Splendors of South India
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Duration16 Days
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Region
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Category
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Best Time
- October - April
Introduction
Within India, South India is known for its unique and distinct cultural heritage, fascinating historical monuments, Ayurveda, Eco-tourism and much more to be mentioned. Far Horizon takes you on a special journey, where you will experience the living cultures of 3 Southern splendors of India, Karnataka, Telangana and Kerala. The tour starts with the architectural richness of Hyderabad along with the garden city of Bangalore and finally the journey comes to a close at the‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’- Kochi, showcasing the exotic locales of each state. In addition to this, the beautiful town of Hampi referred as a fantasy world of rocks and ruins, the finest wildlife preserves of the Nagarhole National Park, Coorg with its 300 bird species and the city of palaces, Mysore are some of the special elements of the tour. In short, it’s an experience that captures the romance of a by-gone era making your sojourn an unforgettable one.
Tour Highlights
- Explore the city of Nizams "Hyderabad"
- Explore the 14th Century Vijayanagara Empire "Hampi"
- Safaris in the Nagarhole National Park
- Taste the perfect cup of Coffee at Coorg
- Royal City Mysore
- Cruising on the Kerala Backwaters
- Explore Cochin known as the "Queen of Arabian Sea"
Destinations Covered
Hyderabad
City of a Rich and Regal HistorySteeped in history, thronged with people and buzzing with commerce, the Old City of Hyderabad is one of India's most evocative ancient quarters. Exploring the lanes of this district, with its chai shops and spice merchants, you'll encounter a teeming urban masala of colour and commerce.
Hampi
A fantasy world of Rocks and RuinsHampi, the city of ruins, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in the shadowed depth of hills and valleys in the state of Karnataka, this place is a historical delight for travellers. Surrounded by 500 ancient monuments, beautiful temples, bustling street markets, bastions, treasury buildings and captivating remains of Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi is a delight. Hampi is an open museum and a favourite way to see the city from the perspective of its history.
Bangalore
The Garden CityBangalore city is rightly called as the Garden City with a wide array of parks and gardens which are spread all over the city increasing the beauty of the city. Not just this, the city has been adorned with many interesting yet suitable names. Pub City, Shopper's Hot Spot, Silicon Valley, Shopper's Paradise, Pub Hopper's Paradise, Gourmet's Delight, Air-conditioned City, etc. are a few other names.
Nagarhole
Karnataka's Best Wildlife GetawaysNagarhole National Park, also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park is the enchanting 247 square-mile long wild reserve located in Kodagu and Mysore district of Karnataka. Adorned with rich forest cover at the west of the Kabini River, the Nagarhole National Park is celebrated as one of the best wildlife parks as well as the Bandipur bird sanctuary.
Coorg
The Scotland of IndiaCoorg, officially called Kodagu, is the most sought after and popular hill station of Karnataka. Lying serenely amidst high mountains, Coorg’s landscape stays misty throughout the year. The aboriginals of the place are Kodavas.
Kodagu was a state in its own right until 1956, when it merged with Karnataka. The region’s chief town and transport hub is Madikeri, but for an authentic Kodagu experience you have to venture into the countryside.
Mysore
City of PalacesAlso known as the City of Palaces, Mysore retains a quaint charm that never fails to enchant with its rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. The charm of this city leaves no one untouched. Situated in the southern part of the Deccan Plateau, Mysore has played a significant role in the history of South India.
Kochi
Queen of the Arabian SeaKochi (formerly Cochin) is a cosmopolitan city in the state of Kerala with a bustling commercial port. Kochi is the financial capital of Kerala and, with a population of more than 2 million, the biggest urban agglomeration in the state. It is one of the major tourist destinations in India.
Alappuzha
Venice of the EastAlappuzha is the hub of Kerala's backwaters, home to a vast network of waterways, over a thousand houseboats and an important coir industry. Head out towards the backwaters and Alleppey becomes graceful and greenery-fringed, disappearing into a watery world of villages, punted canoes, toddy shops and, of course, houseboats.
Detailed Itinerary
- Day 1 Arrive Hyderabad
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Day 2
Hyderabad
Hyderabad
Today we start our exploration from the landmark of Hyderabad City “Charminar”. The majestic structure was completed in 1591 CE and is not only a landmark building of Hyderabad but also a famous monument of India. Historians believe that this structure is an example for Indo-Islamic architecture combined with few Persian elements. The monument is located in the heart of old city and it is believed that Hyderabad was measured in four directions from Charminar for administrative purposes.
The historic Mecca Masjid is located adjacent to Charminar in a south-west direction. The construction of this mosque started in the year 1614 by Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah and was Aurangzeb completed in 1693. Built with local granite, it finds place among largest mosques in India and is the most important and largest one in the city.
From here we proceed to visit Golconda fort located in the western part of Hyderabad. Golconda is undoubtedly one of most magnificent fortress complexes in India. The history of Golconda Fort goes back to early 13th century, when it was ruled by the Kakatiya’s followed by Qutub Shahi kings, who ruled the region in 16th and 17th century. The fortress rests on a granite hill 120 meters high while huge crenelated ramparts surround this structure. At Fateh Darwaza one can witness fantastic acoustical effects, which is one among the many famous engineering marvels at Golconda. Clapping your hand at a certain point near the dome entrance reverberates which is heard clearly at the hill top pavilion, almost one kilometer away. This served as a warning note to the inhabitants of the fort of any impending danger, Ofcourse it now amuses visitors. The fort gains an impressive place among the architectural marvels and heritage structures of India and is a testimony to Hyderabad’s glorious past.
Situated on the southern banks of Musi River, the Salarjung Museum has a unique distinction as the third largest museum in India and has a worldwide fame for its biggest one-man collections of antiques. It is widely known in India for its prized collections dating back to different civilizations. Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III, the former Prime Minister of the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, spent most of his income over a period of thirty-five years to gather such priceless collections, which according to historians was his intense passion. It also houses the world famous statue of Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles, a fine collection of jade, daggers owned by Queen Noor Jahan, Emperors Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb’s sword and other timeless masterpieces.
Overnight at Taj Falaknuma Palace (B)
- Day 3 Hyderabad - Hampi
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Day 4
Hampi
Hampi
This morning, explore Hampi. The discovery of stone artefacts, pottery shards and rock paintings indicate that Hampi has been inhabited since pre-historic times. Hampi has challenged time, survived the centuries and lived to tell the tale.
Vithala Temple Complex - The most splendid monument of Hampi is undoubtedly the Vithala Temple Complex with its 56 musical pillars. Here see the famous Stone Chariot with stone wheels that revolve. In front of the shrine stands the great mantapa. Resting on a richly sculpted basement, its roof is supported by huge pillars of granite, each consisting of a central pillar surrounded by detached shafts, all cut from one single block of stone.
The Virupaksha Temple rises majestically at the western end of the famous Hampi Bazaar. The temple has a 120 feet tall tower on its eastern entrance. The temple contains the shrines of Shiva, Pampa and Bhuvaneswari.Parts of this temple are older than the Vijayanagar kingdom itself. The work of this style dates back to the 11th or 12th century.
Hazara Ramaswami temple is believed to have been the private place of worship of the royal family. The chief attraction of the temple is the series of scenes from the Ramayana carved on two of the inside walls of the mantapa. The genesis of the place known today as Hampi dates back to the age of the Hindu epic Ramayana when it was the site of Kishkinda, a monkey kingdom.
Later visit the Achyutaraya Temple and walk through the bazaars of Hampi.
Overnight at the Evolve Back Kamlapura Palace (B, L, D)
- Day 5 Hampi - Bangalore
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Day 6
Bangalore - Mysore - Nagarhole
Nagarhole
Bangalore - Mysore Train (Shatabdi 1100/1300 hrs.) & drive to Nagarhole (approx. 2 hour drive).
After breakfast, transfer to Bangalore railway station to board the train to Mysore. Trains in India are the most widely used transport by the locale people to commute between the cities. Experience one of the busiest rail networks in the world transporting over 8 billion passengers annually.
On arrival at Mysore, lunch at the local restaurant before leaving for Nagarhole National Park, established in 1955, whose abundant wildlife, including leopard, Indian bison, wild dog, deer, antelope, hyena, and more make it one of India’s finest preserves. In the summer months, this park also hosts the world’s greatest concentration of Asian elephants, estimated at 8,000–14,000, who migrate here to feast on riverbed pastures.
Arrive Nagarhole and check-in to the hotel.
Every alternate evening, a troupe of Kuruba tribal dancers performs their traditional dance around a campfire, to the accompaniment of two wooden drums and one wind instrument. This dance is traditionally performed during festivals & times of strife and is an invitation to their gods to join them and bless the occasion.
Overnight at the Evolve Back Kabini (B, L, D)
- Day 7 Nagarhole
- Day 8 Nagarhole – Coorg
- Day 9 Coorg
- Day 10 Coorg – Mysore
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Day 11
Mysore
Mysore
This morning, we visit the Chamundi Hills, site of the 12th-century Chamundeshwari Temple with its 1,008 ancient steps leading to the summit. The highlight of this lofty temple is the statue of Nandi, the enormous bull used as a mount by Hindu god Shiva, which sits on the 800th step of the temple. The ornately carved granite bull presides over the temple’s visitors; at over 15 feet high and 24 feet long, it dwarfs the iconic Charging Bull statue in New York’s Financial District.
Our next stop brings more magnificent architecture, as we visit the Palace of Mysore, the Indo-Saracenic blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles that remains the home of the Maharajahs of Mysore and counts among India’s most popular attractions. The palace before us, among India’s most grand, and the fourth to stand on this site, replaced the last which fire destroyed in 1897. An exquisite opulence greets us within through a dazzling array of carvings, chandeliers, mosaics, stained glass, paintings, and frescoes. From these two overwhelming structures, we move to a humbler stop: a visit to a local workshop to learn how the local sandalwood incense is made by hand. We have the afternoon free for exploration and lunch on our own. Options include wandering the local markets to find Mysore’s renowned silk saris and ties, spices, and sandalwood crafts.
Overnight at the Hotel Radisson Blu (B)
- Day 12 Mysore - Bangalore - Cochin
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Day 13
Cochin
Kochi
We have a walking tour of Mattancherry, the bustling part of Old Fort Cochin and the epicenter of the spice trade for centuries. It remains a densely populated place housing people from different ethnic groups and faiths in very close quarters. Mattancherry is home to a small Jewish community whose origin dates back nearly 2000 years, during the period of King Solomon, when large scale trade took place between the Middle East and the Malabar Coast. Our touring today reveals Kochi’s multi-layered past, a rich brew of Arab, Portuguese, British, and Dutch influences. We begin with the Dutch Palace, actually built by the Portuguese as a gift for the Raja of Kochi in 1555. The Dutch renovated and expanded it a century later, earning it its name. The palace also contains some of India’s finest mythological murals; the walls depict scenes from the great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata (please note: the Dutch Palace closes on Fridays and Saturdays. Then we see St. Francis, India’s first European church (ca. 1510), famed as the original burial site of Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama, who died in Kochi in 1524 while on his third visit to India. Not immune to the turbulence of the colonial era, the originally Catholic St. Francis changed hands – and denominations – with each new power that took control of Kochi, becoming a Protestant Dutch Reformed church under the Dutch in 1663 then Anglican under the English in 1804.
Next we pay a visit to the picturesque Chinese fishing nets unique to Kochi. These iconic land-based nets combine elegance and ingenuity, their massive frames balanced by counterweights manipulated by teams of up to six men. Long believed to have been introduced by the Chinese explorer Zheng He in the 14th century or possibly travelers from Kublai Khan’s court, these nets actually trace their origin to Portuguese settlers from Macau.
In the evening, we attend a performance of Kathakali dance, where facial expressions and hand gestures combine with movement to create this highly expressive traditional Kerala art form which depicts great Indian epics. Distinct among the six classical Indian dances, Kathakali is a highly dramatic and mimetic dance depicting various stories from Indian epics. It originated in Kerala during the 17th century and has developed over the years with improved looks, refined gestures and added themes besides more ornate singing and precise drumming.
Overnight at the Brunton Boatyard (B)
- Day 14 Cochin - Backwaters
- Day 15 Backwaters
- Day 16 Cochin & Departure
