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Day 01 Arrive Cochin
Upon arrival meet and assist by our
representative and then transfer to your hotel.
Day 02 Cochin
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In the morning proceed for a city tour and a
boat cruise especially reserved by Voyageurs'
India to give it's customers that out of the world
feeling. A few interesting sites included in the
tour are the Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco
Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis
Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow etc. Apart from
these architectural splendors, an array of
restaurants serving fresh seafood is also popular
among tourists. The Chinese fishing nets erected
on teak wood and bamboo poles work on the
principle of balance. Records say they were first
set up here between AD 1350 and 1450. Vasco Da
Gama Square, the narrow promenade that parallels
the beach, is the best place to watch the nets
being lowered and pulled out of the sea.
Day 03 Cochin - Periyar
Morning, proceed to Periyar.
Check in at hotel on arrival. In Periyar wildlife
sanctuary you will witness nomadic tribes of wild
elephant, boar, deer, the great Indian tiger and
more. In the evening Voyageurs' India
representative has reserved a boat cruise across
the lake for you to view the wild animals and
birds of different species. Overnight stay will be
at Periyar.
Day 04 Periyar
Morning, after breakfast boating through
Periyar lake - Wildlife sanctuary. You can visit
the rare species of plants and animals. Afternoon
visit spice plantations like cardamom, cinnamon,
pepper, coffee, tea estates etc. on your way back
to the hotel, you could stop at the local market
and pick up some fragrant spices. Stay the night
at Periyar.
Day 05 Periyar - Munnar (By Road)
Proceed to Munnar in the morning and en route
enjoy the scenic beauty & the marvelous
waterfalls, high mountains with the low flying
clouds passing by.
Upon arrival in Munnar the Voyageurs' India guide
will take you for sight seeing of Munnar which
includes the Raja Malai - a top peak of Munnar
where you can see Neel Thar (mountain goats).
Other important places are Muttupetty dam and Indo
Swiss project and witness tea gardens spread like
a green carpet over hundreds of kilometers.
Munnar is located at the confluence of three
mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathani &
Kundala. This hill station was once the summer
resort of the erstwhile British Government in
South India. Among the exotic flora found in the
forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji.
This flower which bathes the hills in the blue
every twelve years, will bloom next in 2006 AD.
Munnar also has the highest peak in South India -
Anamudi, which climbs up to over 2695 m.
Day 06 Munnar - Ooty
In the morning leave by road for Ooty in the
Nilgiris and check into your resort hotel.
In the afternoon time is free to unwind
Day 07 Ooty
Full day is free to discover the Dodabeta peak
or walk through the jungles.
Day 08 Ooty - Bangalore
In time morning transfer to Bangalore the
Silicon Valley of India. Upon arrival in Bangalore
free check in at the hotel. Afternoon you see the
Administrative buildings of this beautiful south
Indian city. Also see the botanical gardens with
1000 different varieties of flowers. This garden
was done up by Hyder Ali in the 18th century.
Day 09 Bangalore - Hassan
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Leave for Hassan in the morning. Today we take
you to an interesting excursion to Sravanabelgola
- the great centre for Jain pilgrimage in the
south. The 20 mts high statue of Gometeshwara
carved out of a single rock is very impressive.
This great figure is visible for about 15 kms and
was built in 980AD by the local ruler. The view
from atop the Indiragiri is excellent. Reach
Hassan by early evening and relax at your hotel.
Day 10 Hassan - Belur - Halebid - Hassan
Hassan provides as the convenient base to visit
the Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebid. Halebid
was the capital of the Hoysalas from the 11th
century. Here we see the Hoysaleshwara temple
built in 1125 AD.
Belur was also the Hoysala capital for some time.
Here worth mentioning is the Chenna Kesava Vishnu
temple from 1117AD built by the Hoysala kings.
Day 11 Hassan - Badami
In northern Karnataka is the 6th century
capital of Badami fortified by nature and the
Chalukyan king Pulaskein I. Here you see the cave
temple dating back to 6th and 7th century. The
first to caves are dedicated to Shiva the third to
Vishnu and the fourth cave is a Jain faith cave.
Later visit the museum with artifacts dating back
to the 1st century BC.
Day 12 Badami - Pattadakal - Aihole - Badami
Today in store is a full day excursion of
Pattadakal and Aihole. In Pattadakal the
Sangameswara temple was constructed in 750 AD and
bears a very strong resemblance to the Kailashnath
temple of Kanchipuram as the architects were from
the same area. At Aihole there are a numerous
Hindu and Jain temples that range in style from
Cave to the simple well-evolved freestanding
structures. The Ravala temple has the finest
expression of art of that period.
Return back to Badami after a fun filled day.
Sculptures at the Ladkhan temple are considered to
be the earliest of the surviving structures. The
nearby Durga temple is also very impressive.
Day 13 Badami - Hospet - Hampi
Hampi is one of the magnificent ruined cities
of the world and offers a totally different
experience for the travelers. This city was the
immense and a very rich capital of the
Vijayanagara Empire. Just outside the city limits
lies Hospet on the site of the Tungabhadra Dam and
dates back to the ancient ages of the Ramayana. It
is believed that it is here that Rama met Hanuman
the monkey god.
The Vitthal temple is an excellent example of the
Vijayanagara school of architecture.
Day 14 Hospet - Mysore
Morning after breakfast drive to reach Mysore.
In the evening visit to the famous Bridavan
gardens.
Day 15 Mysore - Bangalore - Goa
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In the morning visit the Maharaja's palace
with ornate interiors suggests the rich and
extravagant lifestyle of the rulers of this
region. Later visit Tipu Sultan's Palace and
capital at Srirangapatnam which holds a few mural
paintings depicting life tales of Tipu Sultan and
his father Hyder Ali both a living terror to the
British. Finally return back to Bangalore. In time
transfer to the airport for your onward travel to
Goa.
Upon arrival in Goa check in at your hotel and
relax.
Day 16, 17 & 18 Goa
Full day is free
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