Treasures of South India

Explore fascinating South India

About trip

Uncover the treasures of marvellous caves, temples, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries in South India.

Destinations

Cochin – Periyar - Kumarakom – Cochin - Ooty - Mysore - Hassan - Hampi - Badami - Goa

Duration

18 nights / 19 days

Treasures of South India

This tour covers countless villages, diverse cuisine and vivid culture of South India. The Cities covered under this tour are Cochin, Periyar, Kumarakom, Ooty, Mysore, Hassan, Hampi, Badami, and lastly the astonishing Goa. The Treasures of South India has a lot to offer from its marvellous caves to spiritual temples, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, zoos, and much more. The backwaters of Kerala with the heritage of its ancient culture to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady will leave you speechless. Skip a beat with the astonishing sightseeing into the culture of South India along the Arabian Sea and the mind-boggling Western Ghats. Wrapped, are, a plethora of surprises in the tour of the great Treasures of South India.

starts £ 1895 per person

Day 00 : Departure from UK

Departure from UK to begin your holiday experience

Day 01 : Arrive Cochin

On arrival at the Cochin airport, you will meet our representative who will assist and transfer you to your hotel. Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as ‘God’s Own Country’. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. In the afternoon you will enjoy a sunset cruise at the Cochin harbour. See the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets and the beautiful coastline from the motor boat. Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 02 : Cochin

After breakfast, you will be taken on a guided sightseeing tour of Cochin. Highlights include the Chinese Fishing Nets (Cheenavala), which are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Interestingly, these nets are only found in Kochi, outside of China! Many fishermen earn their livelihood by fishing using these massive nets. A whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen is dotted with these nets.

 

The St. Francis Church in Fort Kochi is the oldest church, built by Europeans in India. On his 3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite of that, his burial spot inside the church has been clearly marked out. The Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. It is located near the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry. Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 03 : Cochin - Periyar (180 Kms/5 hrs)

After breakfast, you will be driven to Periyar and you will check into your hotel. Periyar is one of the hill stations which produces large quantities of spices, like pepper, cardamom etc. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, India’s largest wildlife sanctuary, is a dream destination for any tourist visiting Kerala. It is one of the well maintained wildlife sanctuaries of South India. Situated on the banks of an artificial lake, formed with the construction of a 120 year old irrigation dam named “Surki”, this sanctuary is spread over an area of 777 sq km. This Tiger reserve, with its bountiful treasures of tropical flora and fauna, is the ultimate reservoir for many endangered species and has a rich tribal culture. It is a pleasant heaven on earth for those who love nature in its wild manifestations. Later, visit the spice plantations, and also witness the trading at one of the spice shops. Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 04 : Periyar - Kumarakom ( 130 Kms/3 Hrs)

On this day, you will be driven to Kumarakom, a nice backwater village, hidden among the palm trees on the eastern shore of Lake Vembanad, at the mouth of the Kavanar river. Nature itself has set on an abandoned coconut plantation in the very heart of these fascinating backwaters and has been designed to give visitors an authentic insight into the Kuttanad life. You will also visit a village and experience the simple life around these backwaters. Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 05 : Kumarakom

On this day, you will get a chance to experience a day cruise on a rice boat on the Lake Vembanad at Kumarakom. Kettuvallam or (Rice boats) are country boats that were used in the early days for the transport of goods from the isolated interior villages to the towns. A ride on a Kettuvallam is a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters which gives you a glimpse of paddy fields, toddy tapping and people indulged in fishing. Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 06 : Kumarakom - Cochin ( 49 Kms)

Have a leisurely breakfast on this day and drive back to Cochin. On arrival at Cochin, check into the Hotel. This afternoon can be free for relaxing, independent activities and shopping. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 07 : Cochin – Ooty ( 299 Kms/7.3 hours )

A drive from Cochin will take you to the mesmerising city of Ooty. You will drive  through the jewels of South India through cities such as Ernakulam, Alathur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, etc. Ooty is a popular hill station at an elevation of 2.240 m. Ooty is well connected to Cochin with several means of transport. After a journey of 7 hours, once you reach Ooty, you can relax in the hotel and enjoy the beauty of Ooty.

Day 08 : Ooty

On this day, after breakfast, you will be taken on a sightseeing tour of Ooty. One of the most popular places is the Centenary Rose Park or Government rose Garden. Fall in love with the vivid colours of flowers everywhere on the Slopes of Elk Hill. The garden has more than 20,000 species and varieties of roses with many hybrid roses. The Garden was set up in 1847 and spreads across sprawling 22-acre land. The essence of freshness in the air will leave you astonished.

 

Located 9 kms away from Ooty is the Doddabetta, the highest mountain in the Nilgiri hills. The area besides the mountain is covered by dense reserve forest and posses rich flora. The top of the mountain has two giant telescopes which are open to the public.

Day 09 : Ooty - Mysore ( 126 Kms/ 3 hours )

On this day you will travel to Mysore. Mysore has a plethora of attractions such as the Mysore Palace, Lalitha Mahal, Chamundeshwari Temple, etc. Mysore is well known for its Palaces and Festivals.

Day 10 : Mysore

After breakfast, you will proceed for sightseeing. Mysore is popularly known as the Cincinati of India. You will visit Mysore Palace, Jaganmohan Palace, Chamundeshwari Temple, St. Philomena’s Church, Mysore Zoo. In the evening, you will visit a musical fountain show, held at the Brindavan Gardens. Mysore is also known for its Dasara festival, which is held in the Mysore Palace in the months of October and November.

 

Mysore Palace was the official residence of the Maharaja of Mysore. The palace is special in the sense that it was built several times and demolished. The architecture of the palace comprises of four major styles — Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic. This makes the palace one of the most interesting architectural monuments. Overnight Stay in Mysore.

Day 11 : Mysore - Hassan

The drive from Mysore to Hassan is 3 hours long, however, the journey is worth it. Situated at 934m, the Temperature at Hassan is usually very cold. It is well known for its temples i.e. Hoysaleswara temple, Chennakesava Temple, Hasanamba Temple and many others.

Day 12 : Hassan - Hampi

A drive from Hassan to Hampi in Karnataka takes 7 hours, however, upon reaching Hampi, you will forget all the pain. The City is known for its temples and has been awarded UNESCO heritage site status. The sightseeing spots at Hampi are Anegondi, Virupapura, Tenali Rama pavilion, etc.

Day 13 : Hampi

It is located 353 kms from Bangalore. The heritage of Hampi has a plethora of religious places to visit. The history of Hampi dates back to 1 CE. Hampi is considered to be under Emperor Ashoka’s Kingdom. You will visit all the religious buildings and temples in Hampi which include notable temples such as Achyutaraya Temple. Virupaksha temple, Yantrodharaka Anjaneya Temple.

Day 14 : Hampi - Badami

After Breakfast at the hotel, you will travel to Badami which is about 3 hours drive from Hampi. It was known as Vatapi. Badami is situated around rouged sandstone around Agastya lake.  Its history is long, starting from 540 AB when it was founded by  Pulakeshin. Badami is known for its famous rock cut temples.

Day 15 : Badami

Badami is well connected to its neighbouring cities such as Belgaum, Hubli, etc. Its nearest airport is Belgaum. Cave temples of Badami are most acclaimed tourist spots. Badami has several Caves and Temples. It’s a complex of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples. You’ll notice distinct architecture style from the Chalukya Kingdom. Badami was the capital city during the Chalukya Kingdom. Be prepared for a bit of walk around these caves and temples.

 

After sightseeing, you will be taken to the hotel where you will stay overnight before heading towards Goa.

Day 16 : Badami - Goa

On this day, you will travel to Goa. The cities on the way to Goa are Nargund, Shivahalli, Dharwad, etc. Goa is the centre of tourist attractions from all over the world. It is known for its rich Portuguese heritage, beaches, sea foods, among others.

Day 17 - 18 : Goa

The state has a lot to offer: The Portuguese heritage makes Goa stand out amongst all odds. The Capital City of Panaji and Historic centre of Vasco-da-Gama has traces of its ancestry all over the state.

 

You will have 2 free days at leisure for independent activities. You can visit Old Goa for its Museums, Churches, Temples and forts. Other places to explore would be the Bom Jesus Cathedral, Wax museum, and the Goa State Museum.

 

You can also spend your time relaxing at the beach. There are plenty of them to choose from – from Baina Beach, Miramar Beach, Palolem Beach, Agonda Beach, Baga Beach and Calangute. There’s more night life activity at Baga and Calangute beach.

Day 19 : Depart Goa

Departure from Goa. You will be provided transportation from hotel to the airport.

Our tour will begin from Cochin Airport where you will be accompanied by our representative. Also known as Kochi, it is situated along the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the beautiful state of Kerala, also known as God’s Own Country due to its scenic beauty, sprawling backwaters and the Arabian Seas lining to the West.  In Cochin, you will get to experience how locals work and live.

 

From Cochin, you will move towards Kumarakom via Periyar to witness the tea plantations at Periyar. You may also visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and end the day with a visit to the spice plantations. Next day, you will cruise on a rice boat on the Lake Vembanad at Kumarakom. The peace and calmness of the lake is the best way to rejuvenate yourself.

 

Our journey will take you to the serene hill station of Ooty, the Cincinnati of India that is Mysore with lots of attractions to witness. After Mysore, you will travel to Hampi via Hassan relaxing at the hotel for a two night stay. You will visit many of the noble and beautiful temples at Hampi at the Unesco World Heritage sights.

 

From Hampi, you will move to Badami, which is the city of caves engraved from rocks. The Final destination is Goa. This is where you can unwind yourself! Besides that, Goa’s serene Portuguese architecture will surely leave you speechless. Its beaches are most famous for its night life. When clubbed with its seafood, Goa provides an unmistakable mixture of art, food and life.

Offer Starting from : £ 1895 per person *  (Spacing required here)

 

Supplements may apply peak periods, city sold out dates, and high seasons.

Supplement for superior hotels apply.

PACKAGE COST INCLUDES:

  • Economy class flights UK to India.
  • Accommodation at above mentioned or similar hotels on single/twin sharing basis as per the chosen Option
  • Daily buffet breakfast at all hotels as mentioned in the itinerary
  • All transfers / visits / excursion as per the program by air-conditioned vehicle.
  • Services of English speaking local guide for sightseeing in Cochin, Ooty , Mysore & Hampi as per itinerary.
  • During visit to the Spice Plantation at Periyer the care taker of the area will give a brief of the area.
  • Entrances at the Monuments (01 visit).
  • 01 Harbour Cruise in Cochin (minimum 02 hours)
  • 01 Boat Cruise in Kumarakom
  • All road taxes, parking fee, fuel charges & interstate taxes
  • Escorted arrival/departure transfers at airport as per itinerary in Cochin & Goa only.
  • Government service Tax  (Subject to change)

 

PACKAGE COST DOES NOT INCLUDE

  • Expenses of personal nature like tipping, laundry, telephone/fax calls, alcoholic beverages camera/video fee at monuments, medical expenses, Porterage, airport departure tax etc
  • Meals other than those specified above
  • Any international/domestic airfare
  • Any airport taxes
  • Transport during days at leisure

 

MONUMENT CLOSURE DAYS

  • St. Francis Church in Fort Kochi (closed on Sunday during mass)
  • Jewish Synagogue (closed on Friday Afternoon & Saturday)
  • Dutch Palace (closed on Friday)

 

SPECIAL REMARKS:

  • Please be advised in South India the clients will visit the temples from outside as Non Hindus are not allowed to enter in Temple premises.

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