15 days Mumbai Bangalore Hassan Mysore Madurai Periyar Cochin tour

Day 1 Mumbai Arrival

Airport Transfer to your hotel. Check-in at 12 Noon.

Afternoon: Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum (Museum is closed on Mondays) Fish Aquarium, Jain Temple, Hanging Gardens on the slopes of Malabar Hills offering nice view of Marine Lines & Chowpatty Beach, Kamla Nehru Park, Mani Bhawan (Where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay) then to Dhobi Ghat. Also drive past AfghanChurch, Flora Fountain (Bombay nerve-centre), colourful Crawford Market and Marine Drive.

Overnight at Mumbai

The India Gate was built in 1931 and designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. This 42 m high stone arch of victory, universally known as The India Gate, stands at the eastern end of Rajpath, New Delhi. It was previously officially known as The All India War Memorial. The names of the 90,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the First World War, Afghan campaign of 1919 and the North-West Frontier operations are inscribed on the walls of this grand structure.

The Prince of Wales Museum of Western India, later renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, is the main museum in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India.[4] It was founded in the early years of the 20th century by prominent citizens of Bombay, with the help of the government, to commemorate the visit of the then prince of Wales. It is located in the heart of South Mumbai near the Gateway of India. The museum was renamed in the 1990s or early 2000s after Shivaji, the founder of Maratha Empire.

Jain Temple Mumbai, popularly known as BabuAmichandPanalalAdishwarjiJainTemple was built in the year 1904. This is one of the most beautifully decorated Jain temples in Mumbai. The two elephants made of white stone on the two sides of the entrance of the JainTemple are really awesome to look at. The intricate designs of the temple have attracted many tourists during their tour to the city.

AfghanChurch is a Presbyterian Church in South Mumbai, India, built by the British to commemorate the dead of the disastrous defeat in the First Afghan War of 1838. The church is located in Navy Nagar in the Colaba area of Mumbai (Bombay).

As well as British soldiers, it also commemorates different Indian regiments, such as the Bombay Army, the Madras Army, and Ranjit Singh's army from Lahore. Records also mention that only one person, one Surgeon William Brydon - a medical officer - out of 16,000 men, returned safely to Jalalabad to tell the tale of a war in which the British suffered their heaviest defeat yet.

Flora Fountain, at the Hutatma Chowk (Martyr's Square), is an ornamentally and exquisitely sculpted architectural heritage monument located at the southern end of the historic Dadabhai Naoroji Road, called the Mile Long Road, at the Fort business district in the heart of South Mumbai, Mumbai, India. Flora Fountain, built in 1864, is a fusion of water, architecture and sculpture, and depicts the Roman goddess Flora. It was built at a total cost of Rs. 47,000, or 9000 pounds sterling, a princely sum in those days.

colourful Crawford Market (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market) is where locals of central Mumbai go shopping for their fruit, vegetables and (for the brave) meat. Rudyard Kipling was born just south of the market in 1865 and an ornate fountain designed by his father, Lockwood Kipling, sits between old fruit boxes at the market's centre. He also designed the frieze depicting Indian peasants in wheat fields which hangs above the main entrance. The animal market at the rear sells everything from poodles to parrots in small cages. North of the market are the narrow lanes of Kalbadevi. This predominantly Muslim area is a seething mass of people and traffic and is the location of several markets selling jewellery, textiles and leather goods. The most famous is the Chor Bazaar, Mumbai's 'thieves' market', which sells 'antiques' and miscellaneous junk - don't place too much faith in authenticity of anything here. This area is also home to the Jama Masjid and the MumbadeviTemple, which is dedicated to the patron goddess of the island's original Koli inhabitants.

Marine Drive is a 3-kilometre-long boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast, which is a natural bay. The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. Marine Drive is situated over reclaimed land facing west-south-west. The bay is part of the Arabian Sea.

Day 2 Mumbai–Bangalore

Morning: excursion to the ElephantaCaves (Subject to weather conditions). Across the harbour to the world famous, 1200 years old ElephantaCaves, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The famous TRIMURTI sculpture signifying the trinity of the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer is located here.

Afternoon: transfer to airport to board flight for Bangalore.

Overnight at Bangalore

The ElephantaCaves are a network of sculpted caves located on ElephantaIsland, or Gharapuri (literally "the city of caves") in MumbaiHarbour, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves—the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva.

Day 3 Bangalore–Hassan

Morning: Half day sightseeing tour of the "GARDEN CITY" visiting the Lal Bagh which has a variety of old Trees, Fountains, Lotus Pools, Terraces and an assortment of Tropical Herbs and Sub- Tropical Herbs. Also see the GovernmentBuildings and the Maharaja's Palace.

Afternoon: Later leave for Hassan by surface enroute visiting Sravanbelagola.

Overnight at Hassan

Lal Bagh or LalBaghBotanical Gardens, meaning The Red Garden in English, is a famous botanical garden in southern Bangalore, India. The garden was originally commissioned by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore, and later finished by his son Tipu Sultan.[1] It has a famous glass house which hosts an annual flower show. Lal Bagh houses India's largest collection of tropical plants, has an aquarium and a lake, and is one of the main tourist attractions in Bangalore.

Day 4 Hassan-Mysore

Morning: City Tour of Belur and Halebid. Belur famous for it Hoysala architecture. Its Temple of Lord Channakeshava is embellished with carving which has few equals in the world. Halebid - The seat of HoysalaKingdom, its great HoyaleswaraTemple was built in the typical Hoysala style architecture. A stellar base with the emblem of the lion and elephants seemingly supporting the temple, signify stability.

Afternoon: leave Hassan for Mysore by surface enroute visiting Srirangapatnam. Overnight at Mysore

Belur is a Town Municipal Council in Hassan district in the state of Karnataka, India.The town is renowned for its Chennakeshava temple, one of the finest examples of Hoysala workmanship.

Halebid also know as Dwarasamudra (gateway to the seas) in ancient times is in Hassan district. Halebid is approx 27 kms away from Hassan and was the capital of Hoysala Empire. It flourished as the capital of the Hoysala Dynasty for about 150 years. Halebid (also pronounced as Hale'beedu) literally means 'the old city'. Beedu also stands for layout or a place of human habitat. The Hoysalas ruled this city for about 150 years. Then it was sacked by the armies of Malik Kafur in the early 14th century, after which it fell into a state of disrepair and ignore.

Day 5 Mysore

Morning: City Tour visiting Srirangapatnam - 16 kms from Mysore, this fort was the stronghold of Tipu Sultan, son of Haider Ali. Tipu made a last minute ditch against the British in 1799 before surrendering his kingdom. Among the many fort buildings still intact, are Tipu's airy SummerPalace and his tomb at the Darya Daulat Bagh (garden). Here, is also the celebrated SriRanganathaTemple. Afternoon: excursion to Somnathpur.

Overnight at Mysor

Srirangapatna is an egg-shaped island formed by the two subdivisions of river Cauvery. It is located in the district of Mandya. The whole of the town is surrounded by the River Kaveri and gives a look of an island. The town has historic, cultural and religious importance. History says that Lord Buddha visited and remained on one of the islands near Srirangapatnam.

Somanathapura is a town located 35 km from Mysore city in Mysore district, Karnataka, India. Somanathapura is famous for the Chennakesava Temple (also called Kesava or Keshava temple) built by Soma, a dandanayaka (commander) in 1268 CE under Hoysala king Narasimha III, when the Hoysalas were the major power in South India.[1] The Keshava temple is one of the finest examples of Hoysala architecture and is in a very well preserved condition. The temple is in the care of the Archeological Survey of India as a protected heritage site and visitors are allowed only from 9:00AM to 5:30PM.

Day 6 Mysore-Ooty-Coonoor

Morning leave Mysore by surface for Coonoor enroute visiting Ooty.

Overnight at Coonoor

Day 7 Coonoor–Madurai

Morning leave Coonoor by surface for Madurai.

Overnight at Madurai

Day 8 Madurai

Morning: City Tour of Madurai visiting the great MeenakshiTemple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams (rising high above the surrounding country side).

Afternoon: visit the TirumalaNayakPalace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes and arches.

Evening: visit MeenakashiTemple during Aarti ceremony.

Overnight at Madurai

MeenakshiAmmanTemple is an ancient and one amongst the most important temples of India. Located in the holy city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, MeenakshiTemple can be reached easily by the means of local transport from Madurai. The city comprises its own domestic airport that is connected with all the major cities of India. Renowned for its astonishing architecture, MeenakshiAmmanTemple has been nominated for the new Seven Wonders of the World. Hundreds and thousands of devotees come every year to pay their obeisance of the Lord.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace is a 17th-century palace erected in 1636 AD by King Thirumalai Nayak, a king of Madurai's Nayaka dynasty who ruled Madurai from 1623–59, in the city of Madurai, India. This Palace is a classic fusion of Dravidian, Islamic styles. The building, which can be seen today, was the main Palace where the king lived. The original Palace Complex was four times bigger than the present structure. In its heyday, TirumalaiNayakPalace at Madurai was considered to be one of the wonders of the South.[1] This palace is situated 2 km south east of the MeenakshiAmmanTemple.

Day 9 Madurai-Periyar

Morning leave Madurai by surface for Periyar enroute visiting tea plantation.

Overnight at Periyar

Day 10Periyar

Morning and evening boat cruise at lakePeriyar.

Morning: Free to relax on your own

Overnight at Periyar

Day 11 Periyar-Kumarakom

Morning leave Periyar by surface for Kumarakom.

Overnight at Kumarakom

Day 12 Kumarakom - Houseboat

Move from hotel to the houseboat. You will enjoy backwater cruise crossing the narrow canals of Kerala.

Overnight at the houseboat.

Day 13 Houseboat–Cochin

Morning houseboat will drop you at the Jetty. Proceed by surface to Cochin.

Afternoon: City Tour of Cochin. Visit the DutchPalace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing Nets, St. Francis Church and the Santa CruzChurch.

Overnight at Cochin

DutchPalace, Kochi is more popularly known as MattancherryPalace. It is located at Palace Road, 10 km from Ernakulam city, Kochi. The palace was constructed by the Portuguese and presented to the then Rajah of Kochi, Veera Kerala Varma. The Rajahs of Keralas made subsequent renovations of the palace, giving it a Hindu texture. In fact, it has become one of the best testimony of the HinduTempleArt.

The prosperous Jewish trading community built the Jewish Synagogue in 1568 whose links with Kerala begin in Kodungallor (Cranganore) in the north of the state. The oldest synagogue in India, it was partially destroyed in the war of 1662 and was rebuilt by the Dutch. In the mid-18th century the clock tower was added and the floors paved with exquisite hand-painted blue willow tiles from China. Two hundred years old, no two tiles are alike. The interior offers more beautiful surprises: a Belgian chandelier, the great scrolls of the Old Testament, and the copper plates on which were recorded the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers to the Jewish community in the 4th century. There are also five finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons.

The Chinese fishing nets at FortKochi, located in the Kochi city of Kerala, make up a very popular tourist attraction. They are fixed land installations, which are used for a very unique and unusual method of fishing. Operated from the shore, these nets are set up on bamboo and teak poles and held horizontally by huge mechanisms, which lower them into the sea. They look somewhat like hammocks and are counter-weighed by large stones tied to ropes.

St. Francis CSI Church, in Kochi , earlier called Cochin, originally built in 1503, is the oldest European church in India[1] and has great historical significance as a mute witness to the European colonial struggle in the subcontinent.[2][3] The Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, died in Kochi in 1524 when he was on his third visit to India. His body was originally buried in this church, but after fourteen years his remains were removed to Lisbon.

The Santa Cruz Cathedral not only happens to be one of the oldest churches in Cochin, but also in the whole of India. Counted as one of the heritage edifices of Kerala, this church is visited by tourists the whole year round. It was built by the first Portuguese viceroy, Francesco de Almeida, when he arrived in Kochi way back in 1505. On 3 May that year, during the feast of the "Invention of the Holy Cross", the foundation stone of this church was laid and upon completion, it was christened as Santa Cruz Cathedral.

Day 14 Cochin - Mumbai

Morning: In time transfer to airport to connect flight for Mumbai.

Afternoon: Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight at Mumbai

Day 15 Mumbai Departure

ree on your own, and then your will be escorted to the airport for your next destination.