Duration: |
20 Days |
Destination |
Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Udaipur-Mumbai-Goa-Cochin-Alleppy-Kumarakom-Periyar-Madurai-Chennai |
Day 1
Arrival Delhi Meet and greet assistance on arrival in Delhi . Transfer and check into the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2
Delhi After breakfast, enjoy a full day city tour. Visit the Red Fort lay out along the River Yamuna as an irregular octagon. Surrounded by a wall of about 2.4 kms in circumference, it is built of red sandstone. The Mogul ruler Shah Jahan transferred his capital from Agra to Delhi and, after nine years, the fort was completed in 1648. The fort has two main entrances, the Delhi Gate and the Lahori Gate. The latter faces Chandni Chowk, the city's most crowded but diverse market. Shah Jehan also built the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India . The Humayun' s Tomb, an attractive structure, is believed to be the forerunner of the famous Taj Mahal of Agra. The most well-known landmark of Delhi , Qutub Minar, is one of the earliest remains of imperial Delhi (13th century) and the tallest monuments of early times. Also drive past the India Gate, Connaught Place and the President's Palace. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 3
Delhi - Agra : 205 kms | 4 hrs by road In the morning, drive to Agra , home to the Taj Mahal. Agra is a city rich in monuments that reflect the delicate fusion of Islamic and Hindu styles, known as Mogul architecture Visit Sikandra en route, where Emperor Akbar was buried. On arrival, check into the hotel. At sunset, visit the Taj Mahal, built by the Emperor Shah Jehan in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The immortal legacy with its flowing curves of marble domes and elegant minarets enchants every visitor. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 4
Agra – Jaipur: 265 kms | 5 hrs by road In the morning, visit the Agra Fort and admire the Jehangir Mahal and Khas Mahal for their grandeur, the Sheesh Mahal for its detailed mirror work and the Deewan-e-Am where the Emperor met his subjects. Later, drive to Jaipur, the Pink City . Visit the magnificent city of Fatehpur Sikri en route. Built in red sandstone by Akbar the Great, it was the capital of the Mogul empire between 1571 and 1585. Abandoned due to water problems, it is popularly known as the ghost city. On arrival in Jaipur, check into the hotel. In the evening, visit the massive Birla Temple and watch the evening prayer ceremony. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 5
Jaipur In the morning, enjoy an excursion to Amber Fort with an elephant ride up the Fort's ramparts. The Fort was originally built in the 16th century by Maharaja Man Singh. It encloses within it superb palaces and a beautiful temple in marble dedicated to the fearsome Goddess Kali. In the afternoon, visit the City Palace Museum , which contains elaborate wardrobes, magnificent armory and intricate carved weapons. Close by is the Observatory built in 1728 by Jai Singh II. Also admire the Hawa Mahal, from where the palace women could watch the activities of the big bazaar below, without being observed. A must-do in Jaipur is shopping - jewellery, handicrafts, clothes and the famous lakh bangles. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 6
Jaipur – Udaipur : 55 mins by air After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Udaipur , known as the " Venice of the East". On arrival, check into the hotel. Enjoy the day at leisure or take a walk through the city's streets. In the evening, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola . Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 7
Udaipur After breakfast, take a half day city tour. Visit the City Palace , a marvel of marble and granite. This is the largest palace in Rajasthan and never fails to delight one with its exquisite workmanship. The shrine of Dhuni Mata and the museum of Rana Pratap are the highlights of this complex. Sahelion-Ki-Bari, a short distance away, has four pools and delicately carved kiosks in marble. The Jagdish Temple houses some imposing sculpted figures and heavily ornamented interiors. Built in the early 18th century, this is now a popular tourist spot. The Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir and the Fatehsagar Lake are the other sights that one could catch. In the evening, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola . Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 8
Udaipur – Mumbai: 1 hr 15 mins by air In the morning, transfer to airport for a flight to Mumbai. Meet and greet assistance on arrival. Transfer and check into the hotel. Enjoy rest of the day at leisure. Stay over night in India.
Day 9
Mumbai In the morning, leave for an excursion to 7th century Elephanta Island , a World Heritage Site , with ancient cave temples. Watch out for some magnificent Shiva sculptures and the spectacular Maheshamurti panel which depicts Shiva as the creator, protector and destroyer. Visit the glamorous city of Mumbai and it's famous sights - the Gateway of India, Dhobi Ghat, Flora Fountain, Prince of Wales Museum and the Hanging Gardens . Drive by the Marine Drive , Chowpatty Beach and the Parsi 'Towers of Silence'. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 10
Mumbai – Goa : 1 hr by air After breakfast, transfer to airport for a flight to Goa . On arrival, transfer and check into hotel. Enjoy rest of the day at leisure on the beach. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 11
Goa After breakfast, proceed on a half day sightseeing tour of Goa, visiting Miramar Beach , Basilica of Bomb Jesus and the city of Panjim . Spend the afternoon at leisure on the beach. In the evening, enjoy a sunset cruise on River Mandovi. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 12
Goa After breakfast, e njoy rest of the day at leisure on the beach. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 13
Goa – Cochin : 1 hr 10 mins by air After breakfast in the morning, transfer to the airport to catch flight to Cochin . On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, go for a city tour of Cochin . Visit St. Francis Church where Vasco Da Gama was originally buried and the historic Jewish Synagogue built in 1568 AD where one can admire the great scrolls of the Old Testament, the copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers were recorded, and the exquisite Chinese hand painted tiles. Also visit the Dutch Palace , Chinese Fishing Nets and the Spice Market. In the evening, enjoy a spectacular Kathakali dance show. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 14
Cochin – Alleppy: 63 kms | 1 hr by road In the morning, drive to Alleppey. Enjoy sauntering through this pleasant, easy-going market town built on canals and surrounded by beautiful coconut trees. On arrival, check into a Deluxe House Boat, standing along Kerala's scenic backwaters. Stay overnight on board the House Boat.
Day 15
Alleppy – Kumarakom (in the House Boat) In the morning, check out from the House Boat and transfer to Kumarakom. The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands and this small water world is part of the Kuttanad region. A picturesque, clean village, Kumarakom is a tiny hamlet on the banks of a lagoon formed by the Vembanad Lake . Check into the hotel where calm, emerald backwaters reflect hundreds of thousands of gently swaying palms where the primary attraction however, is its lazy ambience. Later, visit the bird sanctuary of Kumarakom. Take a walk around the sanctuary while experiencing the sights and sounds of these birds. Stay over night at hotel.
Day 16
Kumarakom – Periyar: 145 kms | 4 hrs by road In the morning, drive to Periyar. On arrival, check into the hotel. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar Lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady. Here the high ranges of the Western Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savannah grasslands. Below this thick green canopy roam herds of elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on the lake and see the wild animals in their natural habitat. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 17
Periyar Early in the morning, set off for game viewing in the National Park. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Thereafter, visit a tea and spice plantation or go on a short trek through the forest with an escort. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 18
Periyar- Madurai: 160 kms | 5 hrs by road In the morning, drive to Madurai , one of oldest cities in the south and a center of learning and pilgrimage. On arrival, check into the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the Meenakshi Temple , dedicated to the Goddess Meenaskhi, consort of Lord Shiva. Four of the twelve gopurams (towers), decorated with colorful stucco images of gods, goddesses and animals, loom above the city. Also visit the Thirumalai Nayak Palace built by the Nayaks in the Indo-Saracenic style in 1636. Stay overnight at the hotel
Day 19
Madurai – Chennai: 1 hr by air In the morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Chennai, the fourth largest Indian city. On arrival, transfer and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the 16th century Kapaleeswarar Temple and the National Art Gallery , which offers a timeless collection of old paintings, sculptures, handicrafts, metal ware and iron carvings of various periods. Admire the collection of the Bronze Art Gallery at the Government Museum . Also visit Fort St George, a fine example of 17th century British architecture and St. Mary's Church, the first English Church in India . Drive along Marina Beach. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 20
Chennai After breakfast, depart for a full day excursion to Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram, capital of the Pallava kingdom, the original thousand temples, today about 200 survive. One of the seven sacred cities for the Hindus, it is equally famous for its hand woven silks. Visit the main temples, the most striking of which are the Kailasanath temple and the Ekambeshwar temple. On arrival in Mamallapuram, visit the Shore temples, the renowned Arjuna's Penance, the Five Raths and other rock carvings. Also admire the stone carvers who displaying their skills and wares at the local market. In the evening, return to Chennai for overnight stay at the hotel.
Cost includes
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
