Spices and Sandalwood Tour

On arriving at the Bangalore Airport, an IHPL representative offers an assisted transfer to your hotel. Otherwise called the Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka state, famous for its thriving Information Technology Industry. Its development in the field of technology has been balanced with innumerable gardens, forts and palaces etc. The day’s visits may include Lal Bagh, Bangalore Palace, Cubbon Park, etc. After witnessing the city's grandeur, return to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, leave for Mysore today. On the way, halt at the Tipu Sultan’s capital- Srirangapatna. On arrival, complete the check-in formalities at your hotel. Later, leave for a visit to the Mysore Maharaja Palace, also known as the Amba Vilas Palace- an Indo-Saracenic architectural style. Later, visit the Nandi or Bull Temple, located on the Chamundi hills. This temple is dedicated to Nandi, the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Overnight stay.

On the 3rd day, post breakfast, leave for the Nagarhole National Park lying 90 kilometers to the southern summit of Mysore, which is a reserve of leopard, tiger, elephant, and over 250 species of birds. On arriving at Nagarhole, complete the check-in formalities at your jungle lodge. Spend the day at leisure- admiring the surrounding lush greenery, indulging in nature walk etc. While in Mysore, don’t forget to buy original sandalwood and visit the sandalwood plant nurseries.  Stay overnight.

All of day 4 is scheduled for a wildlife safari into the national park. Actually conceptualized in 1983, the Nagarhole National Park, also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, mainly consists of moist grasslands sprawled across 645 square kilometers. It provides ample opportunity for wildlife viewing. Stay overnight.

Today, you drive towards Coonoor. On your way, admire the exquisite hill station of Ooty- a landform sketched with wonderful precision and great care. Offering a serene relief from the din of city life, Coonoor is just 13 kilometers from Ooty. You can also see the Dolphin's Nose while exploring the Blue Mountains; tea gardens that carpet the base of the hill and offer a placid sight. On arriving in Coonoor, check-in your hotel. If time and energy permit, you can explore the surroundings on foot. Stay overnight.

This day starts with a drive to the Malabar Coast and then to Cochin. The fascinating sight of the Portuguese, Dutch, and British influence still reminds one of the past days. On arrival, check-in at your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure-interact with the locals, explore the surroundings on foot, etc. Stay overnight.

The 7th day is for sightseeing in Cochin including the major tourist attractions such as the Jewish Synagogue, the Dutch Palace, and the Saint Francis Church. In the evening, cruise down the backwaters to explore the nearby islets and observe some real and fascinating Chinese Fishing nets. Chochi is the spice coast of India, also known as the spice garden of India. You can buy aromatic spices from the traditional shops in Fort Kochi. Stay overnight.

Today, you get transported by road to Munnar, one of the most frequented hill stations in the south. Located 1520 meters above the sea level, it is also famous for tea and spice plantations. On arrival, check-in at your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Enjoy a leisure walk around the tea plantations, visit the Christ Church and the other attractions that may include Echo Point, Forest Rose Garden, etc. In the evening, you can enjoy a boat ride in the Kundala lake to witness the spice garden in Kerala. You can also take a tour to Marayoor to witness naturally grown sandalwood trees. The Hub of Sandalwood Trees is located forty km from Munnar. Stay overnight.

After breakfast, leave for a wildlife safari at the Eravikulam National Park. This national park houses the largest population of surviving Nilgiri Tahr. During the safari, you may spot wildlife species such as Gaur, Indian Muntjac, Sambar Deer. Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat, Wild dog, Dhole, leopard, tiger, Nilgiri langur, Stripe-necked Mongoose, Indian Porcupine along with 132 avifauna species. Back to Munnar for an overnight stay.

On the 10th day of the tour, begin driving along Aleppey's coastline, in a cruising motorboat, across Vembanad Lake to Changanacherry. This brings you to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady). On reaching Periyar, check-in your jungle lodge. The rest of the day is free for leisure activities- take a nature walk, indulge in bird watching where you may spot Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, the Great Malabar Hornbill, etc. Stay overnight.

Perhaps the most thrilling part of your itinerary tour is a cruise down the waters to view the wildlife at Periyar. You can also trek through the scenic forest spotting various animal species such as Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dole or Indian Wild Dog, Indian Bison, Wild Boar, etc. Stay overnight.

Today, begin driving towards Madurai. On reaching, check-in your hotel. After lunch, leave to visit the best known Meenakshi Temple, also known as Meenakshi Amman Temple. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati. The temple complex has 14 gateway towers called gopurams, between 45-50 meters in height. Stay overnight.

Get on-time transfer to the airport to board a flight to Chennai. On arrival, check-in your hotel, Later, leave for a city tour. Enjoy fun activities at Marina Beach or indulge in sightseeing including attractions like Fort St George, Kapleshwarar temple, Birla Planetarium, etc. Stay overnight.

Spend the day at leisure. In the evening, our affable agent would make sure that you do not have the slightest trouble while boarding your flight as you head off to home.