The Southern Sojourn

Overnight train 16592, 2212/0710 +1

Early breakfast and we go on a guided sightseeing tour of Bangalore.

Visit Vidhan Sabha – the house of Karnataka’s State legislative assembly. The Vidhana Soudha and the centre of Justice of the city, The Attara Kacheri are two monumental buildings standing right in the heart of the City. The Neo Dravidian style Vidhana Soudha constructed using only pure Granite. Continue to Lal Bagh Botanical Garden, a walk through this heritage park reconnects you with nature, boasting a huge number of species of rich flora and fauna.

Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, this Historic monument supported by classical Teak wood pillars stands as an Indo-Saracenic architectural genius in the heart of the city of Bangalore. The 19th-century Bangalore Palace, a unique imitation of Windsor Castle.

End the tour with a blessing from the Bull temple. This temple display Nandi God statue carved on a monolithic rock measuring 15 feet high. This historic temple in the city dates back to the 15th Century and was built by the Vijayanagara Empire rulers. In the same yard, there is also a ‘Dodda Ganapathi temple’ which houses 18 feet high monolithic Ganesha statue which is also called as ‘Satya Ganapathi’ meaning God of Truth.

Later come back to the hotel for brief rest and freshen up before check-out at 8PM. Guarantee late check-out.
Transfer to the railway station to board your train to Hampi.

Overnight on train.

Morning at 7.10AM we arrive at Hospet Junction, meet & greet and transfer to the hotel. Breakfast at the hotel.

Hampi’s monuments are yours to explore all day. These rocks dominate the landscape and are rarely out of sight. The tour includes visits to Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Monolith Bull, Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Hemakuta Hill temples, Big Shivlinga, Vithala Temple, Hazara Rama Temple, Queen’s Bath, Zanana Enclosure and the Lotus Mahal), Elephant Stables, Achyut Raya Temple, Statue of Ugra Narsimha, Virupaksha Temple, Mahanavmi Dibba, the Stepped Bath.

Evening is at leisure

Overnight at hotel (B)

Overnight train 16591, 2105/0920 +1

Today enjoy a full day excursion to Aihole, Pattadakkal and Badami. These significant centres of the Chalukya Dynasty, Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal have been frequently visited since the sixth century due to the temple architecture, stone artwork, and construction techniques. Rightly termed the Cradle of Hindu Rock Architecture, all three sites are absolutely must-visits for those interested in history and architecture.

Come back to the hotel, and brief rest. Guarantee late check-out at 7PM

Overnight on train (B)

Morning at 9.20AM meet & greet at the railway station and transfer to the hotel and breakfast.

Brief rest, we go on a guided sightseeing tour of Srirangapatna.

Visit to Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ranganatha. It is one of the five important pilgrimage sites of Sri Vaishnavism along the river Kaveri for devotees of Ranganatha.

Tombs of Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali (Gumbaz), The Gumbaz was raised by Tipu Sultan in 1782-84 at Srirangapatna to serve as a mausoleum for his father and mother. The original carved doors of the mausoleum have been removed and are now displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The present doors made of ebony and decorated with ivory were gifted by Lord Dalhousie. The Gumbaz is designed in the Persian style, with a large rectangle shaped garden, having a path leading to the mausoleum.

On the way back, visit the Chamundi Temple, set on a hill high above the city.

Evening is at leisure.

Overnight at hotel (B)

By train 12008, 1415/2140

Leisurely breakfast and we go on a guided visit to the Maharaja’s Palace which is lavishly decorated in a mixture of styles. Continue to St. Philomena Cathedral, a Catholic church that is the cathedral of the Diocese of Mysore. It was constructed in 1936 using a Neo Gothic style and its architecture was inspired by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. This is one of the tallest churches in Asia. Back to the hotel for brief rest.

Later transfer to the railway station to board your train to Chennai.

Upon arrival, meet & greet and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at hotel (B)

After breakfast and we go on a guided sightseeing tour of Chennai.

Once the most important seaport for the East India Company, and recognized as Southern India’s cultural, culinary and artistic hub, Chennai is a fascinating mix of old and new with a collection of urban villages and neighborhoods and a new cosmopolitan appeal seen in the assortment of boutiques, quirky cafés, contemporary restaurants, and a smattering of glamorous bars and clubs. Tour includes highlights of the ancient Shiva Temple; the San Thome Cathedral, where the remains of St. Thomas are said to be housed; Fort St. George, built in 1653 by the British East India Company; and the Government Museum which is home to one of the finest collections of bronze sculptures in the country.

Evening is at leisure

Overnight at hotel (B)

This morning, we head to Pondicherry en-route visiting the ancient Pallava capital of Mahabalipuram to see its Group of Monuments, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Bhagiratha’s Penance, a bas-relief sculpted over enormous rocks that depicts life-size figures of animals, gods and saints, all watching the holy Ganges River flow from the Himalaya. Nearby, see its shallow mandapas (pillared halls), sculpted out of the rocky hillside and portraying stories of Indian mythology. Finally, stop at the Shore Temple, surrounded by gardens designed according to ancient texts and the site of some remarkable seaside monuments including the 7th century open-air Tamil art museum and the famous Shore Temple.

South Indian Lunch stop.

Pondicherry, known affectionately as Pondy, is one of India’s most tranquil cities and was a location in Ang Li’s film ‘Life of Pi’. Established as the headquarters of the French East India Company in 1674, it is awash with yellow and white houses and colourful bougainvillea. This afternoon we visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, founded by the Indian philosopher, yogi, guru, poet and nationalist Sri Aurobindo in 1926. The ashram is home to 1,200 devotees, including the 400 students of the Centre of Education, who live and work in the complex. The focus of community life is the Ashram’s main building, in which Sri Aurobindo and his spiritual collaborator Mirra Alfassa, who came to be known as ‘The Mother’, dwelt for most of their lives.

At its centre, under a tree-shaded courtyard, lies the Samadhi, a white-marble shrine where their bodies are laid to rest. Later we wander through the 18th-century French Quarter, which is full of colonial mansions, tree-lined bicycle routes, parks, cafés and boutiques.

Overnight at hotel (B,L)

Early breakfast we go on a guided sightseeing of Amber Fort, the former capital of royal Jaipur. Few fail to be moved by the dramatic Rajput grandeur of this hilltop fortress-palace 11 km north of Jaipur. Set on the dry wrinkled Aravalli Hills and surrounded by fortified battlements, the palace straddles two sepia-hued tundra hills overlooking Maota Lake and its sprawling crenellated walls lattice the surrounding hills. Our guide will elaborate on the history of this architectural masterpiece with its mirror-studded alcoves, dazzling mosaics and water-cooled swings that delight today’s visitors as they did their former royal residents.

In the afternoon visit the sprawling City Palace, a superb marriage of the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. The seven storied Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace) is a sprawling complex with multiple courtyards, public buildings, astronomical observatory and zenana mahals (harems).

From the City Palace you enter the extraordinary “Jantar Mantar”, the astronomical observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1827. Roughly translated the name means “The Formula of Instruments”. This is one of five observatories he built in northern India.

Then drive though the busy streets for a photography stop at Hawa Mahal, the ornate pink façade an icon of the city. These five storied high “screens” composed of projected windows, balconies protected by fine latticed screens was destined to enable the ladies of the harem to observe the lively street scenes of the city from a position of privacy and from here you continue into the Bazaar of the Old City of Jaipur.

Later come back to the hotel and rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight at hotel (B)

After breakfast, drive to Madurai, one of the oldest cities in South Asia, en-route, visit a Chettinad village and lunch at a local restaurant.

The temple town of Madurai is known as the ‘Athens of the East’ with its rich cultural heritage spanning more than 2,500 years. Madurai is home to a maze of markets and museums. This evening witness a Hindu prayer ceremony (‘aarti’) at the 12th-century Meenaskshi Temple, a multi-tiered, technicolor wonder of a building, heaving with carved mythical figures and devoted pilgrims.

Overnight at hotel (B)

After breakfast, drive to Munnar. Upon arrival check-in to the hotel.

Visit the tea factory. Enjoy the experience of witnessing the complete tea-making process from leaf picking to tea processing and then packaging. If you wish, you can be a part of the ‘Make your tea’ program where along the pickers; you pick the leaves from the estate and process it yourself in their miniature factory.

Overnight at hotel (B)

After breakfast, drive to Kochi and go on a guided visit to one of the oldest Jewish synagogues in India, decorated with blue ceramic Chinese tiles and surrounded by an aromatic spice market. Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) and visit St. Francis Church, both of which were erected by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

Later check-in to the hotel.

Overnight at hotel (B)

After breakfast transfer to a 4-bedroom luxury houseboat, and sail on the backwaters. Indulge in a traditional Malayali meal freshly prepared by your own chef and traditionally served on a banana leaf. Discover the lakes, rivers, channels and the fascinating life along with waterfront

Lunch & dinner onboard.

Overnight Houseboat (B,L,D)

After breakfast, disembark and we drive to Kovalam. A beach paradise unlike any other.

Rest of the day at leisure / own activity.
Later go on a Sparkling sunset cruise through unspoiled coconut groves on either side of the river with a glimpse of rural life. The boat leads you up to Golden Sand Beach where you can see where backwater meets the Arabian Sea. Sip into chilled Sparkling wine as you enjoy the sunset from the comfort of the motorboat and enjoy a selection of Deluxe canapé’s that our Team has put together for you.

Overnight at hotel (B)

Full day is at leisure/ own activity.

Overnight at hotel. (B)

Full day is at leisure / own activity.

Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight at hotel (B)

Kindly advise your flight details.

Today, we transfer you to Trivandrum airport for your onward connecting flight.