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Grand India Tour
Duration: 43 Nights / 44 Days
Places to Visit: Delhi - Udaipur - Mt. Abu - Jodhpur - Pokaran
- Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Mandawa - Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri -
Agra - Gwalior - Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi - New Jalpaiguri -
Darjeeling - Gangtok - Siliguri - Kolkata - Bhubaneshwar - Puri
- Konarak - Bhubaneshwar - Chennai - Cochin - Allepey -
Kumarakom - Cochin - Mysore - Bangalore - Goa - Mumbai - Vashi -
Mumbai - Next Destination
Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Meet and assist by our representative upon your arrival at the airport. Then
drive to your hotel with your driver and car.
Day 02 Delhi - Udaipur
1950 / 0830 Mewar Express
In the morning take a city tour covering Laxmi Narayan Temple, India Gate -
The memorial of martyrs, Parliament House - The Government headquarters. In
the afternoon take a city tour of Old Delhi covering Jama Masjid - The largest
mosque in Asia, Red Fort - The red stone magic, Gandhi memorial - The memoir
of father of the nation. In time transfer to the railway station for your overnight
train to Udaipur. Overnight on board the express train in air conditioned class.
Day 03 Udaipur
In the morning reach the Udaipur railway station where you will be met by our
representative and the car driver for your tour of Rajasthan. Check into the
hotel. In the afternoon visit Sahelion ki bari a garden with fountains.
Day 04 Udaipur
Visit the City Palace the richest palace museum in the entire Rajasthan. See
the peacock square and the miniature painting school inside the palace premises.
Udaipur has the prestige of housing the best miniature schools in the country
under the royal patronage of the king of Udaipur. Later see the temples of Nagda
and Eklingji.
The temple at Eklingji is a temple that belongs to the Maharana of Mewar (royal
family) and he is often there to pray. The temple complexe of Nagda is a group
of temples of which only two remain intact and those are that of Saas and Bahu
- two temples of Shiva and of Vishnu both from the 7th century.
Day 05 Udaipur - Mt. Abu
This morning we drive through the arid Rajasthan and reach Ranakpur a big pilgrimage
centre for the Jains. Just four hours drive from Mount Abu is the eternal Jain
pilgrimage centre of Ranakpur. Admire the workmanship from the 16th century.
The temples are built out of marble and the main shrine of Adinath with 1444
columns is awe inspiring and none of these are similar. Also see the sun temple
and the other temples in the campus. Then on to the lone hill station in Rajasthan
at a height of 1200mt where we take you for a tour of the temples for a few
hours.
Mount Abu is a true pilgrimage centre for the Jains as here we see the Delwara
Jain temple complex with temples dating back to the 11th century. Later see
the Nakki lake and then view the Sun going down the horizon from the sunset
point.
Day 06 Mt. Abu - Jodhpur
Today we reach Jodhpur the blue city by early afternoon. En route stop by Luni.
A jeep safari is awaiting you to take you to the bishnoi villages. Here you
will see the local rural lifestyle of the
bishnois. You also witness an opiumceremony here.
Post lunch session introduces you to the spice market of Jodhpur the 2nd largest
city in Rajasthan. Walk along the market to feel the odours of the spices filling
the air around you. Later drive up to Mandore gardens the then capital of Marwar
to view some of the fabulous cenotaphs and the hall of local heroes of the wars.
Day 07 Jodhpur - Pokaran - Jaisalmer
In the morning go to the majestic Mehrangarh fort, the stronghold of the Rathore
princes from 1453AD. We see the superb collection of paintings and arms and
ammunitions. The view of the city from the rampart walls is breath taking.
Then we set towards our journey across the Thar Desert to reach Pokaran for
lunch. Visit the 15th century fortress where the 3rd Mughal emperor, Akbar the
Great, was born in 1543. The bazaar in the middle of this village is very colourful
and full of local flavours. After lunch continue towards Jaisalmer and arrive
by evening to witness the sunset over the desert with the most imposing edifice
of the town behind you.
Day 08 Jaisalmer
Morning an exclusive visit of the Jain temples inside the Sonar Kila.. The Jains
are a community that respects life and are pure vegetarians by religion. Visit
the citadel's palace that houses a museum with a huge collection of robes and
artifacts from the royal family of Jaisalmer. Visit the Patwaon ki haveli with
intricately designed latticed windows used by the ladies to view the external
world. Also see the Gadisar Lake .
Later, we go to Sam or Khuri village. Here we have loads of excitement in store
for you. Upon arrival in the village you will be taken to the nearby sunset
point on the dunes to see the sunset by camel / camel carts. At sunset return
to the village where your dinner is arranged in mud huts. In the evening listen
to the haunted tunes of the desert by the local artists and musicians.
Day 09 Jaisalmer - Bikaner
Proceed towards Bikaner and reach by lunch time.
See the Junagarh Fort, a royal museum that encompasses history of Bikaner from
its days of construction that dates back to the 16th century. In the evening
stroll in the busy market area of the city.
Day 10 Bikaner - Mandawa
In the morning see this beautiful village of Shekhawati that used to be an important
caravanserai of the yesteryears. See the many havelis of this quaint little
town built by the rich and the famous
merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries.
These havelis have been painted with activities of daily life and of deities
to break the monotony of the desert life.
Day 11 Mandawa - Jaipur
Today cross the entire stretch of desert region to reach the Pink City Jaipur.
After lunch set off to see the Pink city visiting the observatory Jantar Mantar
built in 1727 by Sawai Maharaja Jai Singh II who was a mathematician , an astronomer
an astrologer and a great musician of his era. He built five observatories throughout
India - Jaipur, Ujjain , Varanasi, Mathura and Delhi but only the one at
Jaipur is functional.
Then visit the City Palace of the Maharaja of Jaipur with a fabulous collection
of robes and saris in cotton and silk with gold-latticed work. The City Palace
houses a collection of paintings also in the painting gallery and of course
a collection of arms and ammunitions in the ammunition gallery.
Day 12 Jaipur
Visit the Amber fort in the morning; included is an elephant ride at the Amber
fort. See the marvelous Shish mahal built in the 17th century in a fusion style
of Hindu and Islamic art. Also see the hall of public audiences and Maharaja
Man Singh's Palace who had twelve queens. Afternoon shopping for textiles and
jewellery.
Day 13 Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra
Leave the Pink City after breakfast and reach Fatehpur Sikri by early afternoon.
Visit this abandoned city built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in the second half
of the 16th century. Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar after his Hindu wife
bore him the long awaited son who was born after the renowned sufi saint Salim
Chisti blessed Jodhabai Akbar's Hindu wife with a son. Also visit Jodhabai's
palace the biggest palace in Fatehpur Sikri even bigger than the emperor's palace
himself as this was the queen who bore him his heir to the throne.
Continue towards Agra and reach Agra by early evening. Relax at your hotel or
go to the local bazaar to see the lifestyle of the people.
Day 14 Agra
Taj Mahal is awaiting your arrival today morning. A must see with the rising
sun as the Taj Mahal is bathed in the golden rays of the morning sun. Built
by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial that houses the tomb of his
beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and
was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning
design, balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for
its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work
ever seen anywhere in the world.
Then see the Agra Fort built by Akbar where Shahjahan was imprisoned by his
own son Aurangzeb.
Post lunch visit Itmad ud Daulah - it is the first mughal building built
out completely of marble. In many contexts it is referred to being the predecessor
of the Taj Mahal. Then visit Sikandara the tomb of the great emperor Akbar.
Day 15 Agra - Gwalior - Orchha (219km)
0815 / 0920 Shatabdi Express
Today we go to Gwalior by Shatabdi Express the erstwhile stronghold of the Scindia
rulers. Reach Gwalior and meet your chauffeur and car to start your visit. A
trip to Gwalior is incomplete without a visit to the fort and the tombs of Ghaus
Mohammed and Tansen. Also see the teli ka mandir and the Saas bahu ka mandir
inside the fort. Then proceed towards Orchha via Datia by road and visit the
palace of the Bundela kings. Datia and Orchha are two twin cities from themedieval
times. In these villages time has stopped. And you feel the timelessness of
this spot. Orchha is a medieval city founded by Bundela rulers with palaces
and temples of the 16th and 17th century - which have remarkably withstood
the onslaught of time. The river Betwa picturesquely flanks the city.
Day 16 Orchcha - Khajuraho
In the morning see the beautiful Palace Complex - Jahangiri Mahal and the
Raja Mahal. Closely study the intricacies of the mural paintings in the Raja
Mahal and visit the Laxminarayana Temple .
Post lunch continue towards Khajuraho about 182 km away by road.
Day 17 Khajuraho - Varanasi (by flight)
Morning sight seeing shows us the temples built during the 9th to the 11th centuries
by the powerful dynasty of Chandela rajputs. The temples with their erotic sculptures
are a feast to the eyes. The Chandelas built 85 temples in all but today only
20 temples stand intact. Visit the eastern and western group of temples before
being transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Varanasi.
Upon your arrival in Varanasi transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free.
Day 18 Varanasi - New Jalpaiguri
1830 /0915 North East Express
Early in the morning (0500hrs) we take you to banks of the river Ganges where
we board a boat to see the morning ablutions of the Hindus from the security
of our boat. The boat ride starts from Dasashwamedh Ghat and ends at Manikarnika
Ghat along the sacred Ganges . See the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Gyanvyapi
kund and the mosque attached to it. Also visit the Benares Hindu University
the largest residential university in India with more than 3000 residential
students.
Return to your hotel for breakfast. Later visit Sarnath the sacred city for
the Buddhist all over the world. It was here that Lord Buddha preached his first
sermon to his first five disciples. Also worth visiting is the museum with artifacts
dating back to 3 rd century BC. Visit the nearby ruins of the ancient seat of
learning in Sarnath.
In time transfer to Mughal Sarai railway station to continue towards New Jalpaiguri
by train.
Overnight in air-conditioned sleeper class train.
Day 19 New Jalpaiguri - Darjeeling
Reach New Jalpaiguri at 0915hrs and drive towards Darjeeling.
Day 20 Darjeeling
Full day in Darjeeling visiting the monastries and the tea gardens in the tea
capital of India.
Day 21 Darjeeling - Gangtok
Drive to Gangtok in the State of Sikkim via Kurseong.
Day 22 Gangtok
Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 23 Gangtok - Siliguri
After breakfast drive to Siliguri.
Overnight at Siliguri.
Day 24 Siliguri - Kolkata
In time transfer to the airport to board your flight to Kolkata; the cultural
capital of India.
Day 25 Kolkata
Reach Kolkata and check into your hotel. Breeakfast at the hotel. Proceed for
a city tour seeing Missionaries of Charity (a charitable organization started
by Mother Teresa).
In the morning visit the flower market and then passing through the government
buildings reach the Jain temple in South Calcutta and view the Rabindra Setu:
a cantilever bridge across the holy Ganges (called Hooghly in Calcutta).
Day 26 08/02 Kolkata
Full day at leisure for independent activities.
Day 27 09/02 Kolkata - Bhubaneshwar
1400 / 2055 Jan Shatabdi Express
In the morning visit the Kali temple at Kalighat and then some time to shop
at the New Market.
Afternoon catch the Shatabdi Express to Bhubaneshwar.
Upon arrival in Bhubaneshwar transfer to your hotel.
Day 28 Bhubaneshwar - Puri - Konarak - Bhubaneshwar
After breakfast at your hotel leave for a full day excursion of Puri and Konark.
At Puri visit the Jagannath temple complex dating back to the 11th century and
marvel at the feat of man and his ingenious in making of these mammoth size
temples and sanctums.
Day 29 Bhubaneshwar - Chennai
In the morning visit the temple town of Bhubaneshwar including a visit to Rajarani
temple and the Lingaraj temple. In time transfer to the railway station for
your train to Chennai. Reach Chennai and check into your hotel in the heart
of the city.
Day 30 Chennai
The city stretches its 19 km length along the Coromandel coast and extends inland
about 9 km at its widest. Its irregular shape covers about 172 sq km. It is
a fairly low-lying strip of land, its highest point being only 60 m above sea
level.
The present city of Madras is itself, however, only about 350 years old. The
quest of an East India Company factor, Francis Day, for cheaper cloth and more
peaceful surroundings led to the founding of Madras in 1639. The city of today,
one of the great metropolises of the world, and the fourth largest city in India,
grew from the fort Day and his superior Andrew Cogan built on a narrow spit
of no-man's land that Day's dubash Beri Thimanna negotiated with the local governor
of the Vijayanagar Empire. The approximately 5 square kilometre sand strip Day
was granted has now grown into a city of about 170 sq. kms. with a population
of 3.25 million. Madras was Britain 's first major settlement in India and it
was here that many who went on to build the Empire first learnt their trade.
As a consequence, the city is replete with much that is of significance in British
Indian history. But the much older settlements have stories to tell too, and
so the city is an amalgam of ancient and more modern history. Everywhere one
goes in Madras , one can find history written in every name. Particularly charming
features of Madras are its allegiance to ancient traditions, no matter how modernised
it has become, and its willingness to spread out further rather than develop
into a multi-storey concrete jungle. The result is a widespread city still open
to the skies; a green, airy city with several vestiges of its rural past; a
city that adheres to the leisurely tempo of the life of a world of yesterday;
a city whose values of another day still survive midst the humdrum bustle of
today; a city that still retains the charm, culture and courtesies of the ages.
Day 31 Chennai
After breakfast and a brief stay city tour of this traditional / cultural capital
city covering Fort St. George, High Court Complex, George Town, Corporation
Complex, Patheon Complex, Valluvar Kottam, Kodambakkam, St. Thomas Mount, Guindy
National Park, Kalakshetra, Elliot's Beach, Theosophical Society, the Shrines
of Mylapore & Triplicane Government Estate, the Marina and Anna Salai.
Day 32 Chennai - Cochin (by flight)
Upon your arrival at Kochi (Cochin ) proceed for a half-day sight seeing of
Cochin by boat.
A few interesting sites included in the tour are the Chinese fishing nets along
the Vasco da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, VOC Gate,
Bastion Bungalow etc. Apart from these architectural splendors, an array of
restaurants serving fresh seafood is also popular among tourists. The Chinese
fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles work on the principle of
balance. Records say they were first set up here between AD 1350 and 1450. Vasco
Da Gama Square , the narrow promenade that parallels the beach, is the best
place to watch the nets being lowered and pulled out of the sea.
Day 33 Cochin - Allepey
Visit the Fort Cochin built in British, Dutch and Portuguese styles reflect
the architectural planning of the colonizers. The Church of St. Francis is also
worth a visit where Vasco da Gama was buried in 1524 .
Later visit the Mattancherry Palace with a collection of fine mural paintings
and other masterpieces.
Proceed for Allepey. Allepey or Alappuzha is famous for its boat races, houseboats,
coir products, fish and lakes. Alappuzha remains prominent on the tourist trial
of Kerala as one of the major centres for backwater boat trips. "Kuttanad"
in Alappuzha is one of few places in the world where farming is done below sea
level. Kuttanad is a land of lush paddy fields and is called the 'Rice Bowl'
of Kerala. Kuttanad stretches for 75 km sandwiched between the sea and the hills.
Overnight at Allepey in a houseboat.
Day 34 Allepey - Kumarakom
Today you will be cruising through the backwaters of Kerala to reach Kumarakom
and visit the Bird Sanctuary here. Proceed to your hotel for the night stay.
Day 35 Kumarakom - Cochin - Mysore
In time transfer to Bangalore. Upon your arrival in Bangalore transfer to Mysore.
In the evening visit the famous Brindavan gardens.
Day 36 Mysore - Bangalore
In the morning visit the Maharaja's palace with ornate interiors suggests the
rich and extravagant lifestyle of the rulers of this region. Later visit Tipu
Sultan's Palace and capital at Srirangapatnam which holds a few mural paintings
depicting life tales of Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali both a living terror
to the British. Finally return back to Bangalore.
Today you see the Administrative buildings of this beautiful south Indian city.
Also see the botanical gardens with 1000 different varieties of flowers. This
garden was done up by Hyder Ali in the 18th century.
Day 37 Bangalore - Goa (by flight)
In time transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Goa the top beach resort
in India. Visit the city and its churches before checking into the hotel. Time
is at leisure to relax on the beach.
Day 38 Goa
Relax on the beach.
Day 39 Goa
In the afternoon city tour of the earstwhile Portuguese colony with its ornate
Churches and basilicas. In the evening boat cruise with live music and dance.
Day 40 Goa - Mumbai
In time transfer to the railway station for your onward travel to Mumbai by
Mandovi Express. Upon arrival in Mumbai check into your hotel.
Day 41 Mumbai
In the morning excursion to Elephanta caves by motor launch. In the afternoon
see the Gateway of India. Visit the Albert Hall Museum and Jehangir Art Gallery
and then see the tower of Silence where the Parsi community leaves their dead
to be eaten by the vultures and other prey birds. Also visit the Gandhi Smriti
museum and the Kamala Nehru Park with its unique Boot house.
Day 42 Mumbai - Vashi
Full day is at leisure for independent activities.
Day 43 Mumbai - Vashi
Full day is at leisure for independent activities.
Day 44 Mumbai - Next Destination
In time transfer to the airport for your international flight back home
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