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Travel
Tour Packages Bangalore/Karnataka

South
Masala Tour of India
(Holiday
Package for Southern India) VTT SM 08 - 17 Nights / 18
BOMBAY
>> HYDERABAD >> BANGALORE >> HASSAN >>
MYSORE >> OOTY >> COCHIN THANEERMUKH >>
KUMARAKOM >> PERIYAR >> MADURAI >>
TIRUCHIRAPALLI MAHABALIPURAM >> MADRAS >>
MUMBAI
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With
arrival into the metro and commercial centre of Mumbai (Bombay).We
will next take a flight to Hyderabad, the capital town of Andhra
Pradesh was the richest and largest state at the time of
Independence.The famous Charminar - is the city's landmark.From
here we take a short flight to the garden city of India -
Bangalore also now referred as the silicon city.From here we
drive to Hassan - famous for the 12th century temples of Belur
and halebid and then the stop is Mysore - a city of 17
palaces.The drive further takes us to the queens of the southern
hill stations - Ootacamund (Ooty) - a name drived from the
Nilgiri or Blue Mountains.Further we continue our tour to Cochin
the capital of Kerala often referred to as Gods own country.Here
one can have a boat ride or visit the old Jewish community dated
back to 52 AD.Next is the famous backwater trips onto Kumarakom
and to Periyar National park.Few hours drive from here takes us
to Madurai which houses the Meenakshi Temple.We also visit
Rameshwaram and then onwards to Tiruchirapalli.After visiting
the rockfort temple we drive to Mahabalipuram and finally take
our flight from Chennai (Madras) to Bombay
DAY
01 : ARRIVE BOMBAY
Upon arrival in Mumbai ( Bombay ) you are met and transferred to
your prebooked Hotel. This afternoon proceed on a guided tour of
the city, which is distinctly tropical. Its weathered Victorian
mansions, some still privately owned, and grand public
buildings, many beautifully lit at night, stand as lingering
reminder of the days of the British Raj, First visit the Gateway
of India, hastily created as a symbol of welcome to Queen Mary
and King George V of England on their to India in 1911. Next
visit the Hanging Gardens, perched at the top of Malabar Hill,
which provide lovely views over the Arabian Sea.Overnight at
Hotel.
DAY 02 : BOMBAY - HYDERABAD (BY
FLIGHT )
After breakfast an excursion on motorized boats across the
Arabian Sea to the Elephanta Caves, which house several,
sculputres and images sacred to the Hindhu faith . Of special
mention is the sculpture of the Holy Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva - the Creator, Preserver and the Destroyer. Afternoon
we are transferred to the domestic airport to board flight for
Hyderabad. Upon arrival we are met and transferred to our
prebooked Hotel.Overnight at the Hotel.
DAY
03 : HYDERABAD

Hyderabad, the Indian Subcontinent's richest and largest
state at the time of independence, now the capital of Andhra
Pradesh. Your city tour reveals an amalgam of old world charm
together with the ebullience of modern growth. Char Minar - the
city;s landmark, has four minarets built in the 16th Century.
Mecca Masjid is an impressive 17th Century mosque built of
granite. Birla Temple, the library and the university all
display the grandeurs of modern - day India. Salar Jung Museum
house and extraordinary collection including rare fine-art
objects of the Nizam, once the wealthiest man in the world. The
ancient fort of Golconda is the former capital of the Qutab
Shahi dynasty. Originally a mud structure, it grew into a
magnificent fortress citadel. It is know for the use of
acoustics in its architectural desing - sound signals could be
passed from the gates to the top of the fort without the use of
modern equipment. Tombs of the dynasty rulers are situated
nearby, set in manicured gardens.
Overnight at the Hotel.
DAY
04 : HYDERABAD - BANGALORE( BY FLIGHT ) - HASSAN
Today morning we take a short flight to Bangalore. Upon
arrival in Bangalore most popularly known as the Garden City of
India we take a short city tour . The city is full of well laid
out gardens. Wide tree lined avenues, imposing buildings and
lively bazaars. Visit the Bull Temple, situated on a hill is one
of Bangalore's oldest attractions. Afternoon depart for Hassan
.Upon arrival in Hassan we check into our prebooked Hotel.
Hassan is the base of visiting the famous temples of Belur and
Halebid. The temples which remained incomplete despite 80 years
of labour, offers the finest workmanship in stone to the God.It
is said that the temples here are even better than the famous
Konark and the Khajuraho temples.
DAY 05 : HASSAN - MYSORE
Depart for Mysore enroute visiting Halebid, Belur,
Sravanabelagola, Halebid is the sister temple of Belur, Built in
the 12th Century from soft soapstone and depicts the entire
Hindu Pantheon, Sravanabalagola is the shine to the jain Saint
Gaomateswara, carved in 983 AD out of solid rock , 500 rock hewn
steps lead up to it. Religious rituals involve bathing the
statue in milk and rose petals.Upon arrival in Mysore check into
your prebooked hotel for an overnight stay.
DAY
06 : MYSORE
After a relaxed breakfast we drive for a morning
sightseeing of the city of Mysore. Mysore a city of 17 Palaces -
the Maharaja's City Palace being one of the largest in the
country. Today's city tour include the zoological gardens, the
Chamundi Temple, handicraft Centre and 22 kms away - the
Brindavan Gardens, which are a sight by day and night. Evening
visit to the gardens where there are many illuminated fountains.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 07 : MYSORE - OOTY
Morning after breakfast we start our drive towards Ootacamund
most popularly known as Ooty. It is mostly referred to as the
Queen of the Southern Hills stations.It drives its name from the
Niligiri or the Blue Mountains - the name to the Hills by the
inhabitants for more than 850 years because of the blue haze of
clouds which envelope the hill slopes.
Upon arrival we check into our prebooked Hotel.
Afternoon we drive around Ooty to visit the Botanical Gardens ,
Lake Doddabetta , Mukurti Peak , the Pykara Dam and the
sprawling Tea Plantation.
DAY 08 : OOTY - COCHIN
After a relaxed morning breakfast we are now set to start our
journey towards the famous town of Kerela - COCHIN. Upon arrival
in Cochin we check into our prebooked hotel.Evening is relaxed
and free for individual activities.
Overnight at the Hotel.
DAY 09 : COCHIN
Early morning rise and transfer to the backwaters of Cochin,
which run from the sea inland through lush tropical countryside.
It could be compared to a cruise down the Amazon with jungle
foliage hanging from the banks. This relaxing boat trip is
fascinating, as our guide discussed the history of the early
explorers and traders who used this as a main artery to the sea.
Even the locals board and disembark, coming and going from
village. Return to Cochin and afternoon spent exploring the
unexpected and isolated Jewish community. It was a main area for
spice trading. Scores of small companies huddle together in old
buildings, with the air filled of ginger, cardamom, cumin and
clove scent. Local potters load carts of spices running up and
down narrow lanes for transport. One street - long area is the
Mattacncherry section, used to occupy virtually all Jewish
homes, the oldest synagogue in the former British Empire. Cochin
is one of the most fascinating cities of coastal south India. It
is a city with indelible marks of Christian, Islamic, Hindu and
Jewish traditions. The true character of the city us to be found
in the older part of the Fort Cochin area which remains as it
used to be a 1000 years ago. This part of the City reflects an
unusual bled of medival Portuguese, Dutch and English life
grafted on to the tropical Malabar coast. A unique feature here
is isolated Jewish community, whose origins date back to AD 52.
Evening we go to watch the famous Kathakali Dance Performance.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10 : COCHIN - THANEERMUKH -
KUMARAKOM

Drive to the Thaneermukh boat landing stage and take a
boat ride on the Backwaters to Kumarkom and check in to the our
prebooked resort . The rest of the day relaxing by the pool or
taking a sunset cruise on a man - powered nice-boat. You may
wish to visit the Ayurvedic centre for a herbal massage. In the
Evening attend a demonstration of Kerala cuisine cooking
DAY
11 : KUMARAKOM - PERIYAR
After early morning breakfast depart by car for a 5 hour drive
to Thekkady. The drive up to this hilltop wildlife sanctuary is
one of the most beautiful . Starting with cocount groves at the
lower lever you then see rubber, tea and the spice plantation as
you gain height. Upon arrival check into the Resort. In the
afternoon take a jeep ride to a nearby spice plantation. Late
afternoon take a boat ride on Lake Periyar to look for wild
animals drinking or taking a dip in this 100 year old lake.
DAY
12 : PERIYAR - MADURAI
Today we start our drive towards Madurai. Upon arrival at
Madurai we checkinto out our prebooked Hotel.
Afternoon we visit Madurai whose history goes back to six
centuries before Christ. The Pandyan rulers made this their
capital until the 14th Century and the city flowered with the
genius of its writers, builders, poets and academics. Then the
Nayaks ruled Madurai from the middle of the 16th Century to
1743. The ten tall Gopurams of the Meenakshi Temple were raised
during their dynasty. This is a huge compled of Temples. A
thousand - pillared hall and a tank. A full day tour visiting
the Meenakashi Temple, Palace of King Triumalay, the great tank,
Gandhi Museum and Temple at Alaghat Koli enroute visiting
Elephant Rock.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 13 : MADURAI
After an early breakfast take a full days tour to Rameshwaram, a
major center for Hindu piligrimage. Here the God Rama offered
prayers to Lord Shiva. One of the most scared towns of India ,
it is well known for its temple corridor - the longest in India,
the Bathing Ghat , Ganthamathana Parvatham , Kothandaramar
temple , Kurusadai and other nearby islands - abundant with
coral reefs and other Marine wonders.
Return to the hotel for overnight.
DAY 14 : MADURAI - TIRUCHIRAPALLI
(TRICHY )
Depart for Trichy by road enroute visiting Tanjore. Thanjaur was
the seat of the Chola Empire from the 10th to the 14th Centuries
and it was a Chola King, Rajah Chola who built the greatest of
its 74 temples, the Birhadeswara Temple which is more than 200
feet tall in the Dravidian truncated pyramid form, and has a
huge lingam in its sanctorium. In the inner shrine of the
temple, one sees India's second largest statue of Nandi the
bull, the mount of the God Shiva.
Upon arrival in Trichy check into your prebooked hotel.
Evening at leisure for personal activities.
Overnight at the Hotel.
DAY 15 : TRICHY - MAHABALIPURAM
After breakfast we go for a morning city tour of Trichy visiting
Rock Fort, Sirangam and Jambukeshwar Temples.
Trichy's historic associations stretch from chola times to the
18th Century karnataka Wars, When Britain and France espoused
the aspirations of rival princes.
We now continue our journey towards Mahabalipuram. Upon arrival
we check into our prebooked hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY
16 : MAHABALIPURAM
Morning we undertake a full day city tour of Mahabalipuram and
Kanchipuram. Mahabalipuram, once the principal port of the
Pallavas who ruled between the 06th and 09th Centuries AD.
"The City of Seven pagodas". Is nothing less than a
breathtaking display masterful sculpture carved out of solid
rocks of granite, the Shore Temple - a plendid example of early
temple construction in the south. Penance of Bhagirata the
worlds largest bas - relief also known as "Argon's
Penance'.
Kanchipuram, city of a thousand temples, Once the capital of
Pallava, Kanchipuram still contains no less than 124 shrines.
The temples were built mainly by two rulers, Mahendray and
Mamalla Narashimha Parman. Typical of their architecture is the
Kailasnatha Temple dedicated to Siva, believed to be 1200 years
Old . Other important ones include the 16th Century
Ekambasreshwar Temple, Kamakshi Temple, and Vaikunta Perumal.
Kanchipuram is the centre of Silk weaving and is famous for its
saris and materials.
Return to the Hotel for an Overnight.
DAY 17 : MAHABALIPURAM - MADRAS (
DRIVE ) - MUMBAI (BOMBAY) FLIGHT
Early morning we depart for Madras city tour visiting the
National Art Gallery Fort St. George, St. Mary's Church and the
St. Thomas Cathedral and drive along the marina. Walk with our
guide though some colourful market areas.
Afternoon transfer to the airport to board our flight for MUMBAI
( BOMBAY ). Upon arrival we are met and transferred to your
prebooked Hotel.Rest of the day at Leisure.
Overnight at the Hotel.
DAY 18 : LEAVE BOMBAY
After what will have been a majestic way to see and experience
royal India, we bid farewell as we are transferred to the
airport for our flight back home.
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