The Splendours of South India

This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, you’ll explore Kochi on a city tour with an experienced and knowledgeable local guide.

First, you’ll visit St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica, from where you’ll see the unique cantilevered Chinese Fishing nets, the only place they are used outside China. It is believed these nets were introduced by traders from the court of the Chinese Mongolian ruler Kublai Khan between 1350 and 1450.

Afterwards, it’s onto local tuk-tuks for a visit to the 16th-century Mattancherry Dutch Palace, a place that tells the story of the history of this region just in its ownership. The Palace was originally built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the King of Cochin around 1545 to appease the king after they plundered a temple nearby. It was later governed by the Dutch after they took over the area in 1663, then the Sultan of Mysore, Hyder Ali and later the British East India Company.

While there, you’ll tour nearby Jew Town, the atmospheric area around the Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568. While most of the original inhabitants have migrated to Israel, the area has retained its charm and is full of great cafes, and shops selling antiques, crafts, and spices on both Synagogue Lane and Jew Town Road. You’ll have time to soak up the atmosphere and visit the Synagogue – the oldest active synagogue in the British Commonwealth and home to many rare antiques.

After enjoying lunch together in a traditional restaurant, we’ll return to Kochi and visit the charming colonial old town including Princess Street, a picturesque thoroughfare in Kochi that oozes old world charm with its vibrancy and grandeur, ending at dusk on Fort Kochi Beach. This beach at sunset, with Chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background is an unforgettable experience.

Tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner together and some local entertainment – a Kathakali dance performance. Kathakali is a blend of music, vocals, choreography, hand and facial gestures telling familiar stories in Keralan culture.

Overnight: Fragrant Nature Kochi, Kochi (B, L, D)

Buckle up, because most of today is spent travelling – but what a great journey it will be. After an early breakfast and check out, we’ll transfer to the Ernakulam railway station on our private coach to travel in air conditioned rail carriages on the Dhanbad Express from Ernakulam, arriving in Coimbatore just after noon. Coimbatore is a big business and junction city – Tamil Nadu’s second largest at 2.5 million people. It is often referred to as the Manchester of India for its textile industry but most travellers use it as a stepping stone towards Ooty.

On arrival in Coimbatore, we’ll enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and continue by road in our private coach to the cooler climes of Ooty. This journey is one of the most breathtaking you can imagine. The scenic route unfolds picturesque hills, tea gardens, and winding roads, offering a visual treat at every turn.

Known locally as Udhagamandalam, Ooty is the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’, a mix of Indian hustle and bustle and Hindu temples with beautiful gardens, an international school, and charming Raj-era buildings. The town served as the summer capital of South India for the British Raj-governed Madras Presidency to escape the intense summer heat of Madras for four to six months of the year. It was visited by British officials during colonial times as a popular summer resort and after independence in 1947, it developed into the region’s premier hill resort town.

Your hotel for the next two nights is the Taj Savoy. This heritage grand hotel has been a landmark in the misty hills of Ooty since 1829 and ushers guests into a colonial-era lifestyle with afternoon high tea, croquêt on the lawns, spa sessions, single malts by the fireplace, and an exclusive taste of local cuisine.

Upon arrival, check in and enjoy dinner together in the grounds of the hotel.

Overnight: Taj Savoy, Ooty (B, L, D)

This morning, you’ll travel in first class comfort on the steam-driven Ooty Toy Train from Ooty to Coonoor and back on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 46-km-long railway track in the mountainous terrain of the state of Tamil Nadu and uses an ingenious ‘ABT’ rack system to climb the steep ascents. The steam-driven train is a symbol of India’s commitment to maintaining its heritage and is one of the most thrilling heritage train journeys in India. This single-track line travels from 325 metres to 2,000 metres, a remarkable achievement considering it was built in 1908. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, the train takes you through rocky terrain, gorgeous ravines, lush tea estates and thick forests linking the hill stations of Ooty and Coonoor.

Smaller and quieter than Ooty, Coonoor has a fantastic cool climate and offers beautiful scenery of the surrounding hills. It is said that the lush green trees covering the Nilgiri Hills and the aroma from the Eucalyptus trees can be very healing to your mind and body. On arrival, we’ll visit the Coonoor Tea Estate to learn about the history of tea production and enjoy breathtaking views of the nearby mountains and tea plantations. Here, we’ll enjoy tea, sweets and a light lunch before returning to the station and the Ooty Toy Train for our journey back to Ooty, enjoying great views over the scenic countryside en route.

Once back in town, you’ll have the chance to explore Ooty’s Botanical Gardens, home to over 650 species of plants and trees.

Later, we’ll return to our hotel where the rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure. You can dine in the hotel or venture out and explore the numerous restaurants in town.

Overnight: Taj Savoy, Ooty (B, L)

This morning, we’ll leave early and travel by private coach past lush rice paddies to the hilltop town of Wayanad.

This region is home to some of the major spice plantations in Kerala with crops such as pepper, ginger, vanilla, coffee, cocoa and betel nut. We’ll enjoy lunch at a restaurant that looks out to the picturesque hills before travelling onto the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.

Nagarahole is one of the most important tiger reserves in India and is a major hub of conservation under the Project Tiger and Project Elephant Act. It has one of the highest density tiger populations in India after Corbett Tiger Reserve near Delhi and Kaziranga Tiger Reserve in Assam in the north east of the country.

Upon arrival, we’ll check in and enjoy dinner at our wilderness lodge, offering a harmonious blend of nature’s beauty and rustic luxury. Located on a coffee plantation, and in close proximity to the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, the wilderness resort provides guests with an upscale and comfortable stay. After check in, we’ll tour a nearby spice plantation, before enjoying dinner together at the lodge.

Overnight: Machaan Wilderness Lodge Nagarahole (B, L, D)

After an early breakfast this morning, you’ll revel in a morning wildlife tour of the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.

The lush forests in the park are home to tigers, black leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, barking deer, wild dogs and 270 species of bird. One reason why it’s one of the best locations for spotting wildlife in Southern India is due to the park’s vast watering holes, where herds of wild elephants and other animals gather on the banks to drink. Like other places in India during the British Raj period, the national park was a hunting spot for Mysore Maharaja, British Viceroys and Indian Royal families.

After touring the reserve, we’ll continue by private coach to Mysore, officially known as Mysuru,  stopping for lunch en route and arriving in the mid-afternoon. This culturally rich city, dating back to 1399, is known for its heritage structures and palaces, and is popularly referred to as the “City of Palaces,” the “Heritage City,” and “Pensioners’ Paradise” because of the attraction to its pristine and calm ambience by retirees.

Your stay for the next two nights will be at the luxurious Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel. Originally built by the Maharaja of Mysore in 1921 to host his most important guest, the Viceroy of India, and  fashioned on the lines of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, the palace was converted into a heritage hotel in 1974.

After checking in and exploring this fabulous place, we’ll enjoy dinner together in the grounds of the hotel.

Overnight: Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore (B, L, D)

This morning after an early breakfast, we’ll visit the Devaraja Market with its huge selection of flowers, spices, fruits and vegetables. The market is truly alive early in the morning which is the best time to visit if you wish to experience the best of the hubbub and colour that is a busy Indian produce market.

After touring the market, we’ll visit the most prominent landmark in town, the exotic Mysore Palace, designed by British Architect Henry Irving, and completed in 1912. Once the official residence of the Wadiyar dynasty and the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore, it’s now one of the most famous tourist attractions in India after the Taj Mahal, with its interior full of colour, mosaics, and mirrors, and amazing works of art from around the globe.

Moving on, you’ll tour the St Philomena’s Catholic Church, a large neo-Gothic cathedral constructed in 1936 and inspired by Cologne Cathedral in Germany, before stopping for some lunch together at a local restaurant.

After lunch we head out of Mysore and visit Chamundi Hill, the home of the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Durga. After marvelling at the panoramic views, we’ll visit the temple. We’ll then travel back down the hill to visit the 13th-century Keshava Hindu temple, often described as “poetry in stone” and dedicated to the god Vishnu, and the Gumbaz at Srirangapatna, a mausoleum holding the graves of Tippu Sultan and his parents. Tippu Sultan was known as the Tiger of Mysore and was the Indian Muslim ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore between 1782 and 1799. The British allowed Tippu to be buried here after his martyrdom in the Siege of Srirangapatna in 1799.

We’ll return to your hotel in the late afternoon where the rest of your day and evening is free.

Overnight: Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel, Mysore (B, L)

This morning after breakfast and checking out, you’ll tour the Mysore Railway Heritage Museum, an outdoor exhibit of vintage locomotives, many dating back to the British Raj period. The main attraction here is the royal train compartment once used by the Maharaja of Mysore.

After lunch together, you’ll travel in Executive Class on the Mas Vande Bharat Express train from Mysore to Chennai, enjoying a light dinner on the train and arrive in Chennai in the early evening. Upon our arrival, you’ll transfer directly to your hotel – the 19th century Taj Connemara Hotel, where we’ll top up our earlier light dinner with a late supper in the Lady Connemara Bar and Lounge.

Chennai, known as Madras until 1996, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu and the fourth-most populous city in India. It’s considered the keeper of South Indian artistic, religious and culinary traditions and interestingly, is also the country’s biggest automotive manufacturing hub – a true combination of past, present and future.

The Taj Connemara, is the city’s only heritage hotel. Built in 1854 as the Imperial Hotel and re-established as The Connemara in 1890, it was an Art Deco look that the Connemara sported when it reopened in 1937. Legendary Sri Lankan/European architect Geoffrey Bawa added his touch to the tower block and linking pool in 1974. Guests include Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew and the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

Overnight: Taj Connemara, Chennai (B, L, D)

After breakfast and checking out, we’ll travel in a private vehicle along the scenic East Coast Road to Mamallapuram, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site about two hours away by road. The exquisite architecture here harks back to the ruling Pallava dynasty which existed between the 3rd and 9th centuries. On arrival, you’ll get to explore this ancient seaport town, ably led by your knowledgeable guide, paying a visit to the 7th century Shore Temple which features a giant open-air rock relief carved on two monolithic rock boulders, known locally as Arjuna’s Penance. There will also be time to inspect the town’s numerous pillared temple pavilions, watch local stonemasons at work, or you can simply kick back and relax on the beach.

After lunch at a local restaurant which is famous for its Madras fish curry, we’ll return to our vehicle and continue past palm trees and lush green rice paddies to Pondicherry.

The union territory of Pondicherry, known locally as ‘Pondy’, was under French colonial rule until 1954 and is often referred to as the ‘French Capital of India.’ Streets with French Gallic names like Rue Mahé de LaBourdonnais, Rue Bellecombe and Rue de la Compagnie run alongside Yanam Vengadasala Pillai street and Kandappa Mudailiar street. Some people even speak French, and English with French accents!

Your home for the next two nights will be The Dune Eco Beach Village and Spa. This eco-friendly beach resort, located on the beach, is sprawled across 35 acres of rich gardens and untouched nature. The hotel offers Ayurvedic treatments, as well as many western massages and hot water therapies like Water Shiatsu and Water Yoga, as well as two restaurants, offering a paddock to plate experience, using vegetables straight from the organic garden, dairy and poultry from their own farm, and locally sourced seafood.

After checking in, we’ll enjoy dinner together in one of the resort’s restaurants.

Overnight: The Dune Eco Beach Village and Spa, Pondicherry  (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast, again with a knowledgeable guide at the helm, we’ll embark on a walking tour of Pondicherry. The town is brimming with heritage buildings, French, Tamil and Muslim quarters, ancient temples and churches and is a melting pot of cultures from around the globe.

You’ll have the opportunity to tour local temples, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the French Quarter with its wide town squares, elegant European-style mansions with colonnaded balconies, and richly ornamented Catholic churches. Be sure to look out for local policemen in their white uniforms and distinctive French gendarme caps. Later, we’ll take a walk along the seaside promenade to Pondicherry beach and enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we’ll make a visit to the experimental township of Auroville. Founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa (known as “the Mother”) and designed by French architect Roger Anger, Auroville is known as ‘the City of Dawn’, and is home to a spiritually-minded international community dedicated to peace, sustainability and ‘divine consciousness’. People flock from across the globe to work together to build a ‘universal, cash-free, nonreligious township’ – it’s a sort of a bohemian-chic meets Old World international 1960s hippie trail vibe!

Upon our return to Pondicherry, the rest of your afternoon and evening is free to explore and dine at one of the many outstanding French, Indian and Italian restaurants in town.

Overnight: The Dune Eco Beach Village and Spa, Pondicherry  (B, L)

This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll pick up our lunch boxes provided by the hotel and go by road to the Tindivanam train station to board a local train to the temple city of Madurai on the Ms Guruvayur Express which runs between Chennai to Kerala. You’ll travel in air-conditioned comfort and enjoy your packed lunch before arriving in Madurai in the late afternoon, when we’ll transfer directly to our hotel for check in.

Chennai may be the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, but Madurai is the heart and soul. Madurai’s Tamil roots stretch back 2,500 years, making it one of the oldest cities in India, a metropolis that traded with ancient Rome and was a great capital long before Chennai was even dreamed of. The famous Sangam poem ‘The Garland of Madurai’ paints a brilliant picture of the city in the days of the second-century, describing the perfume of flowers, ghee and incense that could be smelt for miles around.

This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant, the Madurai Kitchen.

In the late evening, there’s the option to visit the Meenakshi Temple for a glimpse of the nighttime religious rituals.

Overnight: Heritage Madurai, Madurai (B, L, D)

This morning, hop on a cycle rickshaw for a tour of the city visiting the lamp-lit labyrinth of the Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and goddess Meenakshi. After visiting the temple complex, continue on foot and visit the Tailor’s Market and the local bazaars. It’s days like this that having a local and knowledgeable guide with us at all times makes all the difference to your experience.

Jump in your coach and visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum which is dedicated to the life and achievements of the ‘Father of the Nation’, Mahatma Gandhi. The museum displays a detailed account of India’s struggle for independence along with the bloodstained dhoti the famous leader wore when he was assassinated in 1948.

We’ll enjoy lunch at the legendary eatery, Sree Sabarees restaurant and stop by the extravagant palace at Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, built in the 17th-century by King Tirumala Nayaka who ruled Madurai from 1623 to 1659, before returning to our hotel in the late afternoon.

This evening you’ll immerse yourself in Tamil culture with a visit to a local family home for a traditional home cooked dinner. Mingle with the family to learn about their lives and try the local dishes such as the peppery and spicy Chettinad chicken with tamarind rice, thoran – a dry vegetable curry with fresh vegetables and cooked with mustard seeds, green chillies, ginger and grated coconut, and payasam, a sweet milk pudding with vermicelli.

Overnight: Heritage Madurai, Madurai (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast and checking out, we’ll travel in air conditioned carriages on the TPJ TVC Express from Madurai to Nagercoil, enjoying lunch on the train en route. At Nagercoil, we stay on board where the train becomes the Kanyakumari to Trivandrum Train Island Express train.

No part of the Trivandrum Train Island Express train route is actually on an island – it’s a hangover from a past naming protocol – but it ranks as one of the most picturesque train journeys in India. It’s a magical trip that takes passengers to the backwaters of Kerala, passing villages of sugar-pink houses, elaborately decorated temples, whitewashed churches, waterlogged paddy fields and coconut palms.

Upon our arrival at Trivandrum train station we’ll use a private vehicle to transfer to the beach town of Varkala, arriving late afternoon in time for a sunset drink before dinner.

Perched along the edge of majestic 15 metre high red laterite cliffs, Varkala has a naturally beautiful setting and is one of Kerala’s most popular beach towns. Once settled into your hotel, you might like to explore your surroundings before we all head into town together to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant serving fresh seafood, caught right off the coast.

Your hotel tonight is the B’Canti Boutique Beach Resort which has an outdoor pool and breathtaking sea views.

Overnight: B’Canti Boutique Beach Resort, Varkala (B, L, D)

There is time to relax in the grounds of the resort after breakfast and checking out this morning, before taking another scenic train ride, the Nethravathi Express train from Varkala, which will take us  past rubber, tea, and coffee plantations to the quaint town of Kollam and onward to our final destination of the day, Alleppey’s sleepy, palm-shaded waterways, arriving just after noon.

Alleppey (Alappuzha), known as the “Venice of the East” was once a significant trading port in the 17th century and in 2016 was rated as the cleanest town in India. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before boarding our privately chartered houseboat for an unforgettable overnight excursion floating through the dreamy waters of rural Kerala.

The Kerala Backwaters, once busy with passing kettuvallam houseboats, transporting impressive quantities of goods such as rice and spices, is home to a labyrinthine network of rivers, lagoons and inlets and lakes parallel with the western Arabian Sea coast.

The Kettuvallam is known locally as a ‘boat with knots’ as ropes tied in knots hold the entire structure of the vessel together. Incredibly, during the entire assembling of the boat, not a single nail is used. These days, these barges have been transformed into luxurious floating hotels with private bedrooms, western toilets and a dining area and open deck where you can watch the world go by.

A special off-boat activity will be a stop at the village of Kumarakom, a sleepy place which is quintessential Kerala Backwaters, with its shady palm trees, winding waterways and a mooring spot for traditional houseboats. On arrival, we’ll head out on a village walk strolling under palm trees which weave in between the rice fields while you see local residents going about their daily lives in this unique and tranquil environment.

This evening we’ll enjoy dinner and drinks in our floating hotel for an authentic Keralan experience.

Overnight: Exotica Cruises Houseboat in Alleppey – Kerala Luxury Houseboat (B, L, D)

It’s a lazy morning on the water today. We’ll have breakfast and an early lunch on the boat while enjoying the peaceful Kerala waters, before disembarking and transferring to the train station to board the Netravathi Express train from Alleppey to Ernakulam Junction Railway Station, arriving in mid-afternoon.

Upon arrival, we’ll visit the nearby Bolgatty Palace, a magnificent example of Kochi architecture. One of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside Holland, the palace was built in 1744 by Dutch traders and later extended to include the magnificent gardens and landscaping. After India attained independence, like so many of the palaces throughout India, it became the property of the state and was converted into a heritage hotel resort. We’ll then board our private vehicle to Kochi, taking the route via Marine Drive so you can experience Kochi’s gorgeous shoreline along Vembanad Lake.

Upon arrival in Kochi in the late afternoon, we’ll go directly to our hotel and check in. After some time to relax and freshen up, we’ll gather together for a farewell dinner in a local restaurant to reflect on your adventure together.

Overnight: Fragrant Nature Kochi, Kochi (B, L, D)

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast this morning. For those leaving us to continue their travels onward or fly home, we’ll transfer you to your point of departure, whether it be Kochi train station or the airport. (B)