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Day 01 ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi airport by international flight. Meeting and assistance on arrival and
transfer to hotel. Overnight at Hotel.
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Day 02 DELHI
Morning: After breakfast sightseeing of New &
Old Delhi. Visit the 12th century Qutab Minar,
gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of
234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood
the ravages of time and not rusted even after
1500 years. Visit the mausoleum of emperor
Humayun – a forerunner of the Mughal style of
architecture and the imposing modern
Lakshminarayan temple.
Drive past the India Gate (war memorial dedicated to the lives of laid down by the Indian
soldiers)
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The president’s residence – formerly the Viceroy’s Palace, parliament House and the
Secretariat buildings, – an interesting blend of the Victorian and 20th century
architecture. Old Delhi takes you to the Raj Ghat (memorial to Mahatma Gandhi), Jama
Masjid, – The largest mosque in India. Drive past Chandi Chowk, once an imperial
avenue of Mughal Royalty which today is the busiest commercial area of the city.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 03 DELHI – VARANASI
Morning: After breakfast leave Delhi for Varanasi. Meeting and assistance on arrival and
transfer to hotel. Upon arrival at Jaipur check in at Hotel. Evening visit the Ganges to
witness the aarti ceremony on the Ghats.
Overnight at Hotel.
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Day 04 VARANASI
Early Morning: Boat ride at Ganges.
Afternoon: Excursion to Sarnath.
Sarnath – 10 kms. from Varanasi – (3 hours) The Buddha preached his first sermon to
five disciples at the Deer Park here, enshrining the principals of his teaching into laws.
The Dhamek Stupa marks the location of a once resplendent monastery. A large complex
of ruined monasteries cover the area north of the stupas. Some of the buildings belong to
the Kushan and Gupta period. The first monk communities probably settled here in the
3rd century BC. Near the Dhamek Stupa is a new monastery built by the Buddhist
Mahabodhi Society. The major events of Buddha’s life are depicted here in wall
paintings by a Japanese artist. Sarnath has an interesting archaeological museum which
has preserved the famous Sarnath pillar whose capital forms India’s national emblem.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 05 VARANASI – KHAJURAHO
Departure transfer from hotel to airport to board flight for Khajuraho.
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.
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Afternoon: Visit Eastern & Western Temples.
Khajuraho was the capital of the Chandela kings and
its temples were built in the short span of hundred
years, from 950-1050 AD. Most of them were
destroyed by Muslim invaders. Adorned with
exquisite sculpture, only 22 temples remain of the
original 85. They are the strange works of a long
dead people. Khajuraho’s temples are covered with
hundreds of sculptured figures – a galaxy of gods
and goddesses, beasts and serpents, and a multitude
of erotic couples which represent a paean to life, to
love and to joy.
The most famous are the Kandariya Mahadev, the Chaturbhuj, the Paraswanath and the
Ghantai – the summit of Hindu sculpture: voluptuous forms; human and divine, throbbing
with life and sublime in expression. Overnight at Hotel.
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Transfer from Khajuraho to Jhansi station to board Shatabdi Exp. for Agra. (4 hrs drive
approx.) Jhansi – Agra by Shatabdi Exp. (1715 / 2005 hrs). Meeting and assistance on
arrival and transfer to hotel.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 07 AGRA
Morning: Visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by
Shah Jahan in 1560 in memory of his queen Mumtaz
Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural
marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned
from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of
20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey,
France and Italy and who took 17 year to complete this ‘ Love Poem in Marble’. (Friday closed). Later visit the
Agra fort containing the halls private and public
audiences and other palaces.
Afternoon: Free. Overnight at Hotel.
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Day 08 AGRA – JAIPUR
After breakfast leave Agra for Jaipur Fatehpursikri enroute.(5 – 6 hrs drive)
Located 40 Km from Agra, the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor
Akbar in 1569, in honour of the great Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti who blessed Akbar and
prophesized the birth of three sons to the heirless Emperor. Akbar used Fatehpur Sikri as
his capital and the city was fully occupied for 14 years but slowly became deserted and
ruined after Akbar left the city. Scarcity of water was the prime factor for the
abandonment of this beautiful city. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful
buildings within the ‘Ghost City’ including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti,
Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendour of the
Mughal empire at the height of its power. Upon arrival at Agra check in at Hotel.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 09 JAIPUR
Morning: After breakfast excursion to Amber fort. Amber is a classic, romantic
Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look
beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise.
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Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. Inside the Fort visit the Jag
Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal – a
room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror
pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. En route to
Amber Fort, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal – (known as the
Palace of Winds).
Afternoon sightseeing tour of city visiting Maharaja’s City Palace, the former Royal
residence, part of it converted into a museum.
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A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified
campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. One of the major
attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum housing an
impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and
daggers.
The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar
Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated
near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them
still in working condition. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 10 JAIPUR – COCHIN (Via Mumbai)
Departure transfer from hotel to airport to board
flight for Cochin Via Mumbai. Meeting and
assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Overnight at Hotel.
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Day 11 COCHIN
Morning: After breakfast sightseeing tour of Kochi. Visit the Dutch Palace, the Jewish
Synagogue – (which remains closed on Saturdays) St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz
Basilica. While driving along the coastline, at the Harbour’s mouth, one can also view the
unique and still-in-use “Chinese Fishing Nets” which were introduced by the Chinese
traders in the 14th Century. The tour ends in the Fort Kochi area where you can walk
through the historical Dutch and Portuguese buildings. Some parts of this nearly 500-
year-old Fort are still amazingly well preserved. Evening witness Kathakali dance
performance. Enjoy India’s most spectacular Dance Drama based on stories from
Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers are elaborately made up with paint and masks,
accompanied with drummers and musicians. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 12 COCHIN – PERIYAR
Morning after breakfast Leave Cochin for Periyar. (4-5 hrs drive) Upon arrival Checkin at
Hotel. Periyar has a lot to offer you in sightseeing. The wildlife sanctuary here is the
natural habitat of a wide variety of animal species. The Periyar Lake is a paradise for the
nature lovers. It gives you an opportunity to observe the wild animals roaming in the
jungle.
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The lake is also a birdwatcher’s delight. The
greatest attraction of Periyar Lake, however, is the
herds of wild elephants that come down to play in
the lake. This lake serves as the waterhole for the
animals and they come here to drink or take a dip.
There are over 260 species of birds here, including
Nilgiri Wood Pigeons, blue-winged Parakeets,
White bellied Tree Pies, laughing Thrushes and Fly
Catchers. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 13 PERIYAR – KUMARAKOM
Morning: After breakfast later drive to Kumarkom
visiting spice plantation enroute.3 – 4 hrs. drive.
On arrival, check in at your backwater resort. Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the
famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part of Kuttanad (‘granary’ of Kerala). The Vembanad
Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weave an intricate
and enchantingly beautiful web.
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The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 14 KUMARAKOM
Morning: Free to relax and enjoy the serene atmosphere or enjoy an Ayurvedic massage at
the resort. Evening sunset cruise on Vembanad lake. (provided by the hotel)Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 15 KUMARAKOM – KOVALAM
Morning: After breakfast leave Kumarakom for Kovalam. ( 4 – 5 hrs drive)Upon arrival
check in at your resort. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 16 & 17 KOVALAM
Days at leisure in Kovalam to enjoy the beach. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 18 KOVALAM – TRIVANDRUM – LEAVE TRIVANDRUM
Departure transfer from hotel to Trivandrum airport to board flight for onward
destination.
