Paradise in Kerala
VISITING: DELHI - AGRA - DELHI - COCHIN - MUNNAR - THEKKADY - ALLEPPEY - KUMARAKOM - KOVALAM - KANYAKUMARI - TRIVANDRUM - MUMBAI
DAY 01: DELHI
Arrive New Delhi.
Assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Check-in time is 12 noon.
Delhi as the capital of India Delhi is the seat of administration and the monuments which tell the saga of a bygone era stand there. These icons are testimony to the grandeur of past and also an attraction for the tourists. With an area of 1483 sq. Kms, Delhi is all set to acquire full statehood. The charm of Delhi has attracted Emperors, Conquerors and poor in equally. It is correctly said that Delhi is a land of ‘Dilwalas’ or for people with heart. This phrase acquires a true colour when one goes around the lanes of Delhi. Delhi– a window to the kaleidoscope that is India. From a string of historical monuments to modern commercial centers, Delhi has evolved into an exceptional and dynamic destination offering a wealth of shopping and sightseeing activities. Tourism in Delhi has undergone a sea change in recent times as the city is in the the process of a steady makeover.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 02: DELHI
Morning guided city sightseeing tour of Old Delhi visiting – the Red Fort – one of the magnificent places of the East with Divan-I-Aam where once stood the jeweled Peacock Throne, and the graceful Pearl Mosque, Jama Masjid which is considered the biggest in India, Chandni Chowk – a typical Bazaar with narrow lanes and traditional traders Raj Ghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.
Afternoon guided city sightseeing tour of New Delhi visiting War Memorial Arch-India Gate, Parliament House, Qutub Minar-built in 12th century and Humayun’s Tomb.
Overnight at your hotel.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 03: DELHI – AGRA – DELHI BY SURFACE (210 KMS / 4.5 HRS)
Morning drive to Agra for same day tour enroute visiting countryside.
Agra is globally renowned as the city of the Taj Mahal. But this royal Mughal city has, in addition to the legendary Taj, many monuments that epitomize the high point of Mughal architecture. In the Mughal period, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Agra was the capital of India.
On arrival guided city sightseeing tour of Agra visiting Taj Mahal and Agra Fort and later drive back to Delhi.
The crowning glory of the city is obviously the Taj, a monument of love and imagination that represents India to the world.
The Taj Mahal (Close on Friday) stands serene and awesome, on a raised marble platform, by the banks of the Yamuna, testifying to the timelessness of art and love. Its pure white marble shimmers silver in the soft moonlight, exudes a shell – pink glow at dawn, and at the close of the day, takes on the tawny, fiery hue of the majestic sun.
Shahjahan built the monument in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the ‘lady of the Taj’. It has been called the most extravagant monument ever built for the sake of love. The construction of the Taj commenced in 1631, and was completed in 1653. Workers were gathered from all over the country and from Central Asia, and about 20,000 people were recruited to translate this wild dream into a reality.
Among the other monuments that Agra takes pride in is the Agra Fort, built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors. The construction of this massive structure began in 1565, under Akbar, and continued till the time of his grandson, Shahjahan. Armed with massive double walls, punctuated by four gateways, the fort houses palaces, courts, mosques, baths, gardens and gracious pavilions within its premises. Among the fascinating structures that are to be found within the fort is the red sandstone Jehangiri Mahal built by Akbar for his Hindu queen, Jodhabai, was one of the earliest constructions illustrating the fort’s change from a military structure to a palace.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 04: DELHI – COCHIN BY AIR
Morning drive to Periyar enroute visiting countryside and on arrival transfer to your hotel.
Evening free for independent activities.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 05: COCHIN – MUNNAR BY SURFACE (153 KMS / 3.5 HRS)
Morning proceed to Munnar enroute visiting countryside and on arrival transfer to your hotel.
MUNNAR – This hill station, located at an altitude of 1600 m above sea level, was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands is the ‘Neelakurinji’.
Overnight at your hotel
DAY 06: MUNNAR – PERIYAR BY SURFACE (110 KMS / 3 HRS)
Morning drive to Periyar enroute visiting countryside and on arrival transfer to your hotel.
Evening free for independent activities.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 07: PERIYAR (THEKKADY)
Morning visit to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is situated on the Periyar lake in the hills of Western ghats and is the finest sanctuary for viewing and photgraphing Indian Wild Elephants. You can have the opportunity to see the Sambar, Barking deer, Wild Boars, Tigers, Panthers, Wild Goars, Spotted Deer, and Leopard.
Periyar Wildlife Park in Kerala is one of the most captivating wildlife parks not only in India but in the world. In 1895, the British undertook water resource management plans for the area and started work on a dam and an artificial lake under the auspices of Col. J. Pennycuick.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 08: PERIYAR – ALLEPPEY BY SURFACE (155 KMS / 3.5 HRS)
Morning drive to Alleppey enroute visiting countryside and on arrival transfer to your House Boat (Alleppey – Kumarakom)
Alleppey is also known for its spectacular snake – boat races held on the second Saturday of August, every year. This competition – the Nehru boat race takes its name from India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who inaugurated in 1952. It is excitement all around as snake – boats, each manned by over a hundred oarsmen, cut through the waters like wind. The event is a tremendous success with tourists and the local population alike.
Overnight at your House Boat (B, L, D).
DAY 09: KUMARAKOM
Drop at Kumarakom and transfer to your hotel
Rest day free for independent activities or optional massage at Ayurvedic Resort.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 10: KUMARAKOM – KOVALAM BY SURFACE (192 KMS / 4.5 HRS)
Morning drop at Kumarakom from House Boat and drive to Kovalam enroute visiting Bird Sanctuary at Kottayam. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Kovalam is famous for its beaches, among the most pristine in India. It is about 17 km from Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of the southern state of Kerala in India. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies. That started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in all India- the Kovalam beach. It is a beautiful place in Kerala
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 11: KOVALAM
Day at leisure for relaxation on the beach.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 12: KOVALAM – KANYAKUMARI – TRIVANDRUM
Morning guided excursion to Cape Comorin (87 kms) and later drive to Trivandrum.
Kanyakumari or the Cape Comorin, the southern most tip of peninsular India is sprawled over an area of 1672 sq. km, occupying 1.29% of the total extent of Tamil Nadu. This exquisite land is encircled by majestic hills along with swaying coconut trees and paddy fields. There are also a few elevated patches of red cliffs and some free flowing valleys presenting an eye-pleasing scene. One can also see plains between the mountainous terrain and the sea – coast, with Temples and Churches standing proudly. Truly, a beautiful way to mark the end of the land of marvelous India.
On arrival visit Kanyakumari Temple, Gandhi Memorial and Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
Overnight at your hotel in Trivandrum.
DAY 13: KUMARAKOM – KOVALAM BY SURFACE (192 KMS / 4.5 HRS)
Morning drop at Kumarakom from House Boat and drive to Kovalam enroute visiting Bird Sanctuary at Kottayam. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Kovalam is famous for its beaches, among the most pristine in India. It is about 17 km from Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of the southern state of Kerala in India. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies. That started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in all India- the Kovalam beach. It is a beautiful place in Kerala
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 14: TRIVANDRUM – MUMBAI BY AIR
Transfer to airport in time to board flight for Mumbai.
On arrival transfer to your hotel.
Afternoon guided city sightseeing tour of Bombay.
Bombay– the Gateway and chief entry port of India is a great industrial center and is reputed to be one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the East. With its beautiful natural harbor, studded with emerald islands and a palm-fringed shore, which rises gradually to the mountain peaks. It is one of the finest waterfronts. Highlights of the city sightseeing include the Gateway of India, Hanging Gardens, Prince of Wales Museum, the bustling Crawford Market, Flora Fountain and the Dhobi Ghats – a vast outdoor laundry.
Overnight at your hotel.
DAY 15: BOMBAY – OUT
Morning free for independent activities.
Afternoon departure transfer to the airport in time to board the flight for onward destination. Check-out time is 12 noon.
Bon Voyage |
Note: all the above arrangements are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. |