Southern Holy Places, Jungles & Backwaters

Southern Holy Places, Jungles & Backwaters

ORIGIN COUNTRY : India
ORIGIN CITY : Bangalore
PACKAGE TYPE : PRIVATE TOURS

DESCRIPTION
Explore the delights of Southern India. See princely Mysore where the magnificent maharajah’s
palace dominates the city. Visit the palace of the ancient warrior Tippu Sultan. Travel the roads
of rural India passing through villages and towns bound for the Nagarhole Tiger Sanctuary on
the Kabini River. Pass through the Western Ghats visiting the tiny hill station of Ooty – now
almost lost in time. Enter tropical Kerala to visit the old spice traders’ haunt of Kochi (formerly
Cochin). And, relax on a houseboat in the tranquil backwaters.

INCLUSIONS
• Private car touring with driver
• Local guide for all city sightseeing tours and attractions
• 10 breakfasts (B), lunches (L), dinners (D) as specified
• 3 game drives in Nagarhole Tiger Sanctuary
• Overnight deluxe houseboat cruise on Kerala Backwaters
• Entrance fees for all nominated attractions

EXCLUSIONS
• Airfares
• Camera fees at monuments
• Meals and drinks other than specified
• Tipping
• Christmas and New Years Eve Dinner Supplements if applicable

DEPARTURE TIME & POINT
This tour departs daily except Thursdays& Fridays from Bangalore airport

TYPE OF TOUR
Private Vehicle with driver (local guides for city tours and attraction visits)

ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive Bangalore
After your arrival in Bangalore today you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, is a vibrant cosmopolitan city, a major industrial and
commercial centre of the country. Bangalore is also known as the 'Silicon Valley' of the
country, the nerve centre of India's software industry. Despite being one of Asia's fastest
growing cities, Bangalore remains one of the most elegant metropolises in India. A well
planned city, with tree lined avenues, a large number of parks, gardens and lakes. The
remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 2 Bangalore
This morning proceed for a half-day sightseeing tour of Bangalore City. Your tour of the garden
city begins with a visit to Lalbagh, the botanical garden covering over 240 acres with a wide
variety of exotic trees and plants. Visit Tipu Sultan's Palace – dating back to 1790 and made
mostly out of wood, it was used as the summer residence of the legendary ruler Tipu Sultan.
Continue on to visit the Bull temple believed to have been constructed in the 16th century it
was carved out of a single granite block. The tour gives you an opportunity to drive past the
Government Secretariat, Vidhan Soudha (Legislature building) and Cubbon Park The afternoon
is at leisure. [B]

Day 3 Bangalore – Mysore (140 kms)
After breakfast depart for Mysore by road (approximately 3.5 hrs) by car. En route visit
Srirangapatnam built on a long island in the Cauvery River and located 16km outside of
Mysore. This fortress was once the capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Inside the fortress

walls there is a mosque and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. A
kilometer east of the fort is the Daria Daulat Bagh, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan built in
1784. It is adorned with ornate and beautiful frescoes and now houses a museum with a
collection of family memorabilia and paintings depicting Tipu Sultan's campaigns against the
British. Nearby is the Gumbaz, the onion-domed mausoleum of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan.
Arrive in Mysore by late afternoon and check in to your hotel. [B]

Day 4 Mysore
This morning drive to Somnathpur, located 33km east of Mysore known for the Chenna Kesava
Temple. Built in 1268 and dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple is a marvellous example of
Hoysala architecture. The walls of this star studded temple are covered with exquisite
sculptures in stone depicting various scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata and the life
and times of the Hoysala kings.

In the afternoon enjoy a half day city tour of Mysore. The infatuation with Mysore begins with
the Maharaja's Palace, at the heart of the city. It is a veritable treasure trove of exquisite
carvings and works of art from the world over. Carry on to Chamundi Hills, named after the
royal family's deity, to see the magnificent and richly decorated monolithic statue of the
crouching Nandi Bull, which stands 4.8m in height. Proceed to the Rajendra Art Gallery which
has some remarkable selections of paintings by Raja Ravi Verma, Nicholas Roerich and
traditional paintings in the Mysore style. The Gallery also has on display an interesting
collection of varied objects including antique furniture, and a splendid collection of musical
instruments, ceramics and ivory [B]

Day 5 Mysore – Nagarhole (100 km)
After breakfast drive by car to Nagarhole a journey taking approximately 2 hrs. Upon arrival in
Nagarhole National Park, check-in to your the hotel Nagarhole National Park, once a hunting
reserve for royalty is a perfect get-away for nature lovers with an astonishing abundance of
wildlife. Home to several rare and endangered wildlife species including the tiger, it is one of
the best remaining habitats of the Asian elephant in the world. Through well concerted
conservation efforts, a large concentration of prey and dense cover has combined to create
what is perhaps the finest tiger habitat in South India. The backdrop of the distant misty Blue
Mountains, the natural sounds of the jungle, the gurgling of the streams and the rivers and the
twittering of the birds make Nagarhole a memorable experience. Late afternoon proceed for a
jungle safari. [BD]

Day 6 Nagarhole
Early morning and afternoon game drives are included to increase the opportunities to see
wildlife in this extensive sanctuary. [BLD]

Day 7 Nagarhole – Ooty (265 km)
After breakfast depart for Ooty by road (approximately 6 hrs). Arrive and check in to your
hotel. Ooty is a famous hill station established in the days of the British Raj. This afternoon’s
city tour includes a visit to the 'Queen of Hill Stations', located at a height of 2286 meters and
known for its sprawling tea gardens. Visit the Botanical Gardens and witness a gamut of
regionally exclusive and ornamental plants. Other highlights of this tour include the St.
Stephen’s Church built in 1829 and one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris; the Government
Museum featuring a host of tribal arte-facts, district's ecological details and representative
sculptural arts and crafts of Tamil Nadu; the Ooty Lake constructed in 1824 by Major John
Sullivan, the then the Collector of Coimbatore. See the lake and also drive past Doddabetta,
the highest peak (2623 meters) in the Nilgiris. Return to your hotel for overnight. [B]

Day 8 Ooty – Kochi (300 km)
Today early morning departure is for Kochi. A road journey of approximately 6 hrs through the
tea and coffee estates of the scenic Nilgiri hills. The vegetation changes en route as the road
descends through the rubber estates and farmlands to Kochi on the coast. Arrive Cochin and
check in to your hotel for overnight.

The commercial capital of Kerala and the most cosmopolitan of the state's cities, Kochi
formerly Cochin, have long been eulogized in tourist literature as the 'Queen of the Arabian
Sea'. Strategically located on the east-west sea route, Kochi is Kerala's major port, boasting
one of the finest natural harbours in the world. With its wealth of historical associations and its
setting on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsula, the city of Kochi perfectly reflects the
eclecticism of Kerala. [B]

Day 9 Kochi
On this mornings tour explore the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', Kochi. Unravel the ancient
treasures of this quaint harbour port town. Visit the Chinese Fishing Nets, the St. Francis
Church, Mattancherry Palace – built by the Portuguese for the Raja (King) of Kochi in exchange
of trading rights; walk through the narrow cobbled streets, lined with antique & handicraft
shops of the Jewish Synagogue, the oldest living synagogue in the world (closed on Fridays,
Saturdays, Jewish holidays). In the early evening watch a mesmerising Kathakali dance
performance (subject to availability). The impression created by the make-up and costumes
contribute to the Kathakali visual experience. Let the magic of this unique art form envelope
you as you watch the emotions displayed by the performing artists. [B]

Day 10 Kochi -Alleppey
Board a houseboat late this morning for an afternoon cruise around the extensive Kerala
Backwaters. Spend overnight on the boat. [BLD]

Day 11 Alleppey – Kochi
Disembark in Alleppey this morning and transfer by car to the airport (approximately 2 hours).
Suggest an afternoon flight (cost of flight is not included). [B]

End of services provided by Tempo Holidays Representatives

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
The following monuments/sites are closed to visitors on:
Jewish Synagogue Cochin - Friday, Saturday & Jewish Holidays

Visas for India should be obtained by all passengers.

Visitors going to any religious places should be modestly dressed. Admission will be denied to
anyone wearing short pants/skirts, sleeveless t-shirts/blouses. Bare shoulders and mid-riffs
are not permitted and should be covered with shawls

Distances mentioned in the itinerary are approximate & driving times depend upon traffic
conditions.

Our cost is based on contracted rates for leisure business. No conference/business/corporate
activity has been envisaged in the tour cost. Including any such activity may result in the
above group being treated as a Business delegation and the hotels are likely to charge
separate contracted rates for the same.