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INCREDIBLE INDIA
India has much to offer- too much to experience in a single lifetime, let alone a single trip! Yet this Grand Circle Tour of India is a comprehensive tour featuring the best of North and South India. From the holy city of Varanasi, awe-inspiring Taj Mahal, irreplaceable forts and palaces of Rajasthan, 2000 year old art at the Ajanta and Ellora caves, Jewish town of Cochin, pristine Backwaters of Kerala and the temple towns of South India. This tour has it all.
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Day 1 YOUR TOUR BEGINS
The vast and exotic sub-continent of India beckons as we depart West Coast or East Coast for Delhi, India.
Day 2
ARRIVE DELHI
Late night arrival in Delhi, capital of India. It's history goes back 2000 years. Few capitals in the world have as many ancient monuments as Delhi. Day 3 DELHI (BD)
New Delhi tour this morning. Visit the impressive Qutab Minar, a 234-ft sandstone tower and Humayun's tomb. See the |
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Government buildings and presidential palace along the broad and majestic Rajpath. Afternoon tour of Old Delhi to see the Red Fort, a symbol of Mughal power. On return, visit Raj Ghat, a memorial to the great Mahatma Gandhi.
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Day 4
DELHI - VARANASI (BD)
Morning we will fly to one of the most fascinating cities in India, Varanasi. With its array of shrines, temples and palaces, rising in several tiers from the water's edge, Varanasi is the holiest city for Hindus. Later visit Sarnath, the site where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. |
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Day 5 VARANASI - AGRA (BL)
Early morning boat ride on the Ganges River. Thousands of devout Hindus descend to the holy waters of the Ganges for purification. Later we will travel to Agra.
Day 6
AGRA - JAIPUR (BL)
Morning we will visit the Taj Mahal built by Emperor Shah Jehan in 1648 AD in memory of his Queen. It took the world's best craftsmen and over 20,000 workers almost 20 years to build this dream. Later we will visit the Agra Fort. Afternoon we will drive towards Jaipur — the rose-pink capital of Rajasthan en route visiting Fatehpur Sikri. Surrounded on all sides by rugged hills and crowned with forts, Jaipur is aptly called the Pink City of India.
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Day 7
JAIPUR (BD)
This morning we visit Amber Fort. Riding on elegantly caparisoned elephants, we make our way to the fort. Inside, we will find lavish courtyards, beautifully decorated halls and the Chamber of Mirrors. Afternoon tour, visit the Royal Observatory and Palace Museum. We will also see the ornate and elaborate Palace of Winds, the Hawa Mahal, a striking landmark of Jaipur.
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Day 8 JAIPUR - UDAIPUR (BL)
Today we fly to Udaipur. The city of Udaipur stands in a valley amid green hills on the banks of the wide, steel blue Lake Pichola. Tour of Udaipur, visiting the vast and exquisite City Palace of the Maharana. Amber, jade and colored glass gives the palace a sparkling, yet ethereal quality. See the Fateh Sagar Lake and visit the Jagdish Temple. Later a scenic cruise on Lake Pichola including visit to the Jagmandir Palace.
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Day 9
UDAIPUR - AURANGABAD (BL)
Today we fly to Aurangabad, home of one of the most impressive sights in India.
Day 10 AURANGABAD (BD)
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Morning we will visit Ajanta. Completed around the 7th century AD Buddhist monks spent centuries carving 29 caves into a horseshoe-shaped cliff. Afternoon tour of Ellora. Over 2000 years ago stonecutters removed an estimated 200,000 ton of rock to build the 34 caves, sculptures, columns and decorative facades. The Kailash temple is perhaps the largest monolith in the world. |
Day 11 AURANGABAD - COCHIN (B)
Fly to Cochin, its harbor has been trading spices with the rest of the world for over 2000 years. Witness a colorful Kathakali dance performance.
Day 12 COCHIN (B)
Tour of Cochin includes a visit to the Jewish Synagogue, one of the oldest in India and the Dutch Palace, well known for its mural paintings. See the Chinese fishing nets in operation, at the entrance of the Kochi Harbor. |
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Day 13 COCHIN - KUMARAKOM (BL)
Drive today to see the famous Kerala Backwaters. Afternoon a three-hour cruise on the Backwaters. Your cruise boat will cross, palm-fringed lakes studded with fishing nets along narrow, shady canals where coir (coconut fiber), coconut and cashews are loaded on to boats.
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Day 14 KUMARAKOM - PERIYAR (BD)
Today we drive to Periyar National Park. Park has elephants, tiger, sambar, barking deer, lion-tailed macaque and a rich bird life. Nature tours are provided on forest department run boat rides.
Day 15 PERIYAR - TRICHY - TANJORE (BL)
Morning we drive through an interesting countryside to Tanjore en route visit Trichy. Visit the Srirangam temple, which is one of the largest and most interesting temple complexes in India. Tanjore is the city of the Chola rulers and bears their stamp in an array of temples finely sculpted and carved. It is the home of Carnatic music, musical instruments, dance and traditional handicrafts.
Day 16 TANJORE (BD)
Morning tour of Tanjore. The Brihadeswara Temple built by Raja Chola is said to have been the tallest monument in ancient India, rising to a height of 241-ft in pyramidal form. It is rightly said of the Cholas that they conceived like giants and finished like jewelers.
Day 17 TANJORE - KARAIKUDI - MADURAI (BL)
Today drive to Madurai en route visiting few Chettinad villages. Tour of Madurai and the Meenakshi temple. It is one of the biggest temple complexes in India. The five pagodas that surround the temple are known for their intricate stucco work and the 156-ft high southern gopuram is the tallest. Thirumalai Mahal Palace is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style. In the evening attend special temple prayer ceremonies.
Day 18 MADURAI - CHENNAI (BD)
Fly today to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. It has a rich heritage of fine arts, sculpture and architecture. Afternoon tour includes visits to St. Thomas Cathedral, which houses the grave of St. Thomas, the Apostle, the Bronze Museum etc.
Day 19 CHENNAI - HOMEBOUND (B)
A 37-mile drive to Mahabalipuram - the 'city of the seven pagodas' that was once the main harbor and naval base of the great Pallava Empire. See the bas relief work including the masterpiece at Mahabalipuram, the 'Penance of Bhagirath', the world's largest bas-relief in stone. Afternoon at leisure. Late evening transfer to the airport for homebound flights.
Day 20 ARRIVE
West Coast or East Coast.
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