|
Get tour quotation & Itinerary suggestions from experts !!!
|
|
|
|
|
North & South India Culture Tour |
|
|
|
|
Tour Highlights |
|
Capital city “Delhi” The legendary “Taj Mahal”, Pink city “Jaipur”, Visits to
ancient temples of Mahabalipuram,Kanchipuram, Tanjore, Madurai, Wildlife
Sanctuary ( Periyar), Fort Cochin (Cochin) & Beaches of Goa |
|
Covered Places : Delhi – Agra – Jaipur –Chennai (Madras) -Mahabalipuram -
Pondicherry - Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai - Periyar National park (Thekkady) -
Kumarakom – Alleppey - Cochin - Goa -Delhi |
|
Duration : 17 Nights / 18 days |
|
Activities : Cycle Rickshaw ride at Old Delhi’s market, Elephant ride to
reach the top of fort in Jaipur, Watch night ceremony in Meenakshi temple at
Madurai, Boat safari at Periyar wildlife park, Watch Kerala traditional
Kathakali dance show & overnight stay in a Houseboat at Backwater. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 01 : Arrival Delhi |
|
Arrive New Delhi, India’s Capital, where you are greeted with a traditional
Indian welcome on arrival at the airport and escorted to the hotel. After check
in at hotel our representative will explain you the travel plan and hand over
the essential travel documents to you. Overnight at hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 02 : Delhi |
|
Morning start full day city tour. Start from Old Delhi. Visit Raj Ghat which is
Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, followed by photo stop at Red Fort. Red Fort, built
in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shahjehan, Jama Masjid, one of the largest Mosque of
India. Here you will enjoy Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride. The pleasure associated
with the rickshaw ride here is ultimate. The rickshaw pullers here take you on a
ride through various routes, offering you a different experience all together.
In the afternoon you will visit New Delhi The impressive Qutub Minar, listed as
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199 from sandstone
and marble, Humayun's Tomb, memorial of Mughal Emperor Humayun, built in the
year 1562. The complex is a World Heritage Site & the first example of this type
of Mughal architecture in India. India Gate (War Memorial Arch) and drive past
the President's House, Parliament House and Connaught Place shopping centre.
Overnight at Hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 03 Delhi –Sikandra - Agra ( 200kms)
|
|
Morning drive to Agra. On the way you will visit Sikandra. Mughal ruler Akbar's
tomb. On arrival check in at hotel. After wash & change at hotel sightseeing
tour of Agra city. Start with the Monument of Love Taj Mahal, The Mughal emperor
Shah Jahan built this lovely dream in white marble as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz
Mahal, later he was also buried alongside his wife in the same tomb. It took
20,000 workers to complete this monument in a period of 22 years. Later visit
other spots of this great city.. The tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah - This tomb was
personally designed by Itmad-Ud-Daulah in the Charbagh architectural style. The
inlay work and intricate patterns on the walls of the tomb have a common theme
depicting a wine flask with snakes for handles. At the end visit Great Red Fort
of Agra. Evening free. Overnight at hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 04: Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Jaipur (235kms) |
Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Jaipur on the way visit Fatehpur Sikri.
(Ghost Capital), the political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's
reign, from the year 1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned, ostensibly due to
lack of water. Further drive to Jaipur, The “Pink city”. Jaipur is the capital
of the Indian state of Rajasthan, famous for forts, palaces, lakes, sand and
colorful culture. On arrival check in at hotel. Rest of day free. Overnight at
Hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 05 : Jaipur
|
MMorning start sightseeing tour of Jaipur. Start with Amber Fort. Here you will
enjoy an Elephant ride to reach the Fort situated on the hill, an overwhelming
experience. Later we visit the City Palace, a perfect blend of Rajasthani &
Mughal architecture. Further we visit Jantar Mantar (Solar Observatory), an
astronomical treasure house, with solar devices that give accurate predictions
till date. We also visit Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), a five-storied structure
of pink sandstone. It was built in the year 1799 so that veiled royal women
could peer down the busy street market unseen by the world through its 593 stone
Jharokas (mini windows). The evening is at leisure to explore the colorful
markets of the pink city. Overnight at hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
Day 06 : Jaipur – Chennai ( By Flight) |
|
Morning transfer to airport to board on flight to Chennai. On arrival transfer
to hotel. In the afternoon Visit Kalakshetra, a school of art and music that
encourages exponents of Bharatnatyam, Carnatic music, traditional weaving and
designing; Fort St. George built in 1653 during British reign in India, now
houses the Secretariat and Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. St. Mary's
Church, the oldest Anglican Church in India with its premises. Sri Parthasarathy
Temple built by the Pallavas in the 8th century AD; Kapaliswara Temple.San
Thomas Cathedral Basilica rebuilt in 1606 as a cathedral and in 1896 it was made
a basilica. Overnight at hotel.
|
|
|
Day 07 : Chennai – Kanchipuram - Mahablipuram |
|
|
|
|
Morning drive to Kanchipuram, 70 kms west of Mahabalipuram which is a city of
thousand temples. The city is also famous for its silk weavers. Later proceed to
Mahablipuram. The pallavas have created many marvellous monuments with
sculptural panels, caves, Monolithic Rathas and Temples. Krishna Mandapam has a
big bas relief i.e. the world's largest bas relief. Shore Temple & Five Rathas
are a group of five monolithic temples, each created in different style.
Overnight at hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 08 - Mahablipuram –Pondicherry (135Kms)
|
Morning drive to Pondicherry. Later you will visit Pondicherry city. Although
the French influence is gradually fading, Pondicherry retains a few Gallic
accents. Pondicherry's main sights are the Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church
and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram retreat was founded in 1926 by Sri
Aurobindo after whose death the spiritual authority passed to one of his
disciples, a French woman known as the Mother. The Mother was also instrumental
in founding the city of Dawn Auroville, 10 km from Pondicherry. Its original
charter aimed at creating a city of the future where people from India and
abroad could live and work together in a spiritual environment. Overnight at
hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
Day 09 : Pondicherry –Chidambram –Tanjore (175kms)
|
Morning drive to Tanjore on the way you will visit the temple or Lord Natraja at
Chidambram. On arrival, check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon visit the
Brahadeeswarar Temple. The temple constructed more than a thousand years ago by
the Chola King Raja Rajan is an architect's marvel. Evening free. Overnight at
hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 10 : Tanjore – Trichy – Madurai (201Kms) |
Morning drive to Madurai on the way visit Trichy. Visit Srirangam, which is an
island, 5 kms from Trichy. Surrounded by the Kaveri water is a 600 acres island
town enclosed within the seven walls on the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple.
The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the Kaveri River, Trichy's most famed
land mark is an 84 m high rock, one of the oldest in the world approx. 3,800
million years. Later drive to Madurai .on arrival check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
|
|
|
Day 11: Madurai
|
Morning guided city tour of Madurai.Madurai where the people wake up at the
chant of hymns is proud of the magnificent Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple. Of its
12 gopurams, four of the tallest stand at the outer walls of the temple. Also
visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace.Evening watch night ceremony at the temple.
Overnight at hotel.
|
& |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 12: Madurai – Thekkady (Periyar wild life sanctuary ) (160kms)
|
Morning drive to Thekkady ( Periyar wild life sanctuary). Periyar, spread over
an area of 777 sq km, has about 35 tigers and leopards. The park encompasses a
26 sq km artificial lake and is the home of sambars, wild boars, elephants and
antelopes which can be occasionally seen on the banks of the river during a boat
cruise. In the afternoon we shall take a boat safari on Lake Periyar to view
wildlife. Evening free. Overnight at hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 13: Periyar – Kumarakom (128kms) – Alleppey ( Overnight at Houseboat) |
Morning drive to Kumarakom and embark on deluxe Houseboat for backwater cruise.
“Kettuvalam" Hoseboat move towards Alleppey through interior backwaters. We
shall continue to Champakulam, earlier named as Kalloorkad, the ancient trade
centre of backwaters. This cruise is very exciting and sensational to watch the
real traditional Kerlan life who lives on the banks of backwaters. Enjoy lunch,
Dinner at Houseboat. Overnight at houseboat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 14: Arrive Alleppey – Cochin (56Kms) |
After breakfast, we shall take a leisurely cruise towards Alleppey finishing
point jetty. Disembark and drive to Cochin. Later visit Fort Cochin. This part
of the city reflects an unusual blend of medieval Portugal, Dutch and English
country life grafted on to the tropical Malabar Coast Also visit Chinese Fishing
nets . Also visit Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace. St.
Francis Church, and Jewish Synagogue. Evening show witness the Kathakali Dance
Show in an auditorium. as it enacts episodes from great Indian epics. The
extremely stylized gestures, the elaborate make-up, the masks and the splendid
costumes of these all-male dancers, recreates an incomparable sense of
pageantry. Overnight at hotel.
|
|
|
Day 15: Cochin – Goa ( By Flight ) |
|
|
|
|
Morning transfer to airport to board on flight to Goa. On arrival check in at
hotel. Rest of day free. Overnight at hotel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 16 : Goa |
Morning visit North & south Goa’s churches, beaches etc. Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 17 : Goa
|
Day free. Overnight at hotel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 18: Goa – Delhi (By Flight) |
Morning drop you at airport to board on flight to Delhi. On arrival board 0n
International flight for onward destination.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|