Day 1:
Kochi
You are picked up from the airport / railway station or from any location in Kochi by the representative of Halo for your journey in
Kerala. Like a bashful bride, she blushes when you call here the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. She offers an enchanting vista of old Kerala, along with mementos of her European
guests.
Kochi was an obscure fishing village that became the first European township in India. The town was shaped by the Portuguese, the Dutch and later the British. The results of these cultural influences are seen in the many examples of Indo European architecture that still exist here. Some of the well known tourist attractions in Kochi
are....
The Old Fort, Kochi / Cochin: Vasco da Gama, whose arrival in Kerala about 500 years ago opened up a new era of trade between India and Europe, died in Fort Kochi on Christmas eve in 1524. The house where he died is a huge Portuguese-style mansion on Rose Street, which stands close to the St. Francis Church, the first European church in India. In accordance with his last wishes, da Gama's remains were unearthed and send to Lisbon, Portugal, and reburied there in 1538.
Chinese Fishing Nets/Vasco da Gama Square: These huge cantilevered fishing nets are the legacy of one of the first visitors to the Malabar Coast. Erected here between 1350 and 1450 AD by traders from the court of Kublai Khan, these nets are set up on teak wood and bamboo poles.
Pierce Leslie Bungalow: This charming mansion was the office of Pierce Leslie & Co., coffee merchants, founded in 1862.
Old Harbour House: This elegant old bungalow built in 1808 is in the possession of Carrit Moran & Co., renowned tea brokers, who now use it as their
residence.
St. Francis Church: Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is India's oldest European church. This was initially built of timber and later reconstructed in stone masonry.
Santa Cruz Basilica: This historic church was built by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558.
In the evening visit Kathakali center to witness Kathakali dance presentation. Overnight at the hotel in Cochin.
Day 2:
Kochi - Munnar
Get ready after breakfast for your morning drive to Munnar, where sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make it a unique experience. Check in to your resort and get ready for the special trip to Pothamedu for an excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. The breath taking scenery here is ideal for trekking and long mountain walks. Return to your resort in the evening.
Day 3:
Munnar
Move through the tea gardens spread like a green carpet over hundreds of kilometers. Lush green hills all around - a place difficult to describe. Sightseeing includes Raja Malai, a top peak of Munnar where you can see Neel Thar (mountain goats), Muttuputty dam and the Indo Swiss project. You can also enjoy boating in the Lake. Enjoying the scenic beauty & the marvelous waterfalls, high mountains with the low flying clouds passing by. Overnight stay at Munnar.
Day 4:
Munnar - Periyar
Get ready after breakfast for your morning drive to Periyar nestled in spice and rubber plantations. Known to be Kerala’s pride and testimony to nature’s splendor, Periyar has a lot to offer in terms of wildlife. Periyar is famous for its rare habitat of birds and animals and is one of the most popular destinations for nature lovers. Check in to your resort and get ready for your trip to cardamom hills where you could have a closer look at the spice plantations.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the places where the chances are pretty high that you will spot an elephant in the wild at close quarters and from the safe confines of a boat. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 5:
Periyar
Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in God’s Own Country, Kerala, is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Periyar wildlife sanctuary has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Though it’s a Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the Indian elephants in the act of ablution and playfulness by the Periyar lake.
Apart from Elephants, the other animals to be seen in the Periyar sanctuary are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog and very rarely, a Tiger. There are, now, an estimated 40 tigers here. Four species of primates are found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Common Langur And Bonnet Macaque. Periyar also happens to be the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be seen.
Day 6:
Periyar - Madurai
Morning drive to Madurai. Madurai-one of south India's most ancient city, on the banks of the River Vaigai, has been an important center of workship and commerce for as long as there has been civilization in South India – indeed, it has long been described as “the Athens of the East”. The Meenakshi Temple in the heart of the old town is the supreme attraction here. A rightfully flamboyant example of Dravidian architecture it has gopurams covered from top to bottom with vibrant images of deities, animals and mythical figures. Overnight at the hotel in Madurai.
Day 7:
Madurai
After breakfast take a sight seeing of Madurai visiting the Meenakshi
Temple, Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Gandhi Museum, Government Museum, Koodal
Alagar Temple and Vandiyur Mariamman Teepakulam.Overnight at the hotel
in Madurai.
Day 8
Madurai - Ooty
Early morning travel by road to Ooty.Ooty, the Scotland of the East, is one of the most popular holiday destinations in South India. Go discover an Ooty that veils herself in season.Ooty has plenty of attractions, both on and off the beaten path. The Botanical Garden are well laid out with avenues of shady trees and myriad ornamental plants and flowers. But the main attraction here is the fossilized tree trunk – all of 20 million years old. Overnight stay at Ooty.
Day 9
Ooty
Move through the tea gardens spread like a green carpet over hundreds of kilometers. Lush green hills all around - a place difficult to describe. The Rose Garden, atop a hill off Etiennes Road, is all of 10 acres. In winter, when the 1919 varieties of roses of all hues are out, a stroll in this scented garden is an unforgettable
experience.
John Sullivan, the first Collector and virtual founder of Ooty, constructed 2½ km long artificial lake in 1824.There is a charming lake garden, a jetty, snack bars and pony and toy train rides on offer for the kiddies. Other attractions are Raj Bhavan and St, Stephen’s Church. Overnight stay at Ooty.
Day 10
Ooty - Wayanad
Early morning drive to Wayanad. One of the most beautiful regions of Kerala is the hill district of Wayanad, situated 70km east of Kozhicode, with tracts of forest covering the western flanks of the Niilgiris.The scenery is rich and varied, ranging from plantations of tea, spices, coffee and cocoa to the dry scruffy jungle of the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. Overnight at Wayanad.
Day 11
Wayanad
Day is free to relax and to walk around Wayanad Trekking facilities is available on request. Tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. This is also a place for adventure tourism.
Day 12
Wayanad - Kabini
This is an invitation to take part in one of the greatest elephant shows in Asia. This is an arena where you have not three or four or six elephants doing the star turn, but 200.or maybe 250,in just one
evening….
From the giant tuskers to the mouse deer, to barking deer and chital, to herds of gaur and sambhar, to the rare but definitely ‘spottable’ tiger and pather, and the sloth bear…they are all here. But then again, Kabini is all about elephants and more elephants. Some 1,500 of them roam free in the jungles of Nagarhole alone, of which Kabini is a primary part. Overnight stay at Kabini.
Day 13
Kabini
Quite the extraordinary thing about the Kabini area is the existence of a mind-blowing 60 sq.km of static water inside the forest precincts, the result of a dam built across the river at Beechanahalli.Glinding along the water with the thick jungles all around you, you’re able to come close to various herds of animals on the shores. Overnight stay at Kabini.
Day 14
Kabini - Nagarhole
Once an exclusive hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Mysore, Nagarhole National Park was renamed after the late Rajiv Gandhi, but faces the same fate as Delhi's Connaught Place and Connaught Circle which are still called by their popular old names. The park, situated in the Deccan Plateau, form an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Overnight stay at Nagarhole.
Day 15
Nagahole - Mysore
After breakfast checkout the hotel and drive to Mysore.A centre of sandalwood carving, silk and incense production, 159 Km southwest of Bangalore, Mysore, the erstwhile capital of the Wadiyar Rajas, is one of South India's most -visited places. Mysore is a charming, old fashioned and undaunting town, dominated by the spectacular Maharaja's Palace.
After lunch and relaxation, we will visit Maharaja's Palace. Designed in the hybrid Indo-Saracenic style by Henry Irwin, the British consultant architect of Madras state. Overnight at Mysore.
Day 16
Mysore
Day for sightseeing in and around Mysore, Jaganmohan Palace & Art Gallery, St.Philomena’s Cathedral, Chamundi Hill, Brindavan Gardens.
Day 17
Mysore
After breakfast proceed to visit Srirangapattna, summer Palace of Tipu Sultan, is an island fortress encircled by river Cauvery, High stone walls and moats enclose temples, palaces and a great mosque. Tipu Sultan's Srirangapatnam was largely destroyed by British, but parts of the fort area in the northwest survive, including gates, ramparts, arsenals, the grim dungeons (where chained British prisoners were allegedly forced to stand neck-deep in water) and the domed and minaret Jami Masjid mosque
Day 18
Mysore - Bangalore
After breakfast checkout the hotel and drive to Bangalore. After relaxation take a sightseeing trip to Lalbagh Botanical Garden and Vidhana Soudha.Overnight at Bangalore.
Day 19
Bangalore
After breakfast take a sight seeing trip in and around Bangalore.
Bangalore often referred to as ' The Garden City ' for its numerous
parks and avenues of jacaranda, gulmohar and cassia is the sixth largest and
one of the cleanest cities in India. Visit some of the attractions
listed below.
(1) Cubbon Park
& Museum (2) Bull Temple (3) City Market (4) Fort & Tipu
Sultan's Palace and (5) Ulsoor Lake. Overnight at Bangalore.
Day 20
Bangalore - Airport
After leisurely breakfast leave for Bangalore / Mumbai and drop at airport for your flight to onward
destination. On departure the tour concludes with happy memories.
Tour Concludes.