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Day 01: Flight to India (Chennai)
Around Midnight arrive in Chennai (formerly known as Madras).
Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and
transferred to the hotel.
Day 02: Chennai
Today after having the breakfast you will drive through the
coastal route to Mahabalipuram. In Mahabalipuram you will
visit some of the 14 cave temples and 9 monolithic rathas
(temple chariots). In the afternoon you will visit the St.
George Fort. This fort is near the harbour area of Chennai.
The British built this fort in the 17th century.
Day 03: Chennai - Bangalore
In the morning you will drive to Bangalore. Bangalore is the
capital city of the Indian state Karnataka. This former
"Garden city" Bangalore is known today as "computer city" of
India. In the afternoon you will drive through the garden city
with its numerous avenues of Jacaranda, Gulmohar and Cassia.
You will visit the Bull temple, which is built in the
Dravidian style of architecture. This temple has a huge Nandi
Bull carved out of single Grey Granite. You will also visit
the famous Gowda Fort, which was built by Tipu Sultan. You
will also visit the Vidhan Sauda and downtown commercial
centre. This Vidhana Sauda, which is built after independence,
stands out by its imposing architecture in the neo Dravidian
style.
Day 04: Bangalore - Bannerghatta National Park -
Bangalore
Today you will drive further to visit Bannerghatta National
Park. Here you can find everything from avifauna to panthers
in the Bannerghatta National Park. This park is home to
panthers, lions, tigers and a large variety of birds. This
park covers an area of 104.27 square km and is about 22 km
from the city of Bangalore. Other animals include the
Elephant, Gaur, Leopard, Jackal, Fox, Wild Pig, Sloth Bear,
Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Langur, Bonnet Macaque,
Porcupine and the Hare.
Day 05: Bangalore - Mysore
Today in the morning after having breakfast you will pass
through the betel nut and pepper plantation and proceed to
Mysore. Today you will make a stopover in Sravanabelgola where
you will visit the colossal monolithic statue, standing 18
meters high. This Jain sculpture represents the saintly prince
Bahubali after he had gained enlightenment. After the visit of
Sravanabelgola you will proceed to Mysore. Mysore is world
famous for silk and sandalwood. Mysore is also a centre of
producing saris that is a common dress of woman in India. In
Mysore you will drive to Chamundi Hill to see a giant Nandi
(buffalo god) and enjoy the view of the surroundings from the
hilltop. You will also visit the beautiful Brindavan Gardens
in the evening.
Day 06: Mysore - Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary - Mysore
Today you will drive to visit Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.
This sanctuary is around 20 km from Mysore. This bird
sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Kaveri River,
includes a group of six islets as well. This bird sanctuary
attained the status of a bird sanctuary in the year 1940. The
large number of birds at the sanctuary has attracted large
number of tourists. Some species of birds that are found here
are Spoonbills, Open bill Storks, Darters, White Ibis, Little
Cormorants, Egret, Heron, Partridge, River Tern, Stone
Plougher, Snake Birds, etc. We can also have ride along the
river and the islets, to witness the trees full of beautiful
birds of myriad varieties. After visiting this sanctuary you
will drive back to the hotel in Mysore.
Day 07: Mysore - Belur (about 170 km)
Today in the morning you will visit the most impressive and
one of the largest city palaces in India. The City Palace of
Mysore "Ambar Vilas" is built in the Indo-Saracenic style.
After the sightseeing in Mysore you will proceed through
picturesque hilly landscape and arrive in Halebid. Halebid is
the ancient capital of Hoysala Empire. In Halebid you will
visit the Hoysalesvara Temple of 12th century where you will
see half-life size statues of Hindu deities, with minute
details of each, all around the temple. After the visit in
Halebid you will proceed to Belur. In Belur you will visit the
group of Chennakesava Temples that are famous for their
architecture and sculptures.
Day 08: Belur - Bandipur National Park
In the morning after having breakfast you will drive further
to Bandipur National Park. In the afternoon you will visit the
Bandipur National Park. Bandipur National Park is one the many
reserves located within the forest belt between the Western
Ghats and the Nilgiri Mountains. Bandipur lies in the southern
state of Karnataka and covers a forest area of 865 square
kilometers. It was declared a National Park in 1974 and is one
of the original 9 tiger reserves under the watchful eye of
"Project Tiger". Bandipur has a sizeable population of
wildlife - the Royal Bengal Tiger, Elephant, Spotted Deer and
Sambar, Gaur and Flying Squirrel, four horned Antelope,
Nilgiri Langur and Sloth Bear. Amongst the reserve's most
prominent animals are its 1900 -odd elephants.
Day 09: Bandipur National Park - Ooty
In the morning again you will have a stroll through Bandipur
National Park and then, you will pass through the Tea
plantation and eucalyptus forests of mountains of Nilgiri and
arrive in the city Ooty (Udhagamandalam). Ooty was developed
as hill station by British, lies at an altitude of 2300 m. and
still has British flair.
Day 10: Ooty
Ooty (also known as the queen of the blue mountains) is famous
for its rolling hills covered in pine and eucalyptus forests
and also for its coffee and tea plantations. You will visit
the famous and most beautiful botanical Garden of Ooty which
covers an area over 20 hectares and is planted with more than
a thousand varieties of plants, shrubs and trees including
orchids, fern and alpine. Evening free for leisure.
Day 11: Ooty - Kumarakom
Today after having breakfast you will drive through the
mountains, which are full of Cardamom and pass through the tea
and coffee plantations and proceed to Kumarakom. In Kumarakom
you will enjoy the Boat ride trip through the tropical
vegetation on the backwaters.
Day 12: Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
In the morning you will visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.
Earlier an old rubber plantation, Kumarakom was developed into
a bird sanctuary on the banks of Vemband Lake spreading over
14 acres of land. It is now a leisure retreat very popular
with foreigners. This sanctuary is on the southern bank of
Kavanar River opposite the Coconut Lagoon. Kumarakom is home
to numerous species of birds, such as Darters, Bitterns, Teal,
Waterfowl, Cuckoo, Wild Ducks, Brahminy Kites, Marsh Harries,
Teals and Herons and Siberian storks. You will visit the
Sanctuary by having a boat ride.
Day 13: Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - Kochi (Cochin)
In the morning you will drive to Kochi (Cochin). This drive
gives us again an impression of the beautiful landscaping of
this region. Cochin is the most interesting town in South
India at Malabar Coast and is also known as Venice of South.
In Cochin you will visit St. Francis church, the oldest
European church in India in which the grave of famous sailor
Vasco da Gama can be visited. After the visit of St. Francis
Church you will have a walk through the Jewish area of
Mattancherry.
Day 14: Cochin
Today you will have your whole day at leisure so that you can
explore Cochin on your own. In the late afternoon you will
visit a Kathakali dance school. Kathakali dances come from
Kerala and in its traditional form relate stories from the
Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Rest of the day at
leisure.
Day 15: Cochin
Around midnight flight to home destination.
To enable us to send you the rates of the 15 Days South India
Birding Tour, we need to have the number of participants and
the dates from you. (Query)
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