Splendors of South India - An Archaeological Discovery
Duration : 14 Day / 13 Nights
Destination : Goa, Badami, Pattadakkal, Aihole, Badami, Hospet, Hampi, Hospet, Hassan, Belur, Halebid, Shravanabelagola, Mysore, Srirangapatanam, Bangalore, Ooty, Coonoor, Ooty, Cochin, Alleppey, Houseboat, Cochin
DAY 01 : Goa/ Badami ( 330 KM / 8 HRS)
After relaxing couple of days in Goan beach, AM : drive to Badami. Evening arrival in Badami.Overnight at hotel
DAY 02 : Badami/ Pattadakkal/ Aihole/ Badami
AM : Drive to proceed to Pattadakkal ( 27 km) a world heritages site visiting Virupaksheswara, Mallikarjuna and the Papanatha Temples were built during the 7th and 8th centuries, then to Aihole ( 37 km) which is famous as the " Cradle of Indian Temple Architecture ''. Visit the famous Lad Khan & Durga temples and. The Badami Cave Temples have 4 rock - cut temples - 3 Hindu and one Jain. Of the 3Hindu temples one is dedicated to Shiva and the other 2 to Vishnu. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 03 : BadamiI/ Hospet ( 170 KM / 4 HRS)
Morning proceed to Hospet. Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel
DAY 04 : Hospet / Hampi/ Hospet
Full day sightseeing of Hampi visiting the famous ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire covering King's Balance, Queen's Bath, Lotus Mahal, Vithala Temple with its musical pillars and Stone Chariot, the Virupaksha Temple, Pushkarini Tank & Ugra Narasimha.Overnight at hotel
DAY 05 : Hospet/ Hassan ( 350 KM / 8 HRS)
AM : Drive to Hassan. Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 06 : Hassan/ Belur/ Halebid/ Shravanabelagola/ Mysore
AM : Excursion to Belur and Halebid visiting the finest specimens of Hoysala architecture such as the Chennakeshava Temple and the Hoysaleshwara Temple. PM : Drive to Mysore ( 125 KM / 3 HRS) enroute visiting Shravanabelagola - this is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centres. Here is the 17 meters high monolith statue of Lord Bahubali built in 981 AD and is one of the world's tallest monolith statue. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 07 : Mysore
AM : Sightseeing of Mysore - is a city of palaces, gardens, markets and shops selling silk and sandal wood. Sightseeing covers visit to Maharaja's Palace, Museum, Giant Nandi Bull, Chamundi Hills and Devaraja Market - one of India's most colorful fruit and vegetable market PM : Free for shopping. Overnight at hotel
DAY 08 : Mysore/ Srirangapatanam/ Bangalore( 150 KM / 3.5HRS)
Morning drive to Mysore enroute visiting Srirangapatnam stands the ruins of Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan's capital from which they ruled much of South India during the 18th centuary. PM : Half day S/S of Bangalore covering Cubbon Park which was laid out in 1864, Lal Bagh Botanical garden, Bull Temple one of Bangalore's oldest temples which contains a huge monolith statue of Nandi bull , Tippu Sultan's summer Palace and drive past Vidhan Soudha which housed the Secretariat and the State Legislature and M.G.Road - commercial hub of Bangalore. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 09 : Bangalore/ Ooty( 320 KM / 7 - 8 HRS)
AM : Drive to Ooty. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 10 : Ooty/ Coonoor/ Ooty
AM : Toy train ride from Ooty to Coonoor through the picturesque Nilgiri hills followed by sightseeing of Coonoor covering Sims Park & Dolphin's Nose. Then return to Ooty. PM : Sightseeing of Ooty covering Botanical Garden, Lake & Doddabetta Peak. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 11 : Ooty/ Cochin( 300 KM/ 7 HRS)
AM : Drive to Cochin. Rest of the day free. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 12 : Cochin
AM S/S of Cochin covering St Francis Church, Mattanchery Palace, Jew town and its Synagogue and the traditional Chinese fishing nets. PM : Free. Evening witness Kathakali (traditional dance drama of Kerala). Overnight at hotel.
DAY 13 : Cochin/ Alleppey/ Houseboat
AM : Transfer to Alleppey to board an ethnic ' Kettuvallam' - the cargo boat of yester years. Meticulously furnished, replete with a luxurious bedroom and bathroom.Complete with a cook and a boatman. House boat cruise in the direction of Alumkadavu ( near Kollam ) through the picturesque backwaters of Kerala. You are likely to see a cross section of village life along the picturesque backwaters like toddy tapping, coir making, fishing with Chinese nets etc. At night the boat will be moored in the canal or lake. Overnight House Boat
Day 14: Houseboat / Cochin / Departure
Morning ar leisure. Later drive to Cochin for your flight to Mumbai to connect with International flight back home.
