All the sweetness of South India is revealed in this course marked by encounters with men, arts, village traditions and a flamboyant nature that you discover by bike, boat and on foot. The verdant hills follow the infinite beaches fringed with coconut trees, the counters loaded with spices.
Arrive Bangalore you are met and greet by our representative transferred to the Hotel. Afternoon visit to Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, the Mysore Arts and Crafts Center, Tipu Sultan’s palace and Bull temple – one of the oldest temple built in 16th century and the colorful and bustling markets Overnight stay
After breakfast drive to Mysore upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. Mysore is a beautiful city of stately palaces residence of the Wodeyars dynasty, gardens, parks and museums. Today your tour of Mysore visits includes to City Palace it is one of the largest and majestic palaces of this type in India. Built in 1912, this Indo-Saracen palace has, among other things, a sculpted silver door, a solid gold throne and a gallery of delicate paintings,Every Sunday and public holidays the palace lights up with a thousand bulbs, from 19h to 19.45. Chamundi Hill, and the colorful and aromatic spice markets. At Chamundi Hill, you will find Nandi, a monolithic image of Shiva's Bull, which is always garlanded with flowers and held in high esteem by Hindus.
Visit the Sri Jayachamararajendra gallery, a former palace transformed into a gallery of paintings from the 1870s.Overnight at hotel
Early in the morning, visit of Mysore on foot in the company of a member of "Royal Mysore walks", an association gathering students, professors, inhabitants lovers and connoisseurs of their city. You will discover the flower and vegetable market, as well as the history of this city rich in cultural and historical heritage. After breakfast guide tour towards Srirangapatnam (20 km to the north), which was the capital of Tipu Sultan in the eighteenth century Sultan of Mysore from 1782, and one of the main opponents of the establishment of the British power in India, which earned him the nickname of Mysore Tiger. He sent three embassies to the court of France, hoping for the support of Louis XVI. Discover the temple of Gangadeshwara dating from the 8th century, the Fort, Dungeon, the Obelisk and the highest point of the island. You will learn more about the battles of yesteryear, and the history of these places.
An hour's drive takes you to the village of Somnathpur, where the magnificent Keshava temple, built in the 13th century, is one of the masterpieces of Hoysala sculpture. Dedicated to the god Vishnu, it is richly and finely decorated. Overnight stay.
After breakfast dive to Kabini. Arrive Kabini in the noon and visit Nagarhole National Park, with plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing. This 643 sq. km wildlife sanctuary is in an isolated pocket of the Coorg region.
Drive to the Kabini reservoir adjacent to Nagarhole National Park. A small motor boat ride on the tranquil waters of the Kabini River, an opportunity to observe a wide variety of fauna and wildlife, many birds and perhaps large mammals coming to drink (elephants, bison, deer. Overnight stay in Kabini
Early in the morning, a jeep safari with a naturalist guide to the park's fauna: tigers, elephants, gaurs (Indian bison), leopards, deer and a wide variety of birds. In the warm hours, enjoy your pool or Jacuzzi, or a massage at the Ayurvedic Care Center. Other unusual activities are on site: elephant ride or bamboo raft (to be paid on site).Overnight stay in Kabini
After breakfast drive to Bylakuppe, where a large Tibetan community of about 20,000 people settled in the early 1960, traditional Tibetan lunch. Our drive continued to the beautiful region of Coorg (about 30min), undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of South India with its valleys and lush forests. Overnight stay
After breakfast excursion to the elephant breeding center of Dubare to attend and participate in various activities: grooming of elephants, distribution of meals and demonstration of training orders. Walk in the coffee plantations.Overnight stay in coorg. Overnight stay
After breakfast drive to the Malabar coast north of the state of Kerala. You will descend from the highlands of the Coorg region to the coastal plains, its long sandy beaches lined with coconut palms. En route visit to Fort Bekal the most imposing of the region, part of the ramparts of which are continually licked by the Arabian Sea. In the evening you attend the Theyyam, or "Dance of the Gods", very special to this region of North Kerala. The grim and costumed artists perform dances inspired by the great Indian epics before an audience of adoration whom they regard as divinities. The fervor of the audience is palpable. Many temples host these ceremonies daily between November and February.
A short boat ride takes you to a small peninsula, bordered by the Arabian Sea on one side and the backwaters on the other. Walk through the coconut plantations to the beach. Board the house boat around 10:30 am and start of the cruise. Lunch aboard and sailing until 4:30 pm on the backwaters, a maze of fascinating brackish water channels parallel to the sea. Backwaters are well known in the region of Alleppey, here the calm and virginity of these calm waters which meandering between rice fields and coconut trees will surely seduce you. Overnight stay
After breakfast departure transfer to station to board the local train to Shoranur. Lunch nic on board and arrival in the afternoon in Shoranur. Drive to your hotel (less than an hour), a traditional house inherited from the Namboothiris, where generations of artists have followed each other for 300 years. Stroll through the village and meet the locals who present their lifestyle, their customs. You then meet the Namboothiris, the ruling class of Brahmins of Kerala, whose culture differs from the former.
Morning visit to the prestigious school of Kalamandalam, the first institution that teaches the traditional arts of Kerala to boarding students: Kathakali, drama whose themes are taken from the great Indian epics and the life of Krishna, and Koodyattam. Gestures, costumes and make-up are particularly sophisticated. You attend Mohiniyaattam exclusively danced by women, and percussion (the center is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, during the New Year period, from 20 March to the end of May, during the Poonam festival in September), Lunch at the Cheruthuruty River Retreat by the river. Return to the hotel to share with your hosts the secrets of this home of another time (kitchen exclusively vegetarian in this house, no alcohol).
After breakfast the day is free to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the old town of Fort Cochin, go shopping or an excursion in the modern part of the city, Ernakulam, or even discover by boat the surrounding islands. If you wish, a vehicle is at your disposal. Possibility to rent the famous motorcycles Royal Enfield to continue your discovery of Cochin and surroundings in two wheels on extra payment basis.Overnight stay.
Say good bye this fascinating land transfer to airport to board the flight for onward Destination
Motor bike hire charges, Language guide, Major meal Laundry, Insurance, Tips, Telephone Calls, Hard drink / Beer and Expenses like personal nature