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Indian Extravaganza Tour
Duration: 20 Nights / 21 Days
Places to Visit: Delhi - Udaipur - Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri
- Agra - Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Kolkata - Bhubaneshwar
- Puri - Konarak - Bhubaneshwar - Chennai - Mahabalipuram
- Kanchipuram - Chennai - Cochin - Allepey - Cochin -
Goa - 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 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 04 Udaipur - 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.
Day 05 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. 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.
Afternoon shopping for textiles and jewellery.
Day 06 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 07 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 08 Agra - Orchha - Khajuraho
0815 / 1020 Shatabdi Express
Today we go to Jhansi by Shatabdi Express and meet your chauffeur and car to
start your visit. Orchha is a village where you will feel that the 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. 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 09 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 10 Varanasi - Kolkata
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 Kolkata
by train.
Overnight in air-conditioned sleeper class train.
Day 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 airport for your flight
to Chennai.
Day 15 Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - 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.
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 16 Chennai - Cochin - Allepey (by flight)
Upon your arrival at Kochi (Cochin ) proceed for a half-day sight seeing of
Cochin.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 17 Allepey - Cochin - 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 18 Goa
Relax on the beach.
Day 19 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 20 Goa - Mumbai
In time transfer to the railway station for your onward travel to Mumbai by
Jan Shatabdi Express. Upon arrival in Mumbai check into your hotel.
Day 21 Mumbai - Next Destination
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.
Included on this tour are:
- Daily breakfasts
- All sight seeing and tours mentioned in the itinerary
- French speaking local guides
- Elephant ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur
- Overnight stay in the hotels mentioned
- Air conditioned car with chauffeur
- All applicable taxes
- Desert and village safari in Luni
- Opium ceremony in Luni
- Visit to Bishnoi villages in Luni
- Boat ride on lake Pichhola in Udaipur
- Camel rides on the dunes in the desert in Jaisalmer
- Local music and dance by local village artists on the dunes in Jaisalmer
- Farewell dinner on the last day in Delhi before departure to international
airport.
- Sunrise / sunset visit of Taj Mahal in Agra
- Battery bus ride in Agra.
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