Day 01 :
Arrive Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai. Our representative will be at the Airport to
welcome you. Transfer to Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02 : Mumbai
Morning cruise across the harbour (9 kms) to see Elephanta
Caves noted for huge rock cuts. Afternoon tour of Mumbai
city. Main attractions are Kamla Nehru Park, Hanging Gardens
situated on the slopes of Malabar Hill offering a panoramic
view of Marine drive, Chowpatty Beach, Prince of Wales
Museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Gateway of India & drive
through the Crawford Market, Marine Drive & Flora Fountain.
Overnight in Hotel.
Day 03 : Mumbai - Aurangabad
Morning Transfer to Railway Station to connect Train # 7617
Tapovan Express dep. 06:00 hrs. arrive Aurangabad at 13:30
hrs. Check into hotel. Afternoon visit Aurangabad Caves,
excavated between the 2nd and 6th century AD, they reflect
tantric influences in their iconography and architectural
designs. Also visit and Daulatabad Fort, this magnificent
12th century fortress stands on a hill just 13 kms. from
Aurangabad. One of the world's best preserved fort of
medieval times, surviving virtually unaltered, Daulatabad
yet displays the character that made it invincible.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 04 : Aurangabad - Excursion to
Ajanta Caves
Full day tour of Ajanta Caves. Ajanta Caves are 106 kms from
Aurangabad and date back to the 2nd century BC. The 30 rock
hewn caves are adorned with Buddhist sculpture and the
frescoes portray in epic form the religious and secular life
through eight centuries. Overnight in Aurangabad. (Ajanata
Caves are closed on Mondays)
Day 05 : Aurangabad - Excursion to
Ellora Caves - Hyderabad
Morning visit Ellora Caves (29 kms) encompassing 34 rock cut
shrines representing Buddhist, Hindu & Jain art dating from
the 4th to 9th century A.D. The most remarkable among them
is the Kailash Temple, meant to be a replica of Lord Shivas
celestial abode - Kailash is the best example of Rock cut
architecture and an engineering marvel. (Ellora Caves are
closed on Tuesdays)
Evening transfer to Railway Station to connect Train # 7063
Manmad Secundarabad Express dep. 19:20 hrs. Overnight on
train.
Day 06 : Hyderabad
Arrive Hyderabad at 08:30 hrs. Afternoon tour of Hyderabad.
Visit Charminar - Rectangular Four Arched Monumental Gate
often described as the -The Arch of Triumph of the East, The
Mecca Mosque & visit the Salar Jung Museum - one man
collection of Manuscripts, ancient weapons, costumes &
curios. Visit the High Court buildings. Overnight in
Hyderabad.
Day 07 : Hyderabad - Chennai
Day free or optional tour to Golconda Fort. Afternoon
transfer to Railway station to connect Train # 7052
Secundarabad MS Express dep. 15:00 hrs. Overnight on train.
Day 08 : Chennai - Excursion to
Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram
AArrive Chennai at 06:40 hrs. Transfer to hotel. Full day
tour of Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram (64 kms
from Chennai) is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous
as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The
first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th
century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of
Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha , Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy
are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its
silks. The city of Mahabalipuram is famous for the seven
pagodas. Here on the seashore is an interesting group
of ancient rock hewn temples which are the examples of
Dravidian style of Architecture.
Day 09 : Chennai – Trichy
Morning city tour. Visit the Museum to see the Art and
Bronze Gallery (Closed on Fridays and Public holidays).
Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort
museum, Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral and snake park .
Afternoon transfer to Railway-station to connect Train# 2605
Pallavan Express dep. 15:30 hrs. arrive Trichy at 20:50 hrs.
Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 10 : Trichy
Full day tour of Trichy. Trichy was the citadel of the Chola
dynasty in the medieval period. In the 18th century it
witnessed the Carnatic wars fought between the French and
the English. Lord Robert Clive's house is still there to see
and so is the Danish Church. The Rock-Fort is the landmark
of Trichy. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple
of Ganapati on top and a further climb to a Shiva temple.
Overnight Trichy.
Day 11 : Trichy -Thanjore - Madurai
Morning drive to Madurai (142 kms / 4 hrs) visiting Tanjore
enroute. At Tanjore, the beautiful Chola Temple of
Brihadeeshwara is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a
single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the
top with the help of a 6 km long ramp, an old technique used
by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and
handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to
South India. Overnight Madurai.
Day 12 : Madurai
Morning visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the
consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams (rising
high above the surrounding country side). Later, visit the
Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo
saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes &
arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran
Rock temple. Afternoon free. Overnight Madurai.
Day 13 : Madurai - Periyar (Thekkedy)
Morning drive to Periyar National Park (137 kms / 4 hrs).
Set up in 1934,it extends to 777 square kms & forms part of
the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghats. Wild life can
be seen while cruising on Periyar Lake in a motor boat.
Amongst the animals which can be seen are elephants, wild
boar, sambar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur monkeys, etc.
Overnight in Periyar.
Day 14 : Periyar
Morning optional visit to the National park again. Afternoon
visit spice plantations. Overnight in hotel.
Day 15 : Periyar - Kumarakom
Morning drive to Kumarakom (130 kms / 4 hrs). Afternoon
visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. This Bird Santuary on the
southern bank of the Kavanar River, is a small bird
sanctuary where numerous species of birds, including
darters, bitterns, brahminy kites, marsh harries, teals and
several varieties of herons roost. Overnight in hotel.
Day 16 :
Kumarakom - Houseboat
Morning board houseboat from Kumarakom Jetty and sail
towards Alleppey. Cruise along the backwaters by day and
dock at a picturesque location by night. This is undoubtedly
one of the most relaxing experiences to watch Kerala life at
work as you watch the world go by. All meals will be
provided on board. Overnight on board.
Day 17 : Houseboat - Alleppey - Cochin
Morning disembark at Alleppey. Later drive to Cochin (70 kms
/ 1 ˝ hrs). Afternoon free for leisur or to explore the city
by own. Evening watch Kathkali dance performance. Overnight
in hotel.
Day 18 : Cochin - Bangalore
Full day city tour of Cochin. Cochin is the natural harbour
created by the famed underwater Malabar mud-banks whose
quality ensures that the rougher the seas are outside the
calmer the waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama
placed it on the world map. It has a Jewish synagogue,
Portuguese churches, Mosques & Hindu temples, Mattancherry
Palace etc. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. Evening transfer
to Railway Station to connect Train # 6525 Bangalore Express
dep. 17:55 hrs. Overnight on train.
Day 19 : Bangalore
Arrive Bangalore at 06:55 hrs. Full day city tour of
Bangalore visiting the Bull Temple, and Tipu's Summer
Palace, drive past numerous parks, the Vidhan Soudha and
down town commercial centre. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 20 : Banglaore - Mysore
Drive to Mysore (140 kms / 3 hrs). Afternoon free for
leisure. Overnight in hotel.
Day 21 : Mysore
Morning visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911 -
1912. The palace is of harmonious syntheses of the Hindu and
saracenic styles of architecture with archways, domes,
turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent.
Visit the Art Gallery; drive upto Chamundi hill to see
Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore. On the
way back, see the Nandi Bull. Overnight in Mysore.
Day 22 : Mysore - Bangalore / Out
Drive to Bangalore airport to connect flight for onward
destination