Day 01 : Arrive
Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Our representative will meet you at the airport. Later
transfer to the pre booked hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02 : Delhi Sightseeing
This morning after breakfast, leave for city tour of New Delhi and Old
Delhi. In Old Delhi visit the Raj Ghat - the cremation sites of Mahatma
Gandhi, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. In New Delhi
visit the Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199, Humayun's Tomb,
India Gate, Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Drive past
President's House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings &
Connaught Place shopping centre. Overnight at Delhi.
Day 03 : Delhi – Agra
Morning drive to Agra (203 kms / 4 hrs). Upon arrival check into hotel.
Afternoon visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by the Moghul Emperor
Shahjehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains.
Later visit the Agra Fort containing the Halls of Public and Private
Audience. Overnight in Agra.
(Taj Mahal is closed on all
Fridays)
Day 04 : Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur
Drive to Jaipur (252 kms / 5 hrs). Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri which was
built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity
of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of
Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and other Palaces. Overnight at Jaipur.
Day 05 : Jaipur
Morning visit Amber Fort on elephant back - the ancient capital of the
State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory glittering with
mirrors. Afternoon tour of Jaipur. Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan was
given a colour coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince.
Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years
old. Visit Maharaja's City Palace & the Observatory. Drive past Hawa
Mahal & through the pink rose residential & business areas.
Overnight at Jaipur.
Day 06 : Jaipur - Mumbai
Transfer to airport to board flight for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai &
transfer to hotel. Later visit Kamla Nehru Park, Hanging Gardens situated on
the slopes of Malabar Hill offering a panoramic view of Marine Drive,
Chowpatty Beach, Prince of Wales Museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Gateway of
India & drive through the Crawford Market, Marine Drive & Flora
Fountain. Overnight at Mumbai.
Day 07 : Mumbai / Bangalore
Morning cruise across Mumbai harbor to Elephant caves which is famous for
its rock cut temple. In the afternoon fly to Bangalore and check in to hotel
for overnight stay.
Day 08 : Bangalore - Mysore
Full day city tour of Bangalore visiting Lal Bagh Gardens, Vidhan Soudha,
ISCKON, Venkattapa Art Gallary, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetaruim, St Mary's
Cathedral, St. Philimonia’s Church, Tipu's Summer Palace, Cubbon Park,
Bull Temple and Government Museum. Late evening drive to Mysore and check in
to hotel.
Day 09 : Mysore – Bangalore - Cochin
Morning visit Mysore palace which is famous for its harmonious syntheses of
the hindu and saracenic styles of architecture with archways, domes,
turrets, colonnades and sculptures which are magnificent. Proceed to
Jaganmohan Palace which is converted art gallery that houses paintings that
date back to the late 19th century. In the evening drive up to Chamundi hill
to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of Mysore city. On the way
back, see the Nandi Bull. Later drive back to Bangalore railway station to
board train for Cochin. Overnight on board.
Day 10 : Cochin
Arrive Cochin in the morning. Transfer to hotel. Later leave for city tour.
Cochin is a natural harbour created by the underwater Malabar mud-banks
whose quality ensures that the rougher the seas are outside the calmer the
waters are within the Harbour. Vasco-de-Gama placed it on the world map. It
has a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, mosques and Hindu temples, St.
Francis Church, Mattancheri Palace. Watch the Chinese Fishing Nets. In the
evening watch kathkali Dance show. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11 : Cochin – Alleppey – Backwaters
(Houseboat)
In the morning drive to Alleppey (70 kms / 1 ½ hrs) and board
houseboat from the harbor. This moving vessel will take you through the
narrow canals of Vembanadu lake. While sailing through you can view the
stunning greenery on either sides. You will be having first hand experience
of the local living of ordinary people on the banks of the river. All meals
will be provided on board.
Day 12 : Kumarakom - Periyar (Thekkady)
Disembark from the houseboat at Kumarakom jetty. Later visit Kumarakom Bird
Sanctuary which as even migratory boards from Siberia during season. Later
proceed to Periyar and check into hotel.
Day 13 : Periyar
Morning game viewing inside the national park. Periyar - the earliest
sanctuary to be set up in 1934, extends to 777 square kms & forms part
of the high mountain ranges, the Western Ghats. Wild life can be seen while
cruising on Periyar Lake in a motor boat. Amongst the animals which can be
seen are elephants, wild boar, sambhar, tiger, leopard, wild dog, langur
monkeys,etc. Afternoon visit spice plantations. Overnight at Periyar.
Day 14 : Periyar - Madurai
Morning drive to Periyar and check into hotel. In The afternoon visit the great Meenakshi Temple dedicated to the consort of Lord Shiva with its towering gopurams. Visit the Tirumala Nayak Palace - A gracious building in the Indo saracenic style, famous for the Stucco work on its domes & arches. Also visit the Alagar Hills and Tirupara Kundran Rock temple. Overnight at Madurai.
Day 15 : Madurai - - Trichy - Tanjore
Drive to Tanjore. Enroute visit the famous Rock Fort Temple and Tiruvanaikkaval Temple in Trichy. Proceed to Tanjore and check into hotel.
Day 16 : Tanjore
Morning visit the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara, capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 kms long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India. Visit Art Gallery, Saraswati Mahal Library. Overnight at Tanjore.
Day 17 : Tanjore - Pondicherry
Morning drive to Pondicherry. Check into hotel. Afternoon visit the capital of French India before independence. Pondicherry traces its origin to Saint Agasthya, the revered sage of the south & excavations near-by reveal that a Roman settlement existed here 2000 years ago. It was the theatre of many a battle between the British. Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram, founded in 1926 and has grown, under the Mother’s guidance. Overnight at Pondicherry.
Day 18 : Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram
Morning visit Mahabalipuram famous for the seven pagodas. Here on the seashore is an interesting group of ancient rock hewn temples which are the examples of Dravidian style of Architecture. Overnight at Mahabalipuram.
Day 19 : Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Chennai (Madras)
Morning drive to Chennai visiting Kanchipuram enroute. Kanchipuram is the ancient capital of the Pallavas famous as a city of 1000 Temples and still has 124 shrines. The first temple dedicated to Shiva was built in the 7th and 8th century and has paintings on the walls. Temples of Ekambaswara, Kailasanatha temple, Sri Kamakshi and Varadarajaswamy are of interest. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silks. Later drive to Chennai. Overnight Chennai.
Day 20 : Chennai
Morning visit the museum to see the Art and Bronze Gallery. (Closed on Fridays and Public holidays). Drive through the Flower and Fruit market, High court, Fort museum, Marina Beach, Santhome Cathedral and snake park. Afternoon free. Overnight Chennai.
Day 21 : Chennai – Varanasi
Morning transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. In the afternoon visit Sarnath, the place Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Evening watch “Ganga Aarti” a Hindu ritual with fire on the Ganga River. Overnight at hotel.
Day 22 : Varanasi – Kolkata (by train)
Morning boat excursion on the river Ganges. People bathe early in the morning to offer the prayers to the rising sun. The two cremation ghats are Manikarnika & Harishchandra where funeral pyre burns Day and night. Every pious Hindu believes that to die in Kashi and to be cremated on banks of the Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and death. In the evening transfer to railway station to board train to Kolkata.
Day 23 : Arrive Kolkata
Arrive Kolkata in the morning. Check into hotel. Later visit the Jain Temple, Zoological Gardens, Victoria Memorial & drive past Howrah Bridge, Dalhousie Square, Fort Williams, Secretariat Building and Old Court House Street, Kali temple, Mother Teresa house.
Day 24 : Kolkata / Out
Transfer to airport in time to connect flight for your home town.
