----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Southern Raj
Duration :- 11 Days Tour
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A cultural tour of India
This unique journey reveals Southern India's rich cultural heritage, brings unforgettable images from the past centuries and leaves a lasting spell on our souls. In addition to this we venture to the most preferred beach destination in India, Goa, to experience the delightful white sand beaches and explore the remains of Portuguese traditions.

Day 1 : Arrive Bombay
Namaste! Welcome to Mumbai, as it is now known, where we are greeted the Mumbaiwala style to the city that never sleeps.
Overnight:

Day 2 : Bombay (2 nights)
This is one of the largest cities in the world and is Home to the largest film industry in the world. Bombay is a city full of life and history and, as the saying goes, "Bombay never sleeps". We start our journey with the Gateway of India landmark archway, which includes the world's largest open-air laundry, Jain Temple, Marine Drive, Hanging Gardens and the Prince of Wales Museum. Afternoon free to immerse in the local bazaars. Bombay offers a lot of attractions in the field of art and theatre and this evening is a good time to experience them. (B, D)

Day 3 : Bombay / Goa (Flight)
A short flight takes us to the one time Portuguese colony of Goa, which offers a unique blend of India with a strong Portuguese influence. We are transferred to our beachside resort to enjoy the relaxing Goan lifestyle and sea activities. The beach in Goa offers both quite and a public area where one would find lots of families enjoying the silver sands and the local hawker selling Home cooked snacks.
Overnight: Goa (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 4 : Goa
Today is free for leisure activities in this tropical beach resort. You may also wish to visit the World Heritage Site of the churches and convents of Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Indies. Of particular interest is the Church of Bom Jesus, which contains the tomb of St Francis-Xavier, a great illustration of the evangelization of Asia. These monuments were influential in spreading forms of Manueline, Mannerist and Baroque art to all the countries of Asia where missions were established. (B, D)

Day 5 : Goa / Bangalore (Flight)
A short flight gets us to the garden city of Bangalore, also now known as the high-tech centre of India. Our tour of this clean city covers the Botanical Garden, the Visveswariah Museum, and the famous Mysore Arts and Craft Center. Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka. It is called the Garden City due to its delicate blossoms and greenery that impart a unique beauty to this lovely city. The weather is the city's best feature, with pleasant summers and bearable winters. Bangalore is a cosmopolitan city, where a variety of cultures and customs thrive. Kempe Gowda founded the city in 1537 - is today a bustling and diverse city with ancient arts that flourish alongside the Silicon Plateau of India.
Overnight: Bangalore (1 night) (B, D)

Day 6 : Bangalore / Hassan (Drive 190kms / 115miles)
An interesting drive through the countryside conveys us to the famous Southern Indian Temple city of Hassan. Hassan is a calm and peaceful town and a convenient base from which to visit Belur and Halebid. We have the evening to enjoy walking through the town and chatting with locals enthusiastic to practice their English.
Overnight: Hassan (1 night) (B, D)

Day 7 : Hassan / Mysore (Drive 200kms / 123miles)
Our morning tour of Hassan includes the exquisite temples of Belur and Halebid.
The main structure of the temple in Belur, which is star-shaped, is a homogenous architectural unit on a raised platform. Inside, even in the darkness, you can see the hand-lathe turned shining pillars, each unique in its own splendor. Halebid was known as Dwara Samudra, the wealthy capital of the Hoysalas. The great city of Dwarasamudra flourished as a Capital of the Hoysala Empire during the 12th & 13th centuries, reflected in the strikingly beautiful Hoysala temples. We conclude today in the princely state of Mysore. En route we visit beautiful Srirangapatnam, Tipu Sultan's summer palace.
Overnight: Mysore (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 8 : Mysore
Also known as the city of Palaces, Mysore has never failed to mesmerize with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples.
Our morning tour includes the Maharajah's Palace, the Shri Chamundeswari Temple and the Nadi Shiva's Mount. The evening is free to enjoy the Vrindavan Garden and City Palace, which is beautifully lit on certain days. (B, D)

Day 9 : Mysore / Madras (Chennai) (Train)
We take the late afternoon Express train to Chennai (formerly known as Madras). We arrive late in the evening.
Overnight: Madras (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 10 : Madras / Mamallapuram
Today we take an excursion to the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel Coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges', and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva. On our return we tour Chennai, culturally one of the richest cities of India. We visit the Kapaleeswarar, the ancient Shiva Temple, SantHome Church and the bazaar. (B, D)

Day 11 : Depart Madras
After an interesting insight into the colourful and mystical Dravidian India, we bid farewell to our journey of Southern Spices and are transferred for our flight back Home.