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Day
01: Arrive Delhi
Namaste! We are warmly welcomed the traditional Indian way
with hands clapped together. After immigration and custom
formalities, we are transferred to our Hotel.
Overnight: Delhi (2 nights)
Day 02: Delhi
We start our morning tour with New Delhi. Visit Birla House
- The Former Residence of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi spent
his later years at Birla House before he was assassinated
by Nathu Ram Godse on January 30, 1948. Later we visit the
famous India Gate followed by the Houses of Parliament, Connaught
Place, Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Minar - a perfect minaret
towering 72.5 meters / 80.5 yards into the sky and there are
379 stairs inside the tower. New Delhi is a blend of Mughal
India, Hindu India, and British India.
In afternoon we concentrate on Old Delhi, we visit the
famous Red Fort. Built by Shah Jehan, this was once the most
opulent fort of the Mughal Empire. Next we visit another Mughal
majesty, the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. We end our
tour with the visit to Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma
Gandhi. (B)
Please Note: Red fort and Birla House are closed on
Monday and Chandni Chowk is closed on Sunday
Day
03: Delhi - Amritsar: By Early morning Train
Early morning we are transferred to railway station for our
train to Amritsar. On arrival in Amritsar transferred to our
Hotel. In the afternoon we visit Indo-Pak Border an interesting
experience especially at Sunset, when the retreat ceremony
takes place with the Border Security Force on the Indian Side
and the Sutlej Rangers on the Pakistan side putting up a well-coordinated
and spectacular display. The sound from the Bugles blown together
from both sides paints past on the canvas when India and Pakistan
were one, simultaneously Flags of the two nations are ceremoniously
retrieved and lights are switched on marking the end of the
day. Amidst thunderous applause.
Overnight: Hotel in Amritsar (1 night) (B)
Day
04: Amritsar - Delhi: By evening Train
After breakfast we visit Golden Temple - the Holy Scripture
is brought in a vivid procession from the Akal Takhat (the
highest temporal seat of the Sikhs) in the morning to the
temple to be returned at night. Singing is central to Sikh
worship & is a feast to the souls when hymns from the
Holy Scripture are recited Kirtan and the waves of the classical
ragas, a sublime blend of voice & music. Next we visit
Jallianwala Bagh - the historic site where hundreds of innocent
Indian men, women and children were massacred by British General
Michael Dyer on April 13, 1919. A memorial and Garden have
been created here as a national monument.
In the afternoon we are transferred to railway station for
train to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, we are transferred to
our Hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Delhi (1 night) (B)
Day
05: Delhi - Varanasi: By Flight
We take a short flight to the holy city of Varanasi - one
of the oldest living cities. On arrival we are transferred
to our Hotel. In the afternoon we start our experience with
a visit to old Varanasi and the Bharat Mata Temple, which
houses a huge marble relief map of India. Varanasi is famous
for its many temples and we cover the Durga temple, the Tulsi
Manas Mandir beside the Banaras Hindu University and the Mosque
of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The city is famous also for its
Banarasi silk saris and we visit some of the houses where
the beautiful silk saris are woven. In the evening we witness
the Aarti ceremony on the Ghats of Ganges. Every evening at
sunset, on the banks of the river Ganges, the devotional ceremony
of Aarti is performed. Thousands of Hindus and tourists flock
to the ghats, particularly in the pilgrimage town of Varanasi.
Overnight: Hotel in Varanasi (1 night) (B)
Day
06: Varanasi - Khajuraho: By Flight
Early morning a serene experience begins as we take a sunrise
cruise on the River Ganges. One of the cardinal principles
of Hinduism is the belief in the holiness of the Ganges. Every
morning scores of pilgrim and priests fill the riverbanks
performing the holy dip and various other rituals. This is
a site that has to be seen and experienced as it is so different
from anything else what may have seen anywhere in the world.
Later we tour Sarnath, the site of Lord Buddha's first sermon
after attaining enlightenment. At Sarnath we meet many Buddhist
monks.
Later we drive to airport in Varanasi in time to connect our
flight to Khajuraho. On arrival in Khajuraho, we are transferred
to our Hotel. In the afternoon our Khajuraho visit starts
with the temples that have been designated a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The temples were built during the apogee of
the Chandella dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD. These beautiful
temples strike a perfect balance between architecture and
sculpture. The Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of
sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian
art.
Overnight: Hotel in Khajuraho (1 night) (B)
Day 07: Khajuraho - Jhansi (drive about 5 hours) and
Jhansi - Agra: by Train
In the morning we drive to Jhansi en-route visiting Orchha,
an amazing medieval fortress-city located on the shores of
the Betwa River. After our visit to Orchha we proceed to the
Railway Station in Jhansi to embark on the luxury first class
train to Agra. On arrival we are transferred to our Hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Agra (2 nights) (B)
Day 08: Agra
We start our day with a visit to one of the most well known
wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. Built by Shah Jehan as
a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj is
built of white marble, beautifully carved and inlaid with
semi-precious stones. Next we visit Agra Fort, where Shah
Jehan, in the later years of his life, was imprisoned by his
son to prevent him from spending the family fortunes on a
black echo of the Taj Mahal. We also visit Itmad-Ud-Daulah,
often called as Baby Taj. A highly ornate edifice, this mausoleum
is considered as the imminent precursor of the Taj Mahal as
far as elaborate carvings and inlay work are concerned. We
end our tour with a visit to some of the local factories famous
for inlay work on marbles and witness the complex art inlaying
precious and semiprecious stones on the world famous Marbles
for the mines of Makrana. (B)
Please Note: Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday's.
Day 09: Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur: (Drive: 235
Kms/ 5 Hours)
We start the day visiting the incredible World Heritage Site
of Fatehpur Sikri the former Mughal capital. We also visit
the artistically designed mausoleum of the revered Sufi, Salim
Chisty who is reputed to have prayed for a son for Akbar leading
to the birth of Salim Jahangir, the father of the builder
of the Taj. Pilgrims of all denominations visit this site
with their own prayers. Then we proceed to Jaipur,
the rose pink capital of Rajasthan.
Overnight: Hotelin Jaipur (2 nights) (B)
Day 10: Jaipur
We are treated like the royalty of yesteryears with an elephant
ride to the intriguing Amber Palace, a distinguished example
of 17th Century Rajput architecture. After the tour and enjoying
a panoramic view, we return to Jaipur to visit the old astronomical
observatory built by the founder of the city, Jai Singh. We
also visit the majestic City Palace, which houses a rare collection
of Indian art, and the colourful bazaar. Jaipur is noted for
its craftsmen, skilled in brass inlay, lacquer work and stone
setting. Most of the buildings in the old city are made of
pink sandstone and one of the most beautiful is Hawa Mahal,
Palace of Winds, where the ladies of the royal harem used
to watch the city from behind the intricately carved facade.
Evening is free to enjoy the bazaars of Jaipur. (B)
Day
11: Jaipur - Aurangabad: By Flight via Mumbai
Today we are transferred to airport for our early morning
flight to Aurangabad via Mumbai. On arrival in Aurangabad,
we are transferred to our Hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Aurangabad (2 nights) (B)
Day
12: Aurangabad
Early morning proceed on a full day excursion to Ajanta Caves.
One Hundred and seven Kilometers north-east of Aurangabad
are the remarkable rock-cut monuments of Ajanta, containing
important examples of Buddhist Architecture and sculpture,
and what is undoubtedly the finest and most complete examples
of early Buddhist paintings of India.
The cave temples are cut into the rocky sites of dramatic
crescent shaped gorge at the head of which is a waterfall
that feeds the natural pool, the Saptakunda. The earlier monuments
date back to the second and first centuries BC.
The series of paintings at Ajanta that cloaks the walls and
ceilings is unparalleled in the history of Indian Art depicting
incidents from the life of Buddha and various Buddhist divinities.
Ajanta has been designated as a World Heritage Site,. (B)
Please Note: Ajanta Caves remain closed on Monday's.
Day
13: Aurangabad - Mumbai - Flight
In the morning we visit ELLORA CAVES - a group of rock temples
- posses a magnificent series of Buddhist, Brahmanical and
Jain temples of the 9th Century A.D. Kailash Temple,
hewn out of a single rock, carved with life size figures of
gods and goddesses, is a wonder. There are 34 caves, which
depict Buddhist, Hindu and Jain religions.
We also visit the Daulatabad fort and Bibi-Ka-Maqbra - The
Bibi-Ka-Maqbra is a beautiful mausoleum of Rabia-ul-Daurani
alias Dilras Banu Begum, the wife of the Mughal Emperor
Aurangazeb and a very simple museum of Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb.
From here we are transferred to airport for our flight to
Mumbai. On arrival, we are transferred to our Hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Mumbai (2 nights) (B)
Please Note: - Ellora Caves remain closed on Tuesday's
Day
14: Mumbai
After breakfast, our experience of Mumbai starts with Gateway
of India- Mumbai's most famous monument,we take an excursion
to the world famous Elephanta Caves. Little is known about
their origins, but they are thought to have been created between
AD 450 and 750, when the island was known as Gharapuri (Place
of Caves). The Portuguese renamed it Elephanta because of
a large stone elephant near the shore. After the sightseeing
of Elephanta caves we return back to the main land by motor
launch and continue or tour of Mumbai by visiting the Prince
of Wales Museum & Victoria Terminus which has recently
been added to the world heritage site. This is a city's most
exuberant Gothic building look more like a lavishly decorated
palace or cathedral than a train station. Next Stop is at
Mani Bhawan, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed here during the freedom
Struggle of British India. The house is now converted into
a Museum. From here we leave for Jain Temple and Hanging gardens,
Tower Of Silence, the bustling Crawford Market and drive past
Haji Ali - the tomb of a wealthy Muslim merchant, who renounced
all his worldly belongings before embarking on a pilgrimage
to Mecca. The tomb itself is over eight hundred years old
and linked to the mainland by a path that is annually submerged
in the high monsoon tide. We end our tour at the Dhobi Ghats
- a vast outdoor laundry. (B)
Please Note: Elephanta Caves and Prince of Wales Museum
are closed on Mondays.
Day
15: Mumbai - Goa: By Flight
Today we are transferred to airport for our flight to Goa.
On arrival in Goa, we are transferred to our Hotel. Overnight:
Hotel in Goa (2 nights) (B)
Day
16: Goa
Although best known for its 65 miles / 105 kms of magnificent,
palm lined beaches along the Arabian Sea, Goa holds other
more important attractions. The churches of Old Goa are so
unique that they have, collectively, been recognized as a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We will cover, amongst others,
the Portuguese Catholic Church of Old Goa and the Basilica
of Bom Jesus (most of the mummified body of St. Francis Xavier
is exhibited there on some occasions). Old church is also
known as The Basilica of Bom Jesus, built in the 16th century,
where the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier are enshrined;
the Se Cathedral, which is the most imposing of all churches
at Old Goa. Its vaulted interior overwhelms the visitors by
its sheer grandeur. The cathedral has five bells of which
one is the famous Golden bell, the biggest in Goa and one
of the best in the World. Rest of the day is free to relax
on the beaches (B)
Day
17: Goa - Hyderabad: By Flight
Morning is free to enjoy Goa Beaches. In the afternoon we
take a short flight to Hyderabad, a mixture of the modern
and the traditional, the capital of the south Indian state
of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is among the few Indian cities
which has a well preserved cultural heritage. Very much like
the Nawabs of Lucknow and of Awadh, Hyderabad invokes nostalgia
among old residents for its culture, fine arts and certain
sophistication in manners. Much more than anything, Hyderabad
presents a true picture of secularism. The city and its environs
are dotted with mosques, tombs, temples, forts, treasuries,
armories and caravansaries. Some of these monuments are protected
by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Government of
Andhra Pradesh. Strikingly, most of them belong to the Qutb
Shahi period. On arrival in Hyderabad, we are transferred
to our Hotel.
Overnight: Hotel in Hyderabad (2 nights) (B)
Day 18: Hyderabad
Our full day tour of Hyderabad starts with a visit to the
landmark of Hyderabad "Charminar"; built in 1591
AD in the memory of eradication of plague, the Charminar is
a tribute to the fighting spirit of mankind. It has
four imposing minarets, each 54 m. high, and houses a mosque,
which is well decorated with lotus buds and petals. We next
visit the Mecca Masjid. This glorious mosque is probably the
greatest edifice of the Qutb Shahi period. It took 78 years
to build. It is the second largest mosque in India and reputedly
the seventh largest in the world. Its enormous colonnades
are monoliths, carved from single blocks of pink granite.
Mecca Masjid can accommodate 10,000 worshippers quite comfortably.
Other places of interest includes Husain Sagar Lake, a large
artificial lake lying between Hyderabad and Secunderabad,
was built by Ibrahim Qutb Shah around 1550, in gratitude to
Husain Shah Wali, who had cured him of a disease. In the lake
on an island is a statue of the Buddha. Salar Jung museum
is one of the most visited places in the city;with a collection
of fine art, tapestries, jade artifacts, weaponry and sculpture.
The clock in the courtyard that has little figures that appear
every hour and are favorite of children.
We end our tour with a visit to the famous Golconda fort is
one of the most magnificent fortress complex in India, which
lies on the western outskirts around 11km from Hyderabad,
the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The history of
Golconda Fort dates back to the early 13th century, when this
southeastern part of the country was ruled by the Kakatiyas.
The bulk of the ruins of this fort, date from the time of
the Qutub Shahi kings, who had ruled this area in the 16th
and 17th century. The fortress is built on a granite hill
120 meters high, surrounded by massive crenellated ramparts.
(B)
Day
19: Hyderabad - Bangalore: By Flight
We are transferred to airport for our flight to Bangalore.
On arrival in Bangalore we are transferred to our Hotel. In
the afternoon we take a city tour of Bangalore, visiting Vidhana
Soudha: This imposing edifice built almost entirely
of dressed Bangalore granite, is a tribute to temple architecture,
housing the Legislative Chambers of the state government.
Bangalore's best - known landmark is Cubbon Park: in 1864,
Lord Cubbon, the then viceroy of India, laid out 3000 acres
of verdant tranquility. Today, it is an oasis of greenery
in the heart of Modern Bangalore. Tipu Sultan's Palace:
Now a museum, this two- storied ornate wooden structure is
a mine of information and is one of the most remarkable Islamic
buildings in the city. Also visit Lal Bagh Gardens:
this 240 acre expanse of greenery forms one of India's most
beautiful botanical gardens, the credit of which goes to the
rulers Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who laid out an
18th century paradise with rare trees brought from far off
Persia, Afghanistan and France. Rest of the evening is free
for shopping in local bazaar.
Overnight: Hotel in Bangalore (1 night) (B)
Day
20: Bangalore –- Mysore: (Drive: 140 Kms/ 3 ½
Hours)
In the morning after breakfast we drive to Mysore en-route
visiting Srirangapatam, the island fortress that was once
the capital of the warrior -Kings Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan,
the Tiger of Mysore. On arrival in Mysore, we check in our
Hotel. Mysore has never failed to mesmerize with its quaint
charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out
gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred
temples. Our afternoon tour includes the Maharajah's Palace,
the Shri Chamundeswari Temple and the Nadi Shiva's Mount.
Overnight: Hotel in Mysore (1 night) (B)
Day
21: Mysore - Ooty: (Drive: 155 Kms/ 5 Hours)
In the morning after breakfast we drive to Ooty. The verdant
hills, the lush green valleys and the pristine natural beauty
of the hill resort of Ooty offers the urban tired souls a
chance to resume their affair with Nature, to whom they truly
belong. On arrival in Ooty, we check in our Hotel. Rest of
the day is free for rest.
Overnight: Hotel in Ooty (2 nights) (B)
Day
22: Ooty
Today we take a tour of Ooty visiting the Botanical Gardens,
Lamb's rock and Dodabetta Peak. Later we board the steam train
to enjoy a trip from Ooty to Coonoor affording some spectacular
views of the precipitous eastern slopes of the rain-forested
Nilgiris. This little lazy train is a world heritage mountain
rail and the sceneries it provides along the way are a sight
to behold indeed. It takes through pristine rain forests,
meticulously manicured tea gardens which are lush and lemon
green from a distance hugging the landscape like a carpet
on the floor, wild streams and ravines running down the countless
number of bridges the train has to negotiate. After enjoying
train trip, we come back to our Hotel. (B)
Day
23: Ooty - Kodaikanal: (Drive: 260 Kms/ 6 ½ Hours)
A scenic and refreshing drive conveys us to the peaceful hill
station of Kodaikanal located at the top of the Palini Hills.
Upon arrival we take a boat ride on Kodaikanal Lake giving
us a unique opportunity to experience the landscape.
This evening, we spend time with the local people.
Overnight: Hotel in Kodaikanal (1 night) (B)
Day
24: Kodaikanal - Madurai: (Drive: 120 Km/ 3 Hours)
In the morning after breakfast we drive to Madurai, situated
in southern Tamil Nadu is the second largest city in Tamil
Nadu, is an important cultural and commercial centre. The
main city area revolves around Meenakshi Temple, with its
baroque example of Dravidian architecture and the four tall
gopurams (pillars) with multicolored gods, goddesses, demons
and deities. Madurai is famous for the imposing Meenakshi
Temple, a structure in the Dravidian style of architecture.
The history of the city dates back over 2,000 years when it
was the capital of the Pandyas. The most interesting
feature of the temple is its Hall of a thousand pillars some
of which sound like metal when hit with an object. The
metal stone or musical pillar, although made of stone, produces
sounds of different metals. Other places of interest include
the Tirumalai Nayaka Temple and the Temple Art Museum.
Overnight: Hotel in Madurai (1 night) (B)
Day
25: Madurai - Tanjore: (Drive: 163 Kms/ 4 Hours)
In the morning after breakfast we drive to Tanjore. On arrival
in Tanjore we check in our Hotel. Thanjavur is popularly known
as Tanjore, where lies the famous Brihadishwara Temple and
its sprawling palace complex. The town is famous also for
its distinctive style, a combination of raised and painted
surfaces. "Krishna" is the most popular deity depicted,
and in the Tanjore School his skin is white, rather than the
traditional blue-black. Tanjore was the ancient capital of
the Chola Kings whose origins go back to the beginning of
the Christian era. Our afternoon tour of World Heritage Site
of Tanjore includes in the Shri Brihadishwara temple built
by "Raja-Raja" in 1010, which is the crowning glory
of Chola temple architecture. The temple, set in spacious
grounds, has several pillared halls and shrines. Inscriptions
record the names of dancers, musicians and poets a reminder
of the significance of this area to the development of the
arts. We end our tour of Tanjore with a visit to the Tanjore
Palace & Museum which has an eclectic collection of regal
memorabilia most of it dating from the early 19th century.
Overnight: Hotel in Tanjore (1 night) (B)
Day
26: Tanjore - Pondicherry: (Drive: 177 Km/ 4 Hours)
In the morning after breakfast we drive to Pondicherry. This
former French Colonial city in Tamil Nadu didn't come under
Indian rule until 1954. Pondicherry otherwise known as Puducherry
means a New Hamlet” which is located on the Coromandal
Coast. Its main attraction is actually outside of town:
the ashram at Auroville, built by followers of Sri Aurobindo,
a philosopher/prophet born in 1870. The International town
where people of different countries reside belongs to humanity
as a whole. Matrimandir the famous monument is constructed
by the Auroville Society which represents the flower Lotus.
Also visit 400 years old Manakula Vinayagar Temple, which
has several fresco paintings on the walls telling the life
story of half human and half animal lord. You shall
also visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram named after Sri Aurobindo,
who was a National Leader, famous for his integral Yoga and
philosophical literary works. A French Lady, Madam Mirr
Richard, followed his spiritual path and the Samadhi of both
Sri Aurobindo and Mother are situated at main premises of
the Ashram.
Overnight: Hotel in Pondicherry (1 night) (B)
Day
27: Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram: (Drive: 162 Kms/ 4 Hours)
In the morning after breakfast we drive to Mahabalipuram.
On arrival we check in our Hotel. In the afternoon we visit
the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram. This group of sanctuaries,
founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along
the Coromandel Coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is known
especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots),
mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as
the famous 'Descent of the Ganges', and the temple of Rivage,
with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva.
Overnight: Hotel in Mahabalipuram (2 nights) (B)
Day
28: Mahabalipuram - Day excursion to Kanchipuram - Chennai
In the morning after breakfast we drive to Kanchipuram, the
capital of the Pallava and dynasty is one of the seven sacred
cities of India. The city of a Thousand Temples Ancient Kanchipuram,
the city of thousand temples, is one of the most sacred pilgrim
centers for the Hindus. There now remain 126 temples in Kanchi
and a few more in the outskirts. This city was under the control
of the Cholas as far back as the 2nd Century BC and a Pallava
capital between the 6th and 8th centuries. After visiting
Kanchipuram we drive to Chennai. Our tour starts first with
The National Art Gallery & Museum, which contains some
of the best collections of bronzes in the country including
the famous icon of Natraja. Our Next stop is at St. Mary's
Church-built in 1680. This was first English Church in Chennai
and is India's oldest surviving British church. In the church
there are reminders of Clive, who was married here in 1753,
and Elihu Yale, We end our tour with a visit to Peoples Park
and the beautiful Marina Beach, the second longest beach in
the world, and the clock towers. After tour return to hotel.
(B)
Please Note: Museum remains closed on Friday and National
holidays
Day
29: Mahabalipuram - departure home
After a journey traversing from the north to the south of
this sub continent, we bid a farewell to India as we are transferred
to the airport for our departure flight. (B)
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