The programme comprises of the most renowned attractions of the two neighbouring Southern States in India-Karnataka & Kerala.Though lying close,both the States have variant attractions to offer. Kerala has much to offer on Nature and globally known as God’s Own Country.The serene beaches,tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters,lush paddy fields,exotic hillstations and wildlife,sprawling plantations,enchanting art forms,colourful festivals,alluring cuisine and the revitalizing Ayurveda-the age old Medical science and much more………….And Karnataka-is a treasure trove of tourist delights:from a dazzling array of ancient sculptured temples to modern cities and virgin tropical forests or amazing wildlife sanctuaries
Day 01 – Bangalore On arrival, you will be checked in your Hotel. Day free for sight seeing of Bangalore. Overnight at the Hotel.
Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka. With its salubrious climate, its tree-lined avenues, its trendy, yuppy downtown, and the software flood, Bangalore truly offers one a picture of striking contrasts. Bangalore today is Asia's fastest growing cosmopolitan city. The Vidhan Soudha makes the major attraction in Bangalore. The building is a massive neo-Dravidian architecture presently functioning as the state legislative assembly.
Day 02 – Bangalore
Full day free for sightseeing of Bangalore. Overnight at the hotel.
The Cubbon Park in the heart of the city, Lal Bagh (famous for the blooming red roses), and the Bangalore Palace are some of the other must see attractions of this garden city. The Tipu's Palace and the adjoining fort are fine examples of Indo-Islamic architecture that also offer a glimpse into the Mughal lifestyle of the day. Besides, one can also visit the Aquarium, which is the second largest in the country.
Day 03 – Hassan After breakfast drive to Hassan (195 Kms / 04 Hrs); Enroute visiting Shravanabelagola. On arrival, check in at the Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.
Shravanabelagola - Wedged between two stark rocky hills, this legendary pilgrim center and shrine of the Jains since early times. The monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, a Jain saint and an object of worship for centuries, standing atop one of the hills, is 18 meters high and is said to be one of the tallest and most graceful monolithic statues in the world. The symmetry in stone was created around 978 AD. The Mahamastakabisheka festival, an elaborate ritual, held here once every 12 years, the last one in 2006, attracts devotees from all over the world.
Day 04 – Hassan Day free to visit Belur & Halebid temples. Overnight at the Hotel.
The temples at Belur and Halebid, which remained incomplete despite 80 years of labor, are offerings of the finest workmanship in stone to the gods. The elaborate sculptured decoration on the temple, according to some critics, is even better than the Friezes at Konark in Orissa and Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. The Temple at Halebid is still used for worship today. Overnight at Hassan.
Day 05 – Mysore Morning, after breakfast drive to Mysore covering a distance of (125 Kms/ 03 Hrs). Enroute visiting Srirangapatanam.
On arrival check-into the hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.
Srirangapatanam - the island fortress of the legendary warrior, Tipu Sultan. Inside the fortress is Tipu's mosque with its twin minarets, the celebrated Ranganatha Swami temple, the Wellesley Bridge and the dungeons where British officers were once imprisoned. On arrival at Mysore check in hotel and relax leisurely. Mysore -is one of the major cities of Karnataka. Mysore is a vibrant city teeming with tourists and visitors. It is known the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich silks.
Day 06 – Mysore
Day free to explore the royal remnants of Mysore. Overnight at the Hotel.
Visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911-12. The palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and Saracenic styles of architecture with archways, domes, turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery; drive up to Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple & a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull.
Day 07 – Kabani Morning, proceed to Kabini. On arrival, check in at the Hotel. Day free to discover the wildlife. Overnight at the Hotel.
Nestled amidst the Karapur Forest lays a pristine piece of land that abounds with nature. Beckoning you to explore it for a wild exciting holiday. The steep valleys with rich forests, spectacular pools and rapids provide an ideal opportunity to revive your adventurous spirits.
Perhaps nowhere else in India can one see so much of wildlife. Sighting of elephants, sambhar, spotted deer, gaur, wild boar, sloth bear, wild dogs, etc., are almost assured, while if one is lucky, a tiger or a panther too, could be sighted. Our clients are permitted to shoot, not with guns but with camera and video. The sighting of wildlife in their eco-system creates awareness and respect among the humans towards other life forms.
Day 09 – Thalacherry
Morning, proceed to Thalassery, to experience a different culture of Kerala. Overnight at the Homestay.
Thalassery, an old city of Kerala is one of the attractive places for history loving people. The place is decked with four rivers, hills, cliffs and long coast line. It was an important trade centre during the British rule. British ruler exported spices like pepper, cardamom, from the seaport. Subsequently they built Thalassery fort to control the trade in 1708. It has secret tunnels and intricately curved huge doors.
Day 10 – Thalacherry
Full day free to explore the culture of Kerala. Overnight at the Homestay.
Thalassery is famous for cricket, cakes and circus. Cricket was brought here by Colonel Arthur Wellesley in early 1800. Famous cricketer Collin Crowdey has played in Thalassery during British regime. Thalassery fort is visited by a number of people. The old architectures are the major attractions of the city. Odathil Palli is one of these architectures. This 200 year old mosque was built around 1806. The old Thalassery pier is a place for the evening walk that extends to the Arabian Sea.
Day 11 – Cochin Morning, proceed to Cochin by train. On arrival, you will be met & transferred to the City Hotel. Day free for leisure.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Cochin the queen of the Arabian Sea is one of the most interesting cities of India and has one of the finest natural harbors in the world. A root-conscious people of Kerala have preserved their past not only in the form of history books but also in the form of monuments and palaces. Places, palaces and institutions of historic value are being preserved conscientiously.
Day 12 – Cochin Morning, proceed for a village Backwater Cruise with lunch to explore the pristine beauty of Kerala village.Afternoon, free for sightseeing. Overnight at the Hotel.
Cochin Sightseeing - St Francis Church, built in 1510 by friars brought to India by Vasco da Gama, is the first European church built in India and is the site where Vasco da Gama was buried. The Jewish Synagogue was built in 1568, Chinese hand-painted tiles are one of the attraction. This, the only Synagogue in India has a nostalgic past of a Jewish Diaspora. The "Dutch Palace" was built in the 1550s; the palace contains excellent mythological murals and a rare example of traditional Keralite flooring - a subtle mix of burnt coconut shells, lime, plant juices and egg whites - which gives the effect of polished marble.
Day 13 – Periyar Today, you will be transferred to Periyar, the famous wildlife destination of Kerala. Evening, enjoy a boat cruise through the Periyar Lake. Overnight at the Hotel.
Thekkady - The very sound of the name conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hill and spice scented plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will experience the most enchanting holiday. With the animals of the wild and the simple mountain people. In the Periyar forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks
Day 14 – Periyar Full day explore the wildlife of Periyar. By morning, proceed for 03 hours guided trekking at the sanctuary. Afternoon
visit a spice plantation. Overnight at the Hotel.
The Thekkady sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and photographing wild life. A cruise through the waters of Periyar Lake around which the wildlife sanctuary is situated, offers a soul-stirring pleasant experience. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake's edge. The tiger and leopard are sighted when the forest water holes dry up and these animals come and drink water from the river.
Day 15 – Kumarakom Morning, after breakfast, proceed to Kumarakom, the famous backwater destination. On arrival, check in at a backwater friendly resort. Day free to enjoy the solitude of backwaters. Overnight at the resort.
The enchanting backwater destination of Kumarakom is a small village that is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala. Kumarakom strengthens Kerala’s reputation for being God’s own country with its unbelievably beautiful mangrove forests, coconut groves and emerald green paddy fields interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with while lilies. It is a breathtaking bout to experience a solitary and calm glide through this network of waterways.
Day 16 – Kumarakom Day free to enjoy the backwaters. Overnight at the resort.
The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. That is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom.
Day 17 – Houseboat After breakfast, board the houseboat from the resort jetty for one night stay with on board lunch and dinner, covering
Alleppey Villages and near by bird sanctuary. Over night at the houseboat.
What is truly magical about a houseboat ride is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it offers. The houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. Meals would be cooked on board and supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters. Today, the tradition is still continued and the food from the local cuisine is served by the Kuttanad localities, on board!
Day 18 – Kovalam Morning, disembark at Alleppey and proceed to the world renowned beach destination of Kerala, Kovalam.On arrival,
check in at the Hotel. Day free to enjoy the beach life. Overnight at the hotel. Kovalam is reckoned as the most trendy beach retreat in India. A combination of three small beaches, Kovalam, meaning "a groove of coconut trees," is just 16 km from the state capital of Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram. The sheltered natural bay, the azure blue waters and the sumptuous spread of green palm groves make it a tropical paradise of sorts.
Day 19 – Kovalam Morning, you will proceed to Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of Indian peninsula. Explore the sightseeing places of Kanyakumari. Evening enjoy the sunset at Kanyakumari & later proceed to Kovalam. Overnight at the Resort. Kanyakumari – The land’s end of India where the water of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. An important pilgrim centre of India, it is famous for the Amman Temples – a symbol of unity and sanctity – dedicated to the virgin Goddess, Kanyakumari.
Day 20 – Kovalam Full day explore the beauty of beaches. Overnight at the resort.
Kovalam was a small, sleepy village. It lay in humble obscurity along the picturesque coast of Kerala. Then around 1930, this little village was unexpectedly shaken out of its lethargic slumber and thrust on the international tourist map. The vendors of holiday dreams along the sea had discovered the fabulous silver sands and palm-fringed shores of Kovalam. From then onwards, there was no looking back. From sun bathing to swimming, Ayurvedic rejuvenation to yoga and meditation, herbal body toning massages to special cultural programmes and catamaran cruising, holidays in Kovalam is a tourist delight. The Kovalam lighthouse beach is where most visitors spend their time .
Day 21 – Trivandrum Departure With lovely memoirs of this land, you will be transferred to Airport to connect your flight to home destination.
