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 BANDIPUR                   MUNDANTHURAI               VEDANTHANGAL
       
MUDUMALAI NATIONAL PARK
       
   
COMBOS
       
       
  THE GOLDEN “WILDLIFE QUADRANGLE”
       
Mysore lies at the centre of what can be termed the golden quadrangle of wildlife in South India, consisting of Nagarhole, Mudumalai, Bandipur and BR Hills sanctuaries. All these wildlife parks are within 2-3 hours’ driving distance of Mysore. They form a vast, contiguous stretch of forests that provide critical corridors for animals to transit. Between them, you can spend a couple of weeks experiencing some of the best conserved jungles in India.

For more information about these parks, refer the “Places to See” section of this website.
       
  Via BANGALORE / MYSORE
       
  Mysore / Srirangapatna
       

Mysore, the capital of the Wodiyar dynasty from the 16th century till India’s independence in 1947, is one of the most touristic destinations in South India. Its beautiful palaces, stately mansions and wide roads give us a glimpse of its glorious past. The Mysore Palace is an excellent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture and is still used as the residence of the erstwhile Maharajah. Another popular spot is the Chamundi hills with its historic temple of Goddess Chamundeswari and the large, 5m high Nandi (bull) sculpture, both dating back to the 17th century.

       
Just outside Mysore lies the historic fort-city of Srirangapatnam. This was the capital of of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the legendary 18th century kings who fought the British defiantly for decades. Srirangapatnam is famous for its fort on the banks of the river Cauvery. Do not miss the underground dungeons where Tipu kept captured British soldiers in chains (with the water rising to their necks during high tide). The ancient Ranganatha temple (Tipu is known to have visited this temple every time he went to battle) lies within the fort. Equally impressive is the summer palace with its large paintings depicting the Carnatic battles.
       
19 Kms from Mysore is the Ranganathittu bird sanctuary.
  
 
 
 
33 Kms from Mysore is the famous 12th century Hoysala temple at Somnathpur, which rivals Belur and Halebid in beauty.
       
  See "Photo Gallery" for pictures of Somnathpur.
       
  Belur and Halebid
       
If you have the time, do not miss the opportunity of visiting Belur and Halebid (you can make a day trip from Mysore or stay overnight at Hassan). The architectural beauty of the temples here is simply beyond human imagination till you actually see them.
 
 
    
These famous Hoysala temples were built in the 12th century, at the height of the Hoysala kingdom. The workmanship of the sculptures here take your breath away with their intricacy and life-like detail. The Channakeshava temple in Belur is noted for its figures of dancing damsels while the Halebid temple has stunning images from the Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
 
 
    
You can make a short getaway to the coffee plantation town of Chikmagalur, about 30 Kms from Hassan. Experience the Taj Garden Retreat, a beautifully landscaped resort hotel with excellent cottages. Visit some of the coffee plantations nearby.
 
 
    
  See Photo Gallery for pictures of Belur and Halebid temples.
       
  Bangalore City
       
You can plan to spend a couple of pleasant days in the garden city of Bangalore, also called the Silicon valley of India.
 
 
 
 
The main attractions in Bangalore are its gardens. The most popular are Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park. If architecturally inclined, you can visit Tipu’s wooden palace (18th century) and the Bull temple (16th century).
 
 
 
 
Other attractions in Banglore are the Iskcon Krishna temple (a modern temple built almost entirely of white marble), a number of beautiful churches and Vidan Soudha (the State Assembly).
 
 
 
 
The West End hotel in Bangalore, which belongs to the Taj Group of hotels, is listed as one of the Leading hotels of the World. Built over several hectares of greenery, this is truly a magnificent luxury garden hotel with no high rise buildings.
 
 
 
 

Bangalore is famous for its trendy shopping districts (MG Road, Brigade Road, Commercial Street). Shopping is the foremost hobby of Bangaloreans, followed by eating out. You will find a number of speciality restaurants and pubs in this city which is very young at heart.
       
  VIA COIMBATORE
       
  The Nilagiri mountains
       
The Nilagiri or Blue mountains have a number of very popular hill resorts. The most popular is Ooty, a large town which serves as the headquarter for the region. Once known as the queen of hill stations, Ooty is now very over-crowded and has lost a lot of its charm.
 
 
 
 
The smaller towns of Coonoor and Wellington offer wonderful getaways. At a height of around 2000 metres, they sport refreshingly cool climate through the year with winters being an enjoyable 8-12 degrees celcius. Coonoor is famous for its sprawling Sim’s park and a number of beautiful walks through tea estates and rolling hills. Both these places guarantee a tranquil holiday to soothe your nerves and bodies.
 
The Taj Garden Retreat in Coonoor is a resort hotel set amidst beautiful surroundings, with a wonderfully relaxing ambiance.