Mumbai, Goa & South India Architecture

Arrive in Mumbai, where we’ll meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Check-in is from 12:00 – early check-in is subject to availability. The rest of the day is free for you to relax at your own pace. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we set out on a Mumbai city tour, driving past Parliament House, CST and Flora Fountain. We pause at the Gateway of India, then board a motor boat to the Elephanta Caves – closed on Mondays. A climb of around 100 steps leads to the hilltop complex of seven rock-cut caves with finely carved sculptures centred on Lord Shiva. We cruise back to the Gateway of India in the afternoon.After lunch on your own, we visit Dhobi Ghat to see Mumbai’s traditional open air laundry in action – a long-established hereditary trade. In the evening we drive along Marine Drive – fondly known as the Queen’s Necklace for its sweeping arc of lights – and you may choose to stop at Chowpatty Beach, a popular promenade and sunset spot. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we transfer you to Mumbai airport for your flight to Goa. On arrival, we assist and drive you to your resort to check in. The rest of the day is at leisure – you can relax on the beach or unwind at the resort. Overnight at the resort.

After breakfast, we set out on a city tour of Goa, often called the Pearl of the Orient for its scenic beauty and historic architecture. We visit Old Goa – about 10 km from Panjim – including the Basilica of Bom Jesus, a 16th century church dedicated to the Infant Jesus and home to the tomb of St Francis Xavier, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We also see Se Cathedral with its vaulted interior, the Church of Our Lady of Miracles, the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and the St Monica Convent. We continue to Fort Aguada, the Portuguese era stronghold commanding the mouth of the Mandovi River, where a four storey lighthouse – among the oldest of its kind in Asia – still stands. In the evening we enjoy a cruise on the Mandovi River before returning to the resort for the night.

Goa to Hubli to Badami – 184 km – around 4 hours by road. After breakfast we drive via Hubli to Badami, former capital of the early Chalukyas, set at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. On arrival we check in, then set out to explore Badami’s rock cut cave temples along with gateways, the fort and notable inscriptions and sculpture. We climb the stone steps to the ancient sandstone caves on the cliff – three dedicated to the Hindu tradition and a fourth Jain cave temple. In the first cave we pass Shiva’s doorkeepers to view Nataraja with eighteen arms showing 81 dance poses. The third and largest cave honours Vishnu, with striking carvings including Narasimha, the half man and half lion avatar, and Harihara, the composite form of Shiva and Vishnu. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast in Badami, we head to Pattadakal – a UNESCO World Heritage site on the banks of the Malaprabha River – a superb showcase of 8th century Chalukyan architecture. The complex features a cluster of ten intricately carved temples, with Virupaksha and Mallikarjuna among the most renowned. We then continue to Aihole, widely regarded as the cradle of Hindu temple architecture, where hundreds of shrines are scattered across surrounding villages and fields. Highlights include the Durga Temple, noted for its semicircular apse, raised plinth and the gallery encircling the sanctum, along with the Lad Khan Temple, Huchimalli Temple, Ravalphadi Cave Temple celebrating the many forms of Shiva, the Konti Temple complex, the Umamaheswari Temple, the Jain Meguti Temple and the two storeyed Buddhist temple. We return to the hotel in Badami for the night.

After breakfast in Badami, we drive to Hampi – about 180 km and roughly 4 hours – with visits en route. In Gadag, we explore the Trikuteshwara Temple, dedicated to Shiva and noted for three lingas mounted on a single stone, plus a shrine to Saraswathi with carved columns. We then continue to Lakkundi to see its temple remains, including Mallikarjuna, Virabhadra, Manikeshwara, Nanneshwara, Lakshminarayana, Someshwara and Nilakanteshwara. On arrival in Hampi, we check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax.Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we set out on a city tour of Hampi – the medieval capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Granite hills frame the Tungabhadra River as we explore key monuments spread across more than 26 sq km. If you wish, you can rise early to watch sunrise from Matanga Hill – the highest point in Hampi – for sweeping views of the landscape. We then visit the Hazara Rama Temple, the striking monolithic images of Ganesha and Narasimha, the Elephant Stables, the Queen’s Bath, and the intricate carvings at the Ramachandra Temple and the elegant Lotus Mahal. The sites are dispersed, with some walking over uneven ground. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast in Hampi, we drive to Hassan via Halebid and Belur – approximately 170 km and about four hours on the road. En route we visit Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebid, renowned for its richly detailed stone carvings that cover the exterior with depictions of deities, animals and dancers. We continue to Belur, once the Hoysala capital, to explore the Chennakesava Temple complex, celebrated for its exquisite Hoysala craftsmanship and sculpture. We then arrive in Hassan and check in for the night.

Hassan to Mysore via Shravanabelagola (140 km – about 3 hours). After breakfast we drive to Mysore, stopping en route at Shravanabelagola, one of the most important Jain pilgrimage centres, where a 27‑metre monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali stands, visible from up to 25 km away. After the visit we continue to Mysore and check in at the hotel.Later we explore Mysore, once the capital of the Wodeyars. We visit the Maharaja’s Palace, built in 1911–1912, whose architecture blends Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic styles – now a museum showcasing treasures that reflect the history of the former princely state. We then drive up Chamundi Hill to see the Chamundeshwari Temple and enjoy a panoramic view of the city, stopping to see the Nandi Bull on the way back. In the evening we visit Brindavan Gardens, known for its landscaped lawns, pools and fountains. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast we drive from Mysore to Bangalore – approximately 140 kilometres, around 3 hours – breaking the journey at Srirangapatna, named after the Sri Ranganathaswami Temple, which is about 1,000 years old. Once the capital of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan – the Tiger of Mysore – we visit the Fort and the Sri Ranganathaswami Temple, noted for its idol of Lord Vishnu as Ranganatha reclining on the serpent Adi Shesha. We then continue to Bangalore. In the evening you can visit Ulsoor Lake. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we take a city tour of Bangalore – one of India’s most attractive cities, known for its parks, avenues and impressive buildings, and often called the Silicon Valley of India. We visit Lalbagh Botanical Garden – regarded as one of South Asia’s most diverse botanical gardens and named for its red roses – and Cubbon Park, a 300–acre green space in the heart of the city named after Mark Cubbon. We continue to the Bull Temple to see the monolithic Nandi statue, 4.57 metres high and 6.10 metres long, carved from a single block of granite. We then visit Tipu Sultan’s summer palace, followed by Sri Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple – a rock–cut shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. We end at the ISKCON Temple on Hare Krishna Hill – a seven–acre complex home to the deities of Radha and Krishna. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast we transfer to Bangalore airport for our flight to Cochin. On arrival we receive assistance and transfer to our hotel. Later we take a city tour of Cochin – the Gateway to South India – a seaside city framed by the Western Ghats to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west, with visible Portuguese, Dutch and British influences. We visit Fort Cochin and St. Francis Church, as well as the Jewish Synagogue and the Mattancherry Dutch Palace. We also see the famous Chinese fishing nets along the waterfront – suspended on bamboo or teak poles like vast hammocks. If you wish, you can opt for boat trips such as a backwater canal tour or a sunset cruise. In the evening we enjoy a Kathakali dance performance, Kerala’s classical theatre known for its elaborate costumes, expressive makeup and masks. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast in Cochin, we drive 130 km – around four hours – to Munnar and check in to the hotel. Set where the three mountain streams Madurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala meet, Munnar is known for its tea estates, rolling hills, lakes and forests. We then visit Eravikulam National Park – about 15 km from town – established to protect the endangered Nilgiri tahr. The park also shelters the Atlas moth, elephants, sambar, gaur, lion tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, tigers and leopards. After the visit we return to the hotel for the night.

After breakfast, we visit Mattupetty – a cattle village known for the Swiss Livestock Project, a specialised dairy farm where more than a hundred high yielding cattle breeds are reared – and we are permitted to enter three of the eleven cattle sheds. We continue to Pothamedu, one of Munnar’s major plantation areas, for panoramic views over tea, coffee and cardamom estates and the surrounding hills; the area is ideal for trekking and long walks if you wish. Later, we visit Devikulam, noted for its scenic setting and varied flora and fauna, and stop at Sita Devi Lake, known for its mineral water, with trout fishing and adventure sports facilities available should you wish to take part. We return to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast we drive 110 kilometres – around three hours – from Munnar to Periyar (Thekkady) and check in to our hotel. In the afternoon we visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India’s largest at 777 square kilometres, centred on the man made Periyar Lake. We take a boat ride on the lake to look for wildlife along the shore – species recorded here include elephants, gaur, wild pigs, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, dhole or Indian wild dog, and birds such as ibis and grey heron. Later in the evening we join a spice plantation tour to see cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, coffee and tea grown locally, and on the way back you can stop at the local market to pick up fragrant spices. Overnight at the hotel.

Periyar – Alleppey (130 km – approx. 3 hours). After breakfast we drive to Alleppey and embark on a traditional houseboat for a leisurely cruise through the Kerala backwaters towards Kumarakom. We glide along palm fringed canals and open paddy fields, passing tidy village hamlets, Chinese fishing nets and waterways renowned for snake‑boat regattas. Watch for flocks of duck and small waterbirds along the banks. You can try fishing from the houseboat and later relax on the sun deck to watch the sunset. The houseboat has electricity, a sitting–dining area, a separate bedroom with attached English toilet, a sun deck and a fully equipped kitchen with a chef and a srank (driver). Overnight on the houseboat.

After breakfast we disembark from the houseboat and visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, set amid the little islands of Vembanad Lake in the Kuttanad region. Keep binoculars handy – this wetland attracts migratory species such as the Siberian stork, along with egrets, darters, bitterns, Brahminy kites, marsh harriers, teals and several heron species; a cruise on Vembanad Lake offers the best vantage point. After the visit we drive to Kovalam – about 160 kilometres, roughly 3 hours – and check in on arrival. Kovalam is a small village on the Malabar Coast with a sheltered bay that forms a safe sea pool. The rest of the day is yours to relax on the beach. Overnight at the resort.

After breakfast in Kovalam, we set out on an excursion – around 90 km and about 2 hours by road – to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala’s capital, a seaside city built on seven hills. We take a city tour and visit the landmark Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Vishnu. We then continue to Kanyakumari, known to the British as Cape Comorin, where the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. Here we visit Kumari Amman Temple, Gandhi Mandapam and the Vivekananda Memorial, and stay to watch the celebrated sunset – especially striking on the April full moon when the setting sun and rising moon can appear on the same horizon. We drive back to Kovalam in the evening for an overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, we leave the rest of the day free for you to spend as you wish in Kovalam. You can choose from optional activities including kayaking, swimming, surfing and skiing, or book an herbal or body toning massage – all payable locally. Overnight at the resort.

After breakfast, we transfer you from Kovalam to Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) Airport – around 16 km, approximately 30 minutes – in line with your flight schedule for your onward journey.