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Experience India Tour
Varanasi | New Delhi
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This tour lets you discover the true colors of India. From the narrow lanes, to the 6 lanes highway, from agricultural lands to the ancient forts and palaces, from north India to south India, this 22 days long tour offers a discovery of the magnificent and majestic destinations of India. An extended tour to India offers a pathway to self discovery. Visit to Brihadeswara Temple, a World Heritage Site dedicated to Lord Shiva soon changes to Srirangapatnam, an island town encircled by river Cauvery and is known for its high stone walls and moats enclose temples which ends at Agra Fort a world heritage site which houses mosques & palaces in red sandstone and white marble. From temples to towns, jungles to palaces all are strategically placed to showcase different facades of Indian subcontinent; its colors, cultures and cosmos are at display offering something for everyone.
Day 1 : Arrival at Chennai
On arrival in Chennai, transfer to the hotel for check-in.
Day 2 : Chennai- Mahabalipuram (Mamalapuram)
Visit Fort St. George, St. Mary's Church, Museum & Wellesley House, San Thome Cathedral, Museums in Chennai. Later drive to Mahabalipuram.
Day 3 : Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipura
Proceed for tour to Shore Temple, Arjuna's Penance & Five Rathas shrine. Later, explore temples of Kanchipuram & shop for silk saris. O/N in Mahabalipuram.
Day 4 : Mahabalipuram- Tanjore
Early morning transfer to Tanjore & visit Brihadeswara Temple, a World Heritage Site.
Day 5 : Tanjore- Trichy- Madurai
Drive to Madurai via Trichy. Enjoy city tour at Trichy visit Srirangam Temple & Rock Fort.
Day 6 : Madurai City Tour
Visit Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple. Explore places of national importance in Madurai.
Day 7 : Madurai - Thekkady
Early morning transfer to Thekkady. Enjoy evening game viewing by boat on Lake Periyar at Periyar National Park.
Day 8 : Periyar (Thekkady) - Cochin
Drive to Cochin.
Day 9 : Cochin City Tour
Visit Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Jew Town, Spice Market, St. Francis Church & Chinese fishing nets. Enjoy Kathakali classical dance performance in the evening.
Day 10 : Cochin -Guruvayur - Mysore
Morning transfers to Mysore via Guruvayur to see the Sree Krishna Swamy Temple.
Day 11 : Mysore City Tour
Enjoy Mysore city tour and visit Srirangapatnam, Tipu's Summer Palace, Chamundi Hill, Durga Temple.
Day 12 : Mysore - Bangalore - Mumbai
Head towards Bangalore. Visit Tipu Sultan's Palace, the Iskcon Temple and Lal Bagh Garden. Later board flight to Mumbai.
Day 13 : Mumbai- Udaipur
Visit Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves, drive through the famous Marine Drive, Chowpatty beach in Mumbai. Later board a flight to Udaipur.
Day 14 : Udaipur City Tour
Visit City Palace, Fateh Sagar Lake, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal. Evening enjoy a cruise on Lake Pichola.
Day 15 : Udaipur - Jaipur
Spend the whole day relaxing at the hotel. Later board flight to Jaipur.
Day 16 : Jaipur City Tour
Take the royal elephant ride to Amber Fort. Later visit City Palace, Birla Temple, Jantar Mantar & Hawa Mahal.
Day 17 : Jaipur - Agra
Early morning drive to Agra and in between visit to Fatehpur Sikri.
Day 18 : Agra Tour
Start your day in Agra with a stunning morning view of Taj Mahal and also visit Agra Fort. O/N stay.
Day 19 : Agra- Jhansi- Khajuraho
Leave via train to Jhansi, from where you will drive to Khajuraho. Enjoy the sightseeing tour of the exotic temples of Khajuraho.
Day 20 : Khajuraho- Varanasi
Morning flight to Varanasi. Varanasi city tour include visit to banks of River Ganges and various temples.
Day 21 : Varanasi - Delhi
Early morning boat ride at the river Ganges. Later visit to Sarnath to see the famous Stupas, excavated ruins of monasteries, the Museum & Ashoka Pillar. Transfer to Delhi.
Day 22 : Delhi City Tour- Departure
Guided tour of Delhi includes visits to Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, the India Gate, the President's House, Humayun's Tomb, Lotus Temple and Qutub Minar. Later transfer to the train station / airport for your onward journey.
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Tour Highlights- Tour is laced with visits to exquisite ancient temples, age old architecture & UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Visit to Brihadeswara Temple, a World Heritage Site.
- Visit Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple a magnificent example of Dravidian architecture in Madurai.
- Visit to Srirangapatnam, an island town encircled by river Cauvery and is known for its high stone walls and moats enclose temples.
- Visit to City Palace a heritage building as it reflects the Rajput culture and the arts also it is a mixture of European & Chinese architecture.
- Visit the City Palace built by Maharaja Jai Singh reflects the traditional Rajasthan and Mughal architecture.
- Enjoy the full day sightseeing by visiting Agra Fort a world heritage site which houses mosques & palaces in red sandstone and white marble.
- Enjoy the early morning sightseeing tour of the Khajuraho city by visiting the city temples
- Enjoy the early morning boat ride at the river Ganges.
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| | | Day 1: Arrival at Chennai |  | Upon your arrival at the airport, meet our representative awaiting just outside the arrival hall, past the customs area & currency shops. Later at the hotel our representative will brief you about tour starting day after.
British East India Company founded Chennai as a trading post in 1639 and the city has since then emerged as a centre of education, commerce and industries. While the heart of the city values business and commercial activities, the south Mylapore is decked with age old temples and other sightseeing attractions. On arrival at the city of exquisite temples, fascinating cultural practices and hub of education, you will be accommodated in a fine hotel where after a short while our representative will brief you about your tour which starts the day after.
| | | | Day 2: Chennai-Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) | | (Driving time: 1hr)
Enjoy early morning sightseeing tour of Chennai. Visit Fort St. George founded in 1639 houses St. Mary's Church, Museum & Wellesley House. Next on the city tour you will come across Kalakshetra, a cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional values of Indian art. The academy founded in 1936 trains in the classical forms of performing art forms such as Bharatnatyam dance and Gandharveda music. Do have a look at San Thome Cathedral a sacred place especially for the Catholic Christians. Also explore the Museums which reflect the collection of Chola bronzes & stone sculptures from South India & the Deccan.
Later drive to Mamallapuram is planned for the day. Situated down south of Chennai and overlooking the Bay of Bengal this is an ancient seaport. This coastal retreat captivates all with its breathtaking views of long stretches of silvery sands the view is only enhanced further with the presence of volcanic rocks by the shore.
| | | | Day 3: Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram - Mahabalipuram | | (Driving time: 1.5hrs)
Enjoy Mahabalipuram sightseeing which covers visit to rock cut outs, shrines. The carvings on rock depicting demons, gods and animals are poetic in nature. Out of many temples, the Shore Temple overlooking the sea is the most intriguing sight with its ornately carved figures. Arjuna’s Penance and Krishna Mandapa are two of the massive rock structures. All this and interesting rock cut caves has won Mamallapuram the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Later, drive to the temple town 'Kanchipuram' located on the Palar River, known for its temples & silk saris. Popularly known as “City of 1000 Temples” Kanchipuram consists of temples dedicated mainly to Lord Vishnu and Shiva which are renowned for their monumental tower known as Gopuram. The ornamental entrances of these temples are beautifully carved in exquisite patterns. When done with visiting these holy shrines one can indulge in the city’s favourite exercise that of shopping for some beauteous hand woven silk saris. Return to Mahabalipuram. | | | | Day 4: Mahabalipuram - Tanjore | | (Driving time: 7 hrs)
Early morning transfer to Tanjore an important centre of South Indian art and architecture. The city came into limelight under the rule of Chola dynasty when most of its grand temples were built. These Great Living Chola Temples are now a site which amazes and inspires people of the world and thus have been accredited by UNESCO. Amongst the greatest creations of Great Living Chola Temples, the Brihadeeswara Temple beautifully showcases the architectural brilliance of that age. The temple also known as 'Big Temple' is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Spend the day at Tanjore exploring its architectural and cultural heritage.
| | | | Day 5: Tanjore - Trichy - Madurai | | (Driving time: 4hrs)
After the early morning breakfast drive to the temple city of India i.e. Madurai via Trichy, located on the banks of the River Kaveri. Stop for an en-route visit to Trichy and enjoy a quick sightseeing tour of the city. Bow to the Hindu deity at Srirangam Temple; situated on an island the temple is the biggest functioning Hindu temple of the world. The temple is renowned for its famous pilgrimage destination of Hindus- Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. While exploring Trichy a visit to Rockfort Temple is a must for it is the most famous landmark of the city and is perched on a huge rocky out crop. Resuming the journey afterwards guests will reach Madurai by late evening. | | | | Day 6: Madurai City Tour | | Morning tour this Cultural Capital of Tamil Nadu. The city full of colorful bazaars, throngs of pilgrims and exhilarated religious processions, Madurai is the place to get intimate with the cultural ethnicity of South India. The main crowd puller is the beautiful Meenakshi Temple here. The temple dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi it is one of the finest and grandest specimen of Dravidan architecture. The musical pillars are what fascinates the most, these are carved out of single block of granite and are constructed in a unique way so that when tapped let out a musical note. Also, the temple Hall of a Thousand Pillars is now converted into a museum showcasing treasures of antiques. The evening closing ceremony in which image of Shiva is carried in procession to Goddess Parvati’s shrine is magnificent with chanting of priests, drummers and torch bearers echoing the entire ambiance.
| | | | Day 7: Madurai -Thekkady | | (Driving time: 3.5hrs)
Drive to Thekkady. A popular hill station & a wildlife centre the Periyar Forest of the town houses one of the finest wildlife reserves of India. Set on a jeep safari inside Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary situated on the banks of the Periyar Lake. The sanctuary is one of the biggest natural reserves in India which covers about 777 km squares. Home to myriad wild creatures this protected area lies in the middle of mountainous region of Cardamom Hills and is cradled with picturesque Periyar Lake. Animals such as elephant, sambar, gaur and wild boars and beauteous bird populations such as darters, cormorants, kingfishers and racket tailed Drongos have made the park their home. Spot these animals coming to the banks of Periyar Lake to quench their thirst while you sail on a boat in the pristine lake. Also, visit a spice plantation in the vicinity later and return to the hotel for night stay.
| | | | Day 8: Thekkady - Cochin | | (Driving time: 4.5 hrs)
Leave for Cochin. A vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of Indian peninsula, Cochin is an important port city ideally called the Gateway to Kerala. The city has emerged as a significant commercial and industrial hub of the state and on your drive to the hotel you will come across various local industries such as coir making, toddy tapping, spice producing and pot making and more. The city situated on a cluster of islands is owner of one of the best natural harbours in the world. Today you retire to your hotel room for night stay. | | | | Day 9: Cochin City Tour | | Full day sightseeing tour of Cochin will commence today post lunch. Shortly after lunch you will set on an exciting sojourn to various historic and political sites of the city. On today's sightseeing tour you explore St. Francis Church and Jewish Synagogue and more. Believed to be the oldest church in India, it was built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan monks. Jewish Synagogue is the synagogue housing The Great Scrolls of Old Testament. The Mattancherry Palace features Kerala murals displaying Hindu temple art, portraits of former Kings of Kochi. Also visit & Chinese fishing net exhibiting a unique method of catching fish by local fishermen by lining the net by the sea front. Evening will come to end as you watch a Kathakali dance performance which is the precursor of major classical forms of dances of South India.
| | | | Day 10: Cochin - Guruvayur -Mysore | | (Driving time: Cochin – Guruvayur: 3.5hrs Guruvayur –Mysore: 6.7 hrs)
Early morning transfer to Mysore via Guruvayur. A short drive from Cochin will take you to the town renowned for its centuries old Sree Krishna Swamy Temple. Dedicated to Lord Krishna the temple is known for two renowned classical literary forms whose authors were great devotees of Guruvayurappan. The temple is also a main venue for south Indian classical music form of Carnatic music and also is a hub of other performing art forms. A visit to the temple in between the journey will be a spiritual experience quickly after which you will drive towards your next destination Mysore. | | | | Day 11: Mysore City Tour | | Enjoy the full day tour in Mysore which includes visits to Srirangapatna, an island town encircled by river Cauvery and is known for its high stone walls and moats enclose temples, palaces and great mosque. Explore splendid Tipu's Summer Palace. Also, enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Chamundi Hill which is crowned by Durga Temple with the magnificent 5m tall Nandi, carved from a single piece of granite in year 1659, one of the largest in India.
| | | | Day 12: Mysore - Bangalore- Mumbai | | (Driving time: 3 hrs Flying time: 2 hrs )
Early morning transfer to Bangalore the capital of Karnataka is full of historic and modern architecture. Well known for botanical gardens Bangalore houses green lawns, flowerbeds, lotus pools, watering system of irrigation and fountains. Take a city tour which includes visit to Tipu Sultan's Palace which was built in the year 1790. A summer retreat of legendary King Tipu Sultan, the palace is exquisitely embellished with mostly wooden balconies, pillars and arches. Next on the city tour you will visit Iskcon Temple to see a perfect fusion of modern technology and spiritual harmony. Later drive to the airport to board a flight to Mumbai. | | | | Day 13: Mumbai - Udaipur | | (Flight time: 2hrs)
Mumbai, the financial powerhouse of the country, centre of fashion and film industry and the hub of neon-lit chambers of frolic. The city allure with its wealth of Art Deco and magnificent colonial relics, grand temples, labyrinths of vibrant bazaars, horde of brand conscious malls and a pinch of soul stirring fun.
Visit to Gateway of India & Elephanta caves or the Prince of Wales museum. World Heritage Site of Elephanta Caves can be reached via a ferry boat ride. The exquisite rock cut architecture of the caves dates back to between 5th and 8th century. Out of these the three-faceted sculpture of Lord Shiva is the most striking one. Visit the Prince of Wales Museum is known primarily for housing 50,000 exhibits of ancient Indian and foreign art, archaeological and natural history. Later transfer to the airport to board a flight to Udaipur. | | | | Day 14: Udaipur City Tour | | Morning excursion to the famous temple complex of Eklingji & Nagda. Wander through the opulent City Palace grounds and the museum. Overlooking the gorgeous Lake Pichola, City Palace complex has several beauteous palace structures inside showcasing a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles with picture perfect backdrop. Visit the Jagdish temple on the shores of Lake Pichola a large Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple situated on a raised terrain was built in 1651 and forms a beautiful pyramidal shape. A visit to the temple will not only be of religious experience, but will also impress you with the architectural brilliance of the age of royalty.
Also visit Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal established by Padma Shri Devi Lal Samar in 1952 as it still preserves art and culture of Udaipur. In the evening at sunset a cruise on Lake Pichola is planned.
| | | | Day 15: Udaipur - Jaipur | | (Driving time: 9 hrs)
Spend the whole day relaxing at the hotel and you can also indulge in some of its recreational, fitness or beauty care options. Later in the evening transfer to the airport for flight to Jaipur.
| | | | Day 16: Jaipur City Tour | | Enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour to the hilltop fortress of Amber. A small trek up the hill will be covered while riding an elephant in the royal manner. The fort was built in 1592 under the reign of Raja Man Singh and was later modified by successive rulers for next 150 years. Today the structure stands with its beautifully carved ceilings, intricate patterns, stunning desigs overlooking the city.
In the afternoon, tour the old walled city of Jaipur. Visit the unique Jantar Mantar Observatory- an assortment of architectural astronomical instruments. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh II it consists of fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time and predicting eclipses etc. Stunning City Palace will be the next destination on this city tour. City Palace is a complex of various palaces in Jaipur which is an erstwhile seat of Maharaja of the region. Also, explore the stunning Hawa Mahal- a palace with hundreds of ornamental windows, built for royal ladies to be able to watch the daily processions of city.
| | | | Day 17: Jaipur - Agra | | (Driving time: 5 hrs)
Early morning drive to Agra, enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri, a world heritage site with one of the largest mosques in India, Jama Masjid. The monuments and edifices of Fatehpur Sikri are applauded by UNESCO for they showcase a beauteous synthesis of various regional schools of architecture and influences of Hindu, Jain and Islamic architectural styles can be seen here. Explore the beautiful edifices inside which includes Jama Masjid, The Buland Darwaza, palace of Queen Jodha Bai, Birbal's Palace, tomb of Saint Salim Chisti inside.
| | | | Day 18: Agra | | This day will bring best of the Mughal art and architecture and various UNESCO World Heritage Sites to your tour. In afternoon, visit the ultimate emblem of love and an edifice that has most rightly been called a World Wonder- Taj Mahal. Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Taj Mahal is a UNESCO acclaimed site and is called “the jewel of Muslim art in India” for its beauteous design and configuration. Later, visit the imposing structure of Agra Fort containing the Pearl Mosque, the Halls of public and private audience. Also visit, the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah a replica of Taj Mahal often regarded as a draft of the famous mausoleum was built by Empress Noorjehan in memory of her father.
| | | | Day 19: Agra -Jhansi - Khajuraho | | (Train Journey: 3 hrs, Driving time: 3 ½ hours)
Leave via train to Jhansi, from where you will drive to Khajuraho. The renowned temple town of Khajurahao is one of the most famed travel destinations in India for it houses the largest group of medieval temples. These temples and group of monuments have been accredited by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for their astonishing architecture and erotic curvatures on the exteriors. Throngs of tourists visit these temples for not just religious reasons, but also to witness the awe inspiring architectural styles of medieval age.
| | | | Day 20: Khajuraho- Varanasi | | (Flying time: 40 mins)
Enjoy the early morning sightseeing tour of the Khajuraho city by visiting the city temples built in between 950 and 1050 AD. The temples of Khajuraho mainly known for their erotic sculptures are grouped into three geographical categories: western, eastern and southern groups of temples. These temples are also praiseworthy for their unique architecture which didn’t use mortar and the stones were put together with mortise and tenon joints and such formation is a subject of study even today. The erotic art is only carved on the exteriors of these temples in union with scenes of mundane life. Some of the must visit temples includes Lakhmana Temple; the oldest and the finest of western group of temples it’s a horizontal beam above the entrance symbolise holy trinity of Hindu gods. Kandariya Mahadeo Temple, Devi Jagdamba Temple, Chausat Yogini Temple, Parsvanath Temple and Adinath Temple are some of the other must visit sites. In the evening post city sightseeing you will be transferred to the airport to take an evening flight to Varanasi. | | | | Day 21: Varanasi - Delhi | | (Flying time: 50 mins)
Before breakfast, take an early morning boat ride at the holy river Ganges. Witness Aarti, the grand morning worshipping of River Ganges while moving on a boat from where the sight is simply soul-stirring. Later set on a drive to the holy city of Sarnath. Situated 12kms from Varanasi, Sarnath is famous for its Stupas, excavated ruins of monasteries, the Museum for the Ashoka Pillar with the four sided lion head, which is India's National Emblem. Later return to Varanasi in the evening, from where you will check-out to start another journey to Delhi.
| | | | Day 22: Delhi City Tour- Departure | | A full day sightseeing tour of Delhi is planned for the day. Today Delhi will unleash its historic and cultural heritage as you are introduced to various awe inspiring monuments. Start exploring from the undulated lanes of Old Delhi. The attractions here worth visiting first include the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. The day tour will also include visits to one of the largest brick minarets of the world- Qutab Minar, white lotus shaped Baha’i Temple- Lotus Temple, the stunning Humayun's Tomb built in 1562 CE, and beauteous Laxmi Narayan Temple.
Visit the eclectic mix of modern and cosmopolitan worlds of India and take a sightseeing tour of New Delhi. Once called Lutyens’ Delhi, the area of New Delhi was designed by British architect, Sir Edward Lutyens. These glorious imitations of Victorian style architecture have always been an eye-candy for the connoisseurs of art and architecture. Enjoy a drive past monuments of national significance such as President’s House, Parliament House.
Later transfer to the train airport from where you will board your flight back home. |
| | | * Subject to availability, else similar category hotel will be arranged. |
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Note:- Above rates are not valid during long weekends, festive dates & between 15 Dec to 10 Jan. Rates are per person basis.  |
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