 |
 Code
: IGT-04
Duration : 17 Nights / 18 Days
Places Covered : Bombay - Hyderabad - Bangalore - Hassan -
Mysore - Ooty - Cochin - Thaneermukh - Kumarakom - Periyar - Madurai -
Tiruchirapalli - Mahabalipuram - Madras – Mumbai
Group Size : 6- 12
Theme : Cultural / Safari
Season : August to February
Price Range : From USD 2000
Special Activities : Wildlife Safari and spiritual programs
Meals Included : Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Tour Highlights : Ooty, Bangalore, Madurai, Cochin etc.
Culture Shock Rating : (on
a scale of 5)
Visitor Feedback Rating : 
(on a scale of 5)
|
Duration : 17 Nights / 18 Days
Places Covered : Bombay - Hyderabad - Bangalore - Hassan - Mysore -
Ooty - Cochin - Thaneermukh - Kumarakom - Periyar - Madurai - Tiruchirapalli
- Mahabalipuram - Madras - Mumbai
Day 1 » Arrive Mumbai :
Upon arrival in Mumbai (Bombay) you are met and transferred to your pre
booked Hotel. This afternoon proceed on a guided tour of the city, which is
distinctly tropical. Its weathered Victorian mansions, some still privately
owned, and grand public buildings, many beautifully lit at night, stand as
lingering reminder of the days of the British Raj, First visit the Gateway
of India, hastily created as a symbol of welcome to Queen Mary and King
George V of England on their to India in 1911. Next visit the Hanging
Gardens, perched at the top of Malabar Hill, which provide lovely views over
the Arabian Sea. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 2 » Bombay - Hyderabad by Flight :
After
breakfast an excursion on motorized boats across the Arabian Sea to the
Elephanta Caves, which house several, sculptures and images sacred to the
Hindu faith . Of special mention is the sculpture of the Holy Trinity of
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the Creator, Preserver and the Destroyer.
Afternoon we are transferred to the domestic airport to board flight for
Hyderabad. Upon arrival we are met and transferred to our pre booked Hotel.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 3 » Hyderabad :
Hyderabad, the Indian Subcontinent's richest and largest state at the time
of independence, now the capital of Andhra Pradesh. Your city tour reveals
an amalgam of old world charm together with the ebullience of modern growth.
Char Minar - the city;s landmark, has four minarets built in the 16th
Century. Mecca Masjid is an impressive 17th Century mosque built of granite.
Birla Temple, the library and the university all display the grandeurs of
modern - day India. Salar Jung Museum house and extraordinary collection
including rare fine-art objects of the Nizam, once the wealthiest man in the
world. The ancient fort of Golconda is the former capital of the Qutub Shahi
dynasty. Originally a mud structure, it grew into a magnificent fortress
citadel. It is know for the use of acoustics in its architectural design -
sound signals could be passed from the gates to the top of the fort without
the use of modern equipment. Tombs of the dynasty rulers are situated
nearby, set in manicured gardens. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 4 » Hyderabad -
Bangalore (by Flight) - Hassan :
Today morning we take a short flight to Bangalore. Upon arrival in
Bangalore most popularly known as the Garden City of India we take a short
city tour . The city is full of well laid out gardens. Wide tree lined
avenues, imposing buildings and lively bazaars. Visit the Bull Temple,
situated on a hill is one of Bangalore's oldest attractions. Afternoon
depart for Hassan .Upon arrival in Hassan we check into our pre booked
Hotel. Hassan is the base of visiting the famous temples of Belur and
Halebid. The temples which remained incomplete despite 80 years of labour,
offers the finest workmanship in stone to the God.It is said that the
temples here are even better than the famous Konark and the Khajuraho
temples.
Day 5 » Hassan - Mysore :
Depart for Mysore enroute visiting Halebid, Belur, Sravanabelagola, Halebid
is the sister temple of Belur, Built in the 12th Century from soft soapstone
and depicts the entire Hindu Pantheon, Sravanabalagola is the shine to the
Jain Saint Gaomateswara, carved in 983 AD out of solid rock , 500 rock hewn
steps lead up to it. Religious rituals involve bathing the statue in milk
and rose petals. Upon arrival in Mysore check into your pre booked hotel for
an overnight stay.
Day
6 » Mysore :
After a relaxed breakfast we drive for a morning sightseeing of the city of
Mysore. Mysore a city of 17 Palaces - the Maharaja's City Palace being one
of the largest in the country. Today's city tour include the zoological
gardens, the Chamundi Temple, handicraft Centre and 22 kms away - the
Brindavan Gardens, which are a sight by day and night. Evening visit to the
gardens where there are many illuminated fountains. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 7 » Mysore - Ooty:
Morning after breakfast we start our drive towards Ootacamund most
popularly known as Ooty. It is mostly referred to as the Queen of the
Southern Hills stations.It drives its name from the Niligiri or the Blue
Mountains - the name to the Hills by the inhabitants for more than 850 years
because of the blue haze of clouds which envelope the hill slopes. Upon
arrival we check into our pre booked Hotel. Afternoon we drive around Ooty
to visit the Botanical Gardens , Lake Doddabetta , Mukurti Peak , the Pykara
Dam and the sprawling Tea Plantation. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 8 » Ooty - Cochin :
After a relaxed morning breakfast we are now set to start our journey
towards the famous town of Kerala - COCHIN. Upon arrival in Cochin we check
into our pre booked hotel. Evening is relaxed and free for individual
activities. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 9 » Cochin :
Early morning rise and transfer to the backwaters of Cochin, which run from
the sea inland through lush tropical countryside. It could be compared to a
cruise down the amazon with jungle foliage hanging from the banks. This
relaxing boat trip is fascinating, as our guide discussed the history of the
early explorers and traders who used this as a main artery to the sea. Even
the locals board and disembark, coming and going from village. Return to
Cochin and afternoon spent exploring the unexpected and isolated Jewish
community. It was a main area for spice trading. Scores of small companies
huddle together in old buildings, with the air filled of ginger, cardamom,
cumin and clove scent. Local potters load carts of spices running up and
down narrow lanes for transport. One street - long area is the Mattacncherry
section, used to occupy virtually all Jewish homes, the oldest synagogue in
the former British Empire. Cochin is one of the most fascinating cities of
coastal south India. It is a city with indelible marks of Christian,
Islamic, Hindu and Jewish traditions. The true character of the city us to
be found in the older part of the Fort Cochin area which remains as it used
to be a 1000 years ago. This part of the City reflects an unusual bled of
medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English life grafted on to the tropical
Malabar coast. A unique feature here is isolated Jewish community, whose
origins date back to AD 52. Evening we go to watch the famous Kathakali
Dance Performance. Overnight at the hotel.
Day
10 » Cochin - Thaneermukh - Kumarakom :
Drive to the Thaneermukh boat landing stage and take a boat ride on the
Backwaters to Kumarakom and check in to the our pre booked resort . The rest
of the day relaxing by the pool or taking a sunset cruise on a man - powered
nice-boat. You may wish to visit the Ayurvedic centre for a herbal massage.
In the Evening attend a demonstration of Kerala cuisine cooking.
Day 11 » Kumarakom - Periyar :
After early morning breakfast depart by car for a 5 hour drive to Thekkady.
The drive up to this hilltop wildlife sanctuary is one of the most beautiful
. Starting with coconut groves at the lower lever you then see rubber, tea
and the spice plantation as you gain height. Upon arrival check into the
Resort. In the afternoon take a jeep ride to a nearby spice plantation. Late
afternoon take a boat ride on Lake Periyar to look for wild animals drinking
or taking a dip in this 100 year old lake.
Day 12 » Periyar - Madurai :
Today we start our drive towards Madurai. Upon arrival at Madurai we check
into out our pre booked Hotel. Afternoon we visit Madurai whose history goes
back to six centuries before Christ. The Pandyan rulers made this their
capital until the 14th Century and the city flowered with the genius of its
writers, builders, poets and academics. Then the Nayaks ruled Madurai from
the middle of the 16th Century to 1743. The ten tall Gopurams of the
Meenakshi Temple were raised during their dynasty. This is a huge compled of
Temples. A thousand - pillared hall and a tank. A full day tour visiting the
Meenakshi Temple, Palace of King Triumalay, the great tank, Gandhi Museum
and Temple at Alaghat Koli enroute visiting Elephant Rock. Overnight stay at
the hotel.
Day 13 » Madurai :
After an early breakfast take a full days tour to Rameshwaram, a major
center for Hindu pilgrimage. Here the God Rama offered prayers to Lord
Shiva. One of the most scared towns of India , it is well known for its
temple corridor - the longest in India, the Bathing Ghat , Ganthamathana
Parvatham , Kothandaramar temple , Kurusadai and other nearby islands -
abundant with coral reefs and other Marine wonders. Return to the hotel for
overnight.
Day 14 » Madurai - Tiruchirapalli (Trichy) :
Depart for Trichy by road enroute visiting Tanjore. Thanjaur was the seat
of the Chola Empire from the 10th to the 14th Centuries and it was a Chola
King, Rajah Chola who built the greatest of its 74 temples, the Birhadeswara
Temple which is more than 200 feet tall in the Dravidian truncated pyramid
form, and has a huge lingam in its sanctorium. In the inner shrine of the
temple, one sees India's second largest statue of Nandi the bull, the mount
of the God Shiva. Upon arrival in Trichy check into your pre booked hotel.
Evening at leisure for personal activities. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day
15 » Trichy - Mahabalipuram :
After breakfast we go for a morning city tour of Trichy visiting Rock Fort,
Sirangam and Jambukeshwar Temples. Trichy's historic associations stretch
from chola times to the 18th Century karnataka Wars, When Britain and France
espoused the aspirations of rival princes. We now continue our journey
towards Mahabalipuram. Upon arrival we check into our pre booked hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 16 » Mahabalipuram :
Morning we undertake a full day city tour of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram.
Mahabalipuram, once the principal port of the Pallavas who ruled between the
06th and 09th Centuries AD. "The City of Seven pagodas". Is
nothing less than a breathtaking display masterful sculpture carved out of
solid rocks of granite, the Shore Temple - a splendid example of early
temple construction in the south. Penance of Bhagirata the worlds largest
bas - relief also known as "Argon's Penance'. Kanchipuram, city of a
thousand temples, Once the capital of Pallava, Kanchipuram still contains no
less than 124 shrines. The temples were built mainly by two rulers,
Mahendray and Mamalla Narashimha Parman. Typical of their architecture is
the Kailasnatha Temple dedicated to Siva, believed to be 1200 years Old .
Other important ones include the 16th Century Ekambasreshwar Temple,
Kamakshi Temple, and Vaikunta Perumal. Kanchipuram is the centre of Silk
weaving and is famous for its saris and materials. Return to the Hotel for
an Overnight.
Day 17 »
Mahabalipuram - Madras (Drive) - Mumbai (BOMBAY) Flight :
Early morning we depart for Madras city tour visiting the National Art
Gallery Fort St. George, St. Mary's Church and the St. Thomas Cathedral and
drive along the marina. Walk with our guide though some colourful market
areas. Afternoon transfer to the airport to board our flight for MUMBAI (
BOMBAY ). Upon arrival we are met and transferred to your pre booked Hotel.
Rest of the day at Leisure. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 18 » Leave Bombay :
After what will have been a majestic way to see and experience royal India,
we bid farewell as we are transferred to the airport for our flight back
home.
;)
Code
: IGT-04 
