DAY 01 : ARRIVE BANGALORE
Upon arrival in Bangalore, you are met and transferred to your pre-booked hotel. After freshen up, half-day sightseeing tour of Bangalore, well known for its multifaceted modern marvels, historical monuments, bustling shopping plazas, a racecourse, and golf courses. It is also called the Silicon Valley of India for its burgeoning Software Industry. The tour would include Tipu Sultan's Palace, one of the most remarkable Islamic buildings of the city, now a museum, ISKCON Temple, and Lal Bagh Garden, etc. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 02 : BANGALORE - GROVER VINEYARDS - MYSORE 135 KMS 04 HOURS DRIVE
Morning drive towards Grover vineyards to visit the winery and wine tasting. Continue to drive towards Mysore. On arrival, check-in at the hotel. Mysore was once the capital of Wodeyar Kingdom and one of the finest cities of south India. Mysore is a small and easygoing Sandalwood country and a crafts crazy city. The city tour includes the visits to Srirangapatnam and Tipu's Summer Palace, the Maharajas Palace and Chamundi Hill, which is topped with a 12th-century temple of Durga with the magnificent 5m tall Nandi. Carved from a single piece of granite in the year 1659, it is one of the largest in India. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 03 : MYSORE - BANGALORE 135 KMS 03 HOURS DRIVE
BANGALORE - CHENNAI BY FLIGHTMorning drive back to Bangalore airprot to board flight for Chennai. Upon arrival in Chennai, check in at hotel. Evening visit traditional South Indian street food stalls and best cookware shops. Evening dinner at typical South India restaurant followed by a great cooking experiences with expert chef. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 04 : CHENNAI - KANCHIPURAM - MAHABALIPURAM 100 KMS 03 HOURS DRIVE
Morning drive to Kanchipuram. It is a city of a thousand temples, was once the capital of Pallava. Kanchipuram still contains no less than 124 shrines. The temples were built mainly by two rulers, Mahendray and Mamalla Narashimha Parman. Typical of their architecture is the Kailasnatha Temple dedicated to Siva, believed to be 1200 years old. Other important ones include the 16th Century Ekambasreshwar Temple, Kamakshi Temple, and Vaikunta Perumal. Kanchipuram is the center of Silk weaving and is famous for its saris and materials and later drive Mahabalipuram. On arrival, check-in at Hotel.
After freshen up, proceed for delicious seafood, Lunch at a typical restaurant. Its proximity to the rich fishing grounds of the Bay of Bengal and the number of excellent beachfront restaurants makes this a great place to sample seafood. You will be able to select your fish and choose the way you would like it cooked. After lunch proceed to visit Mahabalipuram, once the principal port of the Pallavas who ruled between the 06th and 09th Centuries AD. The City of Seven pagodas. Is nothing less than a breathtaking display masterful sculpture carved out of solid rocks of granite, the Shore Temple, a splendid example of early temple construction in the south? Penance of Bhagirata the world's largest bas - relief also known as Argon's Penance. Evening dinner. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 05 : MAHABALIPURAM - TANJORE 280 KMS 05 HOURS DRIVE
Morning drive to Tanjore also known as Thanjavur (The rice bowl of Tamilnadu). On arrival, check-in at Hotel. After freshen up proceed for sightseeing of Tanjore visiting Brihadeeswarar temple etc. Evening South India dinner followed by great cooking experience with expert chef. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 06 : TANJORE - CHETTINAD 90 KMS 02 HOURS DRIVE
Morning drive to chettinad. The word Chettinad means a social caste specialising in the preparation of food. Consequently, the Chettinads are considered master chefs, and chettinad cuisine is one of the spiciest and the most aromatic in India. On arrival, check in at typical palace Hotel. Evening cooking class by expert Chettinad chef followed by special dinner. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 07 : CHETTINAD
Full day visit to Village and typical local village Hosues. Evening Cooking class by expert Chettinad masters followed by special dinner. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 08 : CHETTINAD - MADURAI 90 KMS 02 HOURS DRIVE
Morning drive to Madurai. Upon arrival at Madurai, check-in hotel. Afternoon visit Madurai. The Pandyan rulers made this their capital until the 14th Century and the city flowered with the genius of its writers, builders, poets, and academics. Then the Nayaks ruled Madurai from the middle of the 16th Century to 1743. The ten tall Gopurams of the Meenakshi Temple were raised during their dynasty. This is a huge complex of Temples. A thousand pillared hall and a tank. A full-day tour visiting the Meenakshi Temple, Palace of King Triumalay, the great tank, Gandhi Museum, and Temple at Alaghat Koli en-route visiting Elephant Rock. Evening dinner. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 09 : MADURAI - THEKKADY 140 KMS 03 HOURS DRIVE
Morning after breakfast drive to Thekkady. The drive up to one of the beautiful hilltop wildlife sanctuary, starting with coconut groves at the lower lever you then see rubber, tea, and the spice plantation as you gain height. The evening takes a boat ride on Lake Periyar to look for wild animals drinking or taking a dip in this 100-year-old lake. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 10 : THEKKADY
Today, You will be introduced to the various spices that are grown in this region, in their natural habitat, while taking you on a walking tour of the spice garden. Later you will have a lesson on cooking with the spices by your resort chef, so you can take home a few tips on Keralan cooking with spices overnight at your hotel.
DAY 11 : THEKKADY - HOUSEBOAT BOARDING POINT 135 KMS 05 HOURS DRIVE
After breakfast, transfer to the Houseboat Embarkation point. Upon arrival, check-in at deluxe traditional Houseboat, is often called as Kettuvallom by the locals. It is a private and exclusively for you with providing bedrooms, bathrooms, living area, sun deck, dining, and beautiful corridor. All the meals are served on board during day cruise through backwaters, which is an experience of returning to nature. After enjoying the full day backwater cruise, overnight stay onboard. The boat will be anchored in the lake for overnight stay.
DAY 12 : HOUSEBOAT - KUMARAKOM
Morning disembark the Houseboat and proceed to Kumarakom. Reach and visit the Bird Sanctuary. Proceed to the Vembanad Lake. The backwaters of Kerala are a unique product of Kerala and are found nowhere else in the world. Backwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries, and deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. Evening typical Kerala cooking demonstration by expert chef at Resort. Overnight at Resort.
DAY 13 : KUMARAKOM - COCHIN 60 KMS 02 HOURS DRIVE
Morning after breakfast, relaxing at the Resort. Afternoon drive to Cochin. On arrival, check in at Hotel. Evening traditional Kathakali dance Show. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 14 : COCHIN
Morning proceed for a city tour of Cochin visiting Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow,Jewish synagogue etc. Evening traditional Kerala cooking class followed by dinner. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 15 : LEAVE COCHIN
Transfer to Airport to board Flight for onward journey.
NOTE : For any tour enquiry about the above elaborated Culinary and wine Tour, Please email us at info@spholidays.com or submit the enquiry form below.
