Price includes:
international flights,
hotels as above or similar with daily breakfast, transfers
by private air conditioned cars, English
speaking local guides, admission fees, internal flights, boat
rides on Backwaters of Kerala from Allapuzho to Kumarakom
and in Thekkady, The Taj Mahal at sunrise at Agra,
elephant ride in Jaipur, Kakhakali dances, daily lunch, visa to India.
Single room supplement is £395 per person.
Price excludes :
insurance, meals, camera
fees, tipping and any service not specified. Please add £160 for
departures in Dec & Jan.
Day 01 :
Departure from London Heathrow.
Day 02 : DELHI
( B ) On arrival in Delhi you
will be met by our representative and transferred to 5*
deluxe Hotel Vasant Continental. Rest of the day is at
leisure. Welcome dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 03 :
DELHI ( B, L ) After breakfast, guided
visits in Old Delhi : the magnificent 17th century Red
Fort and Rajghat – Mahatma Gandhi memorial. Proceed to New
Delhi’s Capital Complex for the Rashtrapati Bhawan – once
the British viceroy’s home, now residence of India
President - Parliament House, Rajpath ceremonial causeway,
and India Gate war memorial, to visit Humayun’s Tomb -
mausoleum of the 2nd Great Mughal said to be the
forerunner of the Taj Mahal. On to the Qutub Complex to
see 12th century Quwat-ul-Islam Mosque, and Qutub Minar –
tallest structure in Delhi and environ for centuries.
Overnight in Delhi.
Day 04 :
DELHI /
NAWALGARH ( B,L,D ) After breakfast drive to
Nawalgarh, a small town in the heart of Shekhawati region.
At Shekhawati check in at the 100-year-old residence of
the former rulers of Nawalgarh, now converted into a
Heritage Hotel, Roop Niwas Kothi. In the evening walk
through the Royal Farms to observe Indian labourer’s
lifestyle. Dinner & overnight at Roop Niwas Kothi Palace.
Day 05 :
NAWALGARH /
JODHPUR ( B, L ) After breakfast visit the
Painted Havelis - ancient ancestral mansions of India’s
most prominent business families - profusely decorated
with hand painted frescoes which have earned this region
the title of ‘Open-air-Art-Gallery of Rajasthan’. After
lunch check out and drive to Jodhpur the Capital of the
Rathore Rajputs. On arrival check in at Heritage Hotel
Ajit Bhawan Palace for overnight.
Day 06 :
JODHPUR ( B, L ) After breakfast, visit the
magnificient Mehrengarh Fort and Museum built atop a
shaven hill, Jashwant Thada – the royal cenotaphs of the
rulers. In the afternoon, take a jeep safari to Bishnoi
Village. The Bishnois are the oldest conservationists of
the flora and fauna of their region. Overnight at the
Palace.
Day 07 : JODHPUR /
JAIPUR ( B,L ) After breakfast drive to
the ‘Pink City’ Jaipur, Capital of Rajasthan. Check in at
5* Hotel Mansingh Towers. After lunch visit City Palace
and Museum where the son of the last Maharaja still
resides, Jantar Mantar – the royal observatory built in
1727AD and Hawa Mahal or the Palace-of- Winds from behind
whose latticed windows, the royal ladies observed the
royal processions. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08: JAIPUR
( B, L ) After breakfast visit the
16th century Fortress Palace of Amber. At Amber, ride an
elephant up to the gates of the fort on the hill-top.
Lunch served at Rajasthani Haveli where the Turban museum
displaying more than 90 different styles of tying a turban
is located. Afternoon free time for gift & souvenir
shopping. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 : JAIPUR /
AGRA ( B, L ) After breakfast, depart by
road for Agra with enroute visit to Fatehpur Sikri, one of
the Capitals of The Great Mughals built during 1569-72AD.
Lunch served at Gulistan complex at Sikri. Proceed to Agra
and check in at 5* Hotel Jaypee Palace for overnight.
Day 10 : AGRA
( B, L ) Early morning, visit The
Taj Mahal to capture its beauty at sunrise. After
breakfast visit Agra Fort- stronghold of the Mughals for
over 150 years and built over the reigns of the 3 Great
Mughals. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the
hotel.
Day 11 : AGRA / DELHI
/ CHENNAI ( B, L ) After breakfast drive to
Delhi stopping at Sikandra – the tomb of the 3rd Mughal
Akbar The Great, for photography of the Gatehouse which is
more beautiful than the tomb. Lunch en route at Rajasthan
Motel. Proceed to Delhi and transfer to the airport for
flight to Chennai, the Capital of Tamil Nadu. Transfer to
4* Hotel Ambassador Pallava for overnight.
Day 12: CHENNAI
( B, L ) After breakfast leave for a
field visit to Fort St George & Museum-built c.1653 by the
British East India Co. and St Mary’s Church-the oldest
British Church in India. Then proceed to the ancient
Kapaleeswarar Temple devoted to Lord Shiva and onto Marina
Beach. In the afternoon, visit Government Museum that
houses some of the most beautiful bronze artefacts from various
periods. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 13: CHENNAI /
MAHABALIPURAM / CHENNAI / KOCHI ( B, L ) After breakfast full day
excursion to Mamallapuram, 68 kms away from Chennai. There visit The
Five Raths - magnificent rock-cut temples carved in the
form of chariots and the relief carvings of Arjun’s
Penance on cliff face depicting animals, deities & fables
from the ‘Panchtantra’. After lunch at a beach resort,
visit the romantic 7th century Shore Temple. Return to
Chennai and transfer to the airport for flight to Kochi
(formerly Cochin). At Kochi transfer to 4* Hotel Abad
Atrium for overnight.
Day 14 : KOCHI
( B, L ) After breakfast visit to the 16th
century St Francis’ Church in Fort Cochin where Vasco da
Gama was once buried, and Mattancherry Palace, a gift of
the Dutch to Cochin’s Maharaja. In the evening attend a
performance of Kerala’s classical dance called Kathakali – from
application of make-up to putting on intricate costumes.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 : KOCHI /
ALLEPPEY / KUMARAKOM ( B, L ) After breakfast drive to
Alleppey. Take a leisurely backwaters boat cruise from
Alleppey to Kumarakom, seeing lifestyle of villagers on
the riverside. At Kumarakom check in at the Whispering
Palm Resort. After lunch, free time for independent
activities like Ayurvedic Massage, walks, speed boating
etc. Overnight at the Resort.
Day 16 : KUMARAKOM
( B, L ) Day at leisure. In the
evening enjoy a sunset cruise on the Vembanad Lake.
Overnight at the Resort.
Day 17 : KUMARAKOM /
THEKKADY ( B, L ) After breakfast leave for
Thekkady, where we shall visit the Periyar Wild Life
Sanctuary. Check in at the Tree Top Resort. After lunch,
take a boat safari on the lake to the sanctuary. Overnight
at the Resort.
Day 18: THEKKADY /
MUNNAR ( B, L ) After breakfast drive to
Munnar, a hill station nestled in the lovely Nilgiri
Hills, lunch en route. On arrival check in at CM Lake View
5* Hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure to explore the
quaint town and the tea estates surrounding it. Overnight
at CM Lake view hotel.
Day 19: MUNNAR /
KOCHI / MUMBAI ( B, L ) After breakfast drive to
Kochi to take the afternoon flight to Mumbai. On arrival
transfer to 4* Hotel Kohinoor Continental for overnight.
Day 20: Departure
( B ) After breakfast, drive to
Dhobi Talao, where the local people do their laundry manually.
Next to
Gateway of India, Victoria Station and Marine Drive. Late
evening transfer to the international airport for flight
home.
