India Classic Journeys

India Classic Journeys

Duration: 28 Nights / 29 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Jaipur - Pushkar - Udaipur - Mount Abu - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Bharatpur - Agra - Delhi - Madras - Tanjore - Madurai - Periyar - Allepey - Cochin - Coimbatore - Ooty - Mysore - Belur - Halebid - Bangalore - Mumbai

Day 1: Arrival Delhi
Assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel where a welcome ceremony awaits you. Girls dressed in traditional Indian attire anoint your forehead with 'a red tikka' followed by ceremonial garlanding.

Day 2: Delhi
After a leisurely breakfast embark on a sightseeing tour of Old Delhi including the Red fort and the Jama masjid, post lunch tour of New Delhi to include Qutab Minar, India Gate, Humayun's tomb and the Lakshmi Narayan temple.

Day 3: Delhi/Jaipur
Morning drive to jaipur, the fabled 'pink city' of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharajah of Jaipur. Arrive Jaipur by lunch and check inn to your hotel. After Lunch and some rest visit the City Palace, the royal residence of the Maharajah of Jaipur and later visit the Observatory dating back to the 18th century and also visit the Palace of winds (Hawa Mahal). Evening enjoy your dinner with cultural Rajasthani folk dance programme.

Day 4: Jaipur/Pushkar
Morning after breakfast visit the majestic Amber Fort where you ride up on elephants back to the former capital of the royals set against the backdrop of wooded hills. Later explore shopping centres of jaipur and drive to Pushkar. Arrive Pushkar and check inn to your hotel. Evening enjoy the camel Fair.

Day 5: Pushkar
Enjoy the various events and activities in Pushkar fair the whole day.

Day 6: Pushkar/Udaipur
: After breakfast drive to Udaipur (the Venice of the east). Arrive Udaipur in the evening and check inn to your hotel.

Day 7: Udaipur
After Breakfast make a visit to the City Palace, built in 1725 and later visit Sahelion ki Bari, the gardens the maids-of-honour. After lunch make a trip to Nagda and Eklingji to see the beautiful temples in their ruins.

Day 8: Udaipur/Mt.Abu via Ranakpur
Morning drive to the only hill resort of Rajasthan Mt.Abu enroute visiting the famous Jain temples of Ranakpur. Arrive Mt.Abu and check inn to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Day 9: Mt.Abu/Jodhpur
Morning at leisure to enjoy the scenic beauty of this hill station. After lunch transfer to Jodhpur.

Day 10: Jodhpur
Start the city tour of Jodhpur visiting the Mehrangarh Fort museum and Jaswant thada, the cremation spot of the royal family. After lunch visit the ancient capital of Marwar-Mandore.

Day 11: Jodhpur/Jaisalmer
Morning drive to Jaisalmer situated deep in the heart of the Thar desert. Arrive Jaisalmer and shortly after lunch visit the Chhatris of Maharwals and later Camel ride at Sam for sunset.

Day 12: Jaisalmer/Bikaner
Leave for Bikaner and arrive by lunch. After lunch make a tour of Junagarh Fort and its fabulous palaces.

Day 13: Bikaner/Mandawa
After breakfast transfer to Mandawa (an old castle in Rajasthan). Post lunch session includes a small visit of Mandawa to appreciate the painted Havelis on the ancient and the famous silk route.

Day 14: Mandawa/Bharatpur
Drive to Bharatpur (famous for keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary). Evening make a visit to the sanctuary.

Day 15: Bharatpur/Agra
Early morning make a visit to the sanctuary to see the birds in their natural habitat. After breakfast drive down to Agra (The city of Tajmahal). Arrive Agra by lunch after a tour of the beautiful city of Fatehpur Sikri, the Old capital of Mughal emperor Akbar. Post lunch tour of the world famous Tajmahal and of the Red Fort. Later explore the shopping centres of Agra. Evening enjoy special cocktail dinner.

Day 16: Agra/Delhi/Madras
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to Delhi domestic airport to connect flight to Madras. Arrive Madras in the evening and check inn to your hotel.

Day 17: Madras
Full day city tour of Madras including the Snake park and Kapaleeswara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the museum.

Day 18: Madras/Tanjore
Morning drive to Tanjore and check inn to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Day 19: Tanjore/Madurai
Morning start the tour of Tanjore visiting the Brihadeshwara Temple, a typical architecture from the 11th century. Later visit the Saraswati Mahal Library. After lunch depart for Madurai , arrive in the evening and transfer to your hotel.

Day 20: Madurai/Periyar
Morning visit the world famous Meenakshi Sundereshwara temple, a huge Dravidian temple complex. After lunch depart for Periyar wild life sanctuary. Arrive Periyar in the evening and check inn hotel.

Day 21: Periyar/Allepey
Morning boat cruise on the lake to get a closer look at the wild elephants. Later drive to reach the small beautiful town of Allepey situated on the backwaters of Kerala

Day 22: Allepey/Cochin
After breakfast boat cruise on the backwaters of Kerala (three hours from boat) and than continue by Road to Cochin. Arrive Cochin and visit the Chinese fishing nets in the backwaters of Cochin. Overnight at boat.

Day 23: Cochin
Sea Boat Ride To Visit Various Islands And Churches, Santa cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace, Jewish synagogue, Dutch palace, St. Franchis. Overnight at boat.

Day 24: Cochin/Coimbatore
After breakfast drive to Coimbatore also called the 'Manchester of South India'. Arrive by lunch and soon after lunch visit the Maruthamalai temple.

Day 25: Coimbatore/Ooty
Morning drive to the queen of hill stations,Ooty known for its salubrious climate and scenic beauty. Arrive Ooty by lunch and rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 26: Ooty/Mysore
Morning depart for Mysore (wonderful historic town and evidence city to exhibit the oldest Indian richest economy). Arrive by lunch and shortly after lunch visit the Mysore Palace, once the capital seat of power of the ruling Wodeyars. Also visit the Brindavan Garden, Chamundeeswri temple, Tipu's summer palace.

Day 27: Mysore/Belur/Halebid
Transfer to Belur, the superbly preserved Chennkesava Temple here is a tribute to the skill and genius of the medieval craftsman. Later visit Halebid temple 10 kms. From Belur, a riot of carvings left incomplete after 80 years of labour.

Day 28: Halebid/Bangalore
Drive to Bangalore to catch flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai in the evening and transfer to your hotel.

Day 29: Mumbai and Departure
After breakfast proceed for a half day city tour of Mumbai visiting Kamla Nehru park, Hanging gardens situated on the slopes of Malabar hill offering a panoramic view of Marine Drive and Chawpatty beach, Prince of wales museum, Mani Bhawan, Dhobi Ghat, Gateway of India and drive through the Crawford market.
Evening Transfer to international Airport in time to board flight for onward destination.