Relish the Magnificence of South Indian heritage from Kolkata, and from the UK, Belgium, Spain, and the rest of Europe

The perfect combination of contemporary attractions and rich historic culture, South India is perfect for tourists who love to explore incredible scenic beauty. There are well-known majestic temples, mesmerizing hill stations, cultural monuments, and scintillating beaches. Book a comprehensive South India tour package from Excursion2India and explore Hyderabad, Hampi, Mysore, Ooty, and Madurai to have the most memorable times of your life forever. 

Itinerary Name: South India Cultural Tour

No. of Days: 10nights/11days

Places to Visit: Hyderabad – Hampi – Mysore – Ooty – Madurai

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Hyderabad with the best tour packages from Kolkata: 

Arrive in Hyderabad and check into a hotel. Afterwards, head straight to Golconda Fort. Take a sightseeing tour of the fort and enjoy light and sound show in the evening.

Enjoy a nice dinner at a restaurant, maybe close to Hussain Sagar Lake. Overnight in Hyderabad.

Day 2: Hyderabad:

After breakfast, embark on a full day of sightseeing in Hyderabad. Hyderabad has a rich historical and cultural legacy, and there are a number of monuments to explore. Some of the most interesting places to visit in Hyderabad are Charminar, Nizam’s Museum (Salar Jung Museum), Birla Temple, Chowmahalla Palace and Mecca Mosque.

Hyderabad is also a hub of the flourishing Telugu film industry. Ramoji Film City is now a famous tourist attraction in the city for those interested in films. You can choose to visit that.

Hyderabad is known for pearl-related works. You can choose to buy pearl necklaces or earrings or any other ornamental pieces. Stay Overnight in Hyderabad.

Day 3: Hyderabad – Hampi from Kolkata, Belgium, Spain:

Check out after breakfast and leave for Hampi. This is a longish drive of close to eight hours. Check into a hotel on arrival. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in the comforts of the hotel.

Day 4: Hampi:

Start on a full-day sightseeing tour of the ruins of Hampi after breakfast.

Hampi was once the flourishing capital of the Vijaynagar Kingdom, in the 14th and 15th Century. Once the rulers lost in a war, Hampi was set on fire and the city was destroyed by the enemy forces.

Hampi ruins are visible around the total extent of the city of that era. This is a large area of more than 25 square kilometers. You can explore this architectural wonderland on a bike. It is best to hire a local monument guide and decide on the spot what to see. A local Hampi map can prove quite handy in making decisions.

Important monuments which you should not miss in Hampi are Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Krishna Temple, Chandikeshwara, Laxminarsimha, and Uddana Veerabhadra Temples. Stay Overnight in Hampi.

Day 5: Hampi—Overnight train to Mysore:

Head off on a full day of sightseeing of the Hampi ruins this morning. Keep your luggage at the reception before starting your day, as you have to catch an overnight train to Mysore.

You should enjoy crossing the Tungabhadra River in a coracle. Explore riverside ruins. This involves quite a bit of walking. Decide on the spot what to see using local consultation with the local guides. Return to the hotel in the evening, take your luggage, and leave for Hospet railway station (the nearest railway station to Hampi). Catch the overnight train to Mysore.

Day 6: Mysore from Kolkata, Belgium, Spain: 

Arrive in Mysore in the morning and check into your hotel. Check into rooms if they are available early. If rooms are not ready in the morning hours, keep the luggage at the reception and get fresh in the hotel.

Afterwards, embark on a sightseeing trip of Mysore by visiting Somnathpura, a small town around 35 km from Mysore. Somnathpura is famous for the 13th-century Chennakeshava Temple built by Hoysala ruler Narasimha III. The temple has three Lord Vishnu shrines.

Have lunch at a nice restaurant. Return to the hotel in the afternoon and check into your respective rooms. Overnight in Mysore.

Day 7: Mysore with the best tour packages:

After breakfast, start full day sightseeing tour of Mysore. Go on to explore Srirangapatnam and Devaraja Market. Visit Chamundi Devi temple, which is on a hilltop overlooking Mysore city. On the way you can stop at Lalitha Mahal Palace for lunch. This was a palace built by the Mysore rulers for the British Viceroy in 1921. The Palace serves as a hotel now.

Later, take a tour of the City Palace. This is one of the rare places where the ruling family still lives. Only a part of the palace is open for tourists. Close to this is St. Philomena’s Church, one of the largest cathedrals in India. The Gothic-style cathedral has the relic of the 3rd-century Saint Philomena.

Get back to the hotel, take some rest and start a walking tour with a guide towards 5pm in the afternoon. This highly interesting tour will enrich you with the knowledge of the history, culture, and foods of Mysore.

If you, by chance, are in Mysore on Sunday or any public holiday, you can see a half-hourshow of over a hundred thousand electric bulbs lit all over Mysore City Palace in the evening. This is an amazing sight. Stay Overnight in Mysore.

Day 8: Mysore – Ooty with the best tour packages:

Start on a three-hour drive for Ooty. Check into a hotel on arrival.
Visit Connore and explore the tea garden and tea processing plant there.

Spend some time in Sims Park and board the small-gauge train, which is on the list of UNESCO World Heritages, to return to Ooty. Your vehicle driver will receive you at the railway station in Ooty. This train ride is of almost 45 minutes.

Go on to explore the rose garden and botanical garden in Ooty. There are some nice viewpointsas well. Do not forget to try some homemade chocolates in Ooty.

Have dinner and drinks at one of the several restaurants in the city. Overnight in Ooty.

Day 9: Ooty – Madurai from Kolkata, Belgium, Spain, & the UK:

After breakfast, start for Madurai, a drive of more than six hours. Check into a hotel on arrival in Madurai, a city more than 2500 years old.

Take a tour of the famous Meenakshi Temple with a guide. This Lord Shiva temple spreads over more than six hectares. The temple was renovated in its present form by the Nayak rulers who ruled in and around Madurai during the 16th to the 18th century. Foreigners and non-Hindus do not have the permission to enter into its inner sanctum (garbhagriha), where the main idols are kept. However, they can enter every other part of the temple complex.

The Gopuram (main entrance to the temple) is renowned for several statues carved over it. Spend some time at Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, a hall of thousand pillars. Each pillar in the hall produces a musical note if you knock on them properly. What is most remarkable about these temples is that the whole temple complex has been carved out of a single stone.

Have dinner and take a highly deserved comforting sleep in your room. Overnight in Madurai.

Day 10: Madurai from Kolkata, Belgium, Spain, Norway, & the UK: 

Get up leisurely in the morning, and after a sumptuous breakfast, embark on a full day of sightseeing in Madurai.

Start with a visit to Thirumalai Nayak Palace, an early 17th-century palace. The Palace, as we see today, was the main palace where the king lived. Later, visit Alagarkoil Temple, built on a hilltop around 20 kilometers from Madurai city. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, whose idol is made in a reclining posture. The temple is enclosed by granite walls. Even floors of the temple are made of granite.

Close to Alagarkoil Temple is another hilltop temple, Pazhamudhir Solai. This is an interesting place, as the temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan, is noted for treating mentally disturbed patients. 

Thiruparankundram is yet another interesting temple. The temple, 2000 years old, is revered highly by both Hindus and Muslims. Some 1st-century caves can be seen on Samanar Hills. These are Jainese caves where beautiful carvings and sculptures can be seen.

If time permits, visit St. Mary’s Cathedral, modeled on the Latin Cross. A walk in the local market can also be a great experience.

Have a nice dinner at your hotel. Overnight in Madurai.

Day 11: Madurai—Onward Destination:

Check out after breakfast and drive to the airport. Catch your flight for your onward destination.

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