10 Days - Gateway to South India Tour
Bangalore - Hassan - Mysore - Calicut - Cochin - Munnar - Periyar - Kumarakom - Alleppey - Trivandrum - Kovalam
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Bangalore
Arrive Bangalore Airport and transfer to Hotel. Half day sightseeing of Bangalore. Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka. With its salubrious climate, tree-lined avenues, trendy downtown, and the software flood, Bangalore truly offers one a picture of striking contrasts. Bangalore evolved from a small village with a mud fort in 1100 A.D. to a modest military and trading centre during the Muslim and British occupation. It is now one of the leading cities in the country in terms of industry, trade and commerce. Depart to full day sightseeing of Bangalore. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02: Bangalore - Hassan (150 km/ 4 hours)
After breakfast, check out and move towards Hassan. Enroute visit Shravanabelagola, 52 km from Hassan, is an important Jain pilgrim centre.
It is home to Asia's largest monolithic statue Lord Gomateswara here towers 58 ft. Looming atop the picturesque Vindhyagiri Hill, with five hundred steps cut out of rock lead to the summit and the colossal statue of Lord Gomateswara. It is nearly eighteen hundred years old. Every 12 years, Jain pilgrims gather here to participate in a splendid head-anointing ceremony. Continue your journey towards Hassan. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. Afternoon proceed to visit the Belur and Halebid temples. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 03: Hassan - Mysore (130 km/ 3hours)
Breakfast at hotel & proceed to Mysore enroute visit of Srirangapatna. Srirangapatna – Tippu Sultan’s Summer Palace and Fort. Located on an island in the Cauvery River, the town of Srirangapatna was once the fortress capital of the region controlled by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. Continue your drive towards. Mysore – the Cultural capital of Karnataka is a majestic, mysterious and mesmerising city. With its grand Imperial past, it has a legacy of grand heritage buildings and palaces. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 04: Mysore
After breakfast, proceed for tour of Mysore starting with the famous Mysore Palace. Once the residence of the Wodeyars, Mysore Palace is one of the largest of its kind in India. Built in 1912 in the Indo Saracenic style, this place excludes a grandeur that is unmatched. The Golden Royal Elephant Throne, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mantap and the Gallery are the main attractions here. A priceless national treasure and the pride of a kingdom, the Mysore Palace is the seat of the famed Wodeyar dynasty.
After visit of Palace Proceed to Chamundi Hills to visit the Chamundeshwari Temple. Standing as the crown jewel of Mysore, Chamundi Hills is the abode of all powerful Goddess, Chamundi or Chamundeswari – the tutelary deity of Mysore Maharajas and has been held in reverence for centuries and the Wodeyars of Mysore have made extensive contributions to this shrine.
End the day with a visit to Mysore's landmark, the over a century-old Devaraja Market building housing the wholesale market attracts big crowds almost every day, particularly in the morning and evening shopping hours. In front of the main entrance is located a unique clock tower, constructed in honour of the visit of Lord Dufferin, the British Viceroy, to Mysore, during the reign of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 05: Mysore - Calicut (210 km/ 4 hours)
Drive to Calicut. It was in Calicut that the great voyager Vasco Da Gama landed in the 14th century in his quest for spices thus putting it on the world map. The traditional capital of North Kerala and a leading trading centre for spices on the west, the city has retained its glorious past and presents travellers with historic sites and a unique culture. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06: Calicut - Cochin (200 km/ 5 hours)
After breakfast proceed to Cochin. Afternoon, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Cochin, which is the financial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala.
The tour covers - The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry (10 am - 5 pm, Closed on Fridays and national holidays), renowned for its wall murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana. The Jewish Synagogue (10 am – 12 pm and 3– 5 pm. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish Holidays.) at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town. The St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. The Santa Cruz Basilica originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese. The Chinese fishing nets are huge cantilevered fishing nets believed to have brought to Kochi by Chinese trade. In the evening witness the world famous Kathakali dance at a local theatre, a traditional art form of Kerala and one among the national dances of India. (Timings: Kathakali make-up starts at 5.30 pm and the performance starts from 6.30 - 7.30 pm). Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 07: Cochin | Munnar (140 km/ 4 hours)
After breakfast (8:30am), drive to Munnar. Surrounded by lush green-carpeted tea and coffee plantations, Munnar is a picturesque hill station situated in the eastern part of Kerala. The town is located at the confluence of three mountain streams — Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni, and Kudala—and is known for its clean, neat, and brightly painted ambience.
Upon arrival at Munnar, check- in at hotel. Later, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Munnar, which includes visit to Mattupetty Dam, Kundale Lake, and Echo point. You will also visit the Rajamalai were the rarest species of mountain goat, ‘Nilgiri Thars’, can be spotted, and the Tea Museum which has been built in the Nallathanni estate of Tata Tea. Return to your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 08: Munnar - Periyar (120 km/3.5 hours)
After breakfast depart for Periyar (Thekkady). Morning drive through the Western Ghats to Thekkady, a beautiful area of tea gardens, rubber estates and coffee and pepper plantations, located high in the Cardamom Hills.
After check in at Hotel, go for a spice plantation visit. A walk through the plantation opens up a vista of pristine greenery shrouded by low hanging clouds, gurgling brooks and a pale shadow of the Western Ghats in the backdrop. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide you will be taken on tour of the cover, cardamom, pepper, rubber, vanilla, coffee and tea plantations. The most abundantly found spice in Thekkady is pepper, but you will also see a variety of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric and curry leaves on the slanting slopes of the spice plantation. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 09: Periyar - Kumarakom (145 km/4 hours)
Early morning (6am) ,proceed to the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary for boating.
Nestled at an altitude with temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degree Celsius, the park skirts a serene artificial lake, the Periyar Lake. The most sought after way of wildlife viewing is a steamer cruise on the Periyar Lake past protruding bare tree limbs, while looking out for elephant herds by the water’s edge, sambhars peeking from a thicket, wild boars running amok, and if you are too lucky, you could spot the Great Indian Tiger languishing in a clearing of the forest. Always keep your binoculars handy, you could spot a blue-winged parakeet or a solitary kingfisher perched on an ancient tree limb jutting out of the lake. Of birds, you stand a chance of spotting Nilgiri wood pigeon, white-bellied tree pie, laughing thrushes and flycatchers to name a few.
Return to hotel, after breakfast, you will leave for Kumarakom, which is a peaceful retreat, which takes you to the world of tranquility. Sprawled across a vast landscaped leisure land with many water bodies, it offers you umpteen reasons to soak in the myriad hues of nature.
Kumarakom is a charming emerald peninsula jutting into the ever-effervescent Vembanad Lake. It will take you into the heart of the scenic lake where you will come across plenty of traditional country barges, boats, and canoes. The fresh water of the lake runs into the mainland making a labyrinth of lagoons, brooks, canals, and waterways. This backwater is a haven for countless varieties of species of both fauna and flora. When you need to find a solace from the monotonous daily routine then Kumarakom is undoubtedly the best choice in the fascinating paradise on Kerala. The slender coconut palms swaying to the cool winds here, there and everywhere, the never-ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a thousand varieties, can calm and energise your soul and body. Check in at hotel upon arrival. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 10: Kumarakom -Alleppey (houseboat)
Breakfast at hotel. At 12.30 pm, board a Kettuvallam (houseboat) and proceed for an unforgettable overnight cruise, through the mesmerising unique backwaters of Kerala. You will have an exclusive houseboat which cruises till sunset, and then it anchors for the night. Your boat has a private balcony with comfortable chairs. The rooms are well furnished with attached bathrooms and air conditioning which functions during sleeping hours. The boat has a fully equipped kitchen and an experienced cook to prepare authentic Kerala cuisine with seafood specialties and fresh vegetables. This is your chance to pick up some fabulous cooking tips!
The waterways of Kerala play a major role in the economy of the state as they link remote villages and islands with the mainland. It is an incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of Kerala's villages. Houseboats, also known as kettuvallam or rice boats, are today one of the major tourist attractions in Kerala, but these boats were used to carry rice bags in their earlier days. These houseboats are uniquely designed using local materials like bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo mats, carpets etc. and are a fabulous way to enjoy exploring the fascinating beauties of backwaters. With their languid grace and quaint design adding another dimension to your cruise in the shimmering blue waters. Lunch, evening tea with snacks and dinner served on board.
Day 11: Alleppey - Kovalam (175 km/3.5 hours)
After breakfast, disembark the houseboat and drive to Trivandrum. On your way visit Mannarssala Temple, worshippers of the Naga (Serpent God) have always built their temples in groves where serpents are aplenty. Mannarassala is the largest serpent temple with 30,000 images of serpent Gods and has hundreds of snakes living around the temple. Proceed towards Trivandrum, and upon reaching go for a sightseeing tour of the capital city of Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram has interesting places to see like, the Napier Museum , a beautiful building build by English architect Chrisholm combining English-Saxon-Travancore architectural styles carvings.(Open 10am-5pm, closed on Mondays and before noon Wednesday.), the Sri Chitra Art Gallery (Open 10am-5pm, closed on Mondays and before noon Wednesday.) - displays a rare collection of mainly Indian paintings, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple (from outside only) – this temple is an architectural wonder and the icon around which the the city is built, and Horse palace - unique palace designed by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal famous for its horse shaped windows and décor, has some good collections of antiques.
Later, proceed to Kovalam, the world famous beach destination of kerala. With three adjacent crescent beaches, Kovalam has been a favorite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse - sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes, Catamaran cruising etc. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night. Upon arrival check in to your resort at Kovalam. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 12, 13 and 14: Kovalam
Breakfast at hotel. Full day at leisure, to enjoy the beach. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 15: Departure Trivandrum
After breakfast, you will be dropped at Trivandrum airport on time for return journey.
Tour Highlights:
Arrive Bangalore Airport and transfer to Hotel. Half day sightseeing of Bangalore. Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka. With its salubrious climate, tree-lined avenues, trendy downtown, and the software flood, Bangalore truly offers one a picture of striking contrasts. Bangalore evolved from a small village with a mud fort in 1100 A.D. to a modest military and trading centre during the Muslim and British occupation. It is now one of the leading cities in the country in terms of industry, trade and commerce. Depart to full day sightseeing of Bangalore. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02: Bangalore - Hassan (150 km/ 4 hours)
After breakfast, check out and move towards Hassan. Enroute visit Shravanabelagola, 52 km from Hassan, is an important Jain pilgrim centre.
It is home to Asia's largest monolithic statue Lord Gomateswara here towers 58 ft. Looming atop the picturesque Vindhyagiri Hill, with five hundred steps cut out of rock lead to the summit and the colossal statue of Lord Gomateswara. It is nearly eighteen hundred years old. Every 12 years, Jain pilgrims gather here to participate in a splendid head-anointing ceremony. Continue your journey towards Hassan. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. Afternoon proceed to visit the Belur and Halebid temples. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 03: Hassan - Mysore (130 km/ 3hours)
Breakfast at hotel & proceed to Mysore enroute visit of Srirangapatna. Srirangapatna – Tippu Sultan’s Summer Palace and Fort. Located on an island in the Cauvery River, the town of Srirangapatna was once the fortress capital of the region controlled by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. Continue your drive towards. Mysore – the Cultural capital of Karnataka is a majestic, mysterious and mesmerising city. With its grand Imperial past, it has a legacy of grand heritage buildings and palaces. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 04: Mysore
After breakfast, proceed for tour of Mysore starting with the famous Mysore Palace. Once the residence of the Wodeyars, Mysore Palace is one of the largest of its kind in India. Built in 1912 in the Indo Saracenic style, this place excludes a grandeur that is unmatched. The Golden Royal Elephant Throne, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana Mantap and the Gallery are the main attractions here. A priceless national treasure and the pride of a kingdom, the Mysore Palace is the seat of the famed Wodeyar dynasty.
After visit of Palace Proceed to Chamundi Hills to visit the Chamundeshwari Temple. Standing as the crown jewel of Mysore, Chamundi Hills is the abode of all powerful Goddess, Chamundi or Chamundeswari – the tutelary deity of Mysore Maharajas and has been held in reverence for centuries and the Wodeyars of Mysore have made extensive contributions to this shrine.
End the day with a visit to Mysore's landmark, the over a century-old Devaraja Market building housing the wholesale market attracts big crowds almost every day, particularly in the morning and evening shopping hours. In front of the main entrance is located a unique clock tower, constructed in honour of the visit of Lord Dufferin, the British Viceroy, to Mysore, during the reign of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 05: Mysore - Calicut (210 km/ 4 hours)
Drive to Calicut. It was in Calicut that the great voyager Vasco Da Gama landed in the 14th century in his quest for spices thus putting it on the world map. The traditional capital of North Kerala and a leading trading centre for spices on the west, the city has retained its glorious past and presents travellers with historic sites and a unique culture. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 06: Calicut - Cochin (200 km/ 5 hours)
After breakfast proceed to Cochin. Afternoon, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Cochin, which is the financial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala.
The tour covers - The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry (10 am - 5 pm, Closed on Fridays and national holidays), renowned for its wall murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana. The Jewish Synagogue (10 am – 12 pm and 3– 5 pm. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish Holidays.) at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town. The St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. The Santa Cruz Basilica originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese. The Chinese fishing nets are huge cantilevered fishing nets believed to have brought to Kochi by Chinese trade. In the evening witness the world famous Kathakali dance at a local theatre, a traditional art form of Kerala and one among the national dances of India. (Timings: Kathakali make-up starts at 5.30 pm and the performance starts from 6.30 - 7.30 pm). Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 07: Cochin | Munnar (140 km/ 4 hours)
After breakfast (8:30am), drive to Munnar. Surrounded by lush green-carpeted tea and coffee plantations, Munnar is a picturesque hill station situated in the eastern part of Kerala. The town is located at the confluence of three mountain streams — Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni, and Kudala—and is known for its clean, neat, and brightly painted ambience.
Upon arrival at Munnar, check- in at hotel. Later, proceed for a sightseeing tour of Munnar, which includes visit to Mattupetty Dam, Kundale Lake, and Echo point. You will also visit the Rajamalai were the rarest species of mountain goat, ‘Nilgiri Thars’, can be spotted, and the Tea Museum which has been built in the Nallathanni estate of Tata Tea. Return to your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 08: Munnar - Periyar (120 km/3.5 hours)
After breakfast depart for Periyar (Thekkady). Morning drive through the Western Ghats to Thekkady, a beautiful area of tea gardens, rubber estates and coffee and pepper plantations, located high in the Cardamom Hills.
After check in at Hotel, go for a spice plantation visit. A walk through the plantation opens up a vista of pristine greenery shrouded by low hanging clouds, gurgling brooks and a pale shadow of the Western Ghats in the backdrop. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide you will be taken on tour of the cover, cardamom, pepper, rubber, vanilla, coffee and tea plantations. The most abundantly found spice in Thekkady is pepper, but you will also see a variety of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric and curry leaves on the slanting slopes of the spice plantation. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 09: Periyar - Kumarakom (145 km/4 hours)
Early morning (6am) ,proceed to the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary for boating.
Nestled at an altitude with temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degree Celsius, the park skirts a serene artificial lake, the Periyar Lake. The most sought after way of wildlife viewing is a steamer cruise on the Periyar Lake past protruding bare tree limbs, while looking out for elephant herds by the water’s edge, sambhars peeking from a thicket, wild boars running amok, and if you are too lucky, you could spot the Great Indian Tiger languishing in a clearing of the forest. Always keep your binoculars handy, you could spot a blue-winged parakeet or a solitary kingfisher perched on an ancient tree limb jutting out of the lake. Of birds, you stand a chance of spotting Nilgiri wood pigeon, white-bellied tree pie, laughing thrushes and flycatchers to name a few.
Return to hotel, after breakfast, you will leave for Kumarakom, which is a peaceful retreat, which takes you to the world of tranquility. Sprawled across a vast landscaped leisure land with many water bodies, it offers you umpteen reasons to soak in the myriad hues of nature.
Kumarakom is a charming emerald peninsula jutting into the ever-effervescent Vembanad Lake. It will take you into the heart of the scenic lake where you will come across plenty of traditional country barges, boats, and canoes. The fresh water of the lake runs into the mainland making a labyrinth of lagoons, brooks, canals, and waterways. This backwater is a haven for countless varieties of species of both fauna and flora. When you need to find a solace from the monotonous daily routine then Kumarakom is undoubtedly the best choice in the fascinating paradise on Kerala. The slender coconut palms swaying to the cool winds here, there and everywhere, the never-ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a thousand varieties, can calm and energise your soul and body. Check in at hotel upon arrival. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 10: Kumarakom -Alleppey (houseboat)
Breakfast at hotel. At 12.30 pm, board a Kettuvallam (houseboat) and proceed for an unforgettable overnight cruise, through the mesmerising unique backwaters of Kerala. You will have an exclusive houseboat which cruises till sunset, and then it anchors for the night. Your boat has a private balcony with comfortable chairs. The rooms are well furnished with attached bathrooms and air conditioning which functions during sleeping hours. The boat has a fully equipped kitchen and an experienced cook to prepare authentic Kerala cuisine with seafood specialties and fresh vegetables. This is your chance to pick up some fabulous cooking tips!
The waterways of Kerala play a major role in the economy of the state as they link remote villages and islands with the mainland. It is an incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of Kerala's villages. Houseboats, also known as kettuvallam or rice boats, are today one of the major tourist attractions in Kerala, but these boats were used to carry rice bags in their earlier days. These houseboats are uniquely designed using local materials like bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo mats, carpets etc. and are a fabulous way to enjoy exploring the fascinating beauties of backwaters. With their languid grace and quaint design adding another dimension to your cruise in the shimmering blue waters. Lunch, evening tea with snacks and dinner served on board.
Day 11: Alleppey - Kovalam (175 km/3.5 hours)
After breakfast, disembark the houseboat and drive to Trivandrum. On your way visit Mannarssala Temple, worshippers of the Naga (Serpent God) have always built their temples in groves where serpents are aplenty. Mannarassala is the largest serpent temple with 30,000 images of serpent Gods and has hundreds of snakes living around the temple. Proceed towards Trivandrum, and upon reaching go for a sightseeing tour of the capital city of Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram has interesting places to see like, the Napier Museum , a beautiful building build by English architect Chrisholm combining English-Saxon-Travancore architectural styles carvings.(Open 10am-5pm, closed on Mondays and before noon Wednesday.), the Sri Chitra Art Gallery (Open 10am-5pm, closed on Mondays and before noon Wednesday.) - displays a rare collection of mainly Indian paintings, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple (from outside only) – this temple is an architectural wonder and the icon around which the the city is built, and Horse palace - unique palace designed by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal famous for its horse shaped windows and décor, has some good collections of antiques.
Later, proceed to Kovalam, the world famous beach destination of kerala. With three adjacent crescent beaches, Kovalam has been a favorite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse - sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes, Catamaran cruising etc. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night. Upon arrival check in to your resort at Kovalam. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 12, 13 and 14: Kovalam
Breakfast at hotel. Full day at leisure, to enjoy the beach. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 15: Departure Trivandrum
After breakfast, you will be dropped at Trivandrum airport on time for return journey.
Tour Highlights:
- Best of culture and heritage of South India
- Local village visit, to see the local people go about with their daily chores
- Toddy tapping (time permitting) - an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm trees, mainly coconut palms in Kerala.
- Visit a local coir making unit, an industrial unit meant for women, and you get to see here is not only the diverse and detailed process involved in coir manufacturing, but the social association, which binds the women-folk for their livelihood needs
- Also, don’t forget to try your hand in fishing
Price & Inclusions
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Prices
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Inclusions
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Exclusions
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On request
- On request
On request
