Duration: 13Days
/12Nights
Places Covered:Mumbai
- Bangalore - Mysore - Nagarhole National Park
- Conoor - Chennai -
Day 01: Arrive Mumbai
Room is reserved today for you from 1200 hrs today for immediate occupancy. Arrive late in the evening or in early hours of Day 02.
Day 02: In Mumbai
After relaxing and overcoming the jet lag, start your late morning sightseeing tour of Mumbai. The Gateway of India is the main attraction of Mumbai city. The Mani Bhawan or the Gandhi memorial was once used to be the residence of Mahatma Gandhi in Mumbai. Also known as Queen's Necklace, Marine Drive. Juhu is a 5-km-long beach that attracts a large number of visitors on any day of the week. Also visit gardens like the Hanging Garden and the Kamla Nehru Garden and Chowpatty gives you the view of one of the most happening beaches of Mumbai. Return to your hotel for overnight stay.
Day 03:To Bangalore
Fly to Bangalore this morning and on arrival proceed for a short tour of the city visiting the VIDHAN SOUDHA, which makes the major attraction in Bangalore. The building is a massive neo Dravidian architecture presently functioning as the state legislative assembly. CUBBON PARK in the heart of the city, LAL BAGH, which is famous for the wonderfully bloomed red roses.
Day 04: To Mysore
Today drive 148kms - 3 hrs to Mysore, the sandalwood city. En route stop at Srirangapatnam, the island fortress that was once the capital of the warrior-kings Hyder Ali & Tipu Sultan, the tiger of Mysore. Tipu's Fort here holds within it a mosque and the Ranganathasway Temple. His summer palace, Daria Daulat, built in 1784 was his favorite retreat. Then drive to your hotel, LALITHA MAHAL PALACE. Arrive and relax for a couple of hours, before visiting BRINDAVAN GARDENS. The Ornamental terraced gardens, the swirling fountains, the colorful fairy lights, Brindavan Gardens attract thousands of visitors, especially to its "dancing musical fountains".
Day 05: In Mysore
After breakfast enjoy a city tour of Mysore. The city offers a visitor an insight into the lifestyles, cultures and traditions of its erstwhile rulers. The palaces and temples around the city speak volumes about heritage and architecture of the medieval times and the kind of patronage the city received from its rulers. 13km off Mysore City are the CHAMUNDI HILLS. Halfway up is the Nandi Bull, a 4.8 metre monolith. Right on top is the 2000-year-old CHAMUNDESWRI TEMPLE, dedicated to the patron goddess of the royal family.
Day 06: To Nagarhole National Park
Morning drive to Nagarhole. After settling in at Kabini River Lodge, your home for 2 nights, there will be a late afternoon wildlife safari by jeep accompanied by park naturalists. Evening film on the "Seasons of Nagarhole". The vast forests of Nagarhole and its extension, Bandipur National Park lie in South Karnataka between the Western Ghats and the Nilgiri Mountains. Although administered separately, the two reserves form a continuous ecological territory, which also includes park lands in the neighboring states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Nagarhole has an astonishing abundance of wildlife. The park has both moist and dry deciduous tropical forests and extensive grassy swamplands, which support a great variety of plants and animals. You will explore the park by four-wheel drive jeeps, boat and on the back of elephants (in comfortable seating platforms). It is common to see sambar, barking and spotted deer as well as the mighty guar (Indian Bison).The park is the best remaining habitat for the wild Asian elephant. The population of these mammals is estimated to be 4,500. On the game drives, it is also possible to see sloth bears, wild boars, striped hyena, monitor lizards, mongoose, jackals, marsh crocodiles, leopards and Indian tiger. The tiger population is more abundant here than at many other tiger reserves. The park is a rich territory for bird watching with some 200 species recorded. Evening films and slide shows will be given on birds, wildlife and tiger conservation.
Day 07: In Nagarhole National Park
Home to many of India's rarest animals including tiger, sambar deer, spotted deer, leopard, guar, sloth, elephant, bear and crocodile.
Sunrise and twilight are the best time to observe these shy creatures, and so following tea and coffee an early morning start is the order of the day. Our initial jeep ride is followed by a coracle boat ride on the backwaters of the Kabini Reservoir to view wildlife (including wild elephants) and rare bird life on the water's edge. We return to the lodge for breakfast, the mid section of the day - yours to take at leisure. Mid afternoon, we depart by jeep into the Nagarhole National Park for our second safari of the day, followed by a wonderful buffet style campfire dinner at Gol Ghar.
Day 08: To Conoor
A long and winding drive will bring you today to Conoor, the Conoor is the first of the three Nilgiri hill stations. Conoor has an equable climate that makes this small town a popular hill resort. The main attraction here is the Sim's Park, a well-maintained botanical garden & a hike to Lamb's Rocks, if time permits. Overnight is at Hotel Taj Gardern Retreat. Rest of the day is at leisure in the bounty of the nature.
Day 09: In Conoor
After a very early breakfast, enjoy a spectacular train ride from Conoor to Udhaghamandlam (the rail head for Ooty). The train starts from Mettupalayam at 0745hrs and goes up to Ooty via Conoor, where you will be boarding it. Arrive Ooty, where your car is waiting for you. Also called Udhagamandalam, the city is nestled on the Nilgiri Range at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats of peninsular India. The town is set at an altitude of 2286 meters (7500 feet). The area was discovered in 1821 by British soldiers and became a popular summer hill retreat. The Ooty Botanical Gardens were established back in 1847 and boasts over 650 species of plants and creates an excellent base from which to explore the flora and fauna of the Ghats. The BOTANICAL GARDEN is an ideal tourist spot besides being a source of information about the region's flora. For those who like to enjoy boat rides and fishing, a visit to the OOTY LAKE is a must.
Day 10: To Chennai
The morning is at leisure then drive to Mettupalayam to catch the Nilgiri Express train for Chennai. Overnight is on board.
Day 11: Arrive Chennai
You will arrive Chennai at 0550hrs. Arrive Chennai. Met and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon enjoy a tour of Chennai this morning. Chennai was developed as a British trading post and as such, most of its attractions have a distinct colonial influence. Stretched over an area of 13 kms, MARINA BEACH is the second longest beach in the world. The ST. GEORGE FORT, built in 1653, is currently used as the state governments/'s secretariat. SAN THOME Cathedral was built around 14th/15th century and is another colonial structure worth visiting. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the KAPALESHWAR TEMPLE is the oldest temple in Chennai.
Day 12: In Chennai
Visit Kancheepuram & Mahabalipuram today. The golden city of temples is one of the seven most famous holy cities of Hindu mythology. The weavers of Kancheepuram have been famous from ancient times for some of the best woven silk sarees in the world. It has also been the centre of culture and learning down the ages. Adi Shankaracharya, one of the greatest gurus of Hindu spirituality established his ashram here. Kancheepuram is 75 kms from Chennai. A site of many ancient sculptural marvels, Mamallapuram was the port city of the Pallavas. The Pallavas had mastered the art of construction without using bricks or mortar, carving out exquisite sculptures from rocks. The best example of their art here are the five monolith chariots, the pride of Mamallapuram. The various panels on the walls depict scenes from Hindu mythology and fables from the Panchtantra. Located 61 kms from Chennai, it is now known as Mahabalipuram. Overnight is at the hotel.
Day 13: Departure
Early morning transfer to the airport to connect onward flight.
Heritage
Culture 
