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Day
01 Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai by flight. Meeting and assistance
on arrival and transfer to Hotel Hilton Towers.
Overnight at hotel.
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Day
02 In Mumbai
Breakfast at hotel.Morning excursion to Elephanta
Caves - An early morning excursion across the
Mumbai harbour to 1200-year old Elephanta Caves
housing some of the most beautiful rock-cuts
of the period. The famous Trimurti sculpture
of three-faced Shiva depicting his three aspects
as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer is powerfully
portrayed in the massive sculpture. Closed on
Mondays and not available during the Monsoon.
Afternoon sightseeing of Mumbai – Visit
Gateway of India, Mumbai's principle landmark.
This arch of yellow basalt was erected on the
waterfront in 1924 to commemorate King George
V's visit to this colony in 1911. Drive past
the Afghan Church. Secretariat of Maharashtra
Government and along the Marine Drive which
is fondly known as the 'Queen's Necklace'. Visit
Jain temple and Hanging Gardens which offer
a splendid view of the city, Chowpatty, Kamala
Nehru Park and also Mani Bhavan where Mahatma
Gandhi stayed during his visits to Mumbai. Drive
past Haji Ali Mosque, a shrine in honour of
a Muslim Saint on an island 500 m. out at sea
and is linked by a causeway to the mainland.
Stop at the 'Dhobi Ghat' where Mumbai's 'dirties'
are scrubbed, bashed, dyed and hung out to dry.
Watch the local train passing close by on which
the city commuters 'hang out like laundry' -
a nice photography stop. Continue to the colourful
Crawford market and to the Flora fountain in
the large bustling square, in the heart of the
city.Overnight at hotel
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Day
03 Mumbai / Bangalore / Hassan
Early morning in time transfer to airport to
connect flight for Bangalore.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer
to Hassan en route visiting Belur and Halebid
- one of the finest specimens of Hoysalan architecture.
The wealth of sculptural detail at Belur and
Halebid rivals the temples of Khajuraho or the
best of European Gothic art. At Belur the temple
of Lord Channekeshava is embellished with superb
carvings of deities, animals and friezes depicting
the life and times of Hoysala rulers. Halebid
was the seat of Hoysala Kingdom, its great Hoysaleswara
Temple was also built in the typical Hoysala
style of architecture. A stellar base with the
emblem of the lion and elephants seemingly supporting
the temple, symbolise stability.Continue drive
to Hassan and on arrival check-in at Hotel Hoysala
Village.Overnight at hotel.
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Day
04 Hassan / Mysore
Breakfast at hotel.Morning depart by surface
for Mysore and on arrival check-in at Hotel
Overnight at hotel.
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Day
05 In Mysore
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning excursion to Somnathpur - 33 Kms east
of Mysore, Somnathpur has the Keshava temple
built in 1268 during the hey days of Hoysala
kings, an astonishingly beautiful and unspoilt
building. The walls of this star shaped temple
are covered with superb sculptures in stone
depicting the scenes from Hindu epics.
Afternoon city tour of Mysore - the palace of
the Maharaja built in 1911-12. The palace is
a harmonious synthesis of the Hindu and Saracenic
styles of architecture with archways, domes,
turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are
magnificent. Visit the Art Gallery, drive upto
Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and
have a panoramic view of Mysore from the top
of the hill. On way back, see the Nandi Bull.Overnight
at hotel.
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Day
06 Mysore / Ooty
Breakfast at hotel.Morning depart by surface
for Ooty and on arrival check-in
at Hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing of Ooty - Visit the Botanical
Gardens, established in 1847. It has a large
variety of exotic and colourful plants. Also
visit the Lake where boating is a favorite pastime
and Doddabetta Peak, the highest point in the
Nilgiri mountains (2623 metres high) offering
spectacular views of the valleys below.Overnight
at hotel.
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Day
07 Ooty / Cochin
Breakfast at hotel.Morning depart by surface
for Cochin en route enjoying Toy Train ride
from Mettapulayam to Coonoor.Continue drive
to Cochin and on arrival check-in at HotelLater
proceed for city tour of Cochin.Evening witness
Kathakali Dance Performance. Witness India's
most spectacular Dance Drama based on stories
from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers are
elaborately made up with paint and masks, accompanied
with drummers and musicians.Overnight at hotel.
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Day
08 Cochin / Alleppey
Breakfast at hotel.Morning sightseeing of Cochin
– Visit satellite towns of Kochi (Cochin)
and Ernakulam comprises visits to the Dutch
Palace, the Jewish Synagogue - (which remains
closed on Saturdays) St. Francis Church and
the Santa Cruz Basilica. While driving along
the coastline, at the Harbour's mouth, one can
also view the unique and still-in-use "Chinese
Fishing Nets" which were introduced by
the Chinese traders in the 14th Century. The
tour ends in the Fort Kochi area where you can
walk through the historical Dutch and Portuguese
buildings. Some parts of this nearly 500-year-old
Fort are still amazingly well preserved.Later
depart by surface for Alleppey and board on
houseboat.Dinner and overnight at houseboat.
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Day
09 Alleppey / Kovalam
Breakfast at houseboat.Morning at leisure.Disembark
from houseboat and transfer to Kovalam and on
arrival check-in at Hotel Coconut Bay.Overnight
at hotel.
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Day
10 In Kovalam
Breakfast at hotel.Full day excursion to Cape
Comorin (Old Name – Kanyakumari) - Cape
Comaroon is the land's end of India where the
three oceans meet. It is famous for its fabulous
sunrises and sunsets and the rock on which Swami
Vivekananda meditated. The new temple built
on it draws visitors throughout the year. Return
to Kovalam in the evening.Overnight at hotel.
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Day
11 In Kovalam
Day at leisure. |
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Day
12 Kovalam / Madurai
Breakfast at hotel.Morning depart by surface
for Madurai and on arrival check-in at Hotel
Taj Garden Retreat.Evening witness night closing
ceremony of Great Meenakshi temple. Overnight
at hotel. |
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Day
13 Madurai / Trichy
Breakfast at hotel.Morning sightseeing of Madurai
- Lord Shiva with its towersing Gopurams, rising
high above the surrounding township. Later visit
the Tirumala Nayak Palace - a gracious biulding
in the Indo-Saracenic style, famous for the
stucco wrok on uts domes and arches. Also visit
the Algar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock Temple.
Later depart by surface for Trichy en route
visiting Tanjore – The Chola kings built
the majority of Tanjore's (also known as Thanjavur)
93 temples. The enormous gopurams of the Brihadeeshwara
Temple bulit in the 10th century by Raja Chola
dominate Tanjore. The temple itself, between
the Grand Anicut Canal and the old town, is
surrounded by fortified walls and a moat. The
old town, too, used to be similarly enclosed,
but most of the walls have now disappeared.
What remains are winding streets and alleys
and the extensive ruins of the Palace of the
Nayaks of Madurai. The Raja Museum and the Art
gallery is a house of large collection of Chola
sculptures in bronze and granite. The Sarawati
Mahal library contains over 40,000 rare books
and palm leaf inscriptions.
Continue drive to Trichy and on arrival check-in
at Hotel Sangam.Overnight at hotel.
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Day
14 Trichy / Mahabalipuram
Breakfast at hotel.Morning sightseeing of Trichy.Later
depart by surface for Mahabalipuram and on arrival
check-in at Hotel Taj Fishcove.
Overnight at hotel. |
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Day
15 In Mahabalipuram
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning sightseeing of Mahabalipuram - It occupies
a stunning position on a rocky outcrop between
the beach and a lagoon. Built by the Pallava
rulers in the seventh century, the complex comprises
of 14 cave temples, nine monolithic "Rathas",
three stone temples and two relief-sculptured
rock panels. These two rock panels give a graphic
description of Arjuna's penance when he prayed
for the powers of Shiva and forms the largest
Bass Relief in the world. Particularly of interest
is the shore temple built on the water's edge
with an east facing altar designed to catch
the rising Sun. This has now been declared a
World Heritage Site.
Afternoon excursion to Kanchipuram - is one
of Hinduism's seven most sacred cities. This
"Golden City of a Thousand Temples"
dates back to the early Cholas in the 7th century
AD. Only around 70 temples of the original 1000
old temples are still intact and the most famous
of them is the Kailasanatha Temple built with
sandstone in the early seventh century A.D.
Kanchipuram is famous for its silk weaving and
a visit to the nearby villages to see the craftsmen
at work on their looms is a rewarding experience.Overnight
at hotel. |
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Day
16 – Thu, 26 In Mahabalipuram
Days at leisure. |
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Day
17 Mahabalipuram / Chennai
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning depart by surface for Chennai and on
arrival check-in at Hotel. Later proceed for
sightseeing of Chennai tour includes a visit
to the Government Museum and Art Gallery, to
see the art and bronze gallery (closed on Fridays
and public holidays) and also a visit to the
famous 16th century Kapaleeshwarar temple dedicated
to Lord Shiva, sacred to Tamil Shivaties. Non-Hindus
are only allowed up to the outer courtyard.
Later drive past Fort St. George, Marina Beach
and San Thome Cathedral.Overnight at hotel.
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Day
18 Chennai / Mumbai
Breakfast at hotel.Morning at leisure.In time
transfer to airport to connect flight 9W 468
for Mumbai (Departure: 1745 hrs Arrival: 1930
hrs)
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer
to international airport to connect flight for
Vienna departing early morning on 29th April
2007.No accommodation foreseen in Mumbai on
this day. |
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Day
19 Mumbai
Leave Mumbai by Flight |
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