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Tea Gardens of South India
Visit tea estates, coffee plantations, temples, beaches and palaces.
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 Duration : 13 nights/ 14 days Arrive Kochi ( earlier known as Cochin), garland welcome & transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon a short sightseeing tour of Kochi. Colonial influence of Kochi becomes evident when you visit the Jewish Synagogue. The structure was built in 1567 housing the Grand Scrolls of the Old Testament and the Dutch Palace, with its 17th Century murals of the Ramayana. Also visit places like St. Francis' Church, where the Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama was first buried. In the evening attend Kathakali performance - a traditional dance form of Kerala. Situated on the southwest coast of Indian Peninsula, Cochin is a beautiful city known for its scenic charm and commercial activity. Overnight in hotel. Day 2 : Kochi - Allepey (60 km / about 01 hr. drive) Morning after breakfast drive to Allepey, to board the House boat for a cruise in the backwaters (full day with Lunch). Evening transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel. Day 3 : Allepey - Munnar [ 180 km / about 04 hrs drive] Driver to Munnar and enjoy sprawling tea plantations, picture book town, winding lanes. Later go on a trip to Pothamedu. Enjoy excellent view of the tea, coffee and cardamom plantations in Munnar. Set at an altitude of 6000 ft, Munnar is blessed by nature and is known for its scenic charm and breath taking beauty. Located in the Iddikki district of Kerala, Munnar is one of the major tea producing regions of Kerala. Overnight in hotel. Day 4 : Munnar After breakfast make a visit to the tea gardens. The Tea Gardens of Munnar are beautifully spread like green carpet over hundreds of kilometers and are surrounded by lush green hills. Later go on a sightseeing of Munnar and visit Raja Malai - top peak of Munnar from where you can see Neel Thar or mountain goats. Overnight in hotel. Day 5 : Munnar After breakfast make a visit to the tea gardens. Today we can visit a Tea factory and if lucky take part in a tea tasting session. Also enjoy on foot the scenic beauty and marvelous waterfalls, high mountains with the low flying clouds passing by. Overnight stay in Munnar hotel. Day 6 : Munnar - Thekkady [106 km/ about 02 hrs drive] Drive to - Thekkady after taking breakfast. Arrive and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon boat ride on Lake Periyar to spot herds of Elephants. You will also see other species like leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar and sloth bear etc. The population of tigers is also increasing at an appreciable rate in Periyar. Situated in the high ranges of Western Ghats, Periyar is beautiful place famous for its wildlife sanctuary. Home to rich variety of flora and fauna, Periyar is indeed a haven for wildlife lovers. Overnight in hotel. Day 7 : Thekkady - Madurai [130 km/ about 03 hrs drive] Morning after breakfast drive to Madurai. One of south India's most ancient cities, Madurai is a beautiful city located on the banks of the River Vaigai. An important center of worship and commerce for as long as there has been civilization in South India. Madurai has long been described as "the Athens of the East". Meenakshi Temple in the heart of the old town in a major attraction of the place. Overnight in hotel. Day 8 : Madurai After breakfast guided visit to Meenakshi Temple. Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Gandhi Museum, Government Museum, Koodal Alagar Temple and Vandiyur Mariamman temple. Overnight in hotel. Day 9 : Madurai - Ooty [255 km/ about 07 hrs drive] Long drive to Ooty leaving early morning. One of the most popular hill stations of Tamil Nadu, Ooty or Udyogamandalam is a beautifully located in the Nilgiri Hills or the Blue Mountains. Blessed by nature, Ooty has a scenic charm that attracts large number of tourists every year. Ooty, the Scotland of the East, is one of the most popular holiday destinations in South India. Overnight in hotel. Day 10 : Ooty Visit the beautiful tea & coffee plantations of Ooty. The tea gardens are surrounded by lush green hills covered in pine & eucalyptus forests and spread like a green carpet over hundreds of kilometers. The Rose Garden is another attraction of Ooty. Overnight in hotel. Day 11 : Ooty - Waynad [100 kms. / about 02 hrs drive] Drive to Waynad in the early morning. Carved out of Kozhikode and Kannur district, Waynad is a hill district and one the most beautiful regions of Kerala. Situated 70 km east of Kozhikode (Calicut), Waynad with tracts of forest covering the western flanks of the Nilgiri's is indeed a scenic charm. You will notice plantations of tea, spices, coffee and cocoa to the dry scruffy jungle of the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary at Wayanad. Overnight in hotel. Day 12 : Waynad - Neeleshwar [170 kms. / about 04 hrs drive] After breakfast visit Waynad Sanctuary. Later drive to Neeleshwar on arrival, transfer to hotel located on the shores of Arabian Sea and relax. Afternonn visit Bekal Fort the largest and best maintained forts in Kerala built in 1657, with magnificent views of the sea. Overnight in hotel. Day 13 : Neeleshwar In Neeleshwar. After breakfast explore the most scenic backwater stretch, fed by four rivers and dotted with numerous little islands. Board a houseboat and cruise slowly through the most virgin backwaters of Kerala, will be an enchanting experience for your lifetime or indulge yourself at the Priya Spa. Overnight in hotel. Day 14 : Neeleshwar - Mysore [220 kms. / about 06 hrs drive] Long drive to Mysore in the morning, leaving early. Known for its palaces and monuments, Mysore is a beautiful city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. The palace is also famous for its celebration of the ten day Dasara festival and is visited by large number of tourists every year. Overnight in hotel. Day 15 : Mysore - Bangalore [130 kms. / about 03 hrs drive] Day starts with a drive to Bangalore. Enroute visit Srirangapatanam and the nearby Ranganathittoo bird sanctuary. Arrive Bangalore by late evening in time for dinner at a local restaurant before being transferred to the Int'l airport to board the flight to your home country / onward destination. NOTE:
For your information, some monuments remain closed as follows:
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