South India Culinary Tour
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala
Description:
This culinary trip allows you to learn the mouth-watering flavours of southern India. One will be delighted every day of this trip with all the local food tastings and the exciting, diverse and well-rounded visit to the southern part of India.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Bangalore
Upon arrival at Bangalorer International Airport, you will be transferred to the hotel
Overnight: Hotel
Day 2: Bangalore
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning at leisure for independent activities.
Afternoon proceed to visit the MTR and enjoy the local snacks. (On direct payment basis)
Also proceed to explore the flower and vegetable market of Bangalore.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 3: Bangalore –Hassan- Chikmaglur(245 kms, approx 6 hrs drive)
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning depart by road for Chikmangalur en-route lunch at Hoysala Village.
Arrive Chikmagalur & check in at the hotel
Afternoon free at leisure to explore the coffee plantations.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 4: Chikmanglur -Mysore(177 kms, approx 4 ½ hrs drive)
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart by road for Mysore.
Arrive & check in at the hotel.
Afternoon proceed for the city tour of Mysore visiting Mysore Palace & Chamundi Hill, later Devaraja market (vegetables + fruit market).
Overnight: Hotel
Day 5: Mysore -Ooty (158 kms ,apporx 4 ½ hrs drive)
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart by road to Ooty
Arrive & check in at the hotel
Afternoon proceed to visit the botanical garden.
Day 6: Ooty –Cochin(281 kms, approx 8 hrs drive)
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart by road to Cochin.
Arrive and proceed by road to Cochin.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 7: Cochin
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning proceed for excursion to Kumbalangi village. It is first modal fisheries and tourism village of India which has its own tradition and culture. Enjoy activities in village like crab farm, watching coir yarn making visit agricultural farm, different type of plantation and water harvesting ponds and Biogas plants and Chinese fishing nets followed by authentic local kerala cuisine.
Afternoon city tour of Cochin visiting Dutch Palace, St. Francis church, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese Nets, Spice Market and Antique Shops.
Witness Kathakali Dance Performance at the local theatre Proceed to homestay for Cooking Demonstration with dinner.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 8: Cochin - Alleppey(63 Kms , approx 1 ½ hrs drive)
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart by road for Alleppey
Arrive & board the Houseboat
Enjoy the life around the backwaters.
Lunch, Dinner & Overnight: Houseboat
Day 9: Allepey-Munnar (192 kms, approx 6 hrs drive)
Breakfast on board.
Depart by road to Munnar, it is situated at a height of about 6,000 ft. The vistas in and around it are breathtaking with the heady aromas of tea, coffee and cardamom wafting from the nearby plantations. Arrive and transfer to hotel.
Visit the tea plantation and Tea Museum(subject to permissions)
Overnight: Hotel
Day 10: Munnar - Madurai (246 kms,approx 6 hrs drive)
Early Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart by road to Madurai.
Arrive and check-in at the hotel.
Evening witness “Night Ceremony” at the Meenakshi Temple where the goddess retires for the night in the chambers of her husband
Overnight: Hotel
Day 11: Madurai – Chettinad (89 Kms, approx 2 hrs drive)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning visit to proceed the flower market.
Later proceed for the city tour of Madurai visiting the Thirumala Nayak Palace, and Meenakshi temple.
Depart by road to Chettinad. Arrive and check-in at the hotel.
Cooking Demo with lunch.
Evening walk in the town of Chettinad to view the architecture of Chettinad Home.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 12: Chettinad-Trichy- Tanjore (134 kms approx. 2.5 hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart by road to Tanjore enroute visiting Trichy (77 kms approx. 1 hr) visiting Lord Ranganathaswami Temple at Srirangam – this temple has the tallest Gopuram (Tower) in the world for a typical South Indian temple.
Arrive Tanjore and check in at the hotel.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 13: Tanjore Pondicherry (168 kms , approx 4 hrs drive)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning visit Brihadeeshwara Temple.
Later proceed to Pondicherry.
Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Evening enjoy rickshaw ride in the French Colonial town.
Enjoy the French cuisine in the town.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 14: Pondicherry–Mahabalipuram(95 kms approx 2 hrs drive)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Later proceed for the city tour of Pondicherry visiting the Pondicherry Museum (closed on Mon & Govt Holidays) & Aurobindo Ashram.
Depart by road to Mahabalipuram en-route enjoy traditional filter coffee making and sip the piping degree coffee.(On direct payment basis)
Overnight: Hotel
Day 15: Mahabalipuram- Chennai (56 kms , approx 1 hr drive)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the shore temple that has survived the ravages of time, the Five Rathas also known as the Panch Rathas & Arjuna’s Penance.
Depart by road to Chennai. Arrive and proceed for heritage walk through Mylapore area which is a part of old Portuguese colony. The walk takes you
through small by lanes with old style homes. Silk shops stores selling music and religious memorabilia-Kutcheri auditoriums etc. During the walk you can enjoy the traditional snacks at a local restaurant (on direct payment basis).
Evening transfer to the Chennai International airport for flight to onward destination.
