The Western Ghats are a magnificent range of hills, rising up from India's Malabar Coast. It is an area that is hidden away in the southern reaches of Karnataka and in northern Kerala. Visit the palaces and temples at Mysore, explore the jungle reserves at Mudumulai, and enjoy a homestay in Wayanad, known for its evergreen rain forest and coffee, tea, cardamom and pepper plantations.
Day 1 - Meppadi
Early in the morning, you are transferred to the railway station to board the express train to Kozhikode, a journey of 4 hours. On arrival at Kozhikode railway station you are met by your driver who will stay with you till you reach Bangalore.
After a two hour drive which goes steep uphill you reach Meppadi, a town in the beautiful and picturesque Wayanad district of northern Kerala. Here you find an unbelievably beautiful combination of paddy fields, spice plantations and rain forests, creating a rich verdant atmosphere.
Meppadi provides excellent walking country, including the ranges around the spectacular Chembra Peak (2100m), the highest mountain in Wayanad.
Day 2 - Mudumalai
Today you travel from Wayanad to Mudumalai wild life sanctuary. Mudumalai is an ideal elephant habitat with thick forests of teak and eucalyptus, and dense groves of bamboo. The sanctuary also has large herds of gaur, sambhar, barking deer, wild dog, Nilgiri langur, bonnet monkey, wild boar, four-horned antelope and the rare tiger and leopard, as well as smaller mammals and many birds and reptiles.
You stay in a converted coffee warehouse on a coffee plantation with many tall trees that give it a deep-in-the-forest feel. Cosy rooms and excellent meals complement the two-hour evening jeep safaris, on which you can expect to see a very good variety of wildlife.
Day 3 - Mysore
Today you drive from Mudumalai to Mysore, a friendly and easy-going city with plenty of shady tree-lined avenues, pleasant climate, beautiful palaces and buildings characteristic of the pre-Independence era, giving the place grandeur. After lunch, you meet your guide for the Mysore sightseeing tour.
The focal point of the city is the 19th century Maharaja's Palace. Part of it is still used by the royal family on festive occasions; the other part is a museum. The collection, which includes a golden howdah (elephant saddle) that kings used during processions, gives a taste of the splendid lifestyle of the Wodeyar rulers of Mysore.
Day 4 - Mysore
Today you drive from Mudumalai to Mysore, a friendly and easy-going city with plenty of shady tree-lined avenues, pleasant climate, beautiful palaces and buildings characteristic of the pre-Independence era, giving the place grandeur. After lunch, you meet your guide for the Mysore sightseeing tour.
The focal point of the city is the 19th century Maharaja's Palace. Part of it is still used by the royal family on festive occasions; the other part is a museum. The collection, which includes a golden howdah (elephant saddle) that kings used during processions, gives a taste of the splendid lifestyle of the Wodeyar rulers of Mysore.
The Wodeyars were devoted to the goddess Chamundesvari, enshrined in a hill called the Chamundi Hill (13-km). Half way up the hill is a gigantic monolithic Nandi the Bull, about 5 metres high. There is also a 12th-century temple dedicated to the goddess.
{Day 5, BANGALORE}
Today you drive from Mysore to Bangalore (3 hrs), the capital of Karnataka. Bangalore has developed into an important economic centre, particularly in the fields of software and information technology. Parts of the city are amongst the most modern and westernized areas of India, featuring shopping malls, bars and fast food restaurants.
Day 5 - Bangalore
Today you drive from Mysore to Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. Bangalore has developed into an important economic centre, particularly in the fields of software and information technology. Parts of the city are amongst the most modern and westernized areas of India, featuring shopping malls, bars and fast food restaurants.
Day 6 - Bangalore
Today your tour ends after breakfast. You can fly from Bangalore to many destinations in India or you can take the sleeper train to Hospet to visit Magnificent Hampi.
