A 3 day trip to Coorg , Mysore and surrounding areas.

Day 1

- Leave Bangalore by 8 AM

- Go to Tibetan Monastry , Bylakuppe ( on the way from Mysore to Madikeri, Just before Kushal Nagar)

Place to Visit : Namrodoling Monastery ( Golden Temple )

- Have lunch at Tibetan Monastry , Bylakuppa

- Go to the HomeStay

- Homestay details

o Address: Suntikoppa , On the way to Madikeri from Kushal Nagar

o Cost : 2750 /- ( including Dinner / Breakfast )

o Contact person Kariappa

o Contact Phone : 9448380234

- Evening Madikeri/Coorg tour ( Leave around 3)

- Madikeri Fort

Madikeri fort was first built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. It was eventually rebuilt in granite by Tipu Sultan who named the site as Jaffarabad. In 1790, Doddavira Rajendra took control of the fort.The palace was renovated by Lingarajendra Wodeyar II in 1812-1814. One can find two life size masonry elephants in the north-east corner at the entrance and a church in the south-east corner.

- Omkareshwara temple:

Omkareshwara temple was built by Lingarajendra in 1820. It is located just 1 km away from the heart of the Madikeri. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic style of architecture. There is a tank in front of the temple. There is a footpath leading to a small �Mantap�.It is said Lingarajendra killed an honest and pious Brahmin to fulfill his political ambitions. That Brahmin became a �Brahmarakshasa� and started troubling the king. The king got rid of the so called �Brahmarakshasa� only when he brought a �Shivalinga� from Kashi and installed it after building a temple. The shivalinga was named as �Omkareshwara� and regular rituals were performed. The bars of the windows of the temple were made of�Panchaloha� and an alphabet �lim� has been placed in between the bars.

- Abbey Falls

Abbey Falls also called as Abbi Falls is located 1 km from the town of Madikeri. The waterfall is located between coffee plantations with coffee bushes and spice estates with dense bushes and green trees where the Kaveri river cascades down a rockface.The falls appear suddenly, the water cascading over rocks into calm pools. The roar of the falls can be heard from the road. The water flow is very high during the monsoon season and during the dry seasons the flow is considerably less. A hanging bridge has now been built across the gorge here offering a good view of the falls.The best time to visit is early winter when the monsoons bring plenty of water. The falls can be reached by a narrow road from Madikeri. Cars can reach the entrance of these falls from where a downhill walk of 500 metres on slightly paved steps takes one to the waterfalls.

- Raja's Seat

Raja's Seat is a small pavilion with a garden surrounding it; offering a view of the green valley below. According to legend, the kings of Coorg spent their evenings here. The spectacular sunset and the far stretching blue mountains will take ones breath away.

- Back to the homestay by 8-9 PM

- Dinner/ Campfire ( Need to talk to the homestay person to arrange that before u go on the trip)

- Sleep

Day 2

- Wake up early in the morning

- Coffee plantation trip by the homestay person

- Get Ready, have breakfast

- Checkout from coorg

- Go to Dubbare Elephant Camp / Cauvery Nisargadhama

Dubare Elephant Camp is located near Madikeri (Karnataka, India) in the Kodagu District of Karnataka. It is located on the other side of the river and accessible by a small boat ride.The Karnataka Forest Department has about 150 Elephants in various camps and Dubare has been historically an important camp. The Elephants for the famous Mysore Dassehra were trained at Dubare elephant camp. The moist deciduous forests of Dubare are home to many wild animals and a plethora of birds. Sighting of wild Asiatic Elephants are regular and so is spotting the sambhar and the spotted deer. The Indian Bison or Gaur and bears are also seen in these forests. Visitors also get to notice many crocodiles in the waters of River Cauvery at Dubare. Birdlife in Dubare is wonderful with peacocks, patridges, kingfishers and woodpeckers topping the list.

- Leave to Mysore

- Check in to Hotel & Have lunch

o Hotel Details

§ Hotel Adhi manor

§ #l20, Chandraguptha Road( next to Central Bus Stand)

§ Contact : Reception : +91 0821 4241959

o After Tea Go out for Mysore Site Seeing

Places to Visit:

o St.Philominas church

§ St. Philomena's church is a church built in the honour of St. Philomena in the Diocese of Mysore, India. It was constructed in 1936 using a Neo Gothic style and its architecture was inspired by the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

o Chamundi Hills

§ The Chamundi Hills are located in India, close to the palace city of Mysore. Its average elevation is 1,000 meters.According to legend, the demon Mahishasura, king of the area that is currently Mysore, was killed by the Goddess Chamundeswari (also Chamundi) after a fierce battle. The hills are named after the goddess, and a temple honors her in the hills. The temple has a beautiful idol of the goddess. The temple has always been patronised by the rulers of Mysore. In earlier days, the Maharajas of Mysore would ride the ceremonial Dasara elephant during the annual Dasara festival; since the seventies, the idol of Goddess Chamundi is taken on an elephant.A panoramic view of the city is seen from the top of the hills. Among other landmarks, you can see the race course, the Lalitha Mahal palace, Mysore Palace, Karanji and Kukkarahalli lakes.There a long stairway leading to the top of the hill. There are 1,180 steps in all, and climbing the first 600 steps takes some effort. En route to the top, the steps pass the large monolithic statue of Nandi the Bull. Nandi is the vahana (Vehicle) of Lord Shiva. Climbing gets easier thereafter.There are regular buses plying to the Chamundi hills from the central bus stand.The top of the hill has a few attractions - the Mahishasura Statue, the Chamundeswari Temple, and a few other temples nearby. The Rajendra Vilas palace used to be a popular hotel earlier, but is now closed to the public. The palace is now being redone and provides a panoramic view of Chamundi Hill, Chamundi Temple and the city of Mysore.

o Mysore Palace ( jaganmohan palace, Mysore palace)

§ The Palace of Mysore is a palace situated in the city of Mysore in southern India. It is the official residence of the Wodeyars - the erstwhile royal family of Mysore, and also houses twodurbar halls (ceremonial meeting hall of the royal court). Mysore is commonly described as the City of Palaces, however, the term "Mysore Palace" specifically refers to one within the old fort. The Wodeyar kings first built a palace in Mysore in the 14th century, it was demolished and constructed multiple times. The current palace construction was commissioned in 1897, and it was completed in 1912 and expanded later around 1940.[1]Mysore palace is now one of the most famous tourist attractions in India after Taj Mahal with more than 2.7 million visitors.[2]Although tourists are allowed to visit the palace, they are not allowed to take photographs inside the palace. Price of admission for foreign tourists is 200 INR., and for Indians - 20 INR. All visitors must remove their footwear to enter the palace.

§ Jaganmohan Palace is a palace in Mysore, in the state of Karnataka, India. Its construction was completed in 1861 and was initially used by the Wodeyars, kings of Mysore as their home. It was later converted into an art gallery.

- Come back to Hotel. Have dinner and sleep.

Day 3

- Wake up, have breakfast and checkout of hotel by 9 AM

- Leave to Sravanabelagola

o Shravanabelagola is a city located in the Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is 158 km from Bangalore. The statue of Gomateshwara or Bahubali, at Shravanabelagola is one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers. It reached a peak in architectural and sculptural activity under the patronage of Gangas of Talakad.There are two hills, Chandragiri (Chikkabetta) and Vindyagiri. The last shruta-kevali, Bhadrabahu Swami, and his pupil, Chandragupta Maurya (formerly the King), is believed to have meditated there. Chandragupta Basadi, which was dedicated to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, was originally built there by Emperor Ashoka in the third century BC. Chandragiri also has memorials to numerous monks and shravakas, who have meditated there since the fifth century AD, including the last King of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of Manyakheta. Chandragiri also has a famous temple built byChamundaraya, who was a disciple of Acharya Nemichandra Siddhanta-chakravarti. The 57 feet monolithic statue of the Bhagavan Gomateshwara Bahubali is located on the Vindyagiri.[2] It is considered to be the world's largest monolithic stone statue and was erected by Chamundaraya, a general of King Gangaraya. The base of the statue has an inscriptions in Kannada and Tamil, as well as the oldest evidence of written Marathi, dating from 981 AD.[3] The inscription praises the Ganga king who funded the effort, and his general Chamundaraya, who erected the statue for his mother. Every twelve years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a spectacular ceremony in which the statue is covered with milk, curds, ghee, saffron and gold coins. The next Mahamastakabhisheka will be held in 2018.

See the statue/temple and leave soon.

- Leave to Melukote

Melukote in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district, Karnataka, is one of the sacred places in Karnataka. The place is also known as Thirunarayanapuram. It is built on rocky hills known as Yadavagiri or Yadugiri overlooking the Cauvery valley. It is about 51 km from Mysore and 133 km from Bangalore.

o Places to Visit : Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, Narsimha Temple, Kalyani Pond ( Made famous by Films like Kalapani etc )

- Leave to Srirangapatnam & Visit the Palace & Tomb of Tipu Sultan.

- Lunch at Fish Land Hotel Near Srirangapatna on Mysore Road

- Visit Ranganthittu Brid Sanctuary – Take a boat ride

- Leave to Brindavan and KRS- Spend the evening there. Watch the fountain

INTRODUCTION

o Located at about 140 kilometers from Bangalore and 15 kilometers from Mysore, Srirangapatnam is the biggest of the three islands in the river Kaveri. The island, five kilometers long and two kilometers wide, derives its name from the deity of the temple located on its western side. The island has something for everyone. For those who are turned on by history, there are many monuments here spanning a thousand years. All the major dynasties of the South have left their relics and monuments here-the Hoysalas of the 11th century, the Vijayanagar kings of Chandragiri in the 17th century, the Hyder Ali-Tipu Sultan clan that came after them, and finally, the French and the British. For the naturalist and those contemplative ones who seek quiet spots, this island is a delight. And for the devotees, there are temples, mosques, a church, and a Jain basdi. You could hire an auto-rickshaw and go around, and if you have the time, walk around.

- HISTORY

o Being in the tropical region of the country, it has a languid tropical atmosphere, hot and humid during summer and comfortably cold during winter season. Winter is the best time to visit this place as the humidity during summer makes traveling uncomfortable. Srirangapatnam was the main scene of battles that took place in the second half of the 18th century between the French and the British to get the hold over Carnatic. By 1787, much of the Carnatic region was ruled by Tipu Sultan. But with the arrival of the British, Tipu was finally defeated in the year 1799.

- TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

o The Srirangapatnam Fort, defended by a double wall, is the center of attraction here. It was built in 1454 by Thimmanna, a local chief and later renovated by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The river Kaveri skirts one side of the fort forming a natural moat, which is fed by water from the river.

o The original bridge, which was the only link with the fort, is still in use. Near the bridge, one can still see the breach on the fort wall made by the British forces. The fort has four gates. Along the battlements, there are two dungeons in which prisoners of war were kept. Lalmahal, Tipu's residence within the fort, was razed to the ground and is now just a mound marked by a notice board. To view the military architecture, take a walk along the fort walls.

o Outside the fort, across the main road, is a garden in the center of which stands Tipu's summer palace. The garden is called Darya Daulat Bagh (the garden of the wealth of the sea). The most interesting feature of this palace is the series of murals, which depict scenes from Tipu's military career, particularly the battle of Pollilur (near Kanchipuram) in which he crushed the British forces under Colonel Bailey. The kings who owed allegiance to Tipu are also featured in these paintings. This lavishly ornamented building now houses a museum of Tipu memorabilia.

o Not far from this palace is a church distinctly European in style. The church was built by Abbe Dubois, the French missionary.

o The tomb of Tipu Sultan lies next to his father at Gumad-e-Ala near the fort. The mausoleum is adorned with intricate stuccowork. The three doors made of ebony and inlaid with ivory were gifted by Lord Dalhousie.

o Outside this monument, on the either side of the road leading to the river, stand two structures with typical Islamic domes on top. These are lofts for the birds made during the reign of Hyder Ali, as both Hyder and Tipu were keen on racing pigeons.

o Monuments of the British are spread all over the island. On a high point opposite the summer palace is a tall pillar put up to honor the memory of British officers who died during the siege of Srirangapatnam. The garrison cemetery close by contains many interesting epitaphs to the British who died between 1800 and 1872. Near Tipu's tomb, by the roadside stands the grave of Colonel Bailey, an interesting combination of Saracenic and colonial architecture.

o About three kilometers upstream, lies Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary, a breeding ground for thousands of waterfowls during the period from June to November. The Kaveri River, which divides itself to form the island, rejoins on the western side. This spot is looked upon as sacred and prayers and pujas are held here regularly.

o While the British forces had plundered the city after the final battle and destroyed Tipu's palace and fort, they left the religious structures intact. The temple of Shri Ranganatha is a blend of Hoysala and Vijayanagar architecture. This shrine attracts thousands of devotees. The Jain basdi, dedicated to Adinath, houses images of all the 24 tirthankaras. The Jama Masjid built by Tipu has two minarets that dominate the landscape for miles around.

o The Karighatta Hill, which lies about five kilometers away, provides a complete view of the island. There is a small temple on top of this hill. Legend has it that it was on this hill that the British had placed their cannons during the siege of Srirangapatnam.

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Have dinner from Mysore/Srirangapatnam and leave

- Reach bangalore by 11 PM