surrounded by seven scintillating rectangular courtyards and has 21 spectacular gopurams, among which Rajagopuram is the largest in India. The walls and surroundings of the temple are rich in brilliant carvings and wonderful paintings that have proved to be a great attraction for the tourists. Return back to your hotel after the visit. Overnight at the hotel

After buffet breakfast you will be driven to Tanjore. (55 Kms/1 Hr. 30 Min). Proceed for a sightseeing tour of Tanjore. The Chola kings built the majority of Tanjore's (also known as Thanjavur) 93 temples. The enormous gopurams of the Brihadeeshwara Temple built in the 10th century by Raja Chola dominate Tanjore. Fortified walls and a moat surround the temple itself, between the Grand Anicut Canal and the old town. The old town, too, used to be similarly enclosed, but most of the walls have now disappeared. What remains are winding streets and alleys and the extensive ruins of the Palace of the Nayaks of Madurai. The Raja Museum and the Art gallery house a large collection of Chola sculptures in bronze and granite. The Sarawati Mahal library contains over 40,000 rare books and palm leaf inscriptions. Return back to your hotel after the visit. Overnight at the hotel