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COCHIN-OOTY-MYSORE-HASSAN-BANGALORE-BOMBAY
Day
01 : Cochin - Ooty
After
breakfast, drive to Ooty (281 kms / 8 hrs)
Upon
arrival at Ooty - check into hotel.
Ooty
was first discovered by the Collector of Coimbatore
John Sullivan who built a residence and then the Lake.
With its green downs, gentle rains and mild temperatures
all year round, it was adopted as their summer home
by British officials and planters in South India.
The downs of Ooty might well be in Devon of Yorshire-there
are 80 kms of them offering golf, hunting or pleasant
walks & hikes. Ooty still maintains its definite
air of elegance and there are British Raj reminders
everywhere-notably in the stone cottages with flower
gardens, the beautiful Botanical gardens (1840), the
Churches, tea gardens and eucalyptus plantations.
Ootacamund derives its name from "Toda"
term meaning village of huts". The Todas, the
original settlers here before the British were an
aboriginal tribe and lived in barrel-shaped huts.
Dinner
and overnight at hotel.
Day
02 : Ooty - Mysore
Morning
drive to the Botanical gardens -
51 acres of terraced gardens and lawns housing 650
varieties of plants created by the Marquis of Twerdale.
Ascending through gardens of ornamental plants, orchards,
ferns, conifers and rockplants, keep an eye out for
the local Toda community on the top levels. About
2000 of them lived up here, almost exclusively engaged
in the cultivation of potatoes and weaving. Nearby
is the Raj Bhawan (Government House).
Out of the gardens make a hairpin bend to the St.
Stephens Church. Just below is the select
Ooty club famous for its amazing Raj memorable and
as the place where snooker was invented. A straight
walk leads to the picturesque Ooty Lake
(4 km circumference). Also visit Wedlock Downs,
offering spectacular views down over the Coimbatore
plains, Ketti Valley, the Mysore plateau and tea-estates.
After
lunch, drive to Mysore (158 kms/5 hrs)
Upon
arrival at Mysore - check into hotel.
Dinner
and overnight at hotel.
Day
03 : Mysore - Hassan
Visit
the beautiful city of Mysore, that
is known for its fine craftsmenship in wood, ivory,
sandal-wood and for its silk. Visit the Maharaja's
Palace, which is lavishly decorated in a
mixture of styles. Also visit the Zoological
Garden, Mysore Arts & Crafts
centre and then proceed to the Chamundi
Temple on a hill above the city.
After
lunch, drive to Hassan (115 kms/4½ hrs) enroute
visiting Srirangapatnam and Sravanbelgola.
Sriringapatnam
- from this small island fortress town straddling
the river Cauvery, came the two brilliant Muslim leaders
Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who rulled a powerful
empire comprising much of Southern India for 40 years.
Tipu Sultan "The Tiger of Mysore" became
the most dreaded foe of the British in the south,
and inflicted two punishing defeats on the forces
of East India Company before at last being overcome
in 1799. Tipu was killed and his town razed, but his
elegant Summer Palace, or Daria Daulat Bagh remains
intact; the British kept it for their own use. Later
Duke of Wellington, lived here for a spell while serving
as governor of Mysore.
Sravanbelgola - famous for its colossal
statue of the Jain Saint Gomateshwara. 614 steps lead
to his monolithic statue, 18 meters tall and standing
atop the hill of Indragiri. Every 12 years Jains from
all over India gather here for the spectacular bathing
festival of the statue.
Upon
arrival at Hassan - check into hotel.
Dinner
and overnight at hotel.
Day
04 : Hassan - Bangalore - Bombay
After
breakfast drive to Bangalore enroute visit Halebid
& Belur. Built in the 12th & 13th Century
in the superbaroque style, these temples are carved
of stone and are truly magnificent. As one architect
and critic said "These friezes carved with a
minute elaboration of detail are one of the most marvellous
exhibitions of human labor to be found even in the
patient East". The temple at Belur is famed for
its profusely ornamented exterior, and the one at
Halebid for its sculptured figures and open air museum.
Also visit the colossal monolithic Jain statue, 57-ft
high, which stands on top of a steep bare hill.
Thereafter
continue drive to Bangalore airport (180 kms/ 5 hrs)
to connect flight Bangalore / Bombay ( 2000 / 2130
hrs ).
Upon
arrival the guests will be met & transferred to
the hotel where rooms will be provided for wash and
change.
Dinner
at the hotel.
Later
transfer to the International airport for onward flight.
Day
05 : Abroad - Bombay
Leave
Bombay
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