Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Munnar - Backwater cruise - Cochin
07 Nights / 08 Days
This itinerary is customizable according to your need.
Collect your luggage and change to domestic departure to connect to Varanasi.
You are welcomed at airport/rail station and transferred to the hotel.
Varanasi – amongst the oldest living cities in the world, is also the holiest of Hindu pilgrimages. Thousands of devotees come here daily to the banks of River Ganges to take a ritual dip and cleanse their souls and to worship at its many temples. It is not just important for Hindus but has links with Buddhism and Jainism as well. It was at Sarnath that Buddha preached his sermon and Lord Mahavir revealed his Jain Philosophy at Kashi-nearby. Varanasi is to Hindus is what Bethlehem to Christians.
Afternoon, you are driven to visit the buried Buddhist city of Sarnath, northeast of Varanasi. Lord Buddha having achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya, came to Sarnath to preach his message of the way to nirvana. Later, Ashoka the great Buddhist emperor erected magnificent stupas and monasteries at Sarnath. What is visible today are the ruins of the once flourishing Buddhist monastery; the museum here houses an excellent collection of Buddhist art and sculptures.
Board your early morning express (02 hours) train to Agra. Upon arrival, start your exploration of Agra with a visit to the famous tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daulah. This tomb was built by Mughal Emperor Jehangir’s queen as a memorial to her father. Later visit the red sandstone fort – Agra Fort built in 1565 by Mughal ruler Emperor Akbar. Check into your hotel after the tour.
Visit one of The Seven Wonders of World – The Taj Mahal, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taj Mahal was completed by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1653 as a memorial to his beloved queen, Mumtaz Mahal. Explore this beautiful mausoleum in pure white marble which took 22 years and 22000 craftsmen to build.
Check out from your hotel in the morning and proceed to Jaipur.
Afternoon, start your sightseeing tour of Jaipur with a visit to the Amber Fort & Palace located 12Kms outside Jaipur. The original palace was built by Raja Mansingh and later additions were made by Sawai Jai Sing; is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture.
Visit the multiple chambers and hallways of the palace which are famous for their designs and decorations. Continue to visit the unique Jantar Mantar (a stone observatory) built by King Jai Sing in 1728. Drive past the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Wind) an intriguing façade built in 1799 to allow royal ladies to view the city from the windows. Later visit the opulent City Palace, the former royal residence built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal style. The palace also houses museums displaying outstanding collection of miniature paintings, costumes, and armory.
Evening, you are driven to Rajasthani ethnic village setup for culture show and dinner.
Morning, you are driven to a tea plantation estate in the morning. Join the workforce, wear the tea harvesting gear, and pick your choice of tea leaves. You are then guided to the tea processing unit within the estate, where the leaves weighed and then processed into fresh tea dust. You are allowed to carry the freshly processed tea powder home as a souvenir. Do not let the opportunity go without a lesson on how different types of ‘Chai’ can be made. Visit Eravikulam National Park, home to endangered Nilgiri Tahr, Macaque, Sambar, Elephant and many more.
Drive to Alleppey and embark one of the beautifully designed houseboats and cruise on the backwaters of Kerala. Relax and have a good time until the next morning. The cook and other staff will make sure that you are well taken care of, while serving you delicious Kerala cuisine for lunch, dinner, and breakfast.
Disembark from your houseboat; you are then driven to Cochin.
Afternoon, a guided sightseeing tour of Cochin. Your tour begins from Jewish Synagogue (closed on Fridays and Saturdays). It contains beautiful Belgian glass chandeliers and paved with painted tiles from China. Late visit the Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays) with its wonderful murals depicting the entire story of the Ramayana. Proceed to see the St. Francis Church, established by the Portuguese Franciscan friars in 1503. Vasco Da Gama was buried in the courtyard of this European church, one of the first built in India. Visit the Chinese fishing nets. More than a century old and still in use, they are a great part of this tour.
Evening, witness Kathakali dance performance, performed by various artists. Kathakali is a traditional dance form, depicting Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers dressed in brightly colored and elaborate costumes; their faces painted to depict various characters of the epics. This dance has a lot of facial expressions and brisk, yet articulate body movements.
Dropped off Cochin airport in time to connect your flight to onward destination.
We end our services at Cochin airport.
Inland travel by air: Jaipur-Mumbai-Cochin.
Mumbai - Udaipur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi
09 Nights / 10 Days
Varanasi (Benares) - Khajuraho - Agra - Jaipur - Delhi
05 Nights / 06 Days
Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Munnar - Backwater cruise - Cochin
07 Nights / 08 Days
+91 99950 25974
peterdamian.cochin@gmail.com
Eruveli Chottanikara, Cochin, Kerala – India