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Day 1.
Depart Home
Depart for Bangalore, via Dubai and Mumbai.
Day 2.
Mysore
On arrival, you will be met and transferred by road to
the old royal capital of Mysore, arriving in time for an
afternoon city tour and a relaxing evening at the Lalita
Mahal Palace Hotel. This hotel is a 5-star property,
situated approximately 6 kilometers form the city
center. All rooms here are air-conditioned with private
facilities, and the public areas include a restaurant,
bar, swimming pool, tennis court, jogging track and even
a hell-pad!
Days 3 to 5
Nagarhole
Today you transfer to Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary,
situated in Western Ghats, Nagarhole contains a mixture
of teak and mathi forest, little villages and cultivated
land in a region of hills and valleys. Traveling by jeep
you explore these grasslands and forests where you may
see Indian Bison (Gaur), the largest and most impressive
of all the world’s wild cattle, together with Leopard,
Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, Spotted Dear, Common Langur and
Wild Boar. Southern India’s bird specialties are also
present, such as Grey-headed fishing Eagle, Brown Fish
Owl and Malbar Pied Hornbill.
You spend 3-nights at the Kabini River Lodge, a former
Maharaja’s hunting Lodge, which is situated outside the
sanctuary and provides comfortable accommodation in 14
individual cabins, each with private facilities. The
public areas include a restaurant, lounge area and bar.
Days 6 &7
Ooty
This morning you continue by road to the atmospheric
hill-station of Udhagamandalam (or Ooty as it is more
commonly known) nestling amongst the Nilgiri Hills. You
spend 2-nights at the Savoy Hotel, a wonderful
establishment with manicured lawns and a tennis court.
All rooms here are air-conditioned and have private
facilities. The public areas include a lounge, bar and
restaurant.
Day 8
Coimbatore
Continue to Munnar, a serene hill station set at an
altitude of 1525 meters amid stunning mountain scenery.
It is a small quaint town that exudes old world charm
and is reminiscent of the days of the Raj. Tea estates
litter the landscape, and what with the invigorating
mountain air and magnificent views, you will not want to
leave!
Although it is possible to go on wonderful walks from
Munnar itself, you may wish to visit the nearby
Eravikulam Sanctuary, home to Nigiri Tahr, the only
species of the wild goat found south of the Himalayas.
The Sanctuary also provides a good opportunity to
observe 2 of the region’s endemic bird
species-White-breasted Laughing Thrush and Nilgiri
Pipit.
Your overnight stay at Munnar will be at the Windermere
Hotel.
Days 10 to 11
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Continue by road to the Lake Palace Hotel within Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary. Periyar is one of the worlds,
covering an area of 777 Square Kilometers in total,
though with an accessible tourist zone of just 55 square
kilometers. A lake helps to protect source of water for
the local wildlife. The area is a haven for a wide range
of mammals including Elephant, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Wild
Dog, Nilgiri Langur, Lion-tailed Macaque and even Tiger.
The Reserve also has a rich and varied avifauna with
species such as Malabar Trogon, Malabar Grey Hornbill,.
Loten’s Sunbird and, if you are very lucky, Ceylon
Frogmouth. With its waterways, forests and grasslands
Periyar certainly provides a fitting climax to your
southern India safari. The Lake Palace Hotel is ideally
situated within Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, on an island
in the middle of lake Periyar. The hotel was once a
Maharaja’s summer palace.and consists of 6 rooms, each
with private facilities and a patio. Which overlooks the
lake. Although now slightly jaded in appearance with a
somewhat dated décor, its major attraction is the
position it occupies. Tigers, Elephants and deer have
all been seen from here! It is reached by boat from the
main jetty at Thekkady, and offers a secluded, peaceful
place to stay. (Thekkady is the main town within Periyar
from where boat trips on the lake and guided walks
commence). Excursions from the Lake Palace Hotel May be
by boat or on foot.
Days 12 to 13
Cochin
Today you drive to Alleppy, where you can explore the
waterways of the region before heading on to cochin.
These waterways are more commonly called the ‘backwaters
of Kerala’, and consist of palm-fringed canals, rivers
and lakes, which stretch over 1900 kilometers. Spend
2-nights at the Taj Malabar Hotel, on Willington Island,
which provides 5-star accommodation while retaining the
elegance and style of a world gone by. All rooms are
air-conditioned with private facilities, and there is
also an Ayurvedic Massage Center on site, together with
restaurant, lounge areas and a swimming pool.
Cochin lies at the heart of the historical and fertile
state of Kerala, and its position, straddling a number
of islands and peninsulas, together with its rich
trading past and Jewish, Portuguese, British and Dutch
influence, make it one of the most fascinating cities in
India. A tour of Cochin will include a visit to see the
Chinese fishing nets, still in use at the entrance to
the harbour (infact you can see these from your hotel!),
St. Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace, and the
magnificent Jewish Synagogue. You may also have the
opportunity to see a Kathkali performance, Kathkali
being the classical dance from of Karala, which
originated in the first half of the 17th century. Scenes
from the great epics of Ramayana or Mahabharatha are
usually enacted which often last throughout the right,
though rest assured shortened versions are on offer!
Day 14
Homeward
Transfer to the airport for your homeward flight via
Mumbai and Dubai.
Day 15
Arrive home |
