BEST OF INDIA/26 Days

Description

In this package, we have handpicked a bouquet of the best locations of the mystical country you better know as India. From the imperial architecture of Delhi to the rustic charm of Rajasthan. From the marvelous Taj Mahal to the exotic backwaters of Kerala and from the ever so alluring Mumbai to the ghats of the world’s oldest city of Varanasi, we bring to you the fervor all packed in a span of 26 days. The tour starts from Delhi and culminates at Trivandrum.

Tour Code: BOI

Highlights:

• Delhi- Humayun Tomb, Rajghat, Chandni Chowk Bazar, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, etc
• Amritsar- Jallianwala Bagh, Golden Temple, Wagah Border
• Varanasi- Rickshaw Ride, Ganga Aarti in evening Puja Ceremony
• Khajuraho – 1000-year-old temples of Khajuraho
• Jhansi- Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Ki Chatri and Jhansi fort
• Agra- Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
• National Park- Ranthambore or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary
• Jaipur – City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort
• Mandawa – Mandawa castle, Mandawa town
• Bikaner- Lalgarh Palace, Junagarh Fort, Fort Museum, the Camel Breeding farms and the remarkable Bhandasar Jain temples
• Jodhpur- Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Clock Tower
• Udaipur- Boat ride on Lake Pichola, 300-year-old Jagdish Temple, Jag Mandir Palace, Ranakpur Jain Temples, Royal Cenotaphs of the Rajput kings
• Ahmedabad- Gandhi Ashram, Akshardham Temple with laser Show and Adalaj Stepwell,
• Mumbai- Chowpatty Beach, Gateway of India, Marine Drive and Dhobi Ghat
• Kochi- Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Dutch Palace, Kathakali Performance and Francis Church
• Kumarakom: Sunset Cruise on backwaters
• Poovar: Beautiful beach of Kovalam
• Kanyakumari: Padmanabhapuram Palace, Meeting point of three major seas, Swami Vivekananda Memorial rock, Thiruvalloor, Gandhi Mandapam, Goddess Kanyakumari
• No Single extra to share with same sex, Private Single supplement available
• Private tour Supplement available

Inclusions:

• Airport Arrival & Departure Transfers
• Daily Breakfast
• 3 Nights accommodation in Delhi
• 1 Night accommodation in Amritsar
• 1 Night accommodation in Varanasi
• 1 Night accommodation in Khajuraho
• 1 Night accommodation in Jhansi
• 1 Night accommodation in Agra
• 2 Nights accommodation in Ranthambore/Bharatpur
• 1 Night accommodation in Jaipur
• 1 Night accommodation in Mandawa
• 1 Night accommodation in Bikaner
• 1 Night accommodation in Jodhpur
• 2 Nights accommodation in Udaipur
• 1 Night accommodation in Ahmedabad
• 1 Night accommodation in Mumbai
• 1 Night accommodation in Kochi
• 1 Night accommodation in Kumarakom
• 1 Night accommodation in Poovar
• 1 Night accommodation in Kanyakumari
• 1 Night accommodation in Trivandrum
• Guided Sightseeing as per itinerary
• English speaking local guide
• Fees for entry into the monuments
• All domestic taxes
• All transportation using air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions:

• Camera fees at the monuments.
• Any Airfare
• Australia airport transfers
• Visa
• Tips and gratuities.
• Medical & Travel Insurance.
• Personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, telephone calls, Tips, etc.
• Any other expenses not covered above.
• Anything not mentioned in itinerary

Day 1: Australia to Delhi

The sojourn starts from the heart of India, the exuberant city of Delhi.You are expected to arrive a night before the trip starts, from the airlines of your choice, and we will take it forward from there.

Day 2: Welcome to India

Fasten you seat belts, as right from your arrival at the airport, Delhi will storm you with some serious hospitality. We will take a guided tour of some of the world’s most amazing architectures. From Red Fort to the Jama Masjid, Delhi offers a visible transition from different periods of the Mughal era. A visit to Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar is also on the cards.

In the evening, the female delegates may get some beautiful temporary henna tattoos applied on their palms while the male delegates can admire the cultural richness (the bill is on us!). The night stay will be at a hotel in Delhi.

Day 3: GOLDEN TEMPLE- AMRITSAR

We move to Amritsar, after breakfast in Delhi. We will pay homage to the Golden Temple in the afternoon. Subsequently, we move to witness one of most enthralling retreats of the world at Wagah Border. Here, the Indian and the Pakistani soldiers indulge in a spectacular drill that is a must watch. We spend the night at a hotel in Amritsar.

Day 4: Amritsar to Delhi

We will visit the historical Jallianwala Bagh memorial. In the year 1919, Jallianwala Bagh witnessed one of the most belligerent acts of genocide.

In the evening, we return to Delhi and spend the night at a hotel in Delhi.

Day 5: Delhi

After breakfast, we move to the buzzing Chandni Chowk Bazar, which is famous for its indigenous goods.Other attractions for the day include Rajpath, India Gate, Parliament House and finally to Gandhi Smriti to commemorate the great Mahatma.

The night stay is at a hotel in Delhi.

Day 6: Varanasi

From the happening Delhi, we move to the pristine ambience of Varanasi, one of the oldest living cities of the world. You can explore the cultural richness of Varanasi on a rickshaw. In the evening, witness the enchantment of the famous Ganga Aarti at the ghats. This cultural ritual is to worship the Holy Ganga.

The night stay is at a hotel in Varanasi.

Day 7: Varanasi to Khajuraho

From the labyrinth streets of Varanasi, we fly to the mystical land of Khajuraho with a brief stop over at Agra. Khajuraho is famous for its historic temples and the sculptures. These temples were built by the Chandela dynasty about a thousand years ago.

The overnight stay would be at a hotel in Khajuraho.

Day 8: Khajuraho to Jhansi

From Khajuraho, we travel to Jhansi by road and witness the fort of Rani Lakshmi Bai, the epitome of exemplary courage. Lakshmi Bai was a Maratha Queen, who valiantly fought the Britishers in the Great Uprising of 1857. We would be visiting the Jhansi Fort and Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Ki Chatri. The overnight stay is at a hotel in Jhansi.

Day 9: Jhansi to Agra

On this day, we move to the most awaited destination of our trip. It is time to witness the majestic, the beautiful, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal. Absorb the beauty of love, as the monument is a true depiction of pure love of Mughal Ruler Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal, his beloved wife. We also pay a visit to the Agra Fort and spend the night at a hotel in Agra.

Day 10-11: Agra to Jaipur

From the Gangetic Plains, we move to the desert of Rajasthan. Depending upon which part of the year you are visiting will decide which wildlife sojourn we are going to take. It will be Ranthambore National Park in the months of January till May and Bharatpur bird sanctuary for the remaining part of the year.

Ranthambore National Park: Ranthambore is the home for about 60 tigers and other exotic wildlife creatures. The chances of citing a tiger are good and if you are lucky they are just going to tread you through the jungle. So don’t forget to bring those big lenses to capture some of the most exotic wildlife. We will do a safari in the afternoon followed with an optional safari the next morning and another in the afternoon. It is a two-night stay at Ranthambore.

Bharatpur: Bharatpur equals the task of enthralling its visitors when compared with Ranthambore. The city of Bharatpur once considered to impregnable offers a plethora of tourist spots. The main attraction being the Keoladeo National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, which we are going to visit the next morning. The bird sanctuary is home to some of the most exotic and rear species of birds. It is a two nights stay at Bharatpur.

Day 12: Jaipur

We travel to Jaipur by road. Jaipur has some fabulous forts to visit, from the romantic Amber Fort to the fabulous Hawa Mahal (Palace of wind). Jaipur has something for every mood. Also known as the Pink City, Jaipur also houses the largest observatory in the form of Jantar Mantar and the majestic City Palace, which covers over one-seventh of the area of the entire city. The night stay is at a hotel in Jaipur.

Day 13: Mandawa

Next morning, we proceed to Mandawa by road. Thakur Nawal Singh founded Mandwa in the year 1755, and his descendants still live there. The town has some marvellous facades in the form of Havelis and Mansions, decorated with some beautiful frescoes. Mandawa Castle stands out and is amongst one of the artistically built castles in Rajasthan, has now been converted into a hotel. The Mandawa museum preserves a collection of armories, costumes, cannons, currency and medals from the 18th century. The night stay is at a hotel in Mandawa.

Day 14: Mandawa to Bikaner

Next we drive to Bikaner, which is famous for its breed of camels. We proceed to witness the marvelous architecture of the Junagarh Fort, the Lalgarh Fort and the famous Bhandasar Jain temples. The Fort Museum takes us back to the 19th century with some remarkable wartime collections of those times. The Bikaner Palace, constructed with red sandstone and mirror work embellished marbles, adds an elegant hue to the city of Bikaner. In the evening we will visit the buzzing market area. The night stay is at a hotel in Bikaner.

Day 15: Jodhpur

The next morning we proceed to the Blue City of India, Jodhpur. The royal city of Jodhpur offers a variety of tourist spots. From the gigantic Meherangarh Fort, which houses a battalion of cannons on its rooftop to the luxurious Umaid Bhawan Palace. From Jaswant Thada to the clock tower standing tall in the middle of Sardar Market, Jodhpur displays its rich cultural heritage. The setting sun illuminates the blue houses of Jodhpur and kindles the city in a flame of magnificent blue light. The night stay is at a hotel in Jodhpur.

Day 16: Udaipur

We move to the romantic city of Udaipur which was built by Maharaja Udai Singh in the circa 1560. On our way, we pay homage to the Ranakpur Jain Temples, which have 1444 uniquely carved pillars. On reaching Udaipur, which is described as the most romantic destination of the continent by Col. James Todd, we set foot in the colorful markets. A boat ride in Lake Pichola awaits you, which will take you to the Jag Mandir Palace built in the middle of the lake. The night stay is at a hotel in Udaipur.

Day 17: Udaipur tour

We will start the day with some exclusive sightseeing of Udaipur. We start from the City Palace, which is the largest palace museum of Rajasthan. The palace offers some unbelievable sights such as the full grown trees on the top floor. Next we proceed to the garden of fountains, known as Saheliyon ki Bari. The king gifted this garden to his little princess so that she may play with her friends amongst the fountains. The astonishing feature of these fountains is that there is no mechanical assembly installed for the movement of water. We proceed to the temples of Nagada and Eklingji and in the evening we visit the 300 years old Jagdish Temple and the Royal Cenotaphs of the Rajput Kings. The night stay is at a hotel in Udaipur.

Day 18: Ahmedabad

We touch base at Gandhinagar on our way to Ahmedabad. In Ahmedabad, we visit Adalaj Stepwell and Gandhi Ashram. In the evening, we will visit the Akshardham Temple and an exuberant laser show. The night stay would be at a hotel in Ahmedabad.

Day 19: Mumbai

The next morning, we fly to Mumbai. A visit to popular monuments like the Gateway of India and the serine Marine Drive would be the highlights of the day. Moving on the promenade of the Chowpatty Beach, we would reach the all so famous Dhobi Ghat. The night stay would be at a hotel in Mumbai.

Day 20: Arrive at Kochi

After breakfast in Mumbai, we fly to Kochi (alias Ernakulam or Cochin). Explore the city on your own and treat your soul with some meditation or just wander in the soothing climate. We have arranged a Kathakali Performance for you in the evening after which you may retire to your hotel rooms in Kochi for the night.

Day 21: Kochi sightseeing to Kumarakom

We start with the Mattancherry Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays & Public holidays), which is a Portuguese architecture built by them in circa 1555. The Dutch in circa 1663 renovated the palace. We proceed to a Jewish Synagogue (closed on all Saturdays and Jewish holidays) located in the Jew Town and Fort Cochin Area. There are some beautiful houses as if taken out from a page of a history picture book. We move to the oldest European Church in India, the St. Francis Church (closed on Sundays from 0800 to 1100 hours). The Church houses some valuable antiquities including some rare records. We move to the tip of Fort Cochin and observe the Chinese Fishing Nets, which is a unique feature and marks the century old influence of the Chinese. We move to Kumarakom by road. Night stay is at a hotel in Kumarakom.

Day 22: Kumarakom to Poovar

The next morning, we move to Poovar by road from Kumarakom and after checking in into a hotel, you may spend the entire day at the serine and beautiful beech of Kovalam. The night stay is at a hotel in Poovar.

Day23: Kovalam – Kanyakumari Excursion

From Poovar we embark to the southern most tip of India, Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari is the meeting point of three major water bodies of the Indian subcontinent— Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. Apart from its spiritual ambience, Kanyakumari offers a myriad of tourist locations like the Padmanabhapuram Palace (Palace of Marthanda Varma – Padmanabhapuram Palace is located close to the town of Thuckalay in Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu) which is located on the route to Kanyakumari. The setting sun imparts a mystical hue to the Vivekananda Memorial Rock which we would reach by boat (on direct payment basis) after reaching Kanyakumari. Statue of Thiruvallor, Gandhi Mandapam and the temple of Goddess Kanyakumari adds a fillip to the spiritual and peaceful ambience of Kanyakumari. After the sunset, we return back to Poovar and spend the night at the hotel.

Day 24: Poovar to Trivandrum

After breakfast at Poovar, we set for Trivandrum by road. You will get a last chance to grab some souvenirs for friends back home, as we will hit the markets for the last time. This marks the culmination of the Best of India tour.

Day 25: Trivandrum to Australia

You will leave for the Trivandrum International Airport to board your flights back home.

Day 26: Arrive Australia

You arrive in Australia, with some beautiful memories that you will cherish for a long time. Cheers!