MESMERIZING KARNATAKA WITH KERALA

Upon arrival at Bangalore airport, our representative will meet you and transfer you to the hotel in Bangalore. Rest of the day at leisure.

BANGALORE: Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, is a city that was ruled by Western Ganga, Cholas and Hoysalas until in 1537 CE, Kempe Gowda (a ruler of the Vijayanagar empire) established a mud fort here. Now, this city is the IT Capital of India and the 2nd fastest-growing metropolitan in India.

Overnight stay at hotel in Bangalore.

After breakfast, your Bangalore sightseeing tour begins with visit to Tipu Sultans Summer Palace. It was the summer residence of Tipu Sultan - a powerful king who ruled Mysore from 1782 to 1799. This two-storied palace is ornated with beautiful floral-pattern pillars supported by wooden beams and the walls are adorned with floral motifs. Next, visit the Bangalore Palace built in 1887 featuring beautiful wooden interiors and Tudor and Scottish Gothic style of architecture. It is said that this palace is inspired from the Windsor Castle of England. Drive past Vidhan Soudha - seat of the State Legislature of Bangalore. This imposing edifice built in 1956 showcases Neo-Dravadian style of architecture and is one of the largest legislative buildings in India. Spend some time clicking photographs here. Later, visit the Government Museum that is divided into 18 galleries - each displaying a wide collection of inscriptions, paintings, ornaments, beautiful stones, coins and much more.

Overnight stay at hotel in Bangalore.

After breakfast, drive to Mysore. On reaching, check-in at the hotel. MYSORE:Mysore is a city noted for its royal heritage, especially the Mysore Palace. It is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka. This city is noted for its spectacular palaces and mansions representing the opulence of Wadiyar Dynasty (that ruled Mysore for more than 500 years).Proceed with Mysore sightseeing tour with first visit to Mysore Palace- former residence of the royal Mysore family. The palace displays Indo-Saracenic style of architecture and comprises of Durbar (meeting) halls, beautiful courtyards, perfecly-manicured gardens and magnificent buildings. Visit the Jaganmohan Palace, close to the Mysore Palace. It was an alternate retreat for the royal family built during 1861 when the whole Mysore Palace caught fire. The Art Gallery is another feature of this Palace that displays weaponry, musical instruments, a French music calendar and is said to have more than 2,000 paintings. Drive to St. Philomenas Church - the tallest Church in Mysore. Built in 1843, this church dedicated to Saint Philomena stands tall at a height of 175 ft and can accommodate upto 800 people at one time. In the evening, visit the Brindavan Gardens located across the river Cauvery for a Musical Light show.

Overnight stay at hotel in Mysore.

Enjoy morning breakfast at the hotel. Later, check-out and proceed to Ooty. OOTY: This picturesque town blessed with the refreshing aroma of eucalyptus trees, tea, coffee, and spice plantations is where you will be heading as your next destination. This place is popular for its colonial charm, tribal lifestyle and uphill toy train rides.

On arrival, check-in at the hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel in Ooty.

After a nice breakfast, take a beautiful train journey to Coonoor. COONOOR: It is a 19th century summer retreat of the Britishers that lures a string of visitors every year. This place works its way like magic and is reminiscent of the enchanting glory of Nature amidst the lush tea and coffee plantations.

Visit Sim’s Park; Sim’s Park is one of the unforgettable Places to visit in Coonoor. It is a well-maintained botanical hub of Coonoor where you can easily find hundreds and thousands of trees and flowering plants. Homing to some of the adorable hills to gaze through, Sim’s Park has a lot of rarest exotic species and bright, colorful garden to soothe your eyes and Law’s Falls: Law’s Falls is the next to go in the list of favorite Coonoor tourist places worth seeing. The falls are gorgeous and please the eyes of visitors all across the globe. The height of this waterfall is around 180 feet which creates a water pool at its base.

Come back to Ooty by Car.

Overnight Hotel – Ooty

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel and drive to Coorg - the coffee and spice producing hill station of India. Officially known as Kodagu, Coorg is equally popular for its exotic scenery, breathtaking adventures and warm hospitality. Check-in at the hotel upon arrival and spend the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Coorg.

Enjoy breakfast, and then proceed for a half-day tour of the beautiful Coorg covering coffee plantations, orange orchards and the green paddy fields. Visit Madikeri, aka Mercara, the largest town in Coorg. Come across the sprawling Madikeri fortress, built in the 17th century by the Rajas of Coorg, standing on a hilltop overlooking the entire town. Not far from here stands a temple of Lord Omkareshwara, a popular religious destination here, which shows an unusual combination of the Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture, unlike other traditional temples in India. Also visit Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Temple.

Overnight in Coorg.

After breakfast, embark on a wonderful journey to Wayanad driving through lofty peaks, cascading streams, verdant forests and hills, and winding roads. It is a green paradise nestled among the lush mountains of the Western Ghats; Wayanad is nature’s abode of Kerala. The land is clean, pristine, enchanting and hypnotizing as well as replete with fascinating history and culture. On arrival, check-in to your hotel. Later in the day, proceed to visit Lakkidi View Point - the gateway to Wayanad, situated 2296 ft. (700 m) above sea level at the crest of the Thamarasseri Ghat pass. It is a great vantage point to view the valleys and the mountains. Also, visit Pookot Lake, a natural fresh-water lake, nestled amid evergreen forested hills, and a one of its kind in Kerala. Boating facilities, children’s park, handicrafts, spice emporiums and a fresh water aquarium are among the tourist attractions here.

Also visit Sri Durga Devi Temple.

Overnight in Wayanad.

This day after breakfast, enjoy visiting Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthanga. It issituated in the Nilgiri biosphere; the forest offers the opportunity to view wildlife, including wild elephants, gaur, spotted deer, sambar, langur, giant squirrels, wild dog, birds, tiger etc. Also visit Seetha Devi Temple.

Overnight in Wayanad.

After breakfast, drive to Calicut which is on the northern most part of Kerala. This youngest district of Kerala has a lot to offer backpackers and pilgrims. The enduring charm of its beach, the architectural marvel of the Temples, Mosques and Churches, and the unique and tell-tale folk art are genuine attractions for tourists around the world.

On arrival, check-in to the hotel. Day will be free at your own leisure activity.

Overnight Hotel – Calicut

After early morning breakfast at the hotel you will head towards Athirapally. The beautiful waterfalls of Athirapally and Vazhachal cascading from the top of Sholayar Forest Range are a sight to behold. Succumb to nature.

Overnight in Athirapally.

After breakfast, check-out and drive to Munnar. On arrival, check-in to the hotel.

MUNNAR: a beautiful hill station named after three rivers: Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly. It is a popular honeymoon destination in Kerala that offers spellbinding views of vast spice and tea plantations. It also boasts the highest peak in South India - Anamudi. Munnar is surrounded by various wildlife sanctuaries that house the grizzled giant squirrel, Elephant, Gaur, Nilgiri Langur, Sambar, etc and the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (Mountain Goat). Also, a blue flower "Neelakurinji:" grows here in every 12 years.

Overnight Hotel – Munnar

Later, head for sightseeing tour of Munnar. Visit Munnar Tea Estates: Munnar is a city renowned for its bountiful tea plantations nestled amidst pristine nature. Walk through these sprawling tea estates and soak yourself in the refreshing aroma of the tea leaves. Here you can also visit the Tea Museum that showcases old photographs and huge machinery that have been used in tea processing over the years (Tea Museum remains closed every Monday). Also, get a first-hand experience of how tea is processed.

Next Eravikulam National Park, a must-visit attraction located in Munnar. It's the first of its kind in Kerala that is home to the exotic Nilgiri Tahr (Mountain Goat) and various other endangered species. (The park is closed in the mating season for the Nilgiri tahr, which is an endangered species and this usually happens in February/March every year). Also, a flower that blooms once in 12 years - Neelakurinji (next to be seen in 2018), is another attraction here. Also, visit the Mattupetty Dam: a concrete gravity dam constructed between 1949 and 1953 for the purpose of conservation of water and hydroelectricity generation. The captivating reflections of the surrounding tea gardens falling upon the still water is the best part of this dam.

Overnight stay at hotel in Munnar.

After breakfast, we will drive you to Periyar/Thekkady. THEKKADY: It is a landscape, set amidst the Western Ghats, in Kerala that entices its visitors with its rich biodiversity and natural vistas. It is famous for its Wildlife Sanctuary, which is considered to be one of the major tiger reserves in India. Nestled in the Western Ghats, it is blessed with exotic wildlife and scenic charm.

On arrival, check-in to the hotel. Today visit the popular Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary - a reserve of Bengal tigers, Indian elephants, Wild Boars, Tigers, Leopards, etc. It has an around 100-years old artifical water lake where you can sight tigers, baby elephants and couple of other animals in a playful mood. Here you will go for a Boat ride (Optional) at the Periyar Lake to capture rich glimpses of wildlife, tea/coffee and spice plantations etc.

Also go for Spice Plantation Tour.

Overnight stay at hotel in Thekkady.

After breakfast, drive to Alleppey. ALLEPPEY: Alleppey, also called the 'Venice of India', is located in the Alapuzzha district of Kerala. Here you can hire a houseboat to stay or explore the tropical village life, tea and spice plantations and pristine beauty of Kerala. On arrival, board the Houseboat, locally called Kettuvallam. Cruise around backwaters of Alleppey to observe & experience the daily life of the villagers along the backwaters.

Enjoy dinner and a pleasant overnight stay in the houseboat in Alleppey.

After breakfast, check-out and drive to Kochi. It also known as Cochin, and is a beautiful city in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. Over the years, the history and development of this city carries stubborn marks of the British, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch and Portuguese. It is undoubtedly the best starting point on your discovery to capture the beauty of God’s own country - Kerala.
On reaching, check-in at the hotel.

Today, go for Kochi sightseeing tour that begins with a visit to Fort Kochi located on the western coast of India amidst the pristine waters of Arabian Sea. On visiting this fort, soak in the mesmerizing specimens of the bygone era. The architecture of this gorgeous fort uncovers the layers of colonial influence ingrained in this city. Visit the St. Francis Church within the middle of fort’s complex. Built in the year 1503, it is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. The lofty architecture of this Church is impressive in every way and has managed to retain its ancient charm, over the years. Also, visit the Jewish Synagogue located close to Fort Kochi, which is more than 100-years old. It was built in 1568 and is a showpiece displaying hand-painted floor tiles, Belgium-imported glass chandeliers and rare antiques etc. and an exclusive gallery. We end the day with a visit to the Chinese Fishing Nets. They are a hallmark of the Fort Kochi, visible from Fort Kochi. The concept of these fishing nets is said to be introduced by Zheng He (a Chinese explorer). Here the fishing nets are made of bamboo and teakwood poles and practice the principle of balance. Almost every visitor visits here - especially during sunset - to click few candid.

End your day watching the traditional Kathakali Dance Show in Kochi.

Overnight in Kochi.

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Cochin airport by our representative for your onward journey.