South India Hill and Beach Honeymoon Tour

South India Hill and Beach Honeymoon Tour: Complete Itinerary

Day 01: Delhi – Bangalore
Arrival at Bangalore airport, meet and greet with our office representative assistance and transfer to hotel.

Afternoon city tour of Bangalore 'Garden City' visiting the Lal Bagh Garden: Hyder Ali laid out this famous botanical garden and his son added horticultural wealth to them by importing trees and plants from several countries. The garden today houses over 1000 species of flora which include rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. Also see the Government buildings Vidhana Soudha: This splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon Park is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat. The massive sandalwood door of the Cabinet room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building. The Vidhana Soudha is bedecked in illuminated glory during special periods and is a sight worth viewing.

The Bangalore Palace & Fort: The Bangalore Fort was built by Kempe Gowda and expanded by Tippu Sultan. Within its walls is the well preserved 16th century Ganapathi Temple. The Bangalore Palace was built by a Wodeyar king in 1887 on the 400 acre space. Inspired by the Windsor castle, this palace was built in the Tudor style, complete with Gothic windows, foiled windows, battlements and turrets resembling the Daria Daulat Palace in Srirangapatanam, this summer palace has been constructed largely of wood and is famous for its carving and paintings.
Tippu’s Summer Palace: The palace was first a mud-brick defense built by Kempegowda in 1537. Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan later rebuilt it 1791. The two-storied structure (replica of the Daria Daulat in Srirangapatnam) served as Tipu's summer retreat. An inscription on the wooden screen describes the palace as the 'abode of happiness', almost mocking the ruins that surround it. Though the palace still has elegant teak pillars, most of the painted decorations have been destroyed and it is in very bad shape. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02: Bangalore – Mysore (139kms/ 3hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, proceed to Mysore. Enroute visiting Srirangapatnam 16kms before Mysore. This fort was the stronghold of Tippu Sultan. Tippu made a last minute ditch Against the British in 1799 before surrendering his kingdom. Among the many fort buildings still intact, are Tippu’s Airy summer palace and his tomb at the Darya Daulat Bagh (garden). Daria Daulat Bagh: Built in 1784, this Summer Palace was one of Tipu's favourite retreats. It stands on a raised platform at a height of 1.5 metres.  The Bagh is situated on the banks of Cauvery river has treasured the paintings, engraving, arms that depict the Valant victories and Struggles of Tipu Sultan. The structure made of teak, this Indo-Saracenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescoes. The corridors showcase murals which describe Tipu’s ordeals in the battlefield against the British. Here is also the Ranganathaswamy Temple: The temples is one of the most important Vaishnavite shrines in South India. It is built by the Gangas in 9th century, later improved by the Hoysala and Vijayanagar kings. On arrival check into hotel.

Afternoon sightseeing tour of Mysore visiting the palace of Maharaja built in 1911-12. The piece of harmonious synthesis of the Hindu and saracenic styles of architecture with archways, domes turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent. The palaces and royal garden of Mysore, ‘The Jewel of Karnataka’, provide glimpses of its past grandeur. Thus the Maharaja’s Palace is one of the largest in the country, embellished with stained glass and domes and turrets giving it an ethereal air. We enjoy our afternoon sightseeing tour visiting Chamundi Hill lies just outside the city and is topped by a temple to Chamundi, the Rajas chosen diety. Half way up the hill, sits a huge granite statue of Nandi, the bull, Lord Shiva’s vehicle, and the route is dotted with other minor shrines. Late visit to Maharajas Palace, completed in 1912, dominates the centre of Mysore. The building is a synthesis of Hindu and Sarancenic architecture, designed by Henry Irwin, a British architecture.  Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Mysore – Bekal (233kms/ 5hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel. drive to Bekal, check in at beach hotel. Rest day free and easy for personal activities relax. Overnight at hotel.

Day 04: Bekal
Breakfast at hotel. Day free and easy for personal activities relax. Vehicle on disposal for sightseeing in Bekal. Overnight at hotel.

Day 05: Bekal  – Ooty (295kms/ 5hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Ooty check-in at the hotel. Sightseeing of Ooty; situated in Nilgiri Mountains near Tri Junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Oty is the only hill station in india which attracts visitors during all seasons. It has built up a fame as the `all-seasons -hill resort' and the `queen of hill stations'. It is one of the most popular hill resorts in southern India at an elevation of 7216 ft.  above sea-level, her moods change with every season, but each of her moods is hospitable to the visitor.  Nestling among the hills at a point where the Eastern Ghats meets the Western Ghats, the district headquarter town of Udhagamandalam sprawls along a beautiful plateau. The Eastern Ghats are mighty and attractive while the Western ghats have wooded loveliness. Nature unfolds itself in and around Ooty in a myriad of profiles, each one with a distinctive grandeur and individuality.

The first inhabitants of this land were a tribe called Todas who had been living here long before the British came in the early nineteenth century. But the credit for modernising Udhagamandalam and making it accessible goes to the British who constructed the first railway line in the area and made it the summer capital of the Madras Presidency. Todas antedated all explorers to the Nilgiris by a great margin of time. Mr. John Sullivan discovered Ooty in 1820. He built a permanent house at Nilgiri Hill and this was the beginning. Soon several other British officers built their summer houses. Horses, pony bullock cart and tonga were transportation modes at that time. Overnight at hotel.

Day 06: Ooty - Kodaikanal (256kms/ 5hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Kodaikanal, check in at hotel.

Located in the famous Palani Hills in Western Ghats and is known as the Princess of hill stations. Kodaikanal is situated about 7,200 feet above the sea level. The word Kodaikanal means gift of the forest in local language. The dense forest with many varieties of trees, the huge rocks in the wilderness and the enchanting waterfalls, makes it a real gift for the tourists visiting this place. Kodaikanal is famous for eucalyptus oil, homemade chocolates, plums and pears. Kodaikanal is famous for the kurinji - flowers, which blossoms only once in twelve years. Overnight at hotel.

Day 07: Kodaikanal
Breakfast at hotel, sightseeing of Kodaikanal visit Star Shaped Lake - one of the major attractions of this quaint little hill station. Situated at the heart of the main town area, it is also a favourite evening spot for the locals as well. It is the legacy of former Collector, Sir Vere Levinge, who formed it by damming the valley where three streams flowed. The entire lake area is spread over an area of about 60 acres. Here you can also try out some boating courtesy the Boat Club that is located here. Moreover, small horse rides can also make a good pastime in the early evenings.

View Point - from where you can have a thrilling view of the entire Kodai valley. The hill station/’s best view points are Pillar Rocks, Green Valley View point and the Dolphin/’s Nose. You must not miss a visit to these places as they are known for their natural marvel and beauty. You could also find some of the locally made products here to take along as the memorabilia of your visit.  Overnight at hotel.

Day 08: Kodaikanal - Yercaud (290kms/ 5-6hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Yercaud, check in at hotel.

Afternoon visit Kiliyur Falls; this delightfully breathtaking waterfalls is 3km from the Yercaud Lake and should be visited after the South West or North East Monsoon. The surplus water from the Yercaud Lake and the other reaches of the Shevaroys Hills fall deep into the Kiliyur Valley in a breath taking 300 feet fall. The views from the bottom and top of the falls are breathtaking. The view from the top of the falls into the Valley is heart stopping. The trek to the bottom of the falls is only for hardcore trekkers as it takes about one hour from the lake to reach the bottom of lthe falls which is heavily wooded, but a good 2½ hours to get ones breath and trek back again.

The Big Lake or Emerald Lake; The first thing one sees as you enter the Yercaud town is this placid lake in a wonderful surrounding of hills and natural shoals. Also a beautifully landscaped garden on one bank. It has boating facility. The Anna Park is a excellent picnic spot. There is also an island park and Japanese garden. It is also known as the Emerald Lake. This lake is the only natural lake among all the hill station lakes in the South. The Natural shoal seen around the Petrol Bunk, Round Tana and adjoining the Anna Park are about the oldest shoals of natural species of trees that one can see around the Shevaroys. Another shoal of this type can be seen adjoining the Orchidarium. In the interests of conservation this last stronghold of original trees should be preserved and replenished for the future. Ornamental Lake; This is also known as Small Lake and lies in the heart of the town between the Yercaud Library and Sports Club and the Monfort School. A fort like compound wall has unfortunately obscured this picturesque lake in the heart of town and made it look like a well.

Arthur Seat; A bird’s eye view of the Big Lake, Yercaud Town and the Shevaroyan Peak is available from this vantage point, which is reached by taking the steep road going north from the centre point of town. Silk Farm & Rose Garden; One can see the cultivation of Mulberries, the growing of silk worms and the method of spinning silk. The Rose Garden – one can see a good collection of colourful Roses and also purchase nursery plants from here. Pagoda Point; This lies on the Eastern side of the Yercaud hills and is also known as Pyramid Point. The name comes from the hill tribes having made four piles of random stones in a Pagoda or Pyramid formation reportedly to mark some event. Today there is a Rama Temple which lies between these Pagodas. One can get a grand view of Attur and Ayothiapattinam from this picnic spot.

Day 09: Yercaud - Bangalore (183kms/ 3hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Bangalore. As per flight schedule arrive Bangalore airport and board flight for Delhi.