DELHI – AGRA – JAIPUR – JODHPUR – UDAIPUR – BOMBAY – KOCHI – RICE BOAT – KUMARAKOM – KOVALAM
Arrive in Delhi. Traditional Indian welcome on arrival at airport. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Morning, sightseeing of Old and New Delhi. Evening, free for shopping and relaxing. Overnight stay at hotel.
Morning, depart for Agra. Check in at Hotel. Visit the Agra Fort and the magnificent “monument of love” – The Taj Mahal – by sunset. Overnight stay at hotel.
Morning, depart for Jaipur, visiting the “forgotten city” of Fatehpur Sikri – built by Emperor Akbar. Proceed onwards to Jaipur. Overnight stay at hotel.
Morning, visit the high mountain fortress of Amber Fort, with an elephant ride to the top of the fort. Later, city sightseeing including a visit to the Observatory and City Palace & Museum. Time for shopping. Return to Hotel and relax.
Morning, depart for Jodhpur (6 hours drive). Check in at hotel. Enjoy dinner at Chowkelao Terrace – overlooking Jodhpur city. Overnight stay at hotel.
Morning, sightseeing tour of the mighty Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant ka Thada. Later, depart for Udaipur – the “City of Lakes”, stopping enroute to visit the beautiful Jain Marble Temples of Ranakpur. Arrive in Udaipur. Check in and overnight stay at hotel.
Morning, visit the magnificent City Palace & Museum and Royal Crystal Collection. Afternoon, at leisure. Evening, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola. Overnight stay at hotel.
Morning, transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai. Connecting flight to Kochi. Evening, enjoy a Kathakali dance performance. Overnight stay at hotel.
Sightseeing of Kochi city, including, Dutch Palace, Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Thomas Church, and Jewish Synagogue. Afternoon to relax and enjoy the hotel. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Morning, depart for Allepey (2 hours drive). Board traditional riceboat called “Kettuvallam”. Cruise through the Kerala backwaters and spend a relaxing day observing village life on the banks. Lunch is prepared and served on board. Disembark at Kumarakom. Overnight in the hotel.
Day free for independent activities, including Ayurveda Massages. Overnight stay in the hotel.
After a leisurely lunch, proceed for Kovalam (4 hours drive). Kovalam is famous for its fine sandy beaches. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day free for beach activities and relaxing. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Morning , free for beach activities and relaxing. Evening, transfer to Thiruvananthapuram airport (16 kilometers) for international flight back home.
CHENNAI – MAHABLIPURAM – PONDICHERRY – THANJAVUR – TRICHY – MADURAI – THEKKADY – KUMARAKOM – ALEPPEY – KOCHI
Arrive in Chennai. Our representative will receive you at the airport and transfer to you to the hotel.
Morning, set aside for sightseeing – visiting The National Museum, Mylapore Temple, San Thome Cathedral, Marina Beach and the Fort area. Afternoon, depart for Mahabalipuram – the only city with seashore temples and exquisite rock-cut architecture.
Visit the largest open-air rock-cut bass-relief, the five Rathas, structured temples, man-made caves, and chariots. Afternoon, free to enjoy the beach.
Depart for Pondicherry, once a French settlement and now home to the Aurobindo Ashram, which represents a synthesis of spiritual yoga, and Auroville (or the City of Dawn) an international settlement.
Day for sightseeing, visiting Matri Mandir, Auroville, and Pondicherry Museum – which has an outstanding collection of artifacts, and the Sculpture Gallery. Evening, free.
Depart for Thanjavur (previously known as Tanjore) – a city which is rich in architectural treasures. Afternoon, visit the magnificent Brahadeeswara temple and the second largest monolithic sculpture of Nandi the bull.
Depart from Thanjavur for the temple town of Madurai stopping en route to see the Rock-Fort citadel of the Chola dynasty in Trichy. Arrive in Madurai in the afternoon. In the evening, witness “Aarti” or the night ceremony at the Meenakshi Temple, when the temple bronze of Lord Shiva is carried to the bed chamber of the Goddess Parvati accompanied by religious prayers and music.
In Madurai – visit the Meenakashi temple – famous for its court of thousand pillars, Thirumalai Nayak’s Palace, and the Gandhi Museum. Afternoon, free for shopping etc.
Depart for one of the best game sanctuaries in India, a breathtaking drive through winding, dense rubber plantations leading to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady in the afternoon.
In Periyar – visit the Spice Plantations and, in the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Periyar.
Leaving the jungle and departure for Kumarakom, located on the banks of Lake Vembanad. Enjoy the day experiencing Ayurvedic massages etc.
In Kumarakom – day to relax.
Drive to Alleppey – in the heart of the backwaters. Experience a cruise on the backwaters and overnight stay in a houseboat.
Leaving the backwaters and departure for the harbor town of Cochin, now called Kochi. In the evening, enjoy a Kathakali dance performance.
Sightseeing, including, a visit to the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue – the oldest in India with features like the great scrolls of the Old Testament, the St. Francis Church and the Chinese Fishing Nets.
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home, via Mumbai.
MUMBAI – GOA – BELGAUM – BADAMI – PATTADAKAL – AIHOLE – HOSPET – HAMPI – HASSAN – MYSORE – BANGALORE
Arrive in Mumbai. The city is the financial and business capital of the country. Our representative will receive you at the airport and escort you to the hotel.
The day begins with our guide taking you in the ferry to the Elephanta Caves, located 10 kilometers away from the Gateway of India in Mumbai. These caves house rock-cut temples dating back to the 5th century CE. The Elephanta Island was so named by the Portuguese, after the statue of an elephant near the landing area of the island. In the afternoon, do sightseeing of Mumbai city visiting The Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Crawford Market, and Dhobi Ghat.
Fly to the beach town of Goa. Afternoon, free to relax on the beach.
In Goa – optional tour of Old Goa, to visit various churches like Basilica of Bom Jesus and visit the local market.
Full day free for relaxation.
Depart Goa for Badami, stopping enroute to see Belgaum – on one side is the old town area with the Temple and Jama Masjid on the other side.
See the beauty of rock-cut cave temples, gateways, forts and inscriptions. History comes alive before your eyes as the town of Badami unfolds.
Depart for Hospet (Hampi) stopping enroute to see Aihole and Pattadakal, situated on the left bank of the Malprabha river, a world heritage site which has 10 major temples. Arrive in Hospet in the evening.
Enjoy the world of Hampi – the ruins of the Vijaynagari kingdom. They are set in a strange and sublime boulder-strewn landscape that resonates with a magical air.
Leave the world of Hampi ruins and drive to Hassan – famous for the Channekeshva Temple.
In Hassan – see the Hoysala Temples at Halebid and Belur.
A long day ahead – drive to Mysore via Shravanbelagola, one of the most important Jain pilgrim centers.
In Mysore – visit the Maharaja’s Palace, St. Philomena’s Church, Chamundi Hill, and the silk stores.
Drive to Bangalore – the surging capital city of Karnataka regarded as one of the country’s most progressive cities. Nicknamed “Garden City”, it boasts some pleasant parks. Afternoon, do sightseeing, driving past Vidhna Soudha, Lal Bagh, and Cubbon Park.
Depart from Bangalore for home.
BANGALORE – MYSORE – KABINI – OOTY – COIMBATORE
Transfer to airport for flight to Bangalore. Transfer to hotel and relax. Evening, visit local markets and pubs. Overnight stay at hotel.
Morning, proceed for sightseeing of Bangalore City including drive past Bangalore Palace & Fort, Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park, State Archeological Museum, Vidhan Souda, and the famous Bull Temple.
After breakfast, depart for Mysore. Enroute, visit Srirangapatna – home of the famous King Tipu Sultan. Overnight stay at hotel.
After breakfast, proceed for sightseeing tour visiting Mysore Palace – home of the powerful Wadiyar Mysore Kings, Chamundi Hills, Philomena’s Church and the Art Gallery. Overnight stay at hotel.
Depart from Mysore for Kabini national park located by the banks of the River Kabini and home to Elephants, Gaur and Deer and the occasional Tiger. Overnight stay at hotel.
Morning, jeep ride into the jungle with a naturalist to view wildlife. Evening, enjoy a Coracle Ride on the lake, viewing birdlife and animals on the shore. Overnight stay at hotel.
Depart Kabini for the hill station of Ooty – located at a higher altitude in the Nilgiri Hills and popular for its balmy weather. Visit the local Todas – a local ethnic tribal people. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day at leisure, for walks and relaxation. Overnight stay at hotel.
Experience the joy of riding a “Toy Train” through the Nilgiri Hills. A most relaxing and scenic journey! Arrive at Mettupalayam station. Transfer to Coimbatore airport for further destinations.
