Cultural Beach Holidays

Cultural Beach Holidays

Duration: 13 nights / 14 days
Places Covered: Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Udaipur - Mumbai - Cochin - Marari - Backwaters Cruise - Marari - Cochin - Delhi

Day 01: Arrival at Delhi
Company representatives will receive you on arrival at the DELHI AIRPORT and transfer to your hotel.

DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope - that is India.

Overnight will be at Delhi.

Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast proceed for a day tour of Old & New Delhi.

OLD DELHI - A sightseeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort - once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.

Enjoy the CYLE RICKSHAW RIDE in Old Delhi.

NEW DELHI - An extensive sightseeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.

Overnight will be in Delhi.

Day 03: Delhi - Agra
Breakfast will be at hotel.

Proceed by surface to Agra. Reach and check into the hotel.

AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously.

Proceed for sightseeing of the city.

TAJ MAHAL: Little needs to be said about this architectural wonder, which is always the soul raison-de-etre for every tourist's visit to Agra. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. This monument took 22 years to be completed and was designed, and planned by Persian architect Ustad Isa. Apart from its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and some of the best inlay work ever seen.

Proceed for sightseeing to the AGRA FORT - Built by the famed Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565 AD, the fort is predominantly of red sandstone. Ensconced within is The pictures perfect Pearl Mosque, which is a major tourist attraction.

Visit Itmadullah's Tomb built by Empress NOOR JEHAN in memory of her father (The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj).

Relax in the evening. Overnight will be at Agra.

Day 04: Agra - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to beautiful Pink City - Jaipur.

Drive to Fatehpur Sikri. The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition ... it's not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.

Reach and check in at hotel.

JAIPUR - The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today, epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana. In-spite of growing into a bustling metropolis, it still retains its character and history - A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. It is popularly known as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples and lush gardens.

Overnight will be at Jaipur.

Day 05: Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Amber Palace. Enjoy Elephant Back ascent to the Fort.

AMBER FORT PALACE - Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthani fort palace. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592, and completed by his descendent Jai Singh I. Its forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate expression.

Continue city sightseeing.

CITY PALACE - A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

JANTAR MANTAR - This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.

HAWA MAHAL - The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. It is a five-storey structure of sandstone-plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.

Shopping in the evening or relax. Overnight will be at Jaipur.

Day 06: Jaipur - Udaipur
Breakfast will be at hotel. Proceed to the airport for flight to Udaipur.

Reach Udaipur and check in at hotel.

The city of Dawn, Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure lake, hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravallis. A vision in white drenched in romance and beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sound and experiences and inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writers.

Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with stalls, carry the flavor of a heroic past, epitomizing valor and chivalry. Their reflection in the placid waters of the Lake Pichhola is an enticing sight.

Overnight will be at Udaipur.

Day 07: Udaipur
Breakfast will be at hotel.

Proceed for sightseeing tour of Udaipur in the morning, stopping first at City Palace. Here you will marvel at rooms with mirrored walls and ivory doors, colored glass windows and inlaid marble balconies and the Peacock Courtyard.

Visit the 300-year-old Jagdish Temple and the Royal Cenotaphs of the Rajput kings.

Proceed for Evening Motor launch cruise on the placid waters of Lake Pichola. From the boat you will be able to view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. Also visit the Jag Mandir Palace - another island palace in the middle of the lake. Spend some time at the Jag Mandir Palace.

Relax in the evening. Overnight will be at Udaipur.

Day 08: Udaipur - Mumbai
Breakfast will be at hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai.

Its young, its lively and a confluence of varied cultural currents and cross currents have given Mumbai a unique position of the most multi-ethnic city of India. Formerly known as Bombay this city lies in the southwestern part of India and occupies a peninsular site originally composed of seven islets lying off the Conan Coast of western India. Oozing with the self-confidence of a maverick moneymaker and "Bindass" (carefree) attitude, Mumbai is also country's financial and commercial hub and has a principal port on the Arabian Sea.

Start a tour of Mumbai City in the afternoon.

Gateway Of India - Mumbai's principal landmark, the Gateway of India is a huge archway on the water's edge at Apollo Bunder. It is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city. This famous monument was built to commemorate the visit of the first ever British Monarch, King George V and Queen Mary in 1911.

Mumbai Fort - The area north of Colaba is known as Mumbai Fort, since the old British fort was once located here. There are a lot of impressive buildings from Mumbai's golden period here. St. John's church, dedicated to the soldiers, who laid down their lives in the Sindh campaign of 1838, and the first Afghan war of 1843, is also worth a visit.

Marine Drive in Mumbai - Marine Drive located in the central Mumbai, built in the 1920s and 30s on land reclaimed from the sea, is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare. It is also referred to as the Queen's Necklace because of the dramatic line of street lamps lit up at night. Recently it has come to known as Netaji Subhashchandra Bose Road with Nariman Point on one end to Babulnath, at the foot of Walkeshwar on the other.

Hanging Gardens in Mumbai - Also known as Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, the Hanging Gardens were built in 1880 and renovated in 1921. These gardens are popularly known as Hanging Gardens, because of their location on the slope of a hill. The terrace garden looks south from Malabar Hill towards Colaba, and affords a panoramic view of the city or a breathtaking sunset. It is built over three reservoirs, which store 30 million gallons of water pumped here for cleaning before being supplied to the town.

Finish tour and then in the evening enjoy at the hotel. Overnight will be in Mumbai.

Day 09: Mumbai

Start after breakfast for ELEPHANTA CAVES. You would be transferred to the jetty for a ship cruise to the CAVES. It would take one or one and half-hours depending on the tide.

The Elephanta Island is the site of the magnificent Elephanta caves, containing beautiful carvings, sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. These caves are located at a distance of 11 km from Mumbai and are now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island of Elephanta, being a commercial, military and religions centre for centuries has traces of early Buddhist culture. The Elephanta caves are thought to date back to the Silhara kings belonging to the period between 9th - 12th centuries. With the Brahminical resurgence during the reign of Gupta dynasty in 3rd century AD, these great cave dedicated to Lord Shiva exploded into existence at Elephanta. Legends and history suggest that the great warrior prince of Chalukya dynasty Pulkesin all raised the shrine to celebrate his victory. Some historians also suggest that the Kalchuri King Krishnaraja built these caves in 6th century AD.

As the worship of the figure of the Buddha began to be encouraged with rise of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, a shrine was introduced to house Buddha's image, replacing the cells at the centre of the back wall. The Monasteries of Ajanta lead us directly to Elephanta. It appears that the same families of craftsmen and sculptors who were working on the KAILASA TEMPLE of ELLORA and adjoining Buddhist caves at Ellora were employed at Elephanta.

Finish the tour and then in the afternoon and return to the hotel after lunch.

Enjoy shopping in the afternoon. Overnight will be at Mumbai.

Day 10: Mumbai - Cochin

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to the airport in the afternoon for flight to Cochin.

Reach and transfer to MARARI BEACH RESORT. This is an exclusive and beautiful hotel in the virgin beach of MARARI.

Relax at the beach or at the resort. Overnight will be at MARARI BEACH RESORT.

Day 11: Marari

Breakfast will be at the resort. Relax during the day at the beach or at the pool. You can also utilize the day spending time at the AYRVEDIC CENTRE experiencing the various rejuvenation and relaxation treatments.

In the evening you can go for an excursion to the harbor city of Cochin and take a cruise to enjoy the city in the evening. The dolphin's play around this being the harbor and you can enjoy the sunset here.

Overnight will be at MARARI BEACH RESORT.

Day 12: Marari

Breakfast will be at the resort. Relax during the day at the beach, pool or at the AYRVEDIC CENTRE.

Overnight will be at MARARI BEACH RESORT.

Day 13: Marari - Backwaters Cruise - Marari
Breakfast will be at hotel.

Proceed to Aleppey (a twenty minutes drive) and board a traditional Kerala houseboat for a memorable overnight cruise through the famed backwaters of Kerala. Go on a leisurely backwater cruise along the lake on a thatched houseboat. The houseboat with all modern comforts lets you discover the countryside at your own pace.

Alappuzha (Aleppey) is famous for its boat races, houseboats, coir products, fish and lakes. Alappuzha remains prominent on the tourist trial of Kerala as one of the major centres for backwater boat trips. "Kuttanad" in Alappuzha is one of few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. Kuttanad is a land of lush paddy fields and is called the 'Rice Bowl' of Kerala. Kuttanad stretches for 75 Km sandwiched between the sea and the hills.

The backwaters of Kerala are a unique product of Kerala and are found nowhere else in the world. Backwaters are a network of lakes, canals and estuaries and deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The backwaters of Kerala are a self supporting Eco-system teeming with aquatic life. The canals connect the villages together and are still used for local transport. Over 900 km of this labyrinthine water world is navigable.

Cruise through the backwaters. Lunch will be served on the boat prepared by your private crew. Cruise again after lunch through the numerous canals and streams. Watch the village life on both sides and relax. Anchor in the evening in a place out of a "picture postcard" and you can take a walk through the village having coconuts while walking.

Return to resort in the evening. Spend time at the resort. Overnight will be at MARARI BEACH RESORT.

Day 14: Cochin - Delhi - Home
Breakfast will be at the resort early in the morning.

Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Reach and transfer to hotel. Relax in the afternoon and visit to the markets for last minute shopping.

Check out in the evening and proceed for your FAREWELL DINNER. Transfer to airport later in the evening for flight home.