Best of three culture - From Karnataka Via Kerala to Tamil Nadu

Duration: 14 Nights- 15 Days
Destinations to be covered : Bangalore- Mysore- Ooty- Munnar- Cochin- Alleppey- Periyar- Madurai- Thanjore- Pondicherry- Mahabalipuram

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Bangalore
On Arrival at Chennai airport, our representative would meet and greet you & will also assist you with the check in process at the hotel. He will brief you about the tour.

Bangalore, the garden city. The spacious city has many imposing structures full of historic & modern architecture. The majestic Vidhana Soudha, a magnificent post-independence structure housing the State legislature Secretariat, stands in the center of the city with its attractive dome & galleries.
Overnight stay in Bangalore

Day 02: Bangalore- Mysore (160 Kms.- 4 hr approx)
Today take a tour of Bangalore, visiting Tipu Sultan Palace; the layout of the palace gives the idea of the ethnic Mughal lifestyle. The fort & its remains present the history of the era in which it was built. The construction of the Tipu palace was started by Haider Ali & completed by Tipu Sultan, it is now a museum. Also visit ISKCON Temple, a harmonious blend of the Dravidian & modern architecture. The building has some of the modern facilities along with Vedic preaching library. We will also visit Sri Ravishanker ashram.

Visit the Lal Bagh Garden, it got its name for the wonderfully bloomed red roses that remain blooming through the year. Haider Ali started creating this garden in 1760.

Today drive to Mysore, capital city of the Wodeyars kingdom. It has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad avenues & sacred temples. There's an old world charm about the city that reaches out to everyone.
Overnight stay in Mysore

Day 03: Mysore- Ooty (130 Kms- 4 hrs approx)
Morning take a tour of Mysore, visit Srirangapatnam, the historic capital of Tipu Sultan known for his struggle against British rule. Several monuments relating to his rule are sprinkled across the island. Later we visit Darya Daulat, commonly known as Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan is situated amidst scenic surroundings on an island formed by two branches of the River Cauvery. We also visit Maharaja Palace, designed by British architect Henry Irwin, the Amba Villas Palace as it is also known, was completed in 1912. Chamundi Hill, which is topped with a 12th century temple of Durga with the magnificent 5m tall Nandi, Carved from single piece of granite in 1659, its one of largest in India.

Afternoon drive to Ooty (Udagamandalam), Queen of hill stations. Nilgiri means Blue Mountains. It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. It was a very popular summer & weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. An added attraction for the tourists is the mountain train journey on a ratchet & pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam & wends its way through many hair-raising curves & fearful tunnels & chugs along deep ravinesfull of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams & tea gardens.
Overnight stay in Ooty.

Day 04: Ooty
Today you will leave for half day sightseeing visiting..
Botanical Garden, Fernhill Place, a erstwhile summer palace of Maharaja of Mysore, St. Stephen Church, a small gothic style architecture and first colonial structure founded in 1820. You will have time buy Neelgri Teas at Charring Cross- a commercial street of Ooty.
Evening is free for leisure.
Enjoy Toy Train Ride...
Overnight stay in Ooty

Day 05: Ooty- Munnar (245 Kms - 7 hrs approx)
Morning drive to Munnar. The distance of approximately 150 km is covered in around 4 hours while enjoying the scenic beauty with marvelous waterfalls, high mountains and low flying clouds passing through. Upon arrival check-in hotel for overnight stay. Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in India, Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Located at 1600 Mts. above sea level, this was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar a unique experience. Munnar is essentially a tea town.
Overnight stay in Munnar

Day 06: Munnar
Morning post breakfast we head for a half-day tour of Munnar, visiting the world's highest tea estates spread like a green carpet over hundreds of kilometres, Lush green hills all around- a place to be seen to be believed, and Eravikulam National Park (Park is closed in the month of January and February), the best place to see the Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat). During the closing time of the park, we will cover some other sightseeing. Rest of the day at leisure to explore the destination on your own.
Overnight stay in Munnar.

Day 07: Munnar- Cochin (135 kms. - 4 hrs Approx)
Morning drive to Cochin..
Proceed for half day city tour of Cochin, with visits to St. Francis' Church, Dutch Palace (Built by the Portuguese), Jew Town, the Jewish Synagogue built in the year 1568, spice market, where the air is filled with the pungent smell of spices, and Chinese fishing nets.
In the evening, take you to watch a Kathakali dance performance (time for photography of a lifetime). Enjoy & observe the elaborate pre dance make up ritual.
Overnight stay in Cochin.

Day 08: Cochin- Alleppey (60 km- 2 hr approx)
Morning transfer to Alleppey. On arrival board the houseboat, locally called Kettuvallam, and cruise around cruise around beautiful Vembanad lake, This lake offers an enchanting experience to the tourists. The lake is the best picnic spot, where you can relax your mind and body. While the water gives the place a cooling effect, trees and shrubs act as a respite to the parched eyes. The lake is an excellent family-picnic destination too. While seniors can laze around the lake reading a book or talking, youngsters can opt for fishing and boating. Later proceed to Alleppy through backwaters to observe and experience the daily life of the villagers along the backwaters.
Overnight stay in Alleppey (Houseboat)

Day 09: Alleppey- Periyar (135 km - 04 hr Approx)
Today head for one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in India, the Periyar Wildlife Reserve.
Upon arrival at Periyar, we assist you to check in at our hotel. Set on an attractive lakeside, it is South India's most popular Wildlife Sanctuary.
Late afternoon at 1500 hrs we shall take you to a guided Spice plantation tour in one of the Spice Gardens / Plantations for which this region is famous.
Overnight stay in Periyar.

Day 10: Periyar- Madurai (150 Km- 4 Hrs Approx)
Morning enjoy the boat ride on Periyar lake, return back to hotel...
Afternoon drive to Madurai, rich cultural heritage passed for more than 2500 years old & has been an important commercial centre as early as 550 AD. It is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu & was originally known as Kadambavanam.

Today, visit to Meenakshi Sundareshwar was first built 2000 years ago & was substantially expanded between the years (1623-55 AD). Initially there was only the Shiva temple. A striking feature of the temple is the astonishing structure known as Ayiramkaal mandapam or the Hall of a thousand pillars in the outermost corridor.
Overnight Hotel in Madurai

Day 11: Madurai- Thanjore (192 kms. - 4 hrs. Approx)
Morning drive to Tanjore, flourished during the rule of the Nayaks & Mahrattas. It has been the treasure house of art for centuries. It is called the Rice Bowl of Tamilnadu. Thanjavur is well-known throughout the world for its exquisite handicrafts like the Art Plate, pithwork, bronze icons, Thanjavur paintings & the classical South Indian musical instruments.

Visit Brihadeshwara temple, known as Big Temple, built by Rajaraja Chola I, was completed around 1010 CE. This temple, one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a brilliant example of the Dravidian style of temple architecture. The beautiful Chola Fresco paintings on the inner walls of the temple are no way less than Ajanta paintings.
Overnight Hotel in Tanjore

Day 12: Thanjore- Pondicherry (170 kms.- 4.5 hrs. Approx)
Morning drive to Pondicherry, the land of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the serene world of distinct spiritual vibration & thus renowned as Sacred Land.
Today proceed for Sightseeing of local French Colonial Buildings and beaches.
Overnight stay in Pondicherry

Day 13: Pondicherry- Mahabalipuram (110 kms. - 2 hrs. Approx)
Morning to Mahabalipuram, visit 7th century port city of South India. It is believed to have been named after the Pallava king Mamalla. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th & the 9th century, & has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monuments are mostly rock-cut & monolithic, constitute the early stages of Dravidian architecture wherein Buddhist elements of design are prominently visible.

In Mahabalipuram, Visit Shore Temple, one of the oldest temples in South India. It belongs to the 7th Century AD & is a good example of the first phase of the structure of temples constructed in the Dravidian style. Designed to catch the first rays of the rising sun & to illuminate the waters after dark, the temple ended up with an unusual lay-out.

Arjuna's Penance is the world's largest bas-relief. This huge whale-back shaped rock contains figures of gods, demigods, men, beasts, birds.
Next visit Rathas, monolithic temples fashioned as chariots. They remain an architectural mystery, for each is apparently a faithful reproduction of a structure built of wood. In fact, even the grain of the timber beams & rafters has been simulated in stone.
Overnight stay in Mahabalipuram

Day 14: Mahabalipuram- Chennai (60 kms. - 2 hrs. Approx)
Morning drive to Chennai..
Today take a tour of Chennai, touching Fort St. George, built in the year 1640 AD by the British East India Company, under the direct supervision of Francis Day & Andrew Cogon. This bastion achieved its name from St. George. Within the fort we visit St. Mary's Church, built in the year 1680 & oldest Protestant Church in the East contains several antiquities, not the least being the oldest British tombstones in India. Fort Museum, with 10 rooms displaying the old uniforms, coins, padlocks, old prints & palanquins. Santhome Cathedral derives its name from St. Thomas, the apostle of Christ who is believed to have visited Madras sometime during 52 AD. He was killed on St. Thomas Mount just in 78 AD & was interned in Santhome beach, where church was built. Several years later, another church was built & his mortal remains were transferred to the new one. Museums, established in 1857, it is undoubtedlyone of the country's finest museums. It has sections devoted to geology, archaeology, anthropology, botany, zoology, sculpture & numismatics.
Overnight stay in Chennai

Day 15: Delhi Departure
Morning you will be transferred to the airport to board the flight for your onward destination.

Our tour concludes: Caper Travel would like to thank you for your patronage & look forward serve you again in near future.