Taj Mahal with Kerala
Duration:
13 Nights / 14 Days
Destinations:
Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Delhi - Chennai - Trivandrum - Cochin - Periyar -
Madurai - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram - Chennai
Day
01: Arrival at Delhi Company representatives will receive you on
arrival at the international airport in Delhi late in the night or midnight.
Transfer to your hotel. Relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms
and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the
past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture
of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Start a full-day tour of Old and
New Delhi.
OLD DELHI - A
sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the
memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest
mosque in India and the Red Fort - once the most opulent fort and palace of
the Moghul Empire.
Enjoy the cycle rickshaw ride from Jama
Masjid to Chandni Chowk.
NEW DELHI
- An extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the
Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue -
Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's
Residence, Lotus Temple and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic
Enclave.
Proceed to see the DANCES OF INDIA show in the evening.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day
03: Delhi - Agra Start for Agra early in the morning after
breakfast.
En-route you will visit the SIKANDRA. Check in at
hotel.
AGRA: Two great Mughal
monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into
a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name
Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up
in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble,
narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this
favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that
modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. A walk
down the narrow bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor to
the wafting aroma of Mughlai cuisine.
TAJ
MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder which
is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built
by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to 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.
Proceed for visit to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and
Itmadullah's Tomb with English speaking guide. Enjoy battery van ride.
Return to hotel and relax in the evening.
Overnight will be at
Agra.
Day
04: Jaipur Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed
for a morning excursion to Amber Fort. Elephant ride ascent to the fort.
AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the
classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man
Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding
exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and
Hindu styles finds it's ultimate expression.
Continue
sight-seeing.
CITY PALACE - A
delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City
Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses
the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.
JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and
the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in
different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized
astronomical instruments is still in use.
HAWA
MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is
a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone
plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The
palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal
was a royal grandstand for the palace women.
Relax in the
evening or visit the markets. Overnight will be at Jaipur.
Day
05: Jaipur - Delhi After leisurely breakfast proceed for
shopping.
Leave for Delhi after lunch. Reach Delhi and you will
be transferred to airport for flight with sweet memories of India after
FAREWELL DINNER.
Day
06: Delhi - Chennai Transfer to hotel Le Meridien (near the
airport)
Day 07: Chennai - Trivandrum Transfer to
Somatheeram Ayurvedic Resort
Day 08: Ayurvedic Beach Resort
Relax and enjoy the facilities at the resort including private
beach, yoga, massage, nature walks, classical music and dance programs on
open-air stage, visits to local traditional village.
Day 09:
Backwaters of Kerala From the resort drive to the pier to board a
private rice boat (70 kms/2 hrs drive) and then cruise through the narrow
canals and wide lakes enjoying the scenic natural beauty -- coconut trees,
rice patties, small villages.Meals and overnight on houseboats.
Day 10: Backwaters - Cochin Morning relax on houseboat, after
lunch drive to Cochin 65 Kms/ 1 1/12 hrs.), transfer to hotel. Taj Mallabar
Hotel, overlooking the harbor, sea facing rooms.
Day 11:
Cochin Full day sighseeing: palaces, museums. Enjoy a Kathakali
dance performance at Cochin Cultural Center, arriving by 5 pm to watch the
make-up. Dinner at traditional Kerala restaurant. Taj Mallabar Hotel
Day 12: Periyar Periyar Wild life Sanctuary Home to
bison, antelopes, sambars, wild boars, monkeys, langurs, a wide variety of
birds, and some 750 elephants. Game viewing by private motor-boat in the
evening, (the best time to see wild life). Hotel Taj Garden Retreat
Day 13: Periyar - Madurai Relax at Periyar in the
morning. In afternoon, drive to Madurai (135 kms./ 4hrs. drive), "The
Temple City of India." Evening relaxed overview of the city,
independent strolling. Hotel Taj Garden Retreat in Madurai, cottages.
Day 14: Madurai Full day sighseeing: Sri Meenakshi Temple,
Tirumalai Nayak Palace, Tiruparankundram (rock-cut)Temple, Alagarkoil Temple
Evening fly Madurai-Madras dep 19:40 arr 20:30 arr. OR 20:40 dep.-21:30 arr.
Hotel Taj Garden Retreat
Day 15: Madras Full day
sightseeing of Madras: Kapaleeshwarar Temple, San Thome Cathedral, Sri
Parthasarathy Temple, Fort St. George, the Marina. Hotel Taj Coromandel,
superior room
Day 16: Drive to Kanchipuram Visit
temples of Kanchipuram enroute to Mahabalipuram. Kailasanatha Temple,
Vaikunta Perumal Temple, Sri Ekambaranathar Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple,
Devarajaswami Temple. On arrival in Mahabalipuram transfer to Hotel
FishermanÕs Cove.
Day 17: Mahabalipuram
Morning relax; afternoon sightseeing: Five Rathas, Shore Temple, ArjunaÕs
Penance, Mandapams, Krishna Mandapam.
Day 18: Madras
Relax in the morning. Late afternoon drive back to Madras (80kms./2hrs.
drive). Transfer to international airport for flight home.
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