Extensive South India Tour

Welcome to Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. Our representative will meet you on arrival and transfer you by air-conditioned car to your pre-booked hotel in Bengaluru. After check-in, the tour documents and service details will be provided, with assistance for any queries regarding the itinerary. The remainder of the day is free for leisure and individual activities. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Bengaluru beginning with ISKCON Temple on Hare Krishna Hill. Continue to Lalbagh Botanical Garden, a historic botanical garden known for its extensive plant collection and iconic glasshouse, followed by Cubbon Park, the city's large central green space. Visit the Bull Temple, famous for its enormous monolithic Nandi carved from a single granite rock, and Sri Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, a natural rock-cut cave shrine dedicated to Shiva. Continue to the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum and view the monumental Vidhana Soudha from outside. In the evening, optionally visit Ulsoor Lake. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, check out and drive towards Mysuru. En route visit historic Srirangapatna, an island town on the Cauvery River, where you will explore the remains of the historic fort and Ranganathaswamy Temple. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu as Ranganatha and is one of the important pilgrimage centres associated with the Pancharanga Kshetrams. Continue to Mysuru and check in at the hotel. Later visit Brindavan Gardens, known for its formal terraces, water channels and evening musical fountains, followed by the local flower and sandalwood markets and a handicraft museum. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit Mysuru Palace (Amba Vilas Palace), the city's grand royal landmark and a striking combination of Hindu, Islamic and European architectural influences. Built in the early 20th century, it is distinguished by monumental arches, domes, turrets, colonnades, stained glass and richly decorated interiors. Continue to St. Philomena's Cathedral, known for its Gothic Revival architecture, followed by a drive to Chamundi Hill to visit Chamundeshwari Temple and enjoy panoramic views over Mysuru. On the way back, see the impressive Nandi Bull. The evening is free for leisure or local market exploration. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Ooty, ascending into the Nilgiri Hills. On arrival, check in at the hotel before visiting the Government Botanical Gardens, known for its wide variety of plants, landscaped terraces and historic specimens. Continue to Ooty Lake, surrounded by wooded hills and popular for boating and leisurely walks. The evening is free to explore the local markets and enjoy the hill-station atmosphere. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore more of Ooty. Visit Doddabetta Peak, the highest point in the Nilgiris, offering expansive views across the surrounding hills and valleys. Continue to the atmospheric Pine Forest, a popular landscape of tall trees and forested slopes. Visit Fernhills Palace, a former summer residence of the Mysuru royal family, notable for its distinctive Swiss chalet-inspired architecture. Later visit the Ooty Golf Course, set high in the Nilgiri landscape and surrounded by wooded hills. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, enjoy the scenic Nilgiri Mountain Railway journey from Ooty to Coonoor. The historic railway climbs through the Nilgiri Hills, passing tunnels, viaducts, bridges, tea plantations and forested slopes. The railway forms part of the UNESCO-listed Mountain Railways of India. On arrival, explore Ketti Valley, followed by Sim's Park, a landscaped botanical garden with a wide variety of plants. Continue to Lamb's Rock and Dolphin's Nose, both offering sweeping views across the valleys and towards Catherine Falls. The Wellington Army Barracks area may be viewed subject to prior permission. Return to Ooty by car and enjoy the evening at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Early morning, check out and drive towards Kochi. En route visit Guruvayur Temple, one of Kerala's most important Krishna temples and a major pilgrimage centre. Continue to Punnathur Kotta, a former palace estate associated with Guruvayur Temple where temple elephants are traditionally housed and cared for. After the visit, continue to Kochi. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and relax. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore historic Kochi. Visit Fort Kochi and St. Francis Church, one of India's oldest European-built churches and traditionally associated with Vasco da Gama. Continue to the historic Jewish Quarter and Paradesi Synagogue, known for its distinctive clock tower, antique interiors and hand-painted Chinese floor tiles. Visit Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace), noted for its Kerala-style architecture, colonial influences and richly painted mythological murals. Later enjoy a boat excursion through the waterways around Kochi, passing Chinese fishing nets and waterfront settlements. In the evening, attend a traditional Kathakali performance, recognised for elaborate costumes, facial makeup, expressive gestures and stylised storytelling. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Munnar, travelling into the Western Ghats through Kerala's tea-growing landscape. En route stop at the scenic Cheeyappara Waterfalls, where water cascades down a series of rocky terraces surrounded by forest. Continue towards Munnar through rolling hills covered with tea plantations, forests and spice-growing areas. On arrival, check in at the hotel and take a short orientation tour of the hill station, enjoying views across the tea gardens, hills and valleys. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore the scenic surroundings of Munnar. Visit Pothamedu View Point for views across tea, coffee, cardamom and spice plantations, followed by Devikulam, known for its green hills and plantation landscape. Continue to Blossom International Park, Mattupetty Dam and its reservoir, and Echo Point. Visit Kundala Lake, set among the hills, before enjoying a tea, coffee or spice plantation experience and visiting the Tea Museum. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Periyar (Thekkady). On arrival, transfer to the jungle resort. Later explore the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, where forested hills surround the large Periyar Lake. Wildlife commonly encountered includes elephants, gaur, wild boar and a variety of birds, while tigers inhabit the reserve but sightings are never guaranteed. Depending on availability, you may opt for an elephant experience and a scheduled boat cruise on Periyar Lake. Later visit a spice plantation featuring cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, tea and coffee before stopping at the local spice market. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Alleppey (Alappuzha), Kerala's celebrated backwater destination. On arrival, board your houseboat and begin cruising through a network of palm-fringed canals, paddy fields, lagoons and small riverside settlements. Along the waterways, observe traditional homes, Chinese fishing nets, fishing activity, ducks and water birds, offering a close view of everyday life in Kerala's backwater country. Enjoy the sunset from the sun deck and dinner prepared onboard by the houseboat chef. Overnight stay on the houseboat.

After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and drive to Kovalam. On arrival, transfer to the beach resort and relax. Kovalam is known for its crescent-shaped beaches, coconut-lined coastline and established Ayurveda and wellness centres. Later enjoy the beach and choose optional activities such as surfing, kayaking or other water-based experiences, subject to local conditions and availability. Overnight stay at the beach resort.

Enjoy a relaxed day at Kovalam. Spend time on the beach or choose optional activities such as water skiing, angling, parasailing and surfing, depending on sea conditions and local availability. Guests may also arrange an Ayurvedic wellness experience through the resort or a licensed centre. Optional cultural programmes and catamaran cruises can also be arranged. Overnight stay at the beach resort.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Kanyakumari, India's southernmost mainland point where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean meet. Visit Kumari Amman Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kanyakumari, followed by Gandhi Mandapam. Later take a boat ride to Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built on the offshore rock associated with Swami Vivekananda's meditation, and see the monumental Thiruvalluvar Statue. In the evening, enjoy the sunset from Murugan Kundram Hills. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Rameshwaram, one of India's major pilgrimage destinations. On arrival, check in at the hotel and relax. If time permits, visit the Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu) region, a chain of limestone shoals, sandbanks and islets extending towards Sri Lanka and associated in Hindu tradition with the bridge described in the Ramayana. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Rameshwaram with a visit to Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the most important pilgrimage temples in southern India. The temple is particularly renowned for its extraordinary series of long pillared corridors, monumental gateways and richly detailed columns. It is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga sites traditionally associated with Shiva. After sightseeing, check out and drive to Madurai. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and relax. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, check out and drive towards Thanjavur. En route visit Trichy and its dramatic Rock Fort Temple, rising from a massive rocky outcrop above the city. Continue to Srirangam to visit the vast Ranganathaswamy Temple, one of India's largest functioning temple complexes, enclosed within multiple concentric walls and monumental gopurams. Also visit Jambukeshwarar Temple, one of the Pancha Bhoota temples associated with the element of water. Continue to Thanjavur and check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Thanjavur, beginning with the magnificent Brihadisvara Temple, the crowning achievement of Chola temple architecture and part of the UNESCO-listed Great Living Chola Temples. Its monumental vimana, granite construction and finely carved sculptures demonstrate the engineering and artistic sophistication of the Chola period. Continue to Thanjavur Palace, a historic complex with stunning courtyards, halls and towers, followed by the Saraswati Mahal Library, renowned for its important collection of palm-leaf and paper manuscripts. Later drive towards Pondicherry, en route visiting Chidambaram and the celebrated Nataraja Temple, dedicated to Shiva as the cosmic dancer. Continue to Pondicherry and check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Pondicherry, with its distinctive French colonial heritage and planned streets. Visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the École Française d'Extrême-Orient, associated with the study of Indian languages, archaeology and history. Continue through the French Quarter and visit the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Church of Our Lady of Angels and historic Cluny institutions. Later visit Auroville, the international township built around the ideal of human unity. In the evening, walk along the seafront promenade and see the Mahatma Gandhi statue, French War Memorial, Mairie and old lighthouse. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Mahabalipuram. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and later explore the UNESCO-listed Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, one of the finest surviving expressions of Pallava rock-cut and structural architecture. Visit the Shore Temple, positioned beside the Bay of Bengal, the monolithic Pancha Rathas, the enormous relief of Arjuna's Penance, Krishna Mandapa, Mahishasuramardini Cave, Varaha Mandapa and other rock-cut mandapas. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Kanchipuram, one of Tamil Nadu's historic temple cities and a major centre of Dravidian architecture and silk weaving. Visit Kailasanathar Temple, an early Pallava structural temple built in sandstone and distinguished by its compact vimana, sculptural niches and surrounding shrines. Continue to Vaikunta Perumal Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple and Sakiswarar Temple, subject to opening hours. Time can also be set aside for Kanchipuram's renowned silk markets. Later continue to Tirupati and check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, proceed for Darshan at Tirumala. The temple of Lord Venkateshwara stands on the Seven Hills and is one of India's most important pilgrimage centres, known for its elaborate rituals and immense daily flow of devotees. Depending on the allotted Darshan category and reporting time, complete the temple visit before returning to Tirupati. Later drive to Chennai. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and relax. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, explore Chennai before departure. Visit Kalakshetra Foundation, known for its work in preserving Indian classical dance, music and traditional arts, followed by the city's colonial and cultural landmarks. Explore Fort St. George, the historic colonial fort complex, San Thome Basilica, traditionally associated with the tomb of St. Thomas the Apostle, and Guindy Snake Park. In the evening, optionally visit a local flower and fruit market before spending time at Marina Beach. Later transfer to Chennai International Airport for your scheduled flight home. The tour concludes with happy memories.