Day 01 – Bangalore

On arrival at Bangalore, you will be met by our meet & greet team and transferred to your Hotel. Rest of the day to relax after your long travel. Afternoon for local visits. You may visit the Bull Temple and Lal Bagh Gardens or the Public Market to see the   public life of Bangalore. Overnight at the Hotel.

Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka and best known internationally as an IT hub that rivals silicone valley. It is easy to see why it is the favorite of the Tecchies with its salubrious climate, its tree-lined avenues, its trendy bars and clubs, it is a city of striking contrasts. Bangalore today is Asia’s fastest growing cosmopolitan city. The VidhanSoudha is a major attraction which presently functions as the state legislative assembly and a marvelous example of Neo-Dravidian architecture. The City boasts of spacious gardens, parks, tree-lined avenues, a profusion of flowering trees and lakes earning it the synonym of Garden City. With its booming economy and racy lifestyle, the capital of Karnataka has metamorphosed from a sleepy Garden City into one of India’s fastest growing cities.

Bangalore is still popular for maintaining the Green inspite of the expansion of the City as one of the Metros of India. The Cubbon Park in the heart of the city, Lal Bagh (famous for the blooming red roses), and the Bangalore Palace are some of the other must see attractions of this garden city. The Tipu’s Palace and the adjoining fort are fine examples of Indo-Islamic architecture that also offer a glimpse into the Mughal lifestyle of the day. Besides, one can also visit the Aquarium, which is the second largest in the country.

Day 02  –Mysore-Nagarhole (Kabini) -5 Hours Drive

Morning, proceed to Kabini or popularly known as Nagarhole famous for Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Karnataka Sanctuaries has the biggest Tiger population in India which consists more than 400 Tigers as per recent census. On arrival, check in at the Hotel. Evening go for a guided safari through the National park. Lunch & Dinner at Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.

Karnataka’s forests and wildlife are the natural heritage for which the State is boasted of. From the majestic evergreen forests of the Western Ghats to the scrub jungles of the plains, a wide variety of habitats teem with diverse flora and fauna, some of them endemic to the region. Nestled amidst the Karapur Forest lays a pristine piece of land that abounds with nature. Beckoning you to explore it for a wild exciting holiday. The steep valleys with rich forests, spectacular pools and rapids provide an ideal opportunity to revive your adventurous spirits.

Day 03 –Nagarhole

Early morning go for a guided safari. Rest of the day at leisure at the resort. Evening go for another safari. Lunch & Dinner at Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.

Nagarhole, a Kannada name has meaning of Snake River. The name derives from the winding course of the river that flows through the forests. Nagarhole has an astonishing abundance of wildlife, especially the Asiatic elephant. The backdrop of the distant misty blue Brahmagiri Mountains, the natural sounds of the jungle, the gurgling of streams and rivers and the twittering of the birds, make a trip to Nagarhole a memorable experience. It has an area of 643.39 Sq.km. Covered mainly by moist and dry deciduous forests, and dominated by teak, rosewood and dry deciduous forests in the eastern limits of the peak. Mammals include elephant, tiger, leopard, wild dog, sambar, barking deer, sloth bear, wild boar, Indian bison, mouse deer, spotted deer, slender loris, black –naped hare, jackal, langur, wild pig, porcupine, Malabar squirrel, striped hyena and four-horned antelope.

Day 04 –Nagarhole

Early morning go for a guided safari in Jeep. Rest of the day at leisure at the resort. Evening go for another jeep safari. Lunch & Dinner at Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 05 – Kabini-Mysore (90 kms-2 Hours drive)

After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Mysore, the Palace city of South India. On arrival in Mysore, check into your hotel. Afternoon visit Maharaja’s Palace and later vegetable market. Overnight at the Hotel.

Maharaja’s Palace is a synonym for Mysore in the Tourist Map. Its built in Indo-Saracenic style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades. The Palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. The walled Palace complex houses the Residential Museum, temples and shrines including Shwetha Varahaswamy Temple. The jewel studded golden throne, the pride of the Wodeyars and the symbol of their sovereignty, displayed here during Dussehra festival in October. The Palace will be lit with One Hundred Thousand electric bulbs on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Mysore, the capital city of the Wodeyars has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. There’s an old-world charm about the city that reaches out and leaves no one untouched. Visit the palace of the Maharaja built in 1911-12. 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 up to Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple & a panoramic view of Mysore. On the way back, see the Nandi Bull. Mysore is known the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich silks. Mysore, an undulating tableland, covered in parts by granite outcrops and fringed by verdant forests, offering several attractions ranging from the royal splendor of Mysore City and its fabulous Dasara Festival to exquisite temples, pilgrimage centers and scenic spots.

Day 06 – Mysore

Full day to explore Mysore. Early morning, go for a guided walking tour to see the life of Mysore. After breakfast, drive to Somnathpur. Enroute visit Chamundi hills from the foothills. Later visit Fort Srirangapatnam, Tipu’s summer Palace. Return to your hotel for overnight stay. You may opt to go walking for local shopping etc.

Somnathpur, a tiny village on the banks of the Kaveri, 140 kms, south-west of Bangalore. This place boasts of one of the last and the grandest of Hoysalamonuments – the Kesava Temple.  The riches and splendour of the Hoysala court were already evident in their grand temples at Belur and Dvarasamudra (present day, Halebid). The temple, however, was built by this celebrated army commander, Somnath. Some year ago he had founded a village on the left bank of the Kaveri River, which he named Somnathpur, after himself. All the facts are duly mentioned on the slab in old Kannada script and appear as though to have happened yesterday!Somnathpur is more representative of the age, since it did not suffer destruction as much as Belur and Halebid did and hence offers a more unbroken view of period’s architecture. Often it is referred to as the poor cousin of Belur and Halebid. Its unique design and perfect symmetry are ignored amidst the farms and agricultural lands of surrounding villages.

The island fortress of the legendary warrior king Tipu Sultan, Srirangapatna is just 16km from Mysore city. Inside the fortress is Tipu’s mosque with its twin minarets, the celebrated Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Tipu’s Summer Palace, the Wellesley Bridge, and the dungeons where British officers were once imprisoned. Equally impressive is the ornate white-domed Gumbaz, an imposing structure with doors of ebony inlaid with ivory and lacquered with Tipu’s tiger-striped emblem. About 1km to the east of the fort is Tipu’s Summer Palace (known as the Daria Daulat Bagh) set amidst a lovely garden.

Day 07: Mysore-Bandipur-ooty (3.5 Hour drive)

After breakfast, drive to Ooty through Bandipur Forest. You will have a great opportunity to sight wildlife while driving through Bandipur and Mudumalai forest ranges. On arrival check into your hotel. Afternoon free for a walk through the colonial city. Overnight at Hotel.

Extremely picturesque drive through the plateau towards South east section of Nilgiri bio reserve, where Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located. The Bandipur National Park is one of the most fascinating wildlife centers, nestled in the foothills of the Nilgiri. As you penetrate deep into the forests, you can almost hear the mute conversations between the animals and the trees. There’s a lot, lot more to discover. Peafowl, patridges, quail, hornbill, giant squirrel, dhole (wild dog) elephants, sambhar, barking deer, etc. An endless variety of wildlife flourishes here and the trees sheltering them are even or beautiful. The green fauna and flora of these rain forests are unimaginable with a thick population of wild animals.

Day 08: Ooty-Kotagiri-Ooty

After breakfast, drive to Kotagiri which is a lively village and the drive is great too. If you are interested in a longer scenic drive, go further towards the Thoda temple and drive through the tea garden villages around. Return to Ooty for overnight stay.

Ooty is known as the queen of Nilgiris and its historically important because of its prominence during the British Colonialization. The destination still keeps a colonial touch with its buildings, the Blue Mountain Train runs on Charcoal etc.

Day 09: Ooty-Coimbatore (3.5 Hours Drive)

After an early breakfast, you may try a short toy train ride experience (Subject to operational conditions) towards Coonor and continue drive to Coimbatore. On arrival, check into your hotel. Early evening visit Isha Yoga center for a familiarization followed by a guided Yoga session. Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Isha Foundation is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization founded by Sadhguru, to create an inclusive culture towards global harmony and progress. Its powerful yoga programs for inner transformation and inspiring projects for society and environment are appreciated worldwide, reflecting in Isha’s consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Day 10: Coimbatore-Cochin (4.5 Hours Drive)

After breakfast, drive to Cochin, the colonial city of Kerala. Enroute visit an Ayurveda Museum which gives an insight into the history of Ayurveda, the healing magic of India. On arrival in Cochin, check into your hotel. Evening visit a traditional Kathakali theatre to watch a live Kathakali dance, the dance drama of Kerala. Overnight at hotel.

Kathakali is a classical dance form of Kerala.

Day 11 – Cochin-Poothotta (1 Hour  Drive one way)

Morning, after breakfast, proceed for a village backwater Cruise with lunch. This village tour is a guided program conducted by the village family where the homemaker is a part of the program and the revenue goes to her. Local women entrepreneurs are the biggest beneficiaries of many Responsible Tourism initiatives in Kerala. (9.30 AM to 1.30 PM) Afternoon back to Cochin for sightseeing. This tour will be a sustainable concept using E Bikes to visit the monuments. (3 PM to 6 PM) Overnight at the Hotel.

Village backwater Cruise – A journey in a country boat into the pristine purity of a typical village backwater of Kerala…. goes through the zigzagging narrow canals and paddy fields fringed with coconut palms…..watch rare birds….country boat making….a natural fish farm where you can go fishing…. You will witness coir making, toddy tapping before you end up your exclusive experience in our Farm House for lunch -a delicious traditional Kerala dish under a tree…..While scrolling through this amazing village, you will watch the common life of the villagers for their livelihood. You will see them fishing in the river, the women do the coir making, a toddy tapper who does his job as a routine, men climbing the coconut trees to pluck the coconuts, later peeling the same to prepare to dry and make oil extraction possible. Its all about a life experience which you will cherish throughout your life.

 Cochin Sightseeing – St Francis Church, built in 1510 by friars brought to India by Vasco da Gama, is the first European church built in India and is the site where Vasco da Gama was buried. The Jewish Synagogue was built in 1568, Chinese hand-painted tiles are one of the attractions. This, the only Synagogue in India has a nostalgic past of a Jewish Diaspora. The “Dutch Palace” was built in the 1550s; the palace contains excellent mythological murals and a rare example of traditional Keralite flooring – a subtle mix of burnt coconut shells, lime, plant juices and egg whites – which gives the effect of polished marble.

Fort Cochin & Mattancherry are twin cities carry a flavour of the colonial era. Jewish, Arabs, Portuguese British all came to Cochin for trading and Mattancherry was the spice trade headquarters due to the proximity of Cochin Port. While Fort Cochin became the administrative headquarters, Mattancherry maintained its trading status. The colonial stature and buildings still make Fort Cochin a favourite destination for tourists. It’s getting an upgrade once its declared as the first heritage city in India. Fort Cochin was also a part of Muziris route. It will be interesting to know that around 13 religious communities are harmoniously living in Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Jains, Sikhs etc are few among them.

Day 12 –Alleppey  Houseboat (1.5 Hours Drive)

After a leisurely breakfast, drive Alleppey to board your exclusive Houseboat at 1230 PM for a cruise through the backwater villages followed by overnight stay on board. Your meals are cooked and served on board. Houseboat is one of the unique example of sustainable tourism as the entire revenue goes to the local community as even most of the houseboat owners are also locals. All genuine Houseboat operators are very keen on the environment and they have implemented the best sustainable practices on board. Explore the amazing backwater life of Kerala! Overnight at the Houseboat.

What is truly magical about a houseboat is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it offers. The houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen where are cooked on board and supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters. Today, the tradition is still continued and the food from the local cuisine is served by the Kuttanad locals, on board. The name Backwaters brings you the very thought of Houseboats. Food and leisurely times spent on-board with the feeling and privacy of house as well as enjoying the natural beauty. A Cruise amidst marvellous mangrove forests, captivating coconut canopies, swaying palms, mangrove forests, pulsating paddy fields sprinkled with enchanting waterways and canals decked with white lilies, can be quite a rejuvenating experience for the weary traveller. Enjoying a cruise in these backwaters is not to be missed, as it leaves you feeling fully rejuvenated. The banks of these backwaters in Kerala are the most enchanting picnic spots. You get to experience the native way of living. The experience on the Houseboat is not the one to be explained by words. Its to be lived and evolved by yourself.

Day 13 – Alleppey – Marari Beach (1 Hour Drive)

Enjoy your breakfast on board. Later, at 9 AM checkout & drive to a heritage home in Alleppey for a cookery show followed by lunch. Later proceed to Marari, a relatively quiet beach paradise of Kerala. On arrival check in at the resort on the Beach. Rest of the day at leisure on the beach. You may opt to go for an Ayurvedic Massage or a village walk. Overnight at the Resort.

Kerala has a distinctive cuisine, very unusual and different from the rest of India. Cooking in Kerala is all about discoveries, aromas and colours. Kerala cuisine is very hot and spicy and offers several gastronomic opportunities to those willing to experiment with the local cuisine. Traditionally, in Kerala food is served on a banana leaf. One has to take food with right hand. This cookery demo is not just being in the kitchen, will give you hands on experience, you’ll learn to prepare 3-4 variety of Kerala’s delicacies in a friendly, relaxed, informal environment. Each dish will be demonstrated, prepared and cooked.

Marari originates from “Mararikulam”, one of the local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. Completely new to the holiday maker. Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory where you can experience the local charm/and traditional Keralan Hospitality at its best. Marari Beach is an endless vista of sand and surf, but it is more. An authentic experience of the world of Kerala’s traditional fishing villages, and a recreation of an ancient, harmonious way of life. The village of Mararikulam lies on a forgotten shore, midway up the Malabar coast, where the Indian Ocean finally decides that it has now become the Arabian Sea.

Day 14 – Marari

Full day at the resort. Early morning, you may join the Yoga class for the in-house guests. Marari Beach is an endless vista of sand and surf, but it is more… An authentic experience of Kerala’s traditional fishing villages, and a re-creation of an ancient, harmonious way of life. You may opt to take an Ayurvedic Massage…Visit the fishermen villages.. By evening it may interesting to visit the local temple to watch the local crowd coming for worship and socialisation. Overnight at Resort.

Day 15– Cochin Departure (2.5 Hours Drive)

Like all good things, your holiday experience comes to an end but you will always carry with you memories of this unique and unforgettable experience. Today, you will be assisted and transferred to Cochin International airport for your flight home!!