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South India Heritage Forts, Palaces and Backwater Cruise Tour

Package price On Request

Product Code : AGORA361

Embark on a 14-day journey to explore the rich cultural and historical heritage of South India, starting from Hyderabad and ending in Alleppey. Visit iconic attractions such as Golconda Fort, Charminar, Bidar Fort, Bijapur Fort, and the ruins of Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the tea plantations of Munnar and take a boat safari at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spend a night on a houseboat while cruising through the backwaters of Alleppey, and witness the unique farming practices in the area. Enjoy traditional martial arts and dance performances and take home fragrant spices from a local market.

 

Day 1: Arrival Hyderabad

Upon your arrival at Cochin airport, you will be picked up by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Check-in at the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in Hyderabad.

 

Day 2: Hyderabad city tour

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a full-day city tour of Hyderabad. Visit the iconic Golconda Fort, Qutub Shahi Tombs, and the famous Charminar, an Islamic monument and mosque. Take a tour of the Salar Jung Museum, known for its vast collection of art, antiques, and artifacts, and explore the Chowmahalla Palace, a former residence of the Nizams. End the day with a visit to the Birla Mandir and a drive past the beautiful Hussain Sagar Lake. Overnight stay in Hyderabad.

 

Day 3: Hyderabad - Gulbarga

After breakfast, check-out and drive to Gulbarga. En route, visit the Bidar Fort and Bahmani Tombs, known for their impressive architecture and historic significance. On arrival in Gulbarga, check-in at the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in Gulbarga.

 

Day 4: Gulbarga - Bijapur (170km)

Post breakfast, check-out and visit the Gulbarga Fort, a historic structure that houses many ancient mosques and tombs. Visit the Jama Masjid, Sharana Basaveshwara Temple, and the Tomb of Sufi mystic Khwaja Bande Nawaz before driving to Bijapur. On arrival, check-in at the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in Bijapur.

 

Day 5: Bijapur - Badami (120km)

After breakfast, explore Bijapur Fort, Asar Mahal, Bara Kaman, Gol Gumbaz, Jama Masjid, Malik-e-Maidan, Mehtar Mahal, and Ibrahims Rouza. Later, drive to Badami, check-in at the hotel, and spend the night there.

 

Day 6: Badami

Begin your day by visiting Aihole and Pattadakal, two ancient temple towns with several temples and monuments from the Chalukya dynasty. Afterward, explore the Badami Cave temples, Badami Fort, and Agastya Lake, all located within the city limits. Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 7: Badami - Hampi (180km)
On your way to Hampi, visit Gadag and Lakkundi to see the unique blend of ancient Hindu and Jain temples and medieval architecture. Upon arrival in Hampi, check-in at the hotel and spend the night there.

 

Day 8: Hampi

Today, explore the ruins of Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site with several temple complexes and monuments dating back to the Vijayanagara Empire. Visit Hazara Rama Temple, Kings Balance, Mahanavami Dibba, Royal enclosures, Statue of Ugra Narasimha Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Vithala Temple Complex, Lotus Mahal, and ASI Museum. Spend the night at the hotel.

 

Day 9: Hampi - Cochin (flight)

After breakfast, transfer to Hubli airport to board a flight for Cochin. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel and spend the night there.

 

Day 10: Cochin - Munnar (140km)

Explore Cochin's charming seaside area, Fort Cochin, known for its colonial architecture and fishing nets. Visit St. Francis Church, the original burial site of explorer Vasco da Gama, the Jewish Synagogue, and Mattancherry Dutch's Palace. Later, drive to Munnar and check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 11: Munnar

Spend your day exploring the tea, coffee, and cardamom plantations of Pothamedu. Visit the Mattupetty Dam and Reservoir for water storage and hydroelectric projects. Take a trip to Rajamala hill station in Eravikulam National Park to see the Niligiri tahr, a rare mountain goat. Visit Mattupedi Dairy Farm and Echo Point before discovering the tea culture at the Tea Museum. Spend the night at the hotel.

 

Day 12: Munnar - Thekkady (110km)

After breakfast, drive to Thekkady via Ramakkalmedu, a windy place with a wind farm generating electricity. Enroute, stop at Frog Rock, Turtle Rock, and Kuravan & Kurathi twin-statue for some unique photo opportunities. In the evening, watch a Martial Arts & Kathakali Dance show, a traditional art form of Kerala that tells stories through dance and music. Overnight stay at the hotel in Thekkady.

 

Day 13: Thekkady - Kumarakom (140km)

Embark on a boat safari at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in the morning, which is home to a variety of wildlife such as elephants, bison, deer, and more. After the safari, take a tour of a spice plantation to learn about the cultivation of spices and pick up some fragrant spices at the local market. Later, drive to Kumarakom and check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel in Kumarakom.

 

Day 14: Kumarakom - Alleppey

After breakfast, transfer to the Alleppey boat jetty to board a houseboat for a relaxing cruise through the backwaters. Enjoy the sights of palm-fringed narrow canals and tiny hamlets while cruising on the houseboat. Experience farming below sea level in one of the few areas in the world, and witness the daily life of the locals. Spend the night on the houseboat and enjoy the sunset from the sun-deck.

 

Day 15: Alleppey - Cochin (60km)

After breakfast on the houseboat, disembark and drive to Cochin for your departure transfer to the airport. If time permits, explore the city and visit popular attractions like Fort Cochin, St. Francis Church, and the Jewish Synagogue. Depart for your onward journey with fond memories of your Kerala trip.

- Assistance on arrival at airport.

- 14 Nights' accommodation in selected price category hotels.

- Daily breakfast at hotels.

- Private AC car/van for airport transfers, sightseeing, and excursions as per the program.

- English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.

- Monument entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.

- Bottled drinking water in car.

- Government taxes.

 

Hotels used or similar for 14 night accommodation

Hyderabad x 2 nights
3* - Aditya Park/ Lemon Tree Hotel
4* - Lemon Tree Hotel/ Fortune Park Vallabha 
5* - ITC Kakatiya, a Luxury Collection/ Trident Hotel

Gulbarga  x 1 nights
3*/4*/5* - Hotel Heritage Inn

Bijapur  x 1 nights
3*/4*/5* - Sun Hotel/ Hotel Mayura Adilshahi

Badami x 2 nights
3* - Krishna Heritage/ The Heritage Resort
4*/5* - Badami Court/ Krishna Heritage

Hospet/ Hampi x 2 nights
3* - Krishna Palace/ Kishkinda Heritage Resort
4* - Heritage Resort/ Malligi Hotel
5* - Hyatt Place/ Hampi Boulders

Cochin x 1 nights
3* - The Dune Hotel/ Abad Plaza
4* - Casino Hotel/ The Avenue Regent
5* - Xandari Harbour/ Le Meridien

Munnar x 2 nights
3* - Fort Munnar/ Abad Copper Castle
4* - Nature Zone Jungle Resort/ Fragrant Nature Munnar
5* - Chandys Windy Woods/ Tea County

Thekkady (Thekkady) x 1 nights
3* - Abad Green Forest/ Hotel Treetop
4* - The Elephant Court/ Cardamom County
5* - Spice village/ Cardamom County

Kumarakom x 1 nights
3* - Abad Whispering Palm/ Cocobay Resort
4* - Eastend Lake Song/ Goldfield Lake Resort
5* - Coconut Lagoon/ The Zuri

Alleppey x 1 night
3* - Deluxe Houseboat (ATDC Houseboat/ Dream Boats)
4* - Premium Houseboat (Abad Premium Houseboats/ Rainbow Premium Houseboats)
5* - Luxury Houseboat (Xandari Riverscapes/ Lakes & Lagoons)

- Hubli - Cochin flight fare approx INR 5,500 per person in economy class.

- Camera charges at monuments if any.

- Meals other than mentioned in the inclusions.

- Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc. 

- Gratuities and optional activities.

- Anything not mentioned in inclusions.