Karnataka With Coorg

Upon your arrival at Bangalore Airport, you will be met by our representative and begin your city tour with a visit to the HAL Aerospace Museum, one of India’s premier aero-engineering museums. This fascinating site houses incredible exhibits including the pilotless target aircraft (Lakshya), ejection seats with parachutes, and ATC surveillance radars. You can also explore the sustainability park featuring working models of windmills, biogas plants, and solar-powered systems, and perhaps enjoy a meal at the open-air dining space. The museum is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with an entry fee of INR 50 per person. Next, you will visit the majestic Bangalore Palace, an architectural marvel spread over 45,000 acres. The palace showcases a blend of Scottish, Gothic, and Indian styles, featuring 35 ornate rooms with carved walls, stained glass windows, and paintings by renowned artists like Raja Ravi Varma. A highlight is the mother-of-pearl-studded dining table that belonged to the Diwan of Mysore. The palace is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, with entry fees of INR 230 for Indians and INR 460 for Foreign Nationals.

After checking into your hotel and freshening up, you have the option to visit the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, which is a fantastic destination for families. Here, you can watch sky-related movies at the Sky Theatre, learn about the “Dawn of the Space Age” at the Mirror Dome, and interact with life-size astronomy concepts in the Science Park. The planetarium is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Mondays and second Tuesdays), with an entry fee of INR 50 for adults and INR 30 for children. Your tour continues with a drive past the Vidhana Soudha, often called the ‘Taj Mahal of South India.’ As India’s largest legislative building, it boasts a grand white facade with Dravidian, Rajasthani, and Indo-Saracenic influences. While the interior is closed on weekends and holidays, the exterior gardens and granite carvings remain a sight to behold. Finally, conclude your sightseeing at the ISKCON Temple, famous for its gold-plated flag post, intricate stone carvings, and serene flowering gardens. You can visit the Vedic museum or enjoy the prayer recitals between 7:15 am–1:00 pm and 4:15 pm–8:30 pm. Please note that the schedule may vary based on your arrival time and hotel location, and all entry fees are to be paid directly. You will return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in Bangalore.

Meal Plan: Dinner

After an early breakfast, you will check out of your hotel to begin your journey toward Mysore. If time permits, your morning starts with a visit to the Lalbagh Botanical Garden, a 17th-century masterpiece initiated by Tipu Sultan. This expansive garden is home to over 1,000 exotic plant species from Afghanistan and Persia, and features a 3,000-million-year-old rock, one of the oldest in the world. As you walk through the flower beds and past serene ponds, you might spot local birds like the Brahminy kite or pond heron. If your visit falls on the second or fourth weekend, you may even witness folk dances or music concerts. The garden is open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm with a nominal entry fee of INR 20. Continuing your drive toward Mysore, you will stop en route at Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace (Dariya Daulat Bagh). Referred to as the ‘Abode of Happiness,’ this palace was built on a raised stone platform with elegant teakwood pillars and intricate interiors. Started by Hyder Ali Khan in 1778 and completed by Tipu Sultan in 1784, it remains a captivating site for history enthusiasts. It is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Sundays until 5:30 pm), with entry fees of INR 15 for Indian Nationals and INR 200 for Foreign Nationals.

Upon reaching Mysore, check into your hotel and take a moment to freshen up. Around 5:00 pm, you will drive to the world-renowned Brindavan Gardens, located near the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) Dam on the Cauvery River. Designed by Sir Mirza Ismail and inspired by the Mughal-style Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir, this is considered one of the finest terrace gardens in the world. You can explore the vast botanical park, parterres, and water channels before the evening highlight: the famous Musical Fountain and Light Show. The gardens are open until 8:00 pm on weekdays and 9:00 pm on weekends, with illumination generally starting between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm depending on the month. The entry fee is INR 20 per person. Please note that the itinerary may shift slightly based on your schedule and hotel location, and all entry fees are to be paid directly. The day ends with a return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in Mysore.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

Your morning begins with a visit to the breathtaking Mysore Palace, a royal residence completed in 1912 that stands as a masterpiece of Indo-Saracenic architecture. This style is a grand fusion of Hindu, Islamic, Rajput, and Gothic influences, featuring a three-story structure of grey granite topped with iconic deep pink marble domes. Designed by Henry Irwin, the palace boasts a five-storied central tower rising 145 feet and a magnificent portico with seven vast arches held up by tall, elegant pillars. While exploring, you can enter through the Varaha Gate and take advantage of visitor facilities like free wheelchairs, camera custody counters, and footwear stands. The palace is open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, with entry fees of INR 40 for Indians and INR 200 for Foreigners. If you are visiting during the Mysore Dasara Festival (usually in October or November), you can witness the palace grounds transformed with stages for world-class artists and the famous Dashami parade featuring highly ornamented elephants. During this time, the palace is famously draped in over 96,000 lights, creating an incomparable glow.

After soaking in the royal history, you will depart for Coorg (Kodagu), a beautiful district that was an independent state until 1956. Known widely for its world-class coffee and the unique culture of its people, Coorg offers a refreshing change of pace as you climb into the Western Ghats. Upon arrival, you will check into your hotel and have time to freshen up. If you arrive by 2:00 pm, you may enjoy lunch (at your own expense) before spending the evening at your leisure. Whether you choose to stroll through the nearby misty landscapes or simply relax at the resort, the evening is yours to enjoy the cool mountain air. The day concludes with a peaceful dinner and an overnight stay in Coorg.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, your day of exploration begins at the Dubare Elephant Camp, a renowned forest camp situated on the banks of the scenic River Kaveri. As an important base for the Karnataka Forest Department’s elephants, this camp allows you to observe these majestic animals in their natural habitat. You can choose to participate in various activities such as elephant interaction, feeding, or even quad biking, which are available at an additional cost to be paid directly. In the afternoon, after returning to the hotel for lunch, you will visit the Golden Temple (Namdroling Monastery) at Bylakuppe. As one of the largest Tibetan settlements in South India, this area is a vibrant center for Buddhist culture, famous for its grand monasteries, intricate handicrafts, and local carpet and incense factories.

Your sightseeing continues with a visit to the Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri, an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva built in 1820. The temple is architecturally unique, as it lacks the traditional gopuram and instead features a central dome and four minarets, reflecting a beautiful blend of Gothic and Islamic styles. Next, you will head to the picturesque Abbey Falls, located amidst lush coffee and spice plantations. Historically known as Jessi Falls, named after the wife of a British officer, the water cascades down from a height of 70 feet, providing a stunning view from the hanging bridge. As the day winds down, you will visit Raja’s Seat, a seasonal garden that was once the favorite sunset viewing spot for the Kings of Coorg, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the misty valleys and rolling hills. Please note that the sequence of visits may change based on your location and timing. The day concludes with a return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in Coorg.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

On your final day, enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel while soaking in the last bits of the crisp mountain air and the lush greenery of the Western Ghats. After breakfast, you will check out and begin your descent from the hills toward Bangalore.

The drive back is as scenic as the arrival, taking you through winding roads lined with coffee estates and small rustic towns. If your schedule allows, you can make a quick stop at Channapatna, famously known as the “Toy Town” of Karnataka, to pick up some traditional handcrafted wooden toys as unique souvenirs. As you approach the city, you will be transferred directly to Bangalore International Airport or the Railway Station to board your flight or train back home. Bid farewell to the “Scotland of India” as you depart with a heart full of wonderful memories and a camera full of beautiful landscapes from your Coorg adventure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast