Jewels of Southern India

ITC Windsor Sheraton & Towers
The ITC Windsor is a former stately manor that has been converted into a luxury hotel. Built during the era of the Raj, it has a distinctly Georgian aesthetic, with ornate colonnades and balustrades, fluted pillars, magnificent chandeliers and Queen Anne furniture creating an ambience of luxury and old world charm.

The ITC’s 240 guest rooms and suites are beautifully-furnished and equipped with all the expected modern amenities.

The ITC enjoys a convenient downtown location, within easy walking distance of Vidhana Soudha and central Bangalore’s best restaurants.

India’s southern capital, Bangalore has been transformed in the 60+ years since India gained independence from a sleepy “Garden city” to one of the country’s largest and most progressive metropoles. But it hasn’t lost its old-world charm or heritage in the process. Bangalore, or Bengaluru as it recently became, remains one of India’s most pleasant cities to visit, with a gentle climate, beautiful gardens and lakes, and a rich and vibrant history taking in the British-era Raj and the Karnataka.

Your tour of Bangalore will allow you to explore the architecturally rich heritage of Karnataka, whose forts and palaces, temples, gardens and ancient courts attract visitors from around the world. You can also find time for some shopping – Bangalore’s specialties include silk, coffee, and jewellery.

Royal Orchid Metropole
This classic heritage hotel enjoys a convenient location in the very heart of Mysore, close to the Sri Jayachamarajendra Gallery and the famous Mysore Temple.

Built by the former Maharaja of Mysore in the 1920s, the Royal Orchid is steeped in the history and culture of the region. Its 30 guest rooms are decorated in period style but feature all the expected modern amenities, including high-speed WiFi, satellite TV, and tea/coffee maker. Facilities include a swimming pool, 24 hour fitness centre, and an open-air barbecue restaurant.

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Mysore taking in the famous Palace, Chamundi Hill and the Devraja fruit and vegetable market.

Sometimes referred to as the city of palaces, Mysore served as the royal seat of the Wodiyar dynasty from the 15th-century to the independence of India in 1947. The Wodiyars were generally benign monarchs and patrons of the arts who left behind them a rich heritage in the form of numerous private palaces and public buildings, which continue to define the character of Mysore to this day.

The most magnificent of these constructs is the Mysore Palace. Beautifully lit up at night, photos of its illuminated outline against a night sky have become the favourite postcard shot of Mysore.

Kabini River Lodge
This former hunting lodge nestles in the southern fringes of Nagarahole National Park, on the banks of the Kabini River. One of India’s top wildlife lodges, it’s a wonderful getaway for nature lovers, providing easy access to the park’s interior. Accommodation is in cosy cottages with full en-suite facilities. There’s a lovely communal gazebo where guests can meet to discuss the day’s wildlife sightings and enjoy a drink together. Meals are served in the lodge’s original dining room.

After lunch at the lodge, depart on an afternoon game safari in Nagarahole National Park. The safaris take place in 4x4 vehicles and offer the prospect of seeing a huge array of wildlife, with elephant, barking deer, leopard and tiger all present in the park.

Return to the lodge early evening in time for dinner.

In the afternoon, join another 4x4 game safari into Nagarahole National Park.

Taj Savoy Hotel
The Taj Savoy sprawls over six acres of landscaped gardens in the old colonial hill town of Ooty. Perched on a high hill in the centre of town, it’s a quiet retreat in an isolated setting. Guests sleep in individual cottages, scattered around the English gardens.

Constructed in the early 19th century, the Taj Savoy’s rooms have been refurbished to modern standards, but still maintain many of their original features. All offer lots of space, with most containing a fireplace and cosy lounge area.

Ooty, also known as Udhagamandalam, is the sleepy capital of the Blue Mountains, or Nilgiris. During the British Raj, this quiet hill station was a popular summer and weekend getaway for the British resident in India, thanks to its cool climate and beautiful setting.

The most striking feature of Ooty is its scenery. Misty mountains loom over deep, forested valleys, creating a stunning picture. City attractions include the Ooty Botanical Gardens, which occupy a 50 acre plot on the slopes of Doddabetta, the highest peak in the Nilgiris.

Also of note is the tea factory and museum, showcasing the local tea production, for which the region is famous.

Like Ooty, Coonoor is a quiet colonial hill station set amid beautiful scenery. After lunch and a leisurely afternoon in Coonoor, meet with your driver and return to Ooty.

The rest of the evening is at leisure.

The train departs just after 1pm and arrives at Cochin at 5pm. You will be met on arrival in Cochin and transferred to Brunton Boatyard for one night in a sea facing room (B&B basis).

Brunton Boatyard
Situated on Cochin's lively harbourfront, the Brunton Boatyard Hotel is a tribute to another age. Converted from a Victorian shipbuilding yard, it’s a unique piece of 19th-century history in a city not lacking in historical attractions, and manages to blend in perfectly with the old colonial-era trading houses and port buildings that surround it.

The Boatyard’s interiors are an eclectic blend of English, Portuguese and Dutch influences, with high ceilings, hanging fans, and everywhere artefacts and curios from the great age of steam and sail. All of the 22 rooms overlook the sea – both from the bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms. The cuisine is an equally eclectic melange, drawing on the melting pot of cultures that has helped shape the character of Cochin. Meals are served in the dining room overlooking the harbour.

The gateway to Kerala, Cochin (or Kochi) is a vibrant city. Subject to a succession of colonial rulers over the years, Cochin bears the influences of its Arab, Chinese, Portuguese, British and Dutch former masters, all of whom have left their own mark on the history and development of the bustling city. Today, however, Cochin is a major port in a thriving and fiercely independent India.

Cochin’s core attractions are its beautiful synagogue, built in 1568 and famous for its giant Old Testament scrolls; the Dutch Palace, with its fine mural paintings, constructed by the Portuguese but heavily adapted by the Dutch before being presented to the Raja of Kochi in the 17th century; and St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, and burial ground of Vasco de Gama.

Depart Cochin this afternoon and drive to Alleppey, a journey of two hours. In Alleppey, board the Spice Routes Houseboat and embark on an overnight cruise around the backwaters of Kerala (full board).

Your journey on the Kerala backwaters will allow you to relive the experiences of a past era when large barges laden with goods and spices plied through the intricate the canals of Alleppey. Today, the old trading routes of Kerala have mostly been replaced by more convenient road and air routes, but the boats continue to operate, albeit now as luxury houseboats offering pleasure cruises!

Spice Routes Cardamom
Spice Routes Cardamom is one of Kerala’s top-end luxury houseboats. It features just two spacious rooms – Njallany and Alleppey Green Bold – each of them beautifully furnished. The rooms are air-conditioned and feature en-suite bathrooms and wide windows to make the most of the view.

Beach Symphony
Beach Symphony is a wonderfully intimate retreat set on a beautiful stretch of beach just outside Mararikulam. The lodge offers just four cottages, each with a unique design, but all furnished to the same high standards. Air-conditioned lounges and private verandahs with hammocks invite you to kick back and relax. The beach comes right up to your verandah at Beach Symphony, and the sea is only a few steps away.