Day-01 ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi by International flight. A history which encompasses all the various kings and emperors who fixed their royal citadels here-- Indraprastha, Lal Kot, Quila Rai Pithora, Siri, Jahanpanah, Tughlakabad, Ferozabad, Dinpanah, Delhi Sher Shahi or then Shahjahanabad. but, combined and integrated into one, these 'new cities' have always been called Delhi and howsoever many names it may have acquired, Delhi has always been intrinsically identified with power and imperial sway. You will be met on your arrival by the representative of Exotique Expeditions with fresh flower garlands. You will then be transferred to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.


DAY-02 IN DELHI
This morning you will be given the city tour of Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi. Visit the former centre of Moghul Power, Old Delhi offers ancient monuments, narrow streets and bustling bazaars. Drive past the vast Red Fort, built in 1648, the Jama Masjid, the greatest mosque in India and completed in 1658 by Shah Jahan who also built the Taj Mahal, and the Raj Ghat, the simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. A unique experience of taking 'rickshaw ride' from the Red Fort, through "Chandni Chowk" or Silver Street, experiencing the sights and sounds of this very busy avenue heading west from the Fort.


Chandni Chowk - literally means "moonlit crossroads" and an area which best represents the "super-Oriental" - the glory and the guile; the grandeur and the grime, with its crowded bazaars, twisting lanes, maze of small streets strange aromas, the pungent odour of Oriental spices, the cries of shopkeepers, coolies and "rickshaw-walas" and the clatter and whirr of furious industry. New Delhi - drive past the stately government buildings of the British Era designed by Lutyens, including the India Gate & the Presidential Palace. Continue onto the beautiful Humayuns tomb of the Mughal era & predecessor of the world famous Taj Mahal. End the tour at the towering minaret of Qutab Minar Overnight at the hotel.


Day-03 Delhi - Bangalore(Air) - Mysore
Transfer to the airport in time to connect flight for bangalore. Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka. It is called the Garden City for it's delicate blossoms and greenery that impart a unique beauty to this lovely city. The weather is the city's best feature, with pleasant summers and bearable winters. Bangalore is a cosmopolitan city, where different cultures and customs exist. Kempe Gowda founded the city in 1537 - today it is a bustling and diverse city, with ancient arts that flourish alongside the Silicon Plateau of India. In Bangalore you will be met on arrival and transferred to Mysore.( 4 hours drive)


Mysore is a city of palaces, gardens, shady avenues and sacred temples and retains some of the charm of the old world with its many institutions that propagate Carnatic Classical music and dance. Mysore was the political capital of the Wodeyar dynasty which ruled the state of Karnataka for some 150 years till the independence of the country from the British. These kings were great patrons of art and culture and Mysore was the cultural capital of the south under the rule of the Wodeyars. The Wodeyars made the Dasara festival an event. A short sightseeing tour of Mysore visiting Brindavan Gardens and Mysore Palace etc. Overnight at the hotel.


Day-04 Mysore - Nagarhole National Park
Leave Mysore for Nagarhole National Park by road (3 hours drive) Nagarhole National Park is an all weather park. The park contains the habitat of several rare and endangered species, notably the tiger. Much of it has been protected from the ill effects of development because Indian royalty used the area as a hunting park. Nagarhole is part of the protected area complex that includes Bandipur National Park, Wynad Sanctuary and Mudumalai Sanctuary. The name Nagarhole is derived from the Kannada word `Naga' meaning `snake' and `Hole' meaning `streams'. A number of streams snake through the rich tropical forests of Nagarhole. The Park has a beautiful landscape of gentle slopes and shallow valleys. The largest river draining the area in the south is the Kabini, which was dammed in 1974.


Other important rivers include Lakshmana, Teentha and Nagarhole. There are several perennial and seasonal streams and tanks, all of which drain into the four major rivers Arrive Nagarhole and check in at the hotel. In the evening enjoy a wildlife viewing by jeeps Overnight at the hotel/lodge.


Day-05 Nagarhole National Park
Early morning wildlife viewing and bird watching in the park or a Coracle ride on the Kabini River. Enjoy an evening jeep ride or an Elephant ride into the Nagarhole jungle. Overnight at the hotel/lodge.


Day-06 Nagarhole National Park - BR Hills
Morning drive to B R Hills (6 hours drive). The Sanctuary is a wonderful intermix of resort and wildlife sanctuary. The hill sanctuary spread on an area of 540 kms with green valley to its credit is a must stop for the travellers. THE sanctuary is a good link between the western and the eastern ghats. The River Cauvery takes its course through the middle of the hills reflecting the geographical significance of the hilly place. The hills had their name from the Ranganatha Swami temple that rests on the edge of a granite block more that 1000 ft above. Arrive BR Hills and check in at Tented Accommodation. Afternoon trekking in B R Hills for wildlife viewing. Overnight stay in tents.


Day-07 BR Hills
Morning and evening wildlife viewing and bird watching. Overnight stay in tents.


Day-08 BR Hills - Bandipur National Park
Early morning leave for Bandhipur (4hours drive.) Bandipur - The Wildlife sanctuary located in the Chamarajanagar district exemplifies ample advancements towards India's strive for natural conservation. It was earlier the hunting ground of the Maharaja of Voodiyar and later created in to a park in 1930. The sanctuary was initially given the name of Venugopal wildlife sanctuary. The park was expanded in 1941 to merge with the Nagarhole wildlife Sanctuary lying to its northern edge and the Madumalai sanctuary lying to its southern edge. In the present context, the entire area constitute the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve which comprises the tracts of protected forest. Designated a Tiger reserve in the year 1973 to protect the dwindling Tiger population, the Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary lie in the Deccan plateau totally shadowed by the western ghats. Arrive Bandipur and check in at the hotel. Later visit the wildlife sanctuary by jeeps. Overnight at the hotel.


Day-09 Bandipur National Park
Morning & evening wildlife viewing and bird watching. Overnight stay at the hotel.


Day-10 Bandipur National Park - Ooty
Early morning drive to Ooty (3 hours drive) Ooty or Udagamandalam (the Tamil version of the original name) rightly described as "Queen of Hill Stations" by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, now sprawls over an area of 36 sq km with a number of tall buildings cluttering its hill slopes. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. Ooty still woos people from all over India as well as foreign countries right through summer, and sometimes in the winter months too.


An added attraction for the tourists to Udagamandalam is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens. Arrive Ooty and check in at the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.


Day-11 Ooty - Munnar
Leave Ooty for Munnar by road. Munnar - Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams called Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, the small town of Munnar is characterized by the clean, neat and brightly painted ambience inside the city. Beautiful landscape, cozy weather and wonderfully scented tealeaves are some of the other aspects that make this place a much sought after destination in Kerala. Moreover, it used to be one of the favorite summer resorts of the British during their reign in the country Arrive Munnar and check in at the hotel. Later you will have some free time to walk around the tea plantation. Overnight at the hotel.


Day-12 Munnar - Thekkady
Morning drive to Thekkady (3 hours drive). Thekkady - This area is of historical importance for more than one reason. It has been and still is an important spice plantation area. Periyar Wildlife Sanctury, situated in Thekkady is one of the finest known natural wildlife sanctuaries and it has a history dating back to the year 1934, when the then state government took initiative to establish the Nellikampathy Sanctuary. This wildlife sanctuary was later developed into the 780 square kilometer Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary by the year 1950.


Day-13 Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Enjoy a morning and evening boat cruise and witness the wild elephants frolicking in the lake or go bird watching. Overnight stay in the resort.


Day-14 Thekkady- Kumarakom
Morning drive to Kumarakom (5 hours drive). Kumarakom - When nature is all you need to recuperate, Kumarakom is undoubtedly the most invigorating, fascinating paradise in Kerala, God's own country. The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. That is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom. Arrive Kumarakom and check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.


Day-15 Kumarakoram Bird Sanctuary
Enjoy the morning backwater cruise. Full day is at leisure. In the evening visit to the Kumarakoram Bird Sanctuary. Overnight at the hotel.


Day-16 Kumarakoram Bird Sanctuary - Cochin (Kochi)
Morning leave Kumarakom for Kochi by road ( 3 hours drive). Cochin's history is a bright tapestry - many coloured threads woven through centuries together present the fabric of the present. Its involvement with the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British are evident in the architecture of city buildings, the old durbar hall is the spice in the dish! Modern day Kochi may be a busy port and shipping centre but it has many attractions for ordinary tourists. Arrive Kochi and check in at the hotel. This afternoon you will be given the city tour of Cochin. Overnight at the hotel.


Day-17 Depart Cochin
Transfer to the airport in time to connect your onward flight.