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INCREDIBLE INDIA.
India has much to offer-too much to experience in a single life time, let alone a single trip! Yet this Discover India Tour is a comprehensive tour featuring the best of North and South India. From the holy city of Varanasi, exquisite temple architecture at Khajuraho, 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 town of Chennai. Post-tour extensions available to Sri Lanka or Maldives.
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Day 1
YOUR TOUR BEGINS.
The vast and exotic subcontinent of India beckons as we depart for Delhi, India. |
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Day 2
ARRIVE DELHI.
Late night arrival in Delhi, capital of India. It's history goes back 2000 years. CLARIDGES/THE METROPOLITAN.
Day 3
DELHI (BD).
New Delhi tour this morning, |
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| visiting the impressive Qutab Minar, a 234-ft sandstone tower and Humayun's tomb. See the 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).
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.
GATEWAY HOTEL GANGES. |
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Day 5
VARANASI- KHAJURAHO (BD).
Early morning boat ride on the Ganges
River. Thousands of devout Hindus descend to the holy waters of the Ganges for purification. Later we fly to Khajuraho. In Khajuraho, the temples are known for their symmetry and design, and also for their intricate and erotic carvings. Afternoon we will visit the magnificent Khajuraho temples. TAJ CHANDELA. |
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Day 6
KHAJURAHO- ORCHHA-AGRA (BL).
Morning we drive Jhansi for train
ride to Agra visiting en route palaces and temples of Orchha. In Khajuraho, the temples are known for their symmetry and design, and also for their intricate and erotic carvings.
GATEWAY HOTEL FATEHABAD.
Day 7 |
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AGRA (BD).
Visit the Taj Mahal built by Emperor Shah Jahan 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. Also visit the Agra Fort. |
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Day 8
AGRA- JAIPUR (BL).
Today we drive to Jaipur visiting en route Fatehpur Sikri, the once fabled Mughal capital that now lies quietly but wonderfully preserved. THE TRIDENT. |
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Day 9
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.
Day 10
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. Enjoy an excursion to the beautiful Jain temple at Ranakpur. This 15th century temple, built in white marble, has exquisite intricate carvings. It is amazing to find that among
hundreds of pillars no |
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two are alike. Later a scenic cruise on Lake Pichola including visit to the Jagmandir Palace.
THE TRIDENT. |
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Day 11
UDAIPUR- AURANGABAD (BD).
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 we fly to Aurangabad, home of one of the most impressive sights in India.
TAJ RESIDENCY. |
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Day 12
AURANGABAD (BL).
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. |
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Day 13
AURANGABAD-COCHIN (BD).
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. THE TRIDENT. |
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Day 14
COCHIN (BL).
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 15
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. COCONUT LAGOON. |
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Day 16
KUMARAKOM- COCHIN- CHENNAI (BD).
Morning we drive to Cochin airport for flight to Chennai (Madras), 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. THE TRIDENT. |
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Day 17
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 18 ARRIVE USA. |
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