Overview
Finish:Bangalore, India
Travel Period
Discover India’s mesmerising southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Watch cultural dance performances, uncover colourful temples and historic churches, sample the famed foods of South India, along with visiting renowned tea gardens and spice plantations. Travel on scenic World Heritage Toy train and cruise on the serene backwaters of Kerala.
Ride the famous Toy Train between Ooty and Coonoor passing through stunning scenery and later, journey on board the World Heritage Nilgiri Mountain Railway through thick forested hills to Mettupalayam.
Witness a Kathakali dance performance, a fascinating classical style of drama, that originated in Kerala, combining colourful costumes, and accompanied by traditional music. Kathakali is considered one of the most visually stunning and expressive dance forms in India.
Cruise through the serene palm-lined backwaters, a network of canals and lagoons, and glide across Vembanad Lake, the longest freshwater lake in India and enjoy lunch on board.
Discover an aromatic spice plantation on a guided walking tour that uncovers the secrets of Southern India's flavoursome spices. This area has grown and exported some of the world's most popular and fragrant spices including ginger, garlic, cardamom, vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, and clove.
Stroll through a local village inhabited by artisans who specialise in sculpting aesthetic idols, pottery, and puppets out of clay.
Step inside and discover the Meenakshi Temple. Covered in bright carvings of Hindu gods, this Dravidian-style temple has been a major pilgrimage site for centuries. Witness the final puja of the day, a traditional Hindu ritual. Observe the priests as they symbolically bathe, dress and feed an idol of God Shiva, and then put him to bed alongside his wife, Goddess Meenakshi, to whom the temple is dedicated.
What's Included
- 14 nights in premium accommodation
- Services of a Great Rail Journeys Tour Escort
- 31 meals - 14 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 13 dinners
- Ride the famous Mountain Toy Train passing through the Nilgiri Mountains
- Dine on regional and authentic South Indian cuisine
- Cruise through the serene palm-lined backwaters of Kerala
- Watch a Kathakali dance performance accompanied by local music
- Take guided walks through tea gardens and spice plantations
Dates & Pricing
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