Spectacular South India

Arrive in Bangalore, once you exit the arrival terminal meet ‘Contento’ representative who will assist you through the transfer to your hotel. Your hotel will be in city area which will be 1 hr – 1.5 hrs drive from the Airport. On reaching the hotel check in and have a bit of rest until the afternoon city tour of Bangalore commences. Your half day tour of Bangalore will cover the below places.  Lal Bagh Gardens Lalbagh or Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, meaning The Red Garden in English, is a well-known botanical garden in southern Bengaluru. It has a famous glass house dating from 1889 which hosts two annual flower shows (26 January and 15 August). Lalbagh houses India’s largest collection of tropical plants, has a lake, and is one of the main tourist attractions in Bengaluru. Lal Bagh is also home to a few species of birds.  Tippu Sulthan Palace Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, in Bangalore, India, is an example of Indo-Islamic architecture and was the summer residence of the Mysorean ruler Tipu Sultan. Hyder Ali commenced its construction within the walls of the Bangalore Fort, and it was completed during the reign of Tipu Sultan in 1791. After Tipu Sultan’s death in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the British Administration used the palace for its Secretariat before moving to Attara Kacheri in 1868.  ISCKON Temple Bangalore has two ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temples, one of which is Sri Radha Krishna Temple, located at Hare Krishna Hill, Rajaji Nagar. Built-in a magnificent architectural style, the temple is a perfect union of spirituality and modernity. The temple attracts devotees or tourists from all over the world as it provides a great spiritual experience. Later back to hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning after breakfast, proceed to Mysore – the land of Palaces. En route you will visit Srirangapattna, which was the citadel of Mysore Kingdom for many decades. What had been happening and not happening at Srirangapatna was profound in deciding India’s colonial past.  Geographically, Srirangapatna is a rocky island formed by Cauvery River.That made it significant from a military as well as religious point of view. The religious history of Srirangapatna dates back to 9th century AD when the Gangas ( Ganga dynasty ) ruled this region from their capital at Talakkadu. They built the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in this island and hence the name Srirangapatna. Continue your drive to Mysore. On reaching Mysore check in at your hotel. Afternoon proceed for a sightseeing tour of Mysore. You shall cover the below places.  Mysore Palace Mysore Palace also known as Amba Vilas Palace located at the heart of Mysore city is the most prominent tourist destination of Mysore that attracts millions of visitors round the year. This historical palace housed within the Old Fort facing the Chamunda Hills stands as the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty who ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1950. Displaying Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, this sprawling building is a replacement of the old wooden building destroyed by fire in late 19th century.  Chamundi Hills Chamundi Hills is the prime landmark of Mysore city, visible almost from anywhere in the city center. The hill has very close association with the founding of the city. In fact the very name of Mysore is associated with the hill. According to mythology this was the domain of the demon called Mahishasura ( the Buffalo Demon). The place was thus known as Mahishapura or Mahishuru , the land of Mahishasura.  Devaraja Market With more than 100 years of history, this market is well knitted into the heritage of Mysore. If you are new to the bazaars of India in general, do not miss Devaraja Market. This is a good sample of a traditional Indian market place that are colorful, noisy, vibrant and a tad chaotic. Later drive back to hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning after breakfast, this day you will drive to Kabini for the first time to get the taste of wilderness in this tour. Your drive will be through scenic landscapes and on arrival check in at hotel. In the evening proceed either for a boat safari or a jeep safari depending on the slots available. Later back to hotel Overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning after breakfast this day will be free at leisure to enjoy the facilities and amenities of the resort. Karnataka’s forests teem with life and the state is home to a healthy population of tigers and elephants that roam its untamed mountain ranges and valleys. One such spot, Kabini is a favourite haunt of wildlife enthusiasts and photographers as it provides sightings of animals that are usually elusive in other areas. The shadowy beauty of the melanistic leopard or Black Panther is a rare sight indeed and Kabini is one of the few places in the world where one can view this magnificent creature in its elements. Overnight stay at the resort

Morning after breakfast you have a long day ahead. Your next destination is Neeleshwar – a calm and serene village in North Kerala. No programs charted for the day. We leave you completely at leisure to recall the past moments so for happened in the tour. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today after breakfast, you are free to enjoy the resort amenities or experience the village life. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today after breakfast drive to Thalassery – a place with rich history and heritage. Your stay will be in one such place which is rich in history and heritage. Thalassery has a unique place in Kerala’s history and has an equally interesting evolution of culture, religion and tradition. Thalassery in Kannur, a northern district of Kerala, before the country’s independence had its social, political and cultural life shaped up by the local rulers, foreign trade links as well imperial powers like the Portuguese and the British. On arrival check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure or can enjoy the locality with the help of your driver. Overnight stay at the hotel

Today morning after breakfast, you will travel to Cochin and this time for a change, the journey will be in a train. You will have a pre booked AC compartment tickets and you can experience the Indian Railway. Most importantly unlike highways the rails in Kerala run through the country side and over a number of lakes and rivers. On arrival at Ernakulam Junction (Cochin) railway station another driver and our company representative will receive you at the station and will transfer you to your hotel in Cochin. Your regular driver will reach late and will continue from next day. Check in at the hotel and rest of the day is at leisure. This lovely seaside city is flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Its proximity to the equator, the sea and the mountains provide a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate. Strictly speaking, Cochin is a small town. But, Cochin has outgrown its original bounds and is now the general name given to much of the region adjoining the original town Overnight stay at the hotel

This morning, after having breakfast from the hotel, proceed for a full day sightseeing tour of Cochin. An English speaking tour guide will be present at the hotel lobby (ONLY IF REQUIRED) to take you through the sightseeing places of the town. He/she will be your private tour guide for the day who is well studied about the historical and archaeological importance of the places you will be seeing today. These are the places you will be covering in your full day tour of Cochin.  Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Friday and Saturday): Jewish Synagogue, situated at one end of the Jew Street in the Jew Town enclave of Mattancherry in Fort Kochi. This synagogue was built in 1568 by the Malabar Yehudans or Cochin Jewish community. It was built close to the Mattancherry Palace Temple on the land gifted by King Rama Varma, a former ruler of Kochi.  The Dutch Palace (Closed on Friday): The Mattancherry Palace is one of the finest examples of the Kerala style of architecture mixed with colonial influences. The Portuguese built it as a gift to King Veera Kerala Verma. It came to be known as the Dutch Palace as it underwent major repairs at the hands of the Dutch.  Chinese fishing nets: Legend has it that the famous Chinese explorer, Zheng He, introduced the Chinese Fishing Nets to the fishermen in Kochi over 500 years ago. Even though he would leave, these would become staple sights in these parts.  St. Francis Church (Closed on Sunday during Mass): It is here that the famous explorer, Vasco-da-Gama, was originally buried. His remains would be taken back 14 years later but to this day, the exact spot is clearly marked. In the evening proceed to see Kathakali dance show in a local theatre. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, is considered to be of comparatively recent origin. However, it is an art which has evolved from many social and religious theatrical forms which existed in the southern region in ancient times. Overnight stay at the hotel.

This morning after breakfast drive to Kumarakom, a serene backwater village on the banks of Vemband Lake. On arrival check in at the resort and rest of the day is at leisure. The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and is part of the Kuttanad region. The tourist village of Kumarakom is relaxed and refined, featuring lush flowery landscapes and a multicoloured plethora of bird species. Overnight stay at resort

This morning after breakfast from the hotel drive to Alleppey the renowned backwater destination in India. On reaching at Alleppey by 1200 hrs, your private houseboat will be waiting for you and your overnight cruise will start then. Houseboats in Kerala, south India, are huge, slow-moving barges used for leisure trips. They are a reworked model of Kettuvallams (in the Malayalam language, Kettu means “tied with ropes”and vallam means “boat”), which, in earlier times, were used to carry rice and spices from Kuttanad to the Kochi port. Kerala houseboats were considered a convenient means of transportation. The popularity of Kettuvallams has returned in the function as major tourist attractions. Such a houseboat is about 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m) long and about 15 feet (4.6 m) wide at the middle. You will cruise though the backwaters from 1200 hrs to 1700 hrs and the houseboat will halt then. You are free to enjoy the villages nearby by walk with the help of the houseboat crew. Overnight stay on board houseboat

Morning after breakfast on board houseboat, disembark to start your drive to the southernmost city as well as the capital city of the state – Thiruvananthapuram. 15 kms from the city is the renowned beach destination – Kovalam. Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. Kovalam beach is a falcate shaped beach bordered with coconut trees and they keep swaying gently by the breeze blowing softly in the region. The silvery-white sands are ideal for a leisure walk in the evening and at the same time the clean crystal clear water will hypnotize you to jump in for an enjoyable swimming session. If you are simply a passive traveller and love to enjoy the nature’s bliss, this is one of the finest beaches to sit and relax. On arrival check in at the hotel and rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today you will be in Kovalam. After breakfast from the hotel, your day is free to explore the beach or indulge in optional activities available at the resort or at the beach. Spend time at the beach or at the resort. Overnight stay at the resort.

Another day in Kovalam. Enjoy this day to the fullest as today is the penultimate day of the tour. Your day is free at leisure. Overnight stay at the resort.

Today morning as per your flight timing, either have breakfast from the restaurant or carry a packed breakfast on your way to Airport. Drive for approx. 20 minutes (depending on traffic) to the reach the airport. You will fly to your home country with sweet memories of the tour.