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Mumbai (Bombay) and Temples of South India

Day 1 Mumbai (Bombay)
Arrival in Mumbai (Bombay)Transfer to Hotel

Day 2 Mumbai (Bombay)
Morning: ferry to explore Elephanta Caves, carved between 450 and 750 A.D.; including a visit to the Mahadeva Trimurti and the Ardhanareshvara sculptures, famous iconographical representations of Lord Shiva. Afternoon: city tour including Marine Drive, Crawford Market, Malabar Hill, Hanging Gardens, the Jain Temple and Gandhi Museum.

Day 3 Fly Mumbai (Bombay) - Bangalore; drive to Hassan.
?Upon arrival drive to Hassan (4 hrs). On arrival in Hassan, transfer to hotel.

Day 4 Hassan-Mysore (4 hrs)
?Enroute visit the temples of Belur and Halebid. Bulit by the Hoysala kings (12th-14th century), they rank among the masterpieces of Indian sculptural art.

Also visit the village of Somnathpur to see the intricately carved star shaped Prasanna Channakeshara Temple built in 1268 AD during the Hoysala Dynasty. On arrival, transfer to hotel.

Day 5 Mysore - (4 hrs)

Mysore is a magnificent Royal city and site of the Goddess Chamundeswari Temple and the Sacred Chamundi Hill with its Palaces built by Tippu Sultan.

Morning excursion to Chamudi hills to visit Sri Chamundeswari Temple, huge in structure with a seven story Gopuram 40 meters high. On the way up to the hill we see the famous Nandi (Shiva`s Bull) carved out of solid rock.

Afternoon visit Mysore Palace. This beautiful Indo-Saracenic Palace dominates the city`s skyline. It was built in 1911-12 at a cost of 4.2 million rupees to replace the former Palace which was burnt down.

Day 6 Drive Mysore-Bangalore - (4 hrs)
Enroute visit Srirangapatnam, the 18th century capital of the Mysore kings and once the city of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Also visit Srichanaakashare Temple.

Day 7 Fly to Cochin
Transfer to hotel. The influence of medieval Portugal, Holland and England can still be seen in this fast growing coastal city. It is also known as the spice city of India. Most of the exports of spices are done from here.

Afternoon half day sightseeing to include St. Francis Church, where Vasco da Gama was buried for 14 years before his remains were transferred to Lisbon. His tombstone still stands. The church was built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars. Nearby is the Mattancherry Palace or "Dutch Palace built in 1557 AD . The central hall on the 1st floor was the coronation hall of the rajas of Cochin. Other rooms depict scenes from the Ramayana and Puranic Legends connected with Hinduism gods. Next we will see the Chinese Fishing Nets along Vypeen Island (set up between 1350 - 1450 AD). These cantilevered fishing nets were introduced by traders from the courts of Kublai Khan. We culminate the day with a Kathkali dance performance at Cochin Cultural Center, arriving by 5 pm to watch the artists make-up.

Day 8 Cochin
Morning tour will include the Jewish Synagogue, constructed 1568 AD, with hand-painted willow-pattern floor tiles brought from Canton in the mid-18th century by a Rabbi who had trading interests there. Afterwards you will have time to browse the market area nearby including the well-known antique shops.

Day 9 Kerala Backwaters
A visit to Kerala would be incomplete without experiencing the beauty of its backwaters andits unique style of life. Drive to Alleppey to board a traditional riceboat and cruise through the narrow canals and wide lakes enjoying the scenic natural beauty -- coconut trees, rice patties, small villages. Lunch, dinner and breakfast will be served on the boat. Overnight on the boat onVembanad Lake.

Day 10 Fly Cochin - Mumbai (Bombay)
Transfer to restaurant near airport for dinner (cost not included) and late night transfer to International Airport for flight to onward destination.

Optional Extention to Ellora & Ajanta Caves

Day 1 Afternoon fly Bombay-Aurangabad IC 887, Dep. 1540, Arr.1625. On arrival in met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 Full day excursion to Ajanta, (2 hr drive each way).  Visit of the Buddhist and Brahmanical caves 200 B.C. to 650 A.D.

Day 3 Ellora --Morning visit of the Buddhist, Jain and Brahmanical caves VIIth to X century. Visit the most extraordinary free standing monolithic temple (there are only two of these in India), the Kailashanatha Temple, with unique carvings of the Ramayana and Vishnupurana.

In Aurangabad, visit Bibi Ka Maqbarah, grave-mosque, built in 1679 by Aurangzeb Alamgir the I, the last of the great rulers of the Timurid Dynasty.

Fly to Bombay 9w104(dep 2015, arr 2100 )

• Modest Hotels:
  
  • Bombay: Suba Palace, Apollo
  • Bangalore: Ramanshree Comfort
  • Hassan: Hoysala Village
  • Mysore: Ramanshree Comfort
  • Cochin: Abad Attrium
  • Kerala Backwaters: houseboat
    
• First Class:
  
  • Bombay: Ambassador , Gordon House
  • Bangalore: Taj Residency
  • Hassan:T aj Garden Retreat
  • Mysore: Wildflower Inn
  • Cochin: Taj Residency
  • Kerala Backwaters: houseboat
    
• Deluxe Hotels:
  
  • Bombay:Taj Mahal , New Wing
  • Bangalore: TajWest End
  • Hassan: Taj Garden Retreat
  • Mysore: Lalitha Mahal Palace
  • Cochin: Taj Malabar (sea-facing rooms)
  • Kerala Backwaters: houseboat

Air : BOM/BLR, BLR/COK & COK/BOM:

Includes:

• Accomodations as listed or similar
• Breakfasts at hotels
• Airport transfers
• Land transport by private ac car
• Professional local guides for sightseeing
• Entrance fees to monuments
• Kathakali Dance Performance
  
  Does Not Include

• Airport departure taxes
• Tips
• Insurance
• Any expenses of a personal nature such as phone, laundry, drinks