Mystical Southern
Duration :13 Nights / 14 Days
Destination :india
Interested :Best of India Tours
Tour Months :January


Here begins your tour


Day 1:INTERNATIONAL ARRIVAL AT CHENNAI
On arrival at Chennai, you will be greeted with a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to your hotel. Chennai is a metropolis with a distinct old world charm. Rest of the day is at leisure to adjust with time difference. Welcome in the evening. HOTEL


Day 2:CHENNAI
After Breakfast at Hotel, visit Fort St. George, constructed in 1640 AD, St. Mary's Church, and oldest surviving British building. Mylapore, the site of the famous Kapaleeswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. San Thome Cathedral. Parathasarathy Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna; Government Museum and Art Gallery see collections from the major South Indian periods. Enjoy at a local restaurant followed by a visit to the homeopathic medicine school to learn about Medicine from Nature. Homeopathic remedies are based on a natural medical science that works with your body to stimulate your own defenses. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 3:CHENNAI- Day at leisure
Day at leisure to explore the city on your own or participate in optional tour: Full day excursion to Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram with . Or Full day tour of Kalakshetra, an artist’s colony where ancient arts and crafts are practiced and imparted to students & Dakshinchitra, an exciting cross cultural living museum of art, architecture, lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of South India. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 4:CHENNAI/ MYSORE
A short flight this morning brings you to Mysore, once the capital of a princely state that still carries on its calm shoulder the aura and charm of palaces, the opulence of festivals of yester years. This afternoon visit Srirangapatnam, an island in the Cauvery River where Tipu Sultan built his summer palace. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 5:MYSORE
Tour the Maharaja's palace, built between 1897 and 1907, a mixture of Hindu and Sarcanic styles, with some influence of the Hoysalas, who built temples nearby. Continue to Chamundu Hill named after the goddess Chamundi, to see the 17th century statue of Nandi Shiva's mount, 16 feet high, carved out of one rock. HOTEL (Breakfast) Afternoon at leisure or take an Optional tour visiting a sandalwood & incense factory.


Day 6:MYSORE/ NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK
The name Nagarhole is derived from the Kannada word `Naga' meaning `snake' and `Hole' means `stream'. This name is apt as number of streams snake through this rich tropical forest. The area houses habitats of several rare and endangered species, notably the tiger. The Park mainly consists of moist deciduous forest in the northern and western parts and dry deciduous forest in the southeastern part. A unique feature of these forests is the open grassy swamps, where the grass is lush all year-round. The swamps are numerous due to the high rainfall. After settling in at the Lodge embark on a guided safari in the park. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 7:NAGARHOLE GAME VIEWING
Enjoy a morning and afternoon jungle safari. The rich lush green bamboo, succulent grass and other shrubs offer ideal conditions for the elephant population. Apart from the elephants, the principal wildlife is the tiger, panther, chital, sambar, and sloth bear. Primates include langur, bonnet macaque and slender loris. Notable carnivores are tiger, leopard, jungle cat, jackal, wild dog and sloth bear. Herbivores include elephant, spotted deer, sambar and gaur. Over 250 species of birds are present, including the malabar trogon and malabar pied-hornbill and birds of prey such as crested hawk-eagle and crested serpent-eagle. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 8:NAGARHOLE/ HASSAN
After Breakfast travel overland to Hassan, which prospered under the control of the great Hoysala Empire from the 11th to 13th century AD. This was the period when the great temples of Belur and Halebid were constructed. Hassan was greatly influenced by Jainism, later becoming a well-known center for Jain literature. Stop at wayside villages, markets to photograph the rural life etc. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 9:BELUR & HALEBID EXCURSION
Tour the temples of Belur and Halebid belonging to the most artistically period of the Hindu cultural development. At Belur the Channekeshava Temple is a Hoysala masterpiece built in a walled spacious place where the carving matches the equality of the architecture. The construction of Hoysaleswara Temple began by Kedaroja, the ruler Narasimhal in 1141 and is incomplete after 86 years of chiseling. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 10:HASSAN/ BANGALORE/ COCHIN (Kochi)
Travel overland to the capital city, Bangalore, known as “India’s Silicon Valley” or “Garden City”, a modern, bustling city and an important industrial center. After brief tour board a short flight to Cochin set on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas. The influence of Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans is evident in Kochi and its people. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 11:COCHIN
Breakfast at the Hotel and later your tour includes a visit to the Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese in 1557. Continue to St. Francis Church, constructed in 1503 by the Portuguese Franciscan friars. Tour the Jewish Synagogue, constructed in 1568 and the Chinese Fishing Nets, reflecting the traditional method of fishing. Continue to the spice markets, a rich trading centre in medieval times. Afternoon free to explore the town or visit Ernakulum for local handicrafts, unique markets etc. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 12:COCHIN - Backwater Cruise- Houseboat stay
After Breakfast travel to Alleppey and board your houseboat. The backwaters are a gateway for visitors to see firsthand the unhurried village life of rural Kerala, where life is tough and traditional work is labor intensive. Here, one meets the people engaged in country boat building, prawn cultivation, sand mining, coir manufacture, limestone collection, rice farming, duck rearing, bamboo basket making, straw mat weaving and much more. The Vembanad Lake, narrow canals, paddy fields and sleepy villages make Alleppey a beautiful place. Vembanad Lake is the longest in India and is the commercial centre of Allappuzha. Parallel to the sea are lakes and backwaters with several openings to the sea.  Houseboats of Kerala are a unique way to experience the beauty of Kerala. Enjoy freshly prepared seafood cooked on board. This evening, witness an incredible sunset as you silently glide through the various water canals. A variety of birds can be seen such as the White Breasted Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, small Blue Kingfisher and many more. HOUSE BOAT (Breakfast)


Day 13:KUMARAKOM
After Breakfast disembark from houseboat in Kumarakom, a cluster of little islands in the Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom is an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields, and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with lilies. Spend your day bird watching or an Ayurvedic massage, therapy & spa facilities at your Hotel. Your farewell this evening consists of Keralite cuisine served the traditional way on banana leaf or thali. HOTEL (Breakfast)


Day 14:COCHIN DEPARTURE
Time free to relax and enjoy the spa & Ayurvedic treatments before transfer to Cochin where you will board your international flight. (Breakfast)







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