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HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTH INDIA (05 Days)

COCHIN-OOTY-MYSORE-HASSAN-BANGALORE-BOMBAY

Day 01: Cochin - Ooty
After breakfast, drive to Ooty (281 kms / 8 hrs)

Upon arrival at Ooty - check into hotel.

Ooty was first discovered by the Collector of Coimbatore John Sullivan who built a residence and then the Lake. With its green downs, gentle rains and mild temperatures all year round, it was adopted as their summer home by British officials and planters in South India. The downs of Ooty might well be in Devon of Yorshire-there are 80 kms of them offering golf, hunting or pleasant walks & hikes. Ooty still maintains its definite air of elegance and there are British Raj reminders everywhere-notably in the stone cottages with flower gardens, the beautiful Botanical gardens (1840), the Churches, tea gardens and eucalyptus plantations. Ootacamund derives its name from "Toda" term meaning village of huts". The Todas, the original settlers here before the British were an aboriginal tribe and lived in barrel-shaped huts.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 02: Ooty - Mysore
Morning drive to the Botanical gardens - 51 acres of terraced gardens and lawns housing 650 varieties of plants created by the Marquis of Twerdale. Ascending through gardens of ornamental plants, orchards, ferns, conifers and rockplants, keep an eye out for the local Toda community on the top levels. About 2000 of them lived up here, almost exclusively engaged in the cultivation of potatoes and weaving. Nearby is the Raj Bhawan (Government House). Out of the gardens make a hairpin bend to the St. Stephens Church. Just below is the select Ooty club famous for its amazing Raj memorable and as the place where snooker was invented. A straight walk leads to the picturesque Ooty Lake (4 km circumference). Also visit Wedlock Downs, offering spectacular views down over the Coimbatore plains, Ketti Valley, the Mysore plateau and tea-estates.

After lunch, drive to Mysore (158 kms/5 hrs)

Upon arrival at Mysore - check into hotel.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Mysore - Hassan
Visit the beautiful city of Mysore, that is known for its fine craftsmenship in wood, ivory, sandal-wood and for its silk. Visit the Maharaja's Palace, which is lavishly decorated in a mixture of styles. Also visit the Zoological Garden, Mysore Arts & Crafts centre and then proceed to the Chamundi Temple on a hill above the city.

After lunch, drive to Hassan (115 kms/4½ hrs) enroute visiting Srirangapatnam and Sravanbelgola.

Sriringapatnam - from this small island fortress town straddling the river Cauvery, came the two brilliant Muslim leaders Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who rulled a powerful empire comprising much of Southern India for 40 years. Tipu Sultan "The Tiger of Mysore" became the most dreaded foe of the British in the south, and inflicted two punishing defeats on the forces of East India Company before at last being overcome in 1799. Tipu was killed and his town razed, but his elegant Summer Palace, or Daria Daulat Bagh remains intact; the British kept it for their own use. Later Duke of Wellington, lived here for a spell while serving as governor of Mysore.

Sravanbelgola - famous for its colossal statue of the Jain Saint Gomateshwara. 614 steps lead to his monolithic statue, 18 meters tall and standing atop the hill of Indragiri. Every 12 years Jains from all over India gather here for the spectacular bathing festival of the statue.

Upon arrival at Hassan - check into hotel.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 04: Hassan - Bangalore - Bombay
After breakfast drive to Bangalore enroute visit Halebid & Belur. Built in the 12th & 13th Century in the superbaroque style, these temples are carved of stone and are truly magnificent. As one architect and critic said "These friezes carved with a minute elaboration of detail are one of the most marvellous exhibitions of human labor to be found even in the patient East". The temple at Belur is famed for its profusely ornamented exterior, and the one at Halebid for its sculptured figures and open air museum. Also visit the colossal monolithic Jain statue, 57-ft high, which stands on top of a steep bare hill.

Thereafter continue drive to Bangalore airport (180 kms/ 5 hrs) to connect flight Bangalore / Bombay ( 2000 / 2130 hrs ).

Upon arrival the guests will be met & transferred to the hotel where rooms will be provided for wash and change.

Dinner at the hotel.

Later transfer to the International airport for onward flight.

Day 05: Abroad - Bombay

Leave Bombay