You will be met and assisted on arrival at Bangalore Airport and transferred to your pre-booked hotel.

Bangalore or Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is popular as the information technology hub of India, drawing young technocrats from across the country. Lush green parks and well laid-out gardens rub shoulders with art galleries, pubs and restaurants, giving the city a unique eclectic energy. From a sleepy cantonment area during the British era to a modern cosmopolitan, Bengaluru has had an interesting journey. Bengaluru is an ideal landing pad for shoppers, who can indulge in both street shopping and high-end retail buys. The heritage highlight of the city are the Mysore sarees, which are made of premium quality silk and sandalwood artefacts, which can be used for home decor. The city enjoys a scattering of prominent sites like the Bangalore Palace, the Attara Kacheri (High Court), St Mary’s Basilica, Tipu’s Palace. The city is known by many sobriquets like the City of Gardens, India’s Silicon Valley, Pub City, Pensioners’ Paradise, IT City, BT City and Pub City. It is an ideal location for tourists desirous of travelling to the hill stations and coastal towns in the southern region of India.

Post check-in, morning at leisure to relax.

Later in the afternoon, proceed with an orientation tour of this Cosmopolitan city, to witness its lovely parks, long avenues of blossomed trees and impressive Victorian-era architecture. Start the visit with elegant Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace – a fine specimen of military architecture from the 18th century, notable for its teak pillars and ornamental frescoes. Continue to the Dravidian-style Bull Temple built in the 16th-century, and pass by the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, the Cubbon Park, a sprawling 120-hectare garden, surrounded by wonderful colonial architecture.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, checkout and drive to Mysore.

En-route stop at Somnathpur, well known for the breathtaking Prasanna Chennakeshava Temple, one of the three famous & finest representations of Hoysala architecture nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Afterwards, resume drive to Mysore.

On arrival in Mysore, check-into the hotel.

Mysore or Mysuru is nestled at the foothills of the picturesque Chamundi Hill. The city is a mélange of the old and the new, its small-town charm well-preserved in its palaces and well-laid out gardens. It also holds spirituality close to its heart that is evident from the various temples, churches and mosques here. Popularly called the Ivory city as most of its buildings are painted in ivory colour.

For around 150 years, Mysore was the capital of Karnataka’s Wodeyar rulers (1399-1947) who started the magnificent celebration of the ten- Dasara festival. In 2010, the event completed its 400 years. Legend has it that the name Mysore came from ‘Mahishur’, which means the home of Mahishasura. Despite modernization, the city has not lost touch with its past and its reflections are still visible.

Later in the afternoon, proceed for a sightseeing tour: Visit the Maharajah’s Palace, one of the most beautiful buildings in India. Inside, you will find a kaleidoscope of stained-glass, beautiful carved wooden doors and mosaic floors.

Continue towards the colourful Devarajan Market and later visit the Chamundi Temple, overlooking Mysore from Chamundi Hill. At the hill top, lies the 12th century temple that houses a golden statue of Chamundi – the Hindu goddess worshipped by the Maharajas. This evening, after some rest, you will experience a heritage Tonga ride (horse-drawn chariots). These vehicles ruled the streets in their hey and now are used to ferry around the historical buildings and provides insights into the local culture.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, proceed for a heritage walk in the city. Get a feel of this charming city in a local way. Walk in the city at your own pace as you, witness some lovely colonial structures, old local monuments and temples and get to know the stories behind them.

Later in afternoon, drive of Srirangapatna (16km from Mysore) – the island fortress of Tipu Sultan and the early capital of the Mysore Woodiyars – Here you will find monuments such as Tipu’s mosque with its twin minarets built in 1787, Tipu’s Summer Palace (known as the Daria Daulat Bagh) completely on wood and converted into a museum that houses some fantastic artefacts and paintings related to Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, and finally the Gumbaz where lie buried Tipu Sultan, Haider Ali and others of the royal family.

This evening you will witness, Kushti – Traditional India style wrestling. It isn’t just a sport but an ancient subculture where wrestlers live, train together and follow strict rules. This wrestling takes place in clay.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, checkout and drive to Hassan.

En-route, visit the 58-feet tall monolithic statue of Gommateshvara located in the village Shravanabelagola. Shravanabelagola is famous for a massive 57-ft high statue of Bahubali, which is the world’s tallest monolithic stone statue carved out of a single granite block. This is housed in the Gomateshwara Temple, which is perched atop the Vindhyagiri Hill at a height of 3347 ft.

For over 2,300 years, Shravanabelagola has been a major attraction for Jain’s and has been drawing them for its culture, art and architecture. A town of temples and ponds, Shravanabelagola boasts one of the largest numbers of rock inscriptions at one place.

On arrival, check-into the hotel.

Later in the afternoon, proceed for Belur and Halebid sightseeing.

A few kilometres from Hassan, Belur is the first site built by the Hoysala dynasty (11th and 12th century). The many and admirable reliefs recount scenes of battle between the Cholas and Vishnuvardhana. At Halebid, the Temple Hoysaleshwara appears like a jewel in the sculptures.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, checkout and drive to Coorg.

This old-world charm station is filled with exotic coffee plantation, amazing food and amongst all a persistent living culture. Coorg, officially known as Kodagu, is well known for its breathtakingly exotic scenery and lush greenery. Forest covered hills, spice and coffee plantations only add to the landscape.

On arrival, check-into the hotel.

This afternoon, take the guided Coffee plantation tour. Hop into a Jeep and drive through the tranquil greens of the estates, and complete it with a visit to the factory to learn how coffee is processed from bean to a piping cup.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, drive to Byalkuppe Tibetan town (40 Km from Coorg) (Visit subject to permission), inhabited by 7,000 Tibetans. Bylakuppe consists of a number of agricultural settlements, several monasteries, entirely in Tibetan Buddhist traditions and many Buddhist universities for advanced Buddhist practices. Then continue your journey with a stop at the Dubare Reserve Forest & Elephant Camp, where about 150 elephants are trained by Naturalists.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, checkout and drive to Nagarahole National Park.

On arrival, check-into the hotel.

Nagarahole National Park, spread over Mysore and Kodagu is covering an area of 847.981 Sq km. Nagarahole is an important Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and is a major hub of conservation under Project Tiger and Project Elephant. The Protected Area supports large assemblages of carnivores and herbivores: Tiger, Leopard, Asiatic wild dog and Sloth bear, Asiatic Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Chital, Muntjac, Four horned antelope, Wild pig, Mouse deer and South-western langur. Nagarahole is contiguous with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) to its South and Bandipur Tiger Reserve to its Southeastern parts. The park has a good number of streams and rivulets. The Kabini and Taraka reservoirs are large water bodies located towards the West and Southeastern parts of the park respectively.

Nagarahole is acclaimed as one of the high-density tiger populations in the country after Corbett & Kaziranga tiger reserves respectively. It consists of some amazing landscapes and marvellous streams that swerve around like a snake, leaving the wildlife enthusiasts and the visitors astonishing with its natural beauty.

Nagarahole Tiger Reserve also creates an opportunity for bird enthusiasts with its amazing variety of birds, which frequent this place, as regularly as the enthusiasts

This afternoon, drive into the park accompanied by a Naturalist and ride like a local in a typical Coracle boat (depending on the hotel stay). The coracle will drift slowly down the Kabini river, hugging the shoreline.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, morning at leisure to relax.

Afternoon, embark on a Jeep Safari into the Nagarahole park, accompanied by experienced drivers and Naturalists and encompass a spectacular wildlife. This area is considered one of the best places in India to view Asiatic Elephants and Gaur.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, check-out and drive to Ooty.

Called the Queen of Hill Stations – Picturesque, green Ooty is located in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 2240 m. Get introduce to this lovely town with lovely parks, gardens and charming Raj-era bungalows. The town was established by the British in the 19th century as their summer headquarters of the Madras government.

On arrival, check-into the hotel.

Later in the afternoon, visit the Botanical Garden.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, transfer to Ooty Railways Station.

Take the Toy Train journey from Ooty to Coonoor. This Nilgiri Mountain Railway, built by the British in 1908, is an extension of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

A vast variety of wildflowers and birds can be seen in Coonoor. The main attraction is the tea estates that can be found in abundance.

On arrival, proceed for the sightseeing. Visit Lamb’s Rock, view point of the surroundings Tea and Coffee plantations then heads up to another viewpoint, the Dolphin’s Nose lying over 1,000 feet above sea level. Coonoor is essentially a small tea garden town where the weather remains pleasantly cool throughout the year.

Afterwards, return to the hotel by car.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, checkout and drive to Pollachi.

Popularly called the coconut city, as tender and ripe coconuts are sent from here to many cities and towns across India. Its geographical closeness to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Western Ghats ensures that it has amazing climate throughout the year.

On arrival, check-into Shenbaga Vilaasam Guest house, formerly a farm getaway of a Vanavarayar royal family, built in the early 1900s. Experience the warmth hospitality of your host. Built in a unique blend of South Indian architecture, this heritage house is decorated with family heirlooms and antique that the family has acquired over the years.

Later you may opt to explore the old charmed surroundings of the village on a bullock-cart ride to Samathur on the outskirts of Pollachi. This city is very popular for its markets, especially for jaggery, coconut, fresh vegetables and cattle. Stop by to admire an artisan at work or a village temple.

Afterwards, return to the Guest house.

Overnight stay at the Guest house.

Post breakfast, checkout and drive to Kochi.

A vibrant pot-pourri of art, culture, food, carnivals and festivals, Kochi, sprawled along a gorgeous estuary in Kerala, is a fascinating tourist destination. Skirted by the emerald-blue Arabian Sea that laps at its golden sun-kissed beaches, the city remains suspended in time, with its colonial charm merging seamlessly with its artistic aesthetic. Established around Fort Kochi, which is the cultural nerve of the city, Kochi remains in a festive mood throughout the year. Sitting on the Malabar coast, historically, Kochi has been India’s connect to the rest of the world. It was here that the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama first arrived, paving the way for European colonizers. The city remains steeped in its heritage, which is reflected in various Portuguese, Dutch and British forts, palaces and bungalows that are scattered throughout.

Kochi is an eclectic mix of diverse cultures, where you can sample a bit of everything. Head to the narrow alleys of Jew Town and watch the city race by you as you slowly fall in love with Jewish culture and stock up on rare antiques and exquisite handicrafts. Relax at the Artsy cafés as you dig into authentic dishes, while looking at the bustling market.

On arrival, check-into the hotel.

Afternoon, at leisure to relax.

In the evening, enjoy the famous, “Kathakali” show. This dance can be characterized by grotesque gesticulations, amazing costumes and very extensive make-up. The stories are mostly taken from the epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, proceed for walking tour of Kochi.

Visit of the famous Chinese fishing nets. The huge cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, that droop towards the waters like over-sized hammocks, have become a hallmark that represents Fort Kochi on every postcard.

Visit the St. Francis CSI Church, the oldest European church in India built in 1503, where the Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama was originally buried and the Santa Cruz Basilica. One of the finest and imposing churches in India. Take a tuk tuk– the most popular mode of transport among locals. Stop at Dhobi Khana (laundry station), once throbbing with activity, it is now a picture of slow extinction.

Continue through the small streets of Mattanchery, and arrive at the Fruit market on Palace Road, where locals get a variety of fresh and organic produces at bargains prices. Afterwards visit the Jewish Synagogue at the heart of town, and finally the Dutch Palace with its beautiful mural paintings from the 17th century.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Post breakfast, transfer to Airport for flight to onward destination.