Cultural Karnataka Tour

---

Duration: 17 Nights / 18 Days
Places Covered: : Bangalore - Mysore - Ooty - Cochin - Periyar - Kumarakom - Trivandrum - Kanyakumari - Madurai - Rameshwaram - Trichy - Pondicherry - Chennai

---

Day 1: Arrive Banglore
Upon arrival meet & Greet & transfer to Hotel. Check in at Hotel. Day free for independent activities. Over night at Hotel.

Day 2: Bangalore
Morning after breakfast, proceed for sight-seeing of Bangalore (Beautiful city filled with the tranquility of its Greenery and now part of great Silicone valley) Visit includes, Lal bagh Garden, lake & lotus filled pools., Cubbon park, Bull temple and Mysore arts and crafts centre. Afternoon free for Ayurvedic Treatment. Over night at Hotel.

Day 3: Bangalore - Mysore
Morning after breakfast, drive towards Mysore stands by a rocky hill named after the goddess Chamundi. It is the city of Palaces and museums. Upon arrival at Mysore check in at Hotel. After refreshment Visit, Mysore. Visit includes, Mysore art & craft centre, the beautiful Brindavan gardens illuminated during the weekends and the chamundi temple overlooking the city. Over night at Hotel.

Mysore, the third largest city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka, is famous for its sandalwood and silk. More recently, it has also become famous for its yoga teachers. It lies on the slope of a low-lying plateau at an altitude of 770 m, which makes its climate pleasantly cool in winter. The name Mysore is derived from Mahishasura, the demon who allegedly used to rule there. Mysore was once the home to the royal family, and the spectacular Maharajah's palace still occupies a large portion of the city centre. Home of world famous ashtanga teacher Patthabi Jois, Mysore, now sometimes referred to as "Ashtanga city", is fast becoming one of the most popular places in India to study yoga.

Day 4: Mysore - Ooty
Morning after breakfast, drive towards Ooty ( the Beautiful leading hill resort of south India. Situated in the heart of the Nilgiris (Blue Mountains), at the height of 2287 Mtr., it lies on a plateau and looks like a vast park. Lofty hills add to the grandeur of the scenery. Its climate is similar to summer in England. The terraced beautiful gardens, which are landmark in Ooty. Ooty is also known for its tea & coffee plantations. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Acclimate yourself & Enjoy this hill station. over night at Hotel.

Day 5: Ooty
Morning breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast, day free for rest & relax. Over night at Hotel.

Ooty: The verdant hills, the lush green valleys and the pristine natural beauty of the hill resort of Ooty offers the urban tired souls a chance to resume their affair with Nature, to whom they truly belong. The heavenly hill resort like a blushing bride peeks from behind the lofty Nilgiri hills. The unassuming beauty of this heavenly hill resort beckons you to come and embrace the tranquility and solace that tours to Ooty India offer.

Day 6: Ooty - Cochin
Morning breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast, Drive towards Cochin. By far the most important place in Kerala for a commercial traveller. Kochi is the business capital of Kerala. It has a fine natural harbour & is widely acclaimed as the " Queen of the Arabian Sea". The city spreads over several Island, the chief among them being Wellingdon, Mattanchery, Vipin, Gundu & Bolgaty. The 16th century Dutch palace, the oldest Synagogue of the British common wealth. Hill palace Museum, Bolgatty Palace & Bird sanctuary. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Free for rest & relax. Over night at Hotel. Cochin set on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas, the port city of Cochin (Kochi) (Queen of Arabia) reflects the eclecticism of Kerala perfectly. With a rich past and a bustling present, it has been the business hub of the region from the very early days after Alleppey (Alappuzha). Cochin consists of mainland Ernakulam, the islands of Willington, Bolgatty and Gundu in the harbour, Fort Cochin and Mattancherry on the southern peninsula, and Vypeen Island north of Fort Cochin, all was linked by ferry but now some islands have bridges. The influence of Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans is evident in Cochin and its people. The oldest church in India, 500-year-old Portugese houses, old tiled houses built in the Chinese pagoda style, the famous Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora, synagogues and mosques all tell the fascinating story of this harbour town. The harbour is still at the heart of the city and pepper, sea food, rubber and coir mats and matting are exported from here. Despite this, Cochin is an attractive city with serene creak & lagoons overhung with feathery coconut palms and picturesque islands. The older parts of Fort Cochin and Mattanchery are an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village grafted onto the troppical Malabar Coast. Cochin is one of India's largest ports and a major naval base.

Day 7: Cochin
Morning breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast, Sight-seeing of the city. Visit includes the above mentioned places. After breakfast, come back to Hotel & free for independent activities. Over night at Hotel.

Day 8: Cochin - Periyar
Morning after breakfast, drive towards Periyar ( the famous destination ).Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Get fresh and in the evening time enjoy a Guided Walk around Spice Plantation to see various plant. After Plantation tour come back to Hotel. Over night at Hotel.

Periyar: One of the well known wildlife sanctuaries in the south, Periyar sanctuary attracts a large number of nature lovers every year. Also called the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, this place is ideal for watching the animals in their natural habitat.

The forest here, slopes into the manmade lake at the bottom of the hill. This lake serves as the waterhole for the animals and they come here to drink or take a dip. Elephants, Gaur, Sambhar and even tigers can be spotted here.

There are boat services which takes the visitor around the lake. The best season to visit the park is between October and June. Spread over 777 sq.km of the Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats, the Periyar sanctuary is located 137 km from Madurai.

Although an excursion on the splendid artificial lake is the standard way to experience the sanctuary, you can also walk around with the local guide in a small group. Wild Elephant herds come to the lake to frolic in the water.

Other attractions of the sanctuary are the Sambhar, Bison, Spotted Deer, Tigers, Leopards, Malabar Flying Squirrels, Stripe necked Mongooses, etc. There are over 260 species of birds here, including Nilgiri Wood Pigeons, blue-winged Parakeets, White bellied Tree Pies, laughing Thrushes and Fly Catchers.

Day 9: Periyar - Kumarakom
EarlyMorning Boat cruise on the Lake of Famous Periyar Sanctuary to see the Wild Life. After this visit come back to Hotel. Breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast, drive towards Kumarakom (Situated on the bank of the vembanad lake. this village is 16 Kms. West of Kottayam, a town very famous for its rubber plantations and 15th century ancient churches. Kumarakom has a bird sanctuary & has large number of resorts consisting of house boats, Lake side cottages & floating restaurants. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. The rest time to visit this small place but attractive destination. Over night at Hotel. Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part of Kuttanad ('granary' of Kerala). The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets. The entire state of Kerala is blessed with plenty of rivers and the resources of many are still untapped. The waterways of Kerala which play a main role in the economy of the state links remote villages and islands with the main land. The water ways provide a cheap and economical mode of transport. The water ways of Kuttanad is now a big attraction for tourist. It is incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of Kerala villages. The scenery flashes up vivid contrasts of breath-taking greens and deep blues. Boat rides are available for tourist and others at nominal rates.

Day 10: Kumarakom - Trivandrum
Morning after breakfast, drive towards Trivandrum (the capital of the state Kerala). Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Rest & Relax / free for independent activities. Over night at Hotel.

Day 11: Trivandrum
Morning breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast, proceed for sight-seeing of the city. Visit includes, Padmanabha swamy temple built in 1733, Napier museum of art, Akkulam lake, Veli lagoon with its aqua sports facility etc. Enjoy this destination As you desire. Over night at Hotel.

Day 12: Trivandrum - Kanyakumari
Morning after breakfast, proceed towards Kanyakumari ( at the southernmost tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal & Indian Sea meet to each other. An important pilgrimage centre ) Two rocks reach out of the Ocean, south - east of the Kumari Amman Temple. Swami Vivekanand sat in the long and deep meditation ; and here stands the Vivekanand Rock Memorial, built in 1970. Vattakottai ( Circular Fort ) : The 18th century fort overlooking the sea, located 6 Kms. From Kanyakumari, here is the Sea calm & suitable for bathing etc. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. After refreshment visit this mythological place. Over night at Hotel.

Kanyakumari: At the southern most tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari is also famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days. The city of Kanyakumari is surrounded by beautiful beaches and is one of the known pilgrimages of India. A dip in the ocean here is considered holy, but the sea is rough here and not fit for bathing. This is the only place in India, where the sunset and moonrise can be viewed simultaneously on a full moon day.

Day 13: Kanyakumari - Madurai
Morning after breakfast, drive towards Madurai upon arrival check in at Hotel. Fresh up yourself and take a tour around Madurai ( Known as a city of festival, Madurai is the most ancient home of culture and first Academy was founded here by scholars and pious kings. Visit includes, Teppa kulam a tank with an island temple, Tirumalainaik palace, 1000 pillared hall & the Meenakshi Temple Over night at Hotel. Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India, with a history dating all the way back to the Sangam period of the pre Christian era. The glory of Madurai returned in a diminished form in the earlier part of this millennium; it later on came under the rule of the Vijayanagar kingdom after its ransack by the ravaging armies of Delhi (Malik Kafur). During the 16th and 18th centuries, Madurai was ruled by the Nayak Emperors, the foremost of whom was Tirumalai Nayakar. The Sangam period poet Nakkeerar is associated with some of the Tiruvilayaadal episodes of Sundareswarar - that are enacted as a part of temple festival traditions even today.

Day 14: Madurai - Rameshwaram
Morning after breakfast, Drive towards, Rameshwaram ( one of the four most sacred Hindu pilgrim centre. Temples, Associated with Lord Ramas ), Beach & 1000 Pillared Mandapam. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. After refreshment, visit Rameshwaram. Over night at Hotel.

Day 15: Rameshwaram - Trichy
Morning after breakfast, drive towards Trichy ( Was occupied by Chola and Pallava Dynasties. The Nayakas of Madurai have constructed the greater portion of the town. Rock fort (is a landmark of Trichy with a Ganesh Temple on the top of this rock also contains excavated cave temples dating to the 7th century A.D. the famous for fine sculptures, a climb up its stone to the Hall of a hundred pillars, Visit the island of Srirangam, a massive Vishnu temple with seven walls. Over night at Hotel. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Rest & Relax. Over night at Hotel.

Day 16: Trichy - Pondicherry
Morning after breakfast, take a visit of Trichy. After visit, drive towards Pondicherry. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Rest & Relax / free for independent activities. Over night at Hotel.
+
Day 17: Pondicherry - Chennai
Morning breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast, visit Pondicherry and the famous Aurbindo Ashram, Temples etc. After visit, drive towards Chennai. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 18: Chennai - Departure
Transfer toInternational airport to connect flight to onward journey.