Arrival at Trivandrum, Kerala’s capital where your South Indian exploration begins… From Trivandrum proceed to one of the finest beach havens in the world - Kovalam. Check in to your hotel / resort at Kovalam on arrival and get ready for a beach day. Kovalam is blessed with three lovely crescent-shaped seashores, namely ‘Samudra Beach’ (which is the main beach), ‘Howah Beach’ and ‘Lighthouse Beach’. Spent the entire day engaged in various beach activities - sunbathing, swimming, enjoying the big splashes in the rejuvenating sea breeze… After a satisfying beach stint, return to your hotel / resort for overnight stay.

Now it’s time to experience a typical Kerala specialty - the backwater cruise. Drive to Alappuzha from Kovalam. With plenty of waterways, canals & backwater lagoons, Alappuzha is rightfully dubbed in the world tourism map as ‘the Venice of the East’ - also the hub of Kerala’s backwater tourism.

By afternoon check in to a houseboat at Alappuzha. As the overnight cruise begins, settle down in this floating luxury and get immersed in the gentle rhymes of backwaters. Watch the green paddies dotted with coconut trees, groups of ducks enjoying the waters, village folks engaged in their age-old routines… grasp the spirit of rural Kerala that still thrives unaltered in these regions. Spice up your cruise with delicious Kerala cuisines along the way. Overnight stay in the houseboat comforts.

Today morning transfer to the Resort at Kumarakom from the houseboat… Kumarakom is a location that still retains its pristine self. Afterwards, take a short tour of the village - exploring its natural landscapes. Visit the ‘Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary’ (famous for local and migratory birds). In the evening return to your Resort and stay overnight.

Spend a full day engrossed in the lavish comforts of the Kumarakom Resort… According to your choice, avail Resort’s special services that include ‘Ayurveda Massage’, ‘Yoga’, ‘Meditation’, etc. Get yourself thoroughly rejuvenated. Overnight stay at Kumarakom Resort.

From one beauty spot to another … Depart Kumarakom for ‘Thekkady’ - abode of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, a major wildlife reserve in the country. After arriving at the destination, soon set out to visit that wild hub. Enriched with variety flora & fauna, Periyar Sanctuary attracts a large number of nature lovers every year as it is ideal for watching animals in their natural habitat. Here you can either opt for a boating in the beautiful lake, or engage in other exciting activities like soft trekking, spice plantation visit, shopping spice items ... Overnight stay at the hotel in Thekkady.

Add a touch of modernity as a welcome variety in your tour program. Leave Thekkady and drive to ‘Kochi’, Kerala’s no: 1 port city. In a drive that takes a few hours enjoy Kerala’s green covered landscape that dot the way. After reaching Kochi check in to your hotel & relax. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel in Kochi.

Today set out for a city sightseeing tour. Kochi is a place that effectively combines its modern luxuries together with the medieval colonial charm. You will justify this fact after experiencing both - right from the main city center to suburban locations like Mattancherry and Fort Kochi. The Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church and Anglo Indian Bungalows at Fort Kochi and, the Dutch Palace, Jewish Street & Synagogue at Mattancherry bring back memories of the stylish colonial era… while the busy M G Road and Marine Drive thrives ahead in modernity. After a thorough city tour return to your hotel at Kochi for overnight stay.

Time for experiencing the thrill of hilly regions… Say bye to Kochi for an excursion to a well known hill station in the world - ‘Ooty’. First take a drive to ‘Coimbatore’, a major industrial city in Tamil Nadu as well as a transit-destination to Ooty. On reaching Coimbatore, check in to your lodgings, take own time to freshen-up and settle down. Overnight stay at Coimbatore

In the morning depart from Coimbatore to the ‘Queen of Hill Stations in South’. The drive to Ooty is itself refreshing with several challenging hair-pin curves on the way. Upon reaching, check in to the Hotel at Ooty and take own time to settle in the coolish environs. As time permits, just roam around in the town area and do some shopping - as at times you cannot restrict buying some cute things typically unique to this place. Overnight stay in the comforts of the Hotel at Ooty.

A full day especially for Ooty sightseeing… Set out to experience the hill station’s prized attractions like, the Ooty Lake (where you can avail boating options or horse riding along the banks), Botanical Gardens (where you can find some of the treasured plants & flowers in the world), Dodabetta Peak (the highest point in Ooty, where you can experience a spellbinding view of the misty mountains & valleys), Echo Rock (a rock that naturally took the shape of a lamb; also known as Lamb’s Rock)… After plenty of refreshments return to your Hotel in late evening for overnight stay.

Today depart from Ooty’s chills to ‘Mysore’, a city of post-royal charm. An exciting ride with heartwarming views of plantations, streams and waterfalls brings you to the city of Mysore. On arrival, settle down in the Hotel at Mysore. In the evening, as time permits, make a visit to one of the oldest & grandest churches in the city - St. Philomena's Church, a perfect example of gothic style of architecture in India. Overnight stay at Mysore.

A full day for sightseeing the legendary city of Mysore... Start off your trip with a visit to the Mysore Palace - once the official residence of the Wodeyar Kings, erstwhile rulers of Mysore Kingdom. Watch the magnificent architectural brilliance of the palace, where you can find a blend of various noted construction styles in medieval India era, moreover a typical Indo-Saracenic style.

Then, visit the nearby Art Gallery - which is also a former palace converted into art gallery. Considered among the best of its kind in India, here you can view the painting & murals that showcase the legacy of Mysore Royal family, as well as, famous paintings of various artists across the world.

Later set out to visit a major attraction in the outskirts of Mysore - the Brindavan Gardens and Krishnarajasagar Dam. Built across the river Cauvery, Krishnarajasagar Dam is an important irrigation project in South India. Roam around the Brindavan Gardens, a beautifully laid out terrace garden enriched with fountains, terraces, cascading water-channels, trees, green lawns and flower beds. Don’t miss its prime attraction - the ‘musical & dancing fountain’. Watch how the beauty is technicality mingled with nature! At night, return to your hotel in Mysore for overnight stay.

After experiencing Mysore’s legacy, it’s time to get more insight into the glorious times of bygone royal dynasties that once held sway in Deccan. Depart Mysore and travel to ‘Hassan’ -known as the ‘Poor Man's Ooty’ for its scenic locations also the base of some fabulous heritage sites (Belur, Halebid). En route visit the historic place, ‘Srirangapattana’ (Capital of former Mysore King, Tipu Sultan). Visit its famed monuments like, Tipu’s Fort and Palace. See the spot where the Sultan was killed during the fatal battle between Mysore and the British (which paved way for the British dominance in South India).

Continue your journey… Next halt at ‘Shravanabelagola’ one of the holiest Jain pilgrimage sites; renowned for its colossal monolithic statue of Jain saint Gomateshwara. Created around 983 AD, the statue, standing at a height of 18 meters, is regarded the tallest monolithic statue in the world. Then proceed to Hassan… on arrival check in to your hotel for overnight stay.

From Hassan, start a tour to a pair of breathtakingly beautiful temple towns - Belur & Halebid - that are second to one anywhere else in architectural brilliance. Popularly known as Southern Banaras (Dakshina Varanasi), ‘Belur’ was the former capital of Hoysala Kings who were great patrons of temples. Visit the most stunning trademark of Belur, the ‘Chennakeshava Temple’. This star shaped temple will leave its onlookers spell-bound with sublime structural beauty. Its peculiar structure, vastly contrasting from other traditional Dravidian temples, together with fantastically carved temple-walls will always keep the visitors glued to this place!

With a refreshed mindset, proceed to ‘Halebid’ - another erstwhile capital of the Hoysalas. At Halebid visit other superb testimonials of Hoysala temple architecture such as the Hoysaleshwara Temple and the Kedareshwara Temple. After seeing all these magnificent monuments you will surely wonder; is there any such temples in the world outclass the classy ones in Belur & Halebid? Later, visit ‘Basadi Halli’ where you will find a number of serene Jain monasteries. Understand that Jainism was a dominant region in ancient India.

After the tryst with ancient & medieval worship centers, bid adieu to Hassan and drive to ‘Hospet’, the gateway to South India’s glorious past - ‘Empire of Vijayanagara’. Upon reaching the destination city check in to your hotel. Be at leisure for the rest of the day. Overnight stay in Hospet.

Begin sightseeing of a never-before place that occupies a permanent slot in both Indian & world history… ‘Vijayanagara’ - the once-majestic capital of ‘Vijayanagara Empire’, an empire that once covered the entire South India and rated amongst the mightiest and wealthiest empires of its era! Now in ruins; this post-royal city was regarded as the most splendid city in the world of its time. This was a place that once brimmed with abundant wealth and international traders… a time when even gold & diamonds were sold on waysides here! There was never-before-or-after a place in the world which was brimming with activity on once day and reduced to ruins on the next! That was the result of the infamous Battle of Talikota (in 1565) which ended the last great Hindu Empire in South India. The aftermath was about six months of continuous merciless looting & plundering - perhaps most ruthless of its kind - that left city of Vijayanagara in shambles. What now stands is ‘Hampi’, the original centre of Vijayanagara city.

Explore the ruins of Hampi which mainly consists of two parts - ‘Royal Centre’ and ‘Sacred Centre’. In Royal Centre, as its name implies, see the remains of splendid royal monuments notably the ‘Lotus Mahal’, ‘Queen’s Bath’, ‘Royal Elephant Stables’, etc. In Sacred Centre visit legendary temples that includes the ‘Virupaksha Temple’ (the biggest shrine here that towers proudly over the Hampi leftovers), ‘Vittala Temple’ (another major pilgrimage center in Hampi), ‘The King's Balance’ (a tall granite-pillared structure formerly used as a balance), ‘Lakshmi Narasimha’ (a massive rock cut idol of Lord Narasimha), ‘Sule Bazaar’ (which was once an international trade center), ‘Achyutaraya Temple’ (one more serene temple neighbored by a hill) … With many questions about how such a wealthy state capital was reduced to ruins within no time; return to your hotel at Hospet for overnight stay.

Depart from the glories of bygone Vijayanagara… from Hospet drive to ‘Badami’, another erstwhile royal capital famous for its cave temples. On the way drop in at ‘Aihole’, the first capital of the legendary Chalukya Empire that once covered large parts of southern and central India. As time has taken its toll, Aihole now is a calm village beautified with timeworn elegant temple structures throughout. A look-around at Aihole; and you will learn that it is one of the cradles of ancient temple architecture.

From Aihole proceed to the nearby ‘Pattadakal’, another capital royal of the Chalukya Kings. This place gives a perfect illustration of Chalukyan architectural style; which was a wonderful blend of Southern (Dravidian) and Northern (Indo-Aryan) temple architectural styles. In fact Pattadakal may be the only place where both North & South Indian-styled temples share the same landscape. Here there are ten temples - four built in Dravidian style, another four in Indo-Aryan style, one in mixed style and one Jain shrine. All temples perfectly illustrate themes from Hindu mythology.

With enhanced know-how of timeless architectural legacy, continue your journey to Badami. Upon reaching, get in to your lodgings at Badami and stay overnight.

Today morning make a visit to Badami’s world renowned heritage site - Cave temple complex. Here you can see four rock-cut caves, Cave 1 (dedicated to Lord Shiva, with a magnificent statue of Nataraja - the lord in dancing posture), Cave 2 (dedicated to Lord Vishnu), Cave 3 (the biggest of the lot with depictions of Lord Vishnu’s various incarnations) and Cave 4 (dedicated to Jainism; with statues of ‘Jain Tirthankaras’ - Propagators of Jain faith). After learning thoroughly about earlier Hindu empires’ legacies; return to your lodgings. Overnight stay at Badami.

Now uncover one more eventful chapter in the medieval-era Deccan… Depart from Badami to ‘Bijapur’. Dotted with old mosques, mausoleums, palaces and fortifications, this former capital of Bijapur Sultanate stand as a mute witness of the splendid royal era.

On reaching Bijapur, visit its most noted landmark - the ‘Gol Gumbaz’, mausoleum of Muhamad Adil Shah, a ruler from the Adil Shahi dynasty that ruled Bijapur for centuries. What makes this mammoth tomb stand out is its central dome. Unsupported by any pillar, this is regarded as the third largest surviving one of its kind; in the world. See the astonishing whispering-gallery, where even the faintest sound is echoed about eleven times! After the mausoleum visit, proceed to the great ‘Juma Masjid’, which is considered as one among the finest in India. After enough visual delights at Bijapur, return to your hotel and relax. Overnight stay at Bijapur.

It is transition time - from Bijapur to Goa - to be precise, from Sultanate times to Colonial times, Indian peninsula houses such vast varieties of cultural & heritage. Take a drive to ‘Goa’ - former Portuguese colony for more than 400 years, now a tiny Indian state with plenty of beautiful beaches, famed monuments and rich biodiversity.

After a long but enjoyable ride you will find amongst the ages-old colonial charm. Still retaining remarkable Portuguese influence, Goa offers an entirely different visual treat compared to other regions in the country. Start your Goa sightseeing with its most famous heritage monuments the ‘Cathedral at Old Goa’ (regarded as the largest church in Asia… contains the biggest Golden Bell in the world), ‘Church of St. Francis of Assisi’ (another testimony of colonial style; with elegantly carved interiors) and the nearby ‘Archaeological Museum’ (formerly the Church’s convent, now showcases various colonial artifacts, portraits, etc). As daylight fades away, get in to your lodgings at Goa for overnight stay.

For today and tomorrow enjoy Goa’s most famous assets - beaches. Blessed with over a hundred kilometers of seashores Goa’s beaches are internationally acclaimed for beauty & entertainments. Start with North Goa’s splendid seashores that consist of, ‘Calangute Beach’ (most popular beach IN THIS AREA with people flocking here all the time), ‘Anjuna Beach’ (a beach beauty is known for its breeze-catching palms, soft sand bead plus peculiar rocky formations), ‘Vagator Beach’ (a secluded, crescent shaped seashore - the most photographed one in Goa), ‘Arambol Beach’ (known its soft yellow clay with healing powers and reputed Yoga, Meditation, Tai Chi centres - a foreigners’ haven), ‘Miramar Beach’ (nearest beach to the Goan capital, regarded as the most visited beach in North Goa) and, ‘Dona Paula Beach’ (an international beach destination with an aura of romance & myths. Its Dona Paula Sculpture boasts a number of interesting legends). After the full day beach-stint, return to your hotel and stay overnight.

Now it’s the turn of beach paradises in South Goa… Visit the renowned beaches here, namely ‘Palolem Beach’ (a beach with fascinating white sand & blue bay combination - also famous for its ‘Silent Noise’ parties), ‘Agonda Beach’ (a 3 kms long lonely seashore fringed with palms - ideal for peace & tranquility), ‘Colva Beach’ (most prominent beach in the South Goa with about 20 kms of virgin white sand bead dotted with palms), ‘Benaulim Beach’ (another tranquil beach in the neighborhood, famous for locally-made handicrafts and traditional rosewood furniture), … As night falls retire to you lodgings for overnight stay.

Time to conclude your mega southern exploration… Check out from your lodgings and proceed to Goa Airport to catch your return flight - a return with full of happiness.