Bangalore, Mysore & Ooty

Garden city Bangalore, Mysore's palace, and Ooty and Coonoor in the Nilgiri hills.

Your route

1. 1 Bangalore 1 night
2. 2 Mysore 1 night
3. 3 Ooty 2 nights

1. Day 1 Bangalore

   Arrive, Lalbagh and city sights.

   Our representative welcomes you at Bangalore airport or railway station. Bangalore, now Bengaluru, is the capital of Karnataka and known as the Garden City. After check-in, visit Lalbagh Botanical Garden with its glasshouse, Cubbon Park, and the grand Vidhana Soudha from outside. In the evening, explore MG Road and Brigade Road for shopping and cafes, or the ISKCON temple on a hill. Bangalore's pleasant climate makes evenings ideal for walking, and its pubs and cafes are among the liveliest in India. Overnight in Bangalore.

2. Day 2 Mysore

   Srirangapatna, Mysore Palace.

   After breakfast, drive to Mysore, about 150 km and three to four hours. On the way, stop at Srirangapatna to see Tipu Sultan's summer palace, Daria Daulat Bagh, and the Ranganathaswamy temple. In Mysore, visit the Mysore Palace, one of the grandest in India, lit by nearly 100,000 bulbs on Sunday and holiday evenings. In the evening, see the musical fountains at Brindavan Gardens when running. Mysore is also famous for silk sarees, sandalwood and Mysore pak. Overnight in Mysore.

3. Day 3 Ooty

   Chamundi Hills, drive to Ooty.

   After breakfast, visit Chamundi Hills and the Chamundeshwari temple, with views over Mysore and a giant Nandi carved from rock on the way. Then drive to Ooty, about 125 km and four hours, through Bandipur and Mudumalai forests, where you may spot elephants and deer from the road. The road climbs 36 hairpin bends near Kalhatty, so carry motion sickness tablets. Check in at Ooty. Driving through the forest reserves is not allowed between 9 pm and 6 am. Overnight in Ooty.

4. Day 4 Ooty

   Coonoor by toy train, Ooty lake.

   A full day in the Nilgiri hills. Ride the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO heritage toy train, from Ooty to Coonoor, subject to ticket availability, which we try to book in advance. In Coonoor, visit Sim's Park, Dolphin's Nose and Lamb's Rock viewpoints over the tea estates. Back in Ooty, see the Botanical Garden, Ooty Lake and Doddabetta Peak, the highest point of the Nilgiris. Evenings are cold, so carry warm clothes. Entry fees are extra at most places. Overnight in Ooty.

5. Day 5 Bangalore

   Drive back for departure.

   After breakfast, check out and drive back to Bangalore, about 270 km and seven to eight hours, through the forests and plains. Stop for lunch on the way. Our driver drops you at Bangalore airport or railway station for your journey home. We recommend late evening departures. Pick up Ooty homemade chocolates, eucalyptus oil and Nilgiri tea before you leave the hills. Driving through the forest reserves is not allowed at night. Carry snacks and water for the drive. Your South India escape ends here.

What's included

Good to know