INDIA
Hampi
Blue Mountain Railway © Neil McAllister
Tea Plantations
SOUTH INDIA
South India is a wonderful cultural mix of dance, traditions and religious diversity, where the architectural grandeur blends seamlessly with the colonial European elegance.
MYSORE
Renowned for its sandalwood, silk and incense, Mysore was the capital of the Wadiyars for some 650 years. The city’s main draw is the grand Amba Vilas Palace with its rich mix of Dravidian, Oriental and Roman styles of architecture.
NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK Along with the neighbouring national park of Bandipur, Nagarhole forms the largest protected area in southern India. Set up in 1955, the park is blessed with an astonishing abundance of wildlife including leopard, elephants, Indian bison (gaur) and Indian wild dogs (dhole) and no less than 250 species of birdlife.
OOTY & COONOOR As British influence spread through India, small communities sprang up amongst the fertile foothills of the Ghats. Recapture some of the nostalgia with an hour-long narrow gauge train ride between two famous hill stations, Ooty and Coonoor.
BLUE MOUNTAIN RAILWAY
One of the oldest and steepest railways in the world, Nilgiri’s famous Blue Mountain Railway can trace its origins back to the latter years of the 19th century. The section that runs between Ooty and Connor provides some stunning views across the Nilgiri Hills.
MADURAI One of India’s oldest cities, Madurai is famed for its temples, including the magnificent Meenakshi Sundareswarar complex which is one of the most important sites of Hindu pilgrimage. The city has a rich Tamil heritage stretching back some 2,500 years and is famed for its hospitality.
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TEMPLES OF TRICHY & TANJORE Situated on the banks of the Cauvery River, Trichirapalli (known as Trichy for short) is an engaging blend of tradition and enterprise lying in the shadow of the spectacular Rockfort Temple. Tanjore meanwhile was once the cultural capital of the great Chola kings and is renowned for the artistry of its 11th century Brahadeeswarar Temple, considered to be one of the finest temples in southern India.
KANCHIPURAM & MAMALLAPURAM Kanchipuram is known as the ‘City of a Thousand Temples’ and is one of India’s 7 most revered Hindu sites, The UNESCO Site of Mamallapuram lies along the coast of the Bay of Bengal and is home to some of the finest examples of stone carvings anywhere in India which can be seen in its many temples and reliefs.
HAMPI
Another of India’s World Heritage Sites, the ruins of Hampi once lay at the heart of one of the greatest Hindu empires in history. The capital of the powerful Vijayanagara Empire, these haunting and atmospheric monuments are included in our Deccan Odyssey rail journey, which runs from Bangalore to Goa.
PONDICHERRY Lying on the Bay of Bengal, Pondicherry, the former capital of France’s Indian territories, still retains something of its Gallic charm. Wander past the colonial mansions, down tree-lined streets where you can still hear French spoken and watch the occasional game of boules. The alternative lifestyle community of Auroville, located a short distance from Pondicherry, is home to over 1,800 members dedicated to human unity.
Tailor-Make your own holiday, phone 0844 488 0667
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