Southern Trails of India with Mumbai

Overnight on board.

Morning arrive Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport. Welcome to India! On arrival, internally transfer from international to domestic airport to board your next flight to Bangalore. Bangalore – The Garden City of India – Bangalore (Officially – Bengaluru) is the capital of the State of Karnataka in South India. The city boasts of the highest concentration of IT companies in the country and is also referred to as “The Silicon Valley of India”. There are a number of places in Bangalore that are worth visiting, including gardens, museums, palaces, temples. On arrival meeting, assistance at airport by our representative and transfer to hotel. Where our executive will explain the travel plan. Rest of the day relax at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, visit Fort & palace (Tippu Palace) – This summer palace has been constructed largely of wood and is famous for its carving and paintings. Lal Bagh – These Botanical Gardens has over 1000 species of flora. The Glass House is the center of attraction in this 2400-acre park. Vidhana Soudha – This is perfect amalgamation of traditional neo-Dravidian and modern styles. It is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat. The Bull Temple – The center of reverence is a magnificent Nandi, which is 15 feet tall and over 20 feet long. Rest of the day free to explore local market at your own. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Mysore. Mysore, the city of palaces, is a popular travel destination in South India. Also called Mysooroo, the city was earlier the capital of the Wodeyar rulers. The Wodeyar rulers were great patrons of art and culture, which you can see in the rich heritage of the city. Besides its numerous palaces and royal buildings, Mysore city is also known for proximity to several other places of interest such as Srirangapatna. On arrival check in at hotel and after wash & change visit Mysore Palace built in the Indo – Saracenic Style with domes, turrets, archs and colonnades, the palace in-spite of housing the Royal Family. Chamundi Hills A symbol of victory of Good over Evil is a 335 metre landmark with 1000 steps. Half way up along the stone steps is Nandi, a majestic 4.8 mts monolith. Brindavan Gardens World Famous Terrace Gardens with Musical Fountains which gets transformed into a dreamland by night with swirling waters, colorful lights and melodious music. Rest of the day free for leisure activities. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Ooty, Ooty is famous as the ‘All seasons-hill resort’ and the ‘Queen of hill stations.’Nestled amidst the hills the hill station famous for tea estates. On arrival, check in at hotel. Rest of the day free to explore hilly area. Overnight at hotel.

ENJOY TOY TRAIN RIDE TO EXPLORE NILGIRI HILLS
After Breakfast at hotel enjoy city tour in Ooty, visit Botanical Garden -The beautiful gardens spreads over an area of 22 hectares. The gardens have more than 650 plants species that includes a fossil of a tree. Dodabetta Peak – This is the highest point in the district the peak is the best view point offers picturesque view of the surrounding valley. Later also enjoy Toy Train ride to Coonoor, Toy Train – It is one of the few remaining diesel engine trains and although it spits up huge dark clouds of pollution, it is a major tourist attraction and a reminder of the Indian railways’ glorious beginning. Later back to Ooty & evening free to explore the nature & mountain view. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Cochin. Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as ‘God’s Own Country’. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the time free for relax. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel visit Mattancherry Palace – The Dutch Palace exhibits beautiful mural paintings that depict the scenes from Ramayana. Fort Kochi – Fort Kochi is inhabited by AngloIndian community. The whole of the region presents a different aura and ambience. The culture is quite unique and represents the Eurasian culture. St Francis Church – This church was built by the Portuguese in the year 1503 A.D. It is said that Portuguese explorer Vasco-da-Gama was originally buried here and his remains were later brought to Lisbon. Santa Cruz Basilica – Built by the Portuguese around 500 years back, the Santa Cruz Basilica is known for its Gothic exterior with soaring spires. Also visit Chinese fishing net. Later drive to Munnar, Munnar is well known for its milky waterfalls, tea and spices plantations, lakes and Dams. Getting there is half-the-Fun when one cannot describe the loveliness of this beautiful hill plantations in plain words. Walk through the tea gardens and spend your vacation in tidy and fresh surroundings with fine weather and natural beauty. Munnar is especially known for the Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once in 12 years in Rajamala turning it into hill of blue flowers. Situated in 1700 metres above sea level, Munnar is an old British Tea plantation town blending with beautiful tea valley. On arrival, check in at hotel. Rest of the day free for leisure activities. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel enjoy city tour, visiting Nilgiri Thar and Mattupetty Lake & Dam. Mattupetty is famous for its highly specialized dairy farm, the Indo-Swiss live stock project. Over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared here. Spice Plantation tour, and if time allowed evening visit Nyamakkad – a land of breathtaking waterfalls. Very beautiful down pour clear and chilly water from a peak amidst dense forest. The waters cascade down a hill from a height of about 1600 m. The enticing surroundings make an excellent picnic spot and trekking point. Later drive to Thekkady, Thekkady, (Periyar National Park) – Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in Kerala, is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a perennial source of water for the local wildlife. Herds of elephant and sambar, gaur and wild pigs wander down to the lake-side and can be observed from the launches that cruise the lake. On arrival, check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

ENJOY BOAT SAFARI AT PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK + ENJOY BACKWATER HOUSEBOAT
After breakfast at hotel, morning enjoy Boat Safari to explore wildlife inside the park.
Later continue drive to Alleppey, Alleppey, is known as the Venice of the East has a largest network of Canals and is a centre for backwater cruises in Kerala. Large number of tourist are attracted to this district because of its boat races, houseboat. On arrival board on Houseboat Cruise around backwater villages of Alleppey. This cruise is very exciting and sensational to watch the real traditional Kerlan life who lives on the banks of backwaters, The cozy bedroom, the sit – out, the sundeck, the well stocked kitchen and the modern toilette give the guests a feeling of being at home in the lovely waters. The time the houseboat anchors in lake gives the guests a chance to experience cloistered comforts in the company of there loved one. One can move through small narrow canals, lakes & lagoons see traditional fishing, farming below sea level etc., which will help you to catch a brief memorable picture of Kerala backwaters. Enjoy lunch, Dinner at Houseboat. Overnight at House boat.

Morning disembark from house boat and drive to Kovalam on the way you can enjoy half day city tour of Trivandrum with our guide. Visiting Padmanabha Swamy Temple (From outside), Shri Chitra Art Gallery and the Museum. Later continue drive to Kovalam. on arrival check in at hotel. Rest of the day free to relax at hotel / Beach. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, day free to relax on beach/hotel. one can explore Poovar Island. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Kanyakumari, Kanyakumari – is 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, on arrival check in at hotel. After wash & change visit Gandhi Memorial, The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built on a huge rock off the shore off Kanyakumari, Have darshan at Suchindram Temple and Kanya Devi Temple. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Madurai, Madurai is a temple town of India located in southern region of India. People from several different religions and cultures are residing in the place and all different kinds of festivals are celebrated here in unison. Situated on the bank of river Vaigai and The city is constructed in the form of a lotus and is known as lotus city too. There is a beautiful temple constructed by the Pandyan kings and Lord Shiva is worshiped here. It was believed that divine nectar was showered at that place and due to it the Jasmine flowers bloom in the place all around. Jasmine flower too has its foundation in the city. On arrival check in at hotel. After wash & change visit Sree Meenakshi Temple, one of the most prominent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva who was known here as Sundareshvara and his wife Parvati or Meenakshi, Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a magnificent palace that was built by King Thirumalai Nayak with valuable assistance of an Italian architect in the year 1636. Gandhi Museum & Thirupparankunram famous for the Pandyan rock-cut shrines that date back to the 8th century that later came to be known as the Nayaka Hindu temple. You will find a wide range of Hindu deities carved on the walls on your visit to this temple. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Tanjore, Tanjore is the “Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu” and famous for the Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple was constructed more than thousand years ago by the King Rajarajan, is an architect’s marvel. It is a flourishing centre for bronze sculpture and painting. Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and the Mahrattas. Thanjavur was at height of its glory during Rajaraja Cholan. The Big Temple and the other famous temples in the district are known all over the world. Thanjavur was the cultural capital of the country in 1790. Visit Brahadeeswara Temple – Sculpture of Nandi (Bull) & Royal Palace Complex. Later drive to Trichy, Trichy was the citadel of the Chola dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and the English. On arrival visit Lord Robert Clive’s house, Srirangam Temple & Rock-Fort Temples. Continue drive to Madurai. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Pondicherry, Pondicherry is the erstwhile French colony now a union territory India. On arrival check in at hotel. After wash and change at hotel visit Auroville – A real example of community living and gradually flourishing, Auroville is conceived as a ‘Universal Town’. This is a place were people with different nationalities; beliefs and culture live in harmony. This amazing city of community living was started in 1968 by the Maa, renowned disciple of Shri Aurobindo, also visit Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry Museum and sculpture gallery with an outstanding collection of artifacts. Rest of the day free for leisure activities. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel drive to Chennai, Enroute visit Mahabalipuram, visit shore temple & Pallava Cave – The standing testimonial to the rock cut art, also visit Arjuna’s Penance, Krishna Mandapam, Five Rathas and beach. Later drive to Chennai, Chennai, formerly known as Madras, this 369-year-old city is the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu and is India’s sixth-largest city in terms of population with an estimated population of 7.45 million (2005). It serves as one of the main gateways to South India and has a thriving local culture and art scene and is one of the major destinations for medical tourism. It is considered as one of the world’s fastest growing cities although ranks 13th in terms of cleanliness. It is on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal and has the second longest beachfront of any municipality in the world. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel visit The British east India Company’s St. George Fort is a famous landmark of Chennai. St. George Fort historically known as White Town is the name of the first English (later British) fortress in India, founded in 1644 at the coastal city of Madras, the modern city of Chennai. The construction of the fort provided the impetus for further settlements and trading activity, in what was originally an uninhabited land. Another colonial structure in the city of Chennai worth visiting is the Santhome Cathedral – The National Shrine of St.Thomas Basilica is built over the tomb of Apostle St.Thomas. St.Thomas one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ came to India in A.D.52, martyred in A.D.72 and was buried here in Mylapore & Marina Beach – is a natural urban beach in the city of Chennai, India, along the Bay of Bengal, part of the Indian Ocean.

After breakfast & check out from hotel, transfer to airport to board on flight to Mumbai, Welcome to Mumbai. Fifteen million people live in Mumbai – industrialists, film-stars, artists, workers, teachers and clerks – all living cheek-by-jowl in soaring skyscrapers and sprawling slums. They come from diverse ethnic backgrounds and speak over a dozen tongues, adding colour, flavour and texture to the Great Mumbai Melting Pot. Mumbai is a city that never sleeps! If you’re visiting on business or holiday, there are lots of things to do and see. On arrival, meeting assistance at airport by our representative & transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free for leisure activities at your own. Overnight at hotel.

After an early breakfast at hotel, Rewind to Mumbai’s pre-colonial days with a private half-day tour of the Elephanta Caves. With a private guide, ride a ferry to Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbor, and explore its UNESCO-listed caves and rock art, believed to date from the 500s. Explore the main Shiva Cave with its huge sculptures of Shiva and Hindu mythologies, and admire the smaller Buddhist caves as your guide shares their history. Later also visit Gateway of India – The Gateway is a huge stone Arch of Triumph originally constructed to commemorates the first-ever visit of a British Monarch to India. It was designed by the Scotsman George Wittet (1878-1926), who helped popularize the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture that combined Gothic-like flamboyance with Muslim-Indian architectural features. And in the afternoon back to hotel. Rest of the free time you can explore local market at your own. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast & check out from hotel, Enjoy city tour of Mumbai including -Victoria Terminus Building, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Crawford Market and Dhobi Ghat & Hanging Garden. Later after finishing sightseeing, transfer to Mumbai international airport to board your homebound flight with happy memories of your tour conducted by Travel Across Oceans.