Southern Panorama

Afternoon direct flight with British Airways to Bangalore.

Arrive in Bangalore early in the morning. Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the morning at leisure. Bangalore, noted for its gardens, tree-line avenues and Gothic churches. Afternoon tour of the city visiting the Tipu Sultan’s palace & Fort, Bull temple and impressive Vidhan Sabha. Overnight stay in Bangalore.

Drive to Srirangapatnam and visit the summer palace and museum of Tipu Sultan who was defeated by the British in 1799. Also visit Sriranganathswamy temple. Continue onto to Mysore, renowned for sandalwood, teak and incense. Two nights stay in Mysore.

Morning city tour of Mysore visiting the City Palace of the Maharaja of Mysore built in Indo-Saracenic style and the museum. Drive to visit Chamundi hill where a huge statue of Nandi Bull overlooks the city. Explore the colourful Devraja fruit and vegetable market. Afternoon free. Day 5   Mysore to Nagarhole

Morning drive to the Nagarhole National Park, an excellent sanctuary with tropical teak forests and the Kabini river running through. The park is noted for herds Of elephant, tiger, leopard, samber deer and variety of birdlife. Afternoon safari by an elephant, jeep or coracle. Overnight stay in Nagarhole.

Morning safari in the park. After breakfast drive into the Nilgiri hills to Ooty (Queen of Nilgiri hills), a popular hill station during the British Raj, with its tea plantations, gardens and bungalows. Reminder of the day at leisure in this picturesque area. Overnight stay in Ooty.

A long but picturesque drive to Cochin through the Western Ghats on the Malabar Coast. Set amidst lagoons and the backwaters, Cochin is also known as the ‘‘Venice Of the East’’. Over the centuries Europeans have been trading here for ivory, spices and teak. The British, Dutch and the Portuguese left their cultural influence on this great city. Evening see the famous Kathakali dance performance, a traditional folk dance of Kerala enacting stories from the Hindu epics. Two night stay in Cochin.

Morning city tour visiting the Dutch Palace, with its 17th century murals of Ramayana, Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568, housing Grand Scroll of the Old Testament. Also visit Fort Cochin and St France s Church, the oldest European church in India. Vasco de Gama, who discovered India, was first buried here. In the evening a Sunset harbor cruise to see the Bolgahtty Island and the Chinese fishing nets.

Drive to Allepy and take a boat cruise to Chengnacherry. The cruise takes over 2 hours and passes through tranquil palm fringed narrow canals and waterways. Drive to Kumarakum on the shores of the Vembanad Lake. Overnight in Kumarakum.

After breakfast leave for the ancient city of Madurai, with a recorded history going back to 6th century. It was well known to Greeks and Romans with whom the city carried on active trade. Reminder of the day at leisure. Two night stay in Madurai.

Morning city tour visiting the Tirumalai Nayak Palace, built in 17th Century on Indi-Saracenic style & the spectacular Shree Meenakshi temple, a superb example of Dravidian temple architecture. It has profusely carved massive gopurams and a 1000-pillared hall. Afternoon at leisure. In the evening return to Meenakshi temple & visit the colourful temple market.

Drive to the temple town of Trichy, the citadel of Chola dynasty in the medieval period. The city saw wars fought between the British and French in 18th century. Visit the Srirangam Island, a living example of temple town where the life centers around the temple with 22 magnificent gopurams (gateway towers), the tallest being 236 feet high. Continue onto Tanjore, the granary of Tamil Nadu and the Cultural capital of the region. Overnight stay in Trichy.

Morning tour of Tanjore visiting the famous 10th century Brihadeeshwara temple, an engineering marvel and now preserved as a world heritage monument. Tanjore is also famous for paintings. You will see some of famous Frescos depicting myths and courtly pursuits. Drive to Covelong Beach visiting en route the famous shore temple in Mahabalipuram. Stay for three nights.

At leisure by the beach. During your stay take a half day city tour of Chennai, the fourth largest city of India, and visit the Fort St George, built by the East India Company in 1653, St Mary s church, the first Anglican Church in India and the Kapaleeshwara temple, destroyed by the Portuguese in 1566 and rebuilt 300 years ago.

Return flight with British Airways, arriving London in the morning.

Sri Lanka: Extend your holiday and visit Sri Lanka.Direct flight from Chennai to Colombo.

Taj Mahal: Fly to Delhi and visit Taj Mahal & the Golden Triangle.

Andaman Islands: Fly to Port Blair and relax on the sandy beaches of Andaman Island.