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DAY
01 :
ARRIVE DELHI
 Upon
arrival, you shall met & assisted with your baggages at the
airport by our executive and transferred to prebooked hotel.
Delhi : India’s
capital & a major gateway to the country, contemporary Delhi
is a bustling metropolis which successfully combines in its fold
the ancient & the modern. Its strategic location was one of
the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat
of power. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind
. The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between
the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively. So,
wherever the visitor goes, he will invariably confront the citys’
past.
DAY 02 : DELHI
After breakfast, half day city tour of
Old Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Built
by Shah Jahan, the construction was started in 1844 and was not
completed until 1658; Red Fort, which was also built by Shah Jehan.
This massive fort was built from 1638 to 1648; Chandni Chowk and
Rajghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.
Afternoon, city tour of New Delhi. Visit Humayuns Tomb : built in
mid 16th century this is an early example of Mughal architecture;
Qutab Minar, drive past  India
Gate, President House, Connaught Place. The city tour ends with
a visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir).
DAY 03 : DELHI
- AGRA
(203 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, drive to Agra. Upon arrival, check-in at prebooked
hotel.
Afternoon, city tour of Agra : Visit Red
fort, which was
built by Emperor Akbar in 1565, and additions were made up until
the time of his grandson, Shah Jahan. It contains the hall of public
and private audiences amongst many other beautiful structues ; Itmad-ud-daulah,
which was contructed by Nur Jahan between 1622 and 1628 and is very
similar to the tomb she constructed for her husband, Jehangir, near
Lahore in Pakistan; the highlight of the day - The
Taj Mahal, which was constructed by Shah Jahan in memory
of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Contruction of the Taj began in 1631 and
was not completed until 1653.
DAY 04 : AGRA
- FATEHPUR SIKRI - JAIPUR
(240 KMS, 06-07 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave for Jaipur, enroute visit the abandoned Mughal
city of Fatehpur Sikri - built
by Emperor Akbar in 1569, was the old capital of the Moghuls, which
was abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful
buildings including the Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch
Mahal & other Palaces which are still preserved in its original
glory. Continue drive to Jaipur.
Arrive Jaipur &  check-in
at prebooked hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
DAY
05 :
JAIPUR
After breakfast,
excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride from the foothills of the
Aravallis to the fort entrance. Amber Fort : At
a distance of 11 kms from Jaipur, Amber was the ancient capital
of Jaipur state. Construction of the fort began in 1592 by Raja
Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army and is a superb
example of Rajput architecture.
Afternoon, city tour of Jaipur. Visit
the City Palace which
has museum having an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamel
ware and weapons; Jantar
Mantar - the observatory built my Maharaja Jai Singh in 1728
and the façade of Hawa
Mahal.
DAY 06 : JAIPUR
- MUMBAI
(FLIGHT)
Early morning, transfer to the airport to board
flight for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, half day city tour of Mumbai - The
city was called Bombay for much of the last four hundred years.
The origin of the name is obscure, but is often said to come from
the Portuguese phrase
bom bahia
meaning "good bay". The name Mumbai has been used in the
main local languages for as long, and is ascribed to the local goddess,
Mumba
(ai
means mother in Marathi). The name of the city was changed to Mumbai
by an act of the parliament in 1997.
Estimated to hold about 15 million people (a census is on in the
years 2000-2001), the city has grown dramatically in the last fifty
years. Mumbai is called the financial capital of India: the stock
exchange is the primary stock exchange of the country; most large
business houses have their corporate offices in this city. It also
the primary center for the arts and the entertainment industry.
DAY
07 : MUMBAI - COCHIN
(FLIGHT)
After breakfast, excursion to Elephanta - About ten kilometers north
east of Apollo Bunder lies the island of Elephanta, the g lorious
abode of Lord Shiva. An epitome of Hindu cave culture, Elephanta
consists of seven caves of which the most notable is the Mahesa-murti
cave. It has a very impressive size with a main body of 27 meters
square supported by rows of six columns each. The main temple consists
of a large pillared mandapa (hall) and a freestanding square shrine
at the west end of the hall. The pillars and reliefs in the cave
are gigantic in scale. Set in various niches are a number of large
reliefs depicting different aspects of Shaivaite iconography. Around
the perimeter of the cave are sculptured compartments in this cave
with images from the Hindu mythology. They depict Lord Shiva as
Andhakasuravadha, impaling the demon of darkness, as Kalyanasundara-the
gentle loving god, as Ardhanarishwara, Shiva and Shakti, male and
female, Nataraja-Shiva as the cosmic dancer and as Ravana anugraha
-the destroyer of enemies
Afternoon,
transfer to the airport to board flight for Cochin. Arrive Cochin
and transfer to prebooked hotel.
In the evening, witness Kathakali Dance Show.
DAY
08 : COCHIN - MUNNAR
(140 KMS, 03 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, half day sightseeing of Cochin including Asia's best
preserved Synagouge, the Dutch Palace and the oldest European Church
in India - the St. Francis Church where Vasco De Gama was originally
buried. A leisurely walk through the Fort Cochin area which gives
you a close look at the operation of the huge catileavered Chinese
fishing nets introduced by Chinese traders which is still used in
Kerala backwaters as a traditional way of fishing.
Afternoon, leave for Munnar. Arrive Munnar and checkin at prebooked
hotel.
DAY
09 : MUNNAR
After
breakfast, sightseeing of Munnar. Visit the tea plantations, a tea
factory (subject to permission being granted), the Eravikulam National
Park - home of the endangered Nilgiri Thar (Ibex), followed by visit
to the Mattupetty dam, the Indo Swiss Dairy farm, the Kundala Lake
and other scenic spots.
DAY
10 : MUNNAR
- PERIYAR
(100 KMS, 03 HRS DRIVE)
After
breakfast, leave for Periyar. Periyar has one of the world's most
fascinating Natural wildlife reserves noted for its geography, diverse
wildlife and scenic beauty. Arrive at Periyar and check in at
prebooked hotel.
Later, boat ride on the Lake Periyar where one can have a unique
experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety
of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar, however
are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.
DAY
11 : PERIYAR
- KUMARAKOM (140 KMS, 03-04 HRS DRIVE) -
OVERNIGHT BACKWATER TRIP TILL ALLEPEY
After
breakfast, leave for Kumarakom in time to board houseboat for overnight
backwater trip till Allepey.
On arrival in Kumarakom, commence an overnight houseboat cruise
to Allepey, which gives one a fascinating insight into the life
of a Keralan Backwater Village. As the boat glides along the backwaters
one can see the daily life in the backwater villages. On the narrow
strips of land, fisherman fishing, children swimming and playing
in the water, women doing their daily chores, mobile shops in tiny
canoes, the cultivation of paddy and it's harvesting (during harvest
season), huge country barges ferrying the coconuts, rice, coir etc.
Note : The cruise commences at 1300 hrs with lunch served onboard
and continues till dusk. At dusk the boat will anchor in a wide
waterway or lake for the night. (The backwaters close to boat traffic
at dusk as the fisherman lay their nets in the backwaters. Other
boats are not allowed to ply in the backwaters after dusk.) On the
following day the cruise commences again after breakfast and you
will be dropped at Allepey by 1000 hrs.
DAY
12 : ALLEPEY
- KOVALAM
(174 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
Checkout
from the houseboat and proceed to Kovalam - The Kovalam beach situated
16 Km. south of Trivandrum city, is one of the best beaches in India.
It's a must see destination of India. On account of it's natural
location, it affords facilities for safe sea bath Kovalam is an
internationally renowned beach of Kerela, with three adjacent crescent
beaches.
Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach of Kerela, with three
adjacent crescent beaches. Kovlam has been a favorite haunt of tourists,
especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory
on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for
sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse
- sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural
programmes, Catamaram cruising etc.
The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of
coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes. Life on the beach
begins late in the day and carries on well into the night.
Arrive Kovalam and check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY
13 : KOVALAM
Day
at leisure
DAY
14 : KOVALAM
Day
at leisure
DAY
15 : KOVALAM
Day
at leisure
DAY
16 : KOVALAM
Day
at leisure
DAY
17 : KOVALAM
Day
at leisure
DAY
18 : KOVALAM - TRIVANDRUM - DELHI
(FLIGHT)
Transfer
to Trivandrum airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi and
transfer to prebooked hotel.
DAY 19 :
DEPART DELHI
Transfer
to the airport to board flight back home.
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