“India: Where every vista is a masterpiece and every journey, a tale of beauty.”
India is regarded as a country of infinite diversity, where you can witness an amazing amalgamation of varied cultures, myths, ancient traditions, and of course, modern innovations. From trekkers in Himachal Pradesh to backpackers in Goa and devotees in Varanasi, this country has something special to offer for all. However, planning the perfect one-week itinerary in India may seem a little challenging. To help you out, we have created this unique yet easy-to-plan itinerary that can offer you a distinct expedition. In these 7 days, you will be able to explore India’s historic palaces, stunning wildlife, and more. So, let’s dive in.
Exploration of Wildlife, Hill Station, and Tea Plantations in India
Enjoy a fascinating vacation with this perfect 7-day itinerary that covers some of the major cities of India. The serene mountains and fascinating sightseeing will definitely make this trip memorable. Let’s take a look.
Day 1: Arrival in Bangalore- A Modern City Known for Its Nightlife and Parks
If you want to discover the best of southern India, this itinerary covering Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu can be an excellent option for you. Your trip will begin with your arrival in Bangalore, the world’s 27th-largest city. If you are travelling from Delhi by flight, it will cost you around Rs. 6000 and take about 3 hours to reach Bangalore.
Morning In Bangalore: Explore the Majestic Bangalore Palace
If you love art, heritage buildings, parks, and shopping, then you will find numerous places to spend your time in Bangalore. However, we suggest beginning your city exploration by visiting Bangalore Palace first, which was built in 1879 and spreads over 45,000 square feet. Here, you will witness a combination of Scottish Gothic and Tudor architecture. The palace offers an opportunity to witness the lavish and elegant splendour of South India’s most powerful dynasties.
Bangalore Palace
Afternoon: Visit to A Prominent Islamic Building- Tipu Sultan’s Palace
In the afternoon, you can head over to enjoy some delicious delicacies of Bangalore. The Rice Bowl, Pangeo and The Bangalore Café are some of the famous restaurants that offer you authentic local as well as international food options. Once done with lunch, begin your journey towards Tipu Sultan’s Palace, constructed between 1781 and 1791. Also called the Rash-e-Jannat, this palace is a perfect example of Islamic-Indo architecture. It is immersed in the greenery of a mesmerizing garden. If time permits, you can also visit Cubbon Park.
Evening: A Little Bit of Shopping and Munching
Reserve your evening to discover the markets in Bangalore for shopping. Head to the National Market or Avenue Road. Shop for beautiful accessories, clothes, antiques and more. While shopping, you can also load up on Indian chaats and pani puri that you can easily find in the markets.
Lastly, return to your hotel, have dinner and enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep as the following day, you will begin the next leg of your journey.
Day 2- Mysore- Arrival, Sightseeing, and Night Stay
On the second day morning, you will leave for Mysore, the City of Palaces. The distance between Bangalore and Mysore is around 146 KM. You can take a train or book a private taxi to reach Mysore. We highly suggest you begin your journey as early as possible in the morning to avoid traffic.
Morning: Get Ready for A Regal and Historic Experience
A trip to Mysore will remain incomplete without visiting the elegant and exquisite palaces the city boasts. So, once you are done with breakfast at your hotel, grab your waist bag and try to cover as many palaces as you can in the early morning hours. Visit the Mysore Palace to witness the beautiful Indo-Saracenic architecture. Next, you can go to Jaganmohan Palace and spend some time there by indulging in the illustrious history behind the name.
Mysore Palace
Afternoon: Get Close to Nature and Wildlife
After having lunch at a local restaurant in the afternoon, visit Chamundi Hill, famous for the Chamundeshwari Temple. Located around 1000 meters from the sea level, the temple offers stunning panoramic views of Karanji Lake, Mysore Palace and more. The beauty of the hills will definitely create memories that you will never forget. After spending some time there, begin your journey towards the Mysore Zoo, which houses more than 160 species of animals, including terrestrial birds, aquatic animals, small and big cats, etc.
Evening: A Perfect Time to Explore Local Markets and Dancing Fountain
After sipping on some coffee at a local café, visit Brindavan Gardens to see the ‘dancing’ fountain in the evening. Yes, you read it right! It’s called the dancing fountain as the fountain sways, dances and spurts according to the beat of the music. It, indeed, feels dramatic and enchanting. Next, visit Devraja Market, a beautiful heritage market in Mysore. There, you can shop or visit nearby sights like Clock Tower, and KSIC Silk Factory.
Night: A Memorable Night Walk and Dinner
Stroll through the beautiful glimmering streets and witness the real beauty of the city through a late evening walk with your partner or family. After the walk, you can visit Gufha at Hotel Pai Vista, Olive Garden or Oyster Bay to enjoy a scrumptious dinner.
Day 3- Ooty- Arrival, Sightseeing, and Overnight Stay
You will begin your journey towards Ooty on the 3rd day of the trip. It will take around 3 hours to reach Ooty from Mysore by road, during which you will get to enjoy some beautiful scenery. Upon your arrival, complete your check-in process at the hotel and take some rest. You can start your sightseeing tour later in the day and also indulge in some shopping at local markets.
Morning: Start Your Day Exploring Copious Wildlife at Bandipur National Park
As you will be spending just one day in Ooty, it can get challenging to cover all the famous tourist spots. However, fret not as you can still visit some of the major locations in a day. You can visit Bandipur National Park, which is South Asia’s largest habitat of wild elephants. There, you can have a wonderful experience of watching Sambar, Leopard, Chital, Indian Elephants, Tigers and more such animals along with birds. For more fun, you can also book a mini-bus safari that costs Rs. 350 per person.
Bandipur National Park
Afternoon: A Visit to Doddabetta Peak
After the sightseeing tour, there are several binging venues you can visit to have delicious food at the park itself. If you prefer vegetarian food, you can visit Ooty Coffee House, Garden Restaurant, or Angara. For the non-vegetarians, Kabab Corner or Shinkows can be your best bet. After lunch, indulge in nature’s grandeur by visiting Doddabetta Peak, located around 2623 meters above sea level. Offering stunning pictures of the city, this is an excellent place for photographers. This spot also offers several trekking trails to experience the thrill of hiking and trekking. Besides, you can spend your time gazing at the gripping panoramic views through a telescope that you can find at the Telescope House. If you still have time left, try to cover places like Emerald Lake, Tiger Hill, and Kamraj Sagar Lake to experience the real natural beauty of Ooty.
Evening: A Visit to Award-Winning Rose Garden
Honoured with a Garden of Excellence Award, the Rose Garden is a pleasure and delight to watch. A visit to this garden is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In the garden, you can explore a vast variety of roses like Floribunda, miniature roses and more.
Rose Garden
Night: Shop and Taste Some Local Cuisines
Shop the authentic eucalyptus oil, tea and toda jewellery as you travel back to your hotel in the late evening. Visit Lower Bazaar Road for quality readymade clothing or dress materials, locally-made jewellery and Puthukuli. Next, you can go to Charring Cross to shop for toys, woollen products, gift items, etc. Delight your taste buds with local food items like Pandi Curry, Ooty Biryani, Kaima Idli, Avial, etc before ending your day. These dishes will give you an idea of Ooty’s age-old traditional foods and vibrant culture.
Day 4: Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu- Arrival and Night Stay
After breakfast on Day 4, complete your check-out formalities early in the morning and head toward Ooty Lake where you can enjoy various water sports. Once done, by noon, you will start your journey towards Kodaikanal by road, which is situated around 253 KM away from Ooty. Upon arrival, check into your hotel room and take some rest.
Evening: Take A Stroll
Spend some time experiencing the unique café culture of the city in the evening. Enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee at the famous Pastry Corner or Ten Degrees Kodai, while also indulging in some of their mouth-watering snacks. After refreshment, go for a relaxing walk at ‘Coaker’s Walk,’ a beautiful walking plaza built around the mountain edge. Spend your time in nature while enjoying some breathtaking and awe-inspiring views.
Lastly, return to your hotel at night for an overnight stay.
Day 5: Kodaikanal- Full-day Sightseeing
Spend the entire fifth day of the trip exploring Kodaikanal and its nearby places. The short distance of major attractions to each other makes it easier to cover most of the hidden gems of Kodaikanal, like mountain peaks, waterfalls, and beautiful valleys.
Morning: A Visit to Kodai Lake
Once you are done with your breakfast, get ready to have a wonderful day in Kodaikanal. On the 5th day, you will explore alluring viewpoints, serene lakes, waterfalls, and more such scenic beauty that this small city has to offer. Begin your day with a visit to Kodai Lake. This lake offers picturesque views, where you will witness solitude within nature’s heaven. Take a boat ride and enjoy the stunning vistas amidst relaxing climatic conditions. You will also find many small shops surrounding the lake, where you can taste homemade chocolates and local food.
Kodai Lake
Afternoon: Enjoy Your Time at Bryant Park
Next, you can visit Bryant Park, located on Kodai Lake’s eastern side. This infamous park boasts different shrubs, cacti, and flowers, offering you an invigorating and delightful view under bright sunlight. The park will not only freshen up your mood but also enrich you with some knowledge about nature.
Evening: Explore Bear Shola Falls
Kodaikanal begins to spell an enduring magic as the sun begins to set. An evening in this hill station will offer you a lot of exciting and memorable memories. Your next stop in the evening will be Bear Shola Falls, which offers an excellent combination of quaint surroundings and mesmerizing views. It is an ideal location to unwind and relax. If you want, you can even spend an entire day there or head over to visit the Pillar Rocks for some wonderful sights.
Night: Shop and Explore the Food Joints
While in Kodaikanal, go on a vibrant shopping spree to buy some souvenirs for your family or loved ones. From homemade chocolates to shawls, the markets in this city have a huge range of delightful gifts and products that you will definitely love to fill your bags with. To buy genuine brass products, leather goods, and Kashmiri Shawls, you can visit The Khadi Emporium. For beautiful art and craft items, check out Danish Display. Kodaikanal is also famous for its non-powdered and powdered spices and Spices Corner is the best place to buy them.
End your day in Kodaikanal by having a delicious dinner. From Pizza to local delicacies such as Thukpa soup, this place offers a lot of choices. Looking for some good pubs in Kodaikanal? Your best options can be Rest O Bar, Oasis Bar, or Bryants Lounge.
Day 6- Munnar- Arrival, Sightseeing, and Night Stay
Wake up early morning on Day 6, have breakfast, and check out from the hotel. Hop into a private taxi to begin a beautiful road trip to Munnar. By road, it will take around 4 hours to reach Munnar from Kodaikanal. Upon arrival, complete the check-in process at the hotel and take a rest for some time. Spend the rest of the day exploring local places and the alluring natural beauty of Munnar.
Morning: Start Your Day with Tea Gardens
The moment you arrive in Munnar, your first stop should be the tea gardens. So, begin your day in Munnar with a visit to the beautiful tea garden at Kolukkumalai Tea Estate. Experience Munnar’s magical mountains and taste the best tea made freshly using tea leaves from the tea gardens. If you like, you can also go for a Tea Garden Trek.
Kolukkumalai Tea Estate
Afternoon: Visit Eravikulam National Park
In the afternoon, head to Eravikulam National Park, where you can see Nilgiri Tahr and several other endangered species. Besides, you can go trekking through the Kurinji Trail. While trekking, you can see the mass flowering of beautiful Neelakurinji flowers along with some breath-taking views.
Evening: Head Over to Blossom Park
You can spend your evening in Munnar by heading over to the Blossom Hyde Park. A visit to this gorgeous park will surely freshen up your mind and refresh your soul. Spend some time here and rejuvenate by the smooth touch of cold air.
Night: A Perfect Time for Shopping
Munnar has a variety of shops where you can buy unique gifts, locally hand-crafted goods, souvenirs, and more. Some of the best places for shopping are Munnar Market, Mattupetty Dam Market, Johnson’s Wood Craft, Munnar Inn Spices, and Aranya Naturals.
Wondering where to eat in Munnar? Well, the choices are numerous. But some popular food joints where you can witness an unforgettable dining experience are Arabian Grills, Hill Spice, KTDC Tea County Restaurant, and Rivulet Restaurant.
Day 7- Arrival at Kochi and Departure
On Day 7, you will leave for Kochi from Munnar, bidding farewell to the misty mountain range and picturesque landscapes. The journey takes around 5 to 6 hours by road or rail. Upon arrival in Kochi, you will head to Kochi airport, where you will take a flight to Delhi, concluding your 7-day trip.
Most major airlines offer flight services between Kochi and Delhi, which costs around Rs. 9000 per head. You will find both connecting and non-stop flights.
In this 7-day itinerary, we have covered the major cities you can visit in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Whether you are a nature lover, seeking a way to indulge in the beauty of mother nature or a person who loves shopping and trying out new dishes, we think this itinerary can tick all points on your checklist.
Check Out More Indian Itineraries
There are more such Indian itineraries that can make your trip to this beautiful country a grand success. Check out those itineraries here or you can share your requirements by filling up the online form. We will then assign a local tour specialist to plan the perfect trip for you.
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