Discovering South India

Bangalore - Hassan - Mysore - Ooty - Kochi - Kumarakom - Periyar - Madurai - Tanjore - Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram

Duration

18 days

Tour Type

Private

Price From

£3,200 pp

Overview: Discovering South India Tour

Discover the lush landscapes, rich heritage and vibrant culture of South India on this fascinating guided tour. From the historic temples and palaces of Bangalore, Mysore and Madurai to the colonial charm of Kochi and Pondicherry, experience magnificent architecture, traditional arts, spice plantations and the tranquil backwaters of Kerala.

Tour Highlights:

Explore Bangalore’s historic landmarks, including the Government Museum, Bull Temple, Tipu Sultan’s Fort and Lal Bagh Gardens
Discover the magnificent Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebidu before continuing to Mysore
Visit Mysore Palace, St Philomena’s Church and the Chamundi Hill temples
Enjoy a tea plantation and factory tour in the scenic hill station of Ooty
Explore historic Fort Kochi, including the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St Francis Church and traditional Chinese fishing nets
Experience a spectacular Kathakali performance and discover the colourful traditions of Kerala
Cruise through Kerala’s tranquil backwaters aboard a traditional Kettuvallam houseboat
Discover the spice plantations of Periyar and learn about the history and cultivation of Indian spices
Visit Madurai’s magnificent Meenakshi Temple and experience the evening Aarti ceremony
Explore the Chola heritage of Tanjore, including Brihadeshwara Temple and Thanjavur Palace
Discover the French and Tamil influences of Pondicherry and visit the unique community of Auroville
Explore the ancient Shore Temple, Arjuna’s Penance and Five Rathas at Mahabalipuram

From tropical landscapes and tranquil backwaters to magnificent temples, colonial towns and vibrant cultural traditions, this guided tour offers an unforgettable journey through the diverse heritage and natural beauty of South India.

Day 1 - UK departure

Depart the UK with international economy flight to Bangalore. We can also arrange departures from your local airport at no extra cost.

Day 2 - Bangalore Arrival

Upon your arrival in the hi- tech Indian city of Bangalore, you will be greeted by our representative at the International Airport. After a warm welcome, you will be escorted to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 3 - Bangalore to Hassan

After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Bangalore visiting the Government museum (one of the oldest museums of India), Vidhan Soudha (state legislative chambers with magnificent amalgamation of modern and traditional Dravidian temple style architecture), the famous Bull Temple (which houses a huge granite monolith of Nandi, the holy Bull), ruins of the fort of Tipu Sultan and Lal Bagh Gardens (regarded as one of the most richly diverse botanical gardens in south Asia). Later, drive to Hassan for overnight stay.

Day 4 - Hassan to Mysore

This morning, visit Belur, famous for its magnificent Hoysala Temple Complex with intricate sculptures. This is the only Hoysala Temple still in active worship. Also visit Halebidu, the erstwhile capital of the Hoysalas. The Hoysaleswara Temple here perched on a star-shaped base amidst lawns, is a sculptural extravaganza.

This afternoon, embark on your drive to Mysore for 2 nights stay.

Day 5 - Mysore

This morning, enjoy a city tour of Mysore visiting the Maharaja’s Palace, one of the biggest palaces in India; St Philomena’s Church; Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery in the Jag Mohan Palace, which has a collection of exquisite paintings.

In the evening visit the Chamundi hill and Bull temple and see the daily prayers and rituals being performed by priests.

Day 6 - Mysore to Ooty

This morning embark on a leisurely drive to Ooty. Known as the Queen of the Blue Mountains, Ooty is famous for its rolling hills covered in pine and eucalyptus, sparkling waterfalls and its coffee and tea plantations.

En route to Ooty, enjoy a tea plantation and factory tour and learn the secrets to a perfect brew. Evening at leisure to relax and unwind in the serenity of Ooty.

Day 7 - Ooty to Kochi

This morning, drive to Kochi, the commercial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala. Starting from the Dutch, Portuguese and the British, Kochi was the site of the first European colonial settlements in India.

Upon arrival, check into your hotel for 2 nights stay.

Day 8 - Kochi

After breakfast, take a guided walk through the historic Fort Kochi area. This morning we will visit the Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St. Francis Church and see the authentic Chinese fishing nets still in active use by the fishermen in Kerala.

This evening, watch a spectacular Kathakali performance. Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in India. One of the most complex and highly stylized Indian art forms, this performance is a spectacular combination of drama, dance, music and ritual. Characters with vividly painted faces and elaborate costumes re-enact stories from the Hindu epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Reach early for the unique opportunity to see the performers dressing up in their very elaborate and colorful costumes and painting their faces with make up to create the special persona for the performance. Also visit the onsite cultural museum to see sculptures of Kerala’s unique dance forms, a large replica of an authentic Keralan wooden canoe and see how Keralan handicrafts and saris are woven.

Day 9 - Kochi to Kumarakom

This morning, drive to Alleppey, a coastal town in the backwaters of Kerala. Upon arrival in Alleppey, board your houseboat to cruise through the backwaters. Kerala backwaters consist of a complex network of lagoons, lakes, & canals and are best experienced while slowly rowing down the labyrinth of canals in a traditional thatch-roofed houseboat, known as ‘Kettuvallam’. See life on the banks, lush green rice fields, and coconut groves with occasional temple or church as you cruise through the canals. Enjoy the special Kerala style meals prepared by your chef on board.

Overnight stay on houseboat.

Day 10 - Kumarakomo to Periyar

This morning, enjoy breakfast on board. Alight your houseboat at Kumarakom. You may wish to visit the Kumarakom bird sanctuary on the banks of Vembanad Lake. This sanctuary is spread over 100 acres and is home to thousands of resident and migratory birds. Some commonly found species include egret, darter, waterfowl, heron, bittern, kites, marsh harries, kingfishers, woodpeckers and wild ducks.

Later, embark on a scenic drive to Periyar, the wildlife and spice plantation hub of Kerala. Upon arrival in Periyar, check in to your hotel for 2 nights stay.

Day 11 - Periyar

Today, take a spice plantation tour and learn about the mystery and history of Indian spices. The spice plantations in Periyar are captivating farms growing different spices in different sections of the plantations. You will be intrigued to see the vast variety of spices ranging from cloves, cardamom, ginger, pepper, chilli, turmeric etc.

Day 12 - Periyar to Madurai

After an early breakfast, embark on your drive to the temple city of Madurai. This afternoon, visit the Gandhi museum, containing photos, paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, quotations, and some original articles used by Mahatma Gandhi. Then visit the 17^th century Tirumalai Nayak Palace which is famous for its rectangular dance courtyard.

Later, visit the famous Meenakshi temple and stay on to enjoy the evening Aarti (prayer ceremony) to see the rituals being performed by priests.

Day 13 - Madurai to Tanjore

After breakfast, embark on your drive to Tanjore. En route visit Trichy, famous for its rich cultural and splendid architectural heritage. Upon arrival in Tanjore, check in to your hotel and freshen up.

This afternoon visit the Brihadeshwara Temple, which is often referred as the crowning glory of Chola Temple architecture. Also, visit the Thanjavur Palace, which was constructed in the 16^th century and has huge corridors, spacious halls, observation and arsenal towers.

Day 14 - Tanjore to Pondicherry

After breakfast, drive to Pondicherry. Ruled by the French for 300 years, today Pondicherry stands as a living epitome of French culture in India. Enjoy the evening at leisure walking around the small town and exploring the mix of French and Tamil architecture and culture in the region.

Day 15 - Pondicherry to Mahabalipuram

This morning, visit the community of Auroville, a unique experiment in human unity and international living. Located approx 6 km north of Pondicherry, Auroville was founded in 1968 by a French national who was a follower of local spiritual visionary, Sri Aurobindo. Today Auroville is an international community, with a population of some 50,000 people from 43 different countries. The city is centred around Matrimandir, ‘Temple of the Mother’, the geographical and spiritual heart of the community. Take a walk to the Matrimandir, observing the eclectic mix of people here. [entry to Matrimandir is not allowed]

Day 16 - Mahabalipuram

Today, explore the coastal town of Mahabalipuram, visiting the Shore temple (one of the oldest temples in south India, belonging to the early 8th century AD), Arjuna’s penance (the world’s largest bas-relief measuring 27m x 9m – this huge rock consists figures of Gods, men, beasts, birds and represents the entire creation), Five Rathas (five monolithic temples, each having its own style – also known as the “Panch Pandav Rathas”).

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

Day 17 - Mahabalipuram to Chennai for departure

This morning, embark on a short drive to Chennai, en-route visiting Dakshina Chitra, an exciting cross cultural living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India. Dakshina Chitra has a collection of 18 authentic historical houses, transported from different states of south India, and reconstructed here with interesting contextual exhibitions of the region in each house. Later, continue drive to Chennai, where you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight back home.

Day 18 - UK Arrival