Kathakali Dance
A special treat awaits us this evening as we
proceed to witness the strength and vigor of
Kathakali dance drama, as it enacts episodes
from great Indian epics. The extremely stylized
gestures, the elaborate make-up, the masks and
the splendid costumes of these all-male dancers,
recreates an incomparable sense of pageantry.
Day 3: Cochin
Morning we proceed for the sightseeing tour.
An ancient harbor town, Cochin reflects the
influence of the many foreign traders who
visited the city. The Jewish synagogue, one of
the oldest in India, is set in the heart of the
area known as "Jew Town" surrounded by an
aromatic spice market, and interesting shops
selling antiques. The synagogue is decorated
with blue ceramic Chinese tiles, each distinct
in their design. The pictures on the tiles
relate the tale of the romance between a wealthy
mandarin. We spend time in the surrounding
markets and walk to the Mattancherry Palace,
which was commissioned by the Portuguese for the
raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights.
The palace is two storeys high and is built in
the traditional Kerala style known as nalukattu
(four buildings). The palace exhibits
memorabilia from the raja of Kochi' collection,
but it is best known for its outstanding murals
painted on the wooden walls. The royal bedroom
has ceilings and walls covered with forty-five
16th century paintings illustrating the
Ramayana.
Afternoon at leisure for independent activities
Day 4: Cochin- Kumarkom
Today after a relaxed morning we drive to
Kumarakom.
Upon arrival, check in to Coconut Lagoon which
has rightly carved its place among the top 1
heritage resorts of the world. The resort is on
a small island and can be reached only by boat.
The accommodation consists of individual
cottages built in the traditional Kerala style,
relying heavily on wood and some with private
pools.
Rest of the day at leisure for independent
activities
You have the option for participating in Cookery
demonstration of the Resort.
Day 5: Kumarkom
Day is free for independent activities.
Today you can also enjoy the optional ayurvedic
body massage at the resort. You could also
choose to explore the surrounding tribal
villages.
You could also to visit the adjacent Kumarakom
Bird sanctuary, situated on the banks of the
Vembanand Lake is known for its varied avian
population. The bird sanctuary here, which is
spread across 14 acres, is a favorite haunt of
migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise.
Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl,
cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the
Siberian stork that live there in flocks are a
fascination for visitors. The best way to watch
the birds of the Kumarokom sanctuary is a boat
trip round the islands. The main attractions are
local birds like the water fowl, cuckoo, owl,
egret, heron and the water duck, as well as the
migratory Siberian cranes.Parrots, teal, larks,
flycatchers, wood beetle, and other birds are
seen here during their respective migratory
seasons.
Day 6: Kumarkom - Maraikulam
Today we drive to Maraikulam.
The Marari Beach is a Brand New Hotel built in
the style of an traditional fishing village with
thatched villas that have been designed to be in
keeping with the local village style. The 4
sq.ft spacious villas are all air-conditioned
with twin or double beds, mini bar, coffee
making facilities and delightfully furnished
veranda with ceiling fan. The bathrooms are
spacious and modern, built in traditional Kerala
style with an open-air courtyard, complete with
a banana or Pappaya tree
Day 7: Maraikulam
Full day at leisure for your independent
activities
You may hike into local villages or hire bikes
to cycle along the beach or ride along the
countryside.
Overnight: Marai Beach Resort
(Standard Room)
Day 8: Maraikulam - Cochin - Mumbai
MUMBAI / DELHI (IT118 235/223 hrs)
Morning at leisure for independent activities
Afternoon transfer to Cochin airport in time to
board flight to Mumbai to make your onward
connection to Delhi
Meeting & assistance upon arrival and transfer
to your hotel The Connaught
Overnight : The Connaught Hotel
(Standard Room)
Day 9: Delhi
Morning we proceed for the sightseeing tour of
Old Delhi.
This morning you head out to the Old Delhi. Old
Delhi came into prominence when Shah Jahan moved
his capital from Agra to Delhi. The Red Fort
that dominates this area is the landmark. Built
in the mid 17th century by Shah Jahan, it was
plundered by the marauding armies of Nadir Shah
and later by British soliders. After visiting
the fort, we arrive at the 3 year old chandni
chowk market. A maze of lanes crowded with shops
selling an extra ordinary variety of items and
food, the noise and crowds are a quite essential
part of any Indian market. We explore the market
on a cycle rickshaw, our path leading us through
lanes, each dedicated to a particular item,
rather like a departmental stores. Leather wear,
clothes, bridal wear, jewelry, and of course the
aromatic popular street where food ranging from
deep fried sweet meats to Paranthas - a bread
stuffed with a variety of vegetables.
From here we continue to the Jama Masjid or
Friday Mosque. This is India's largest mosque
designed by Shah Jahan and was his last
architectural legacy. Originally it was called
Masjid-I-Jahanum, which means "mosque commanding
a view of the world". It is well worth climbing
to the top of the southern minaret for an
unrivalled view of Old and New Delhi. In
complete contrast to the noise and crowds of Old
Delhi is Raj Ghat, a simle and stunning memorial
to Mahatma Gandhi, the main architect of India's
independence.
Afternoon we visit The New Delhi - which is a
blend of ancient and pre independence India. The
Qutub Minar, the tapering monument begun in 1199
was built to symbolize the supremacy of Islam.
This structure was eventually the proto type of
all minars or towers in India. A pivot of faith,
justice and righteousness, its name carried the
message of its founder Qutub -ud-din's own
achievements and the inscriptions say that the
tower was erected to cast the shadow of God over
the East and West. We also visit the Humayun's
Tomb which was built by the mother of emperor
Akbar. This is the earliest example of Mughal
architecture in India.
Day 10: Delhi - Agra
Book this Tour
Morning we drive to the City of Taj Mahal.
Much of the city's impressive past lives in
evidence even today, in the haunting presence
inside the monuments, the majesty of the
buildings, the exquisite arts and crafts and not
to forget, the lure of an exceptional cuisine.
all, cherished as priceless legacies of a
nostalgic past. The older city of Agra has
impressively retained much of its resplendent
history. captivating every visitor with fond
memories to take back home. Today, luxury and
modern convenience also exist adjacent to
tradition - luxury hotels, shopping malls and
plazas, wide avenues and a superb choice of
venues for recreation, business, sports,
pleasure, education and the arts. Upon arrival
check in to your hotel.
After lunch we visit the Massive Agra Fort -
Designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D., the
fort is surrounded by a 7 foot high wall. It
houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous
palaces including the Jahangiri Mahal,
Diwan-i-khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid. The
fort has four gates and is enclosed by a double
barricaded wall of red sand stone. Many
buildings were constructed within the fort of
which very few remain till date. One of the most
significant is the Jahangiri Mahal built by
Akbar for his wife Jodha Bai.
The Mahal is reached through an impressive
gateway and its inner courtyard consists of
beautiful halls, profuse carvings on stone,
exquisitely carved heavy brackets, piers and
cross beams. Most of the panels in the eastern
hall are decorated with the Persian styled
stucco paintings in gold and blue. It is
believed that a century later, most of the
structure were dismantled by Shahjahan and were
replaced with white marble pavilions covered
with intricate inlay work. Of which the most
prominent ones are - the Diwan-i-khas, the
Mausam Burj and the Shaha Burj. Away from the
waterfront he built the Moti Masjid and the
Diwan-i-Am.
Taj Mahal changes its mood with the seasons and
the different times of the day. At dusk, the
marble has a delicate bloom in shell pink,
turning to a soft pearly grey at dusk. On the
full moon nights, the silver light makes it
float away against the star sprangled sky.
Monsoon clouds give it a moody blue tint and it
appears and disappears like a mirage in the
drifting mists of winter. It can be solid and
earth bound, fragile and ethereal, white, amber,
grey and gold. The many faces of the Taj Mahal
displays the seductive power of architecture and
jewellery as both are reflected in the Taj
Mahal. It is one of the most flawless
architectural creation in the world. We will
visit this monument of love at Sun-set.
Day 11: Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur
Morning drive to Jaipur en-route visiting
Fatehpur Sikri
An emperor builds a magnificent city as an act
of gratitude to a penniless saint, makes it the
capital of his empire and then for inexplicable
reason abandons it.
Fatehpur Sikri is a city that a emperor forgot.
After just fourteen years of life, the palaces
of Akbar great city of victory fell silent. Its
echoing corridors still seen to wait for the
king to return. The hill top city lies 37 kms
from Agra. This deserted city has two distinct
complexes. The first comprises the royal
enclosure of the palace, the harem and official
buildings and the second is the dargarh of a
saint, with a mosque and lofty gateways. To
wander among the red sandstone courtyard of
Fatehpur Sikri is to travel back in the time
when Mughal emperor Akbar rode through the
gateway after a triumpant campaign, o be
welcomed by his delighted subjects and the royal
courts. Its reflects the many faceted character
of the man who inspired it. The ruthless empire
builder who enjoyed all the trapping of power
and as liberal enlightened man who took a
passionate instant in every aspect of life, be
it religion, literature or the painting of
miniatures.
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur
Sikri
Upon arrival, check into Shahpura House.
Afternoon is designed for escorted walks with
our guide in Jaipur's shady animated streets -
or for independent discovery. The city is best
explored on foot and only the inquisitive
visitor willing to go into the rastaas (streets)
and galis (lanes) will feel the spirit of the
city.
Jaipur's colorful bazaars tantalize the eye with
enamelled blue pottery, exquisite gem-studded
jewelry, engraved brass work, traditional
block-printed fabrics and brightly patterned
dhurrie rugs together with traditional crafts
and miniature painting.
Day 12: Jaipur
In the morning we visit the fort palace at
Amber, its forbidding exterior belying a
bejeweled interior whose richness reflects the
sumptuous styles of the surrounding Mughal
courts. We will approach the fort on elephant
back. Our tour of this architectural delight
includes the Diwan-I-Am or hall of public
Audience, an open pavilion with cream marble
pillars supporting an unusual striped canopy
shaped ceiling with a portico with double red
sandstone pillars; the Ganesh Pol which
separates the private and public areas is
decorated with mosaic and painted decorations;
the Diwan I Khas or Hall of Private Audience has
a curved Bengali roof and has marble pillars and
a painted ceiling. The Hall of Mirrors, the
pleasure palaces inlaid with ivory and
sandalwood reflect the Mughal influence, whilst
the baradari the 12 arched pavilion reflect both
Mughal and Hindu influences.
Afternoon we stop at the city palace, a series
of open courtyards, simple stables and buildings
leading to the richly decorated royal rooms of
the Chandra Mahal. The museum within the palace
house a fabulous collection of textiles,
carpets, manuscripts and costumes from the
personal collection of the royal family; the
Jantar Mantar, the ancient observatory, is the
creation of the scholar king Sawai Jai Singh.
The name literally means "Instruments for
measuring the harmony of the heavens". An
attractive and fascinating place, there are
extraordinary shaped stone monoliths faced with
marble, which are accurate even today. Adjoining
are structures, which depict the 12 zodiac signs
that enable instant readings to be made. We end
our day at the colorful market dominated by the
elegant tapering Hawa Mahal or Palace of the
Winds. Nine storey high, decorated with
delicately carved niches and balconies, this
pink sandstone façade served as a concrete "purdah"
or screen for ladies of the royal harem, who
would watch the activities of the city from a
position of privacy.
Day 13: Jaipur / Delhi
DELHI / SRINAGAR (9W 63 - 1115/1235 hrs)
Morning drive to the Delhi airport in time to
board flight for Srinagar
Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir
valley at an altitude of 1,73 m above sea level,
spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The
Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque
setting, while the changing play of the seasons
and the salubrious climate ensures that the city
is equally attractive to visitors around the
year. ts waterways with their own quaint
lifestyle, the unique Houseboat, the blossoming
gardens, water sports activities, shopping for
lovingly handcrafted souvenirs and the nearby
resorts make it a cherished spot among those
looking for a memorable holiday.
Meeting and assistance on arrival at Srinagar
airport and transfer to the Houseboat on Dal
Lake
Rest of the day at leisure for independent
activities
Day 14: Srinagar
Morning we proceed for the sightseeing tour of
the city.
The larger and more elaborate pleasure garden of
the Mughals is the Shalimar Bagh, four kms away.
Laid out by Emperor Jahangir for Nur Jahan, this
garden is also divided into four terraces and
has a water channel running down its centre. On
the topmost terrace is the pavilion reserved for
the royal visitors. Supported by stunning black
marble pillars, the pavilion had tiny niches
that were used to keep fragrant flowers in the
day and light up the pavilion with lamps at
night.
We will also visit the important mosques of
Srinagar is the large Jamia Masjid built in
1674. The mosque has thick wooden pillars, each
made from an entire deodar tree. One of the
oldest mosques in Kashmir, the foundation of the
building was said to have been laid as far back
as 1398 by Sultan Sikandar. To the southeast is
the Rozahbal Mosque, for some esoteric and
strange reason known as the 'tomb of Jesus'.
Across the River Jhelum lies the Pattar Masjid,
built in 1623 for the Empress Nur Jahan. The
mosque was later renamed as the Shahi Masjid.
Evening enjoy the Shikara ride on Dal Lake to
enjoy the beauty that God has graced this city
which is often compared to Venice. You will gat
a view of some very interesting places around
the lake.
Day 15: SRINAGAR / GULAMRG
Morning we drive to Gulmarg.
Literally a meadow of flowers, Gulmarg is one of
the most popular tourist destinations in the
Kashmir valley. A two-hour drive from Srinagar,
down roads lined with towering poplars and you
arrive at the luxuriant resort with breathtaking
views of the splendid mountains and unspoilt
expanses of gree or white, depending on the
season. Crowded with tourists in winter who come
for skiing and winter sports or just to enjoy
the snow, Gulmarg also has a good golf course.
Upon arrival check into the hotel
Gulmarg offer plenty of options for nature walks
and mild treks along amazing scenes of natural
beauty. We would explore the magic of the place
Day 16: Gulmarg
Full day at leisure for independent activities
and walks. Optional trekking and horse ridding
on request at the hotel can be made.
Gulmarg like most regions of Kashmir offer
opportunities for Pony rides too. You would be
helped to undertake pony rides if you wish to.
Cable Car Ride: Enjoy a fun-filled ride of a
most unusual kind on Gulmarg's newly constructed
gondola lift from high above Gulmarg, through
pine-clad slopes, is exhilarating. A Cable Car (Gandola)
is installed which is great hit with tourists
and it takes tourist's upto Kongdori. The
sky-car ride across 5 km and reaching an
altitude of 13,5 ft, the highest in the world
Day 17: Gulmarg - Pahalgham
Morning we drive to Pahalgham.
After breakfast we proceed for full day
excursion to Pahalgam.
At an altitude of 2,13m and about 95-km from
Srinagar, Pahalgam is probably the most popular
hill resort in the Kashmir valley. Since it is
rather lower than Gulmarg the nighttime
temperatures do not drop so low and it has the
further advantage of the beautiful Lidder River
running right through the town.
Pahalgam is situated at the junction of the Aru
and Sheshnag Rivers and surrounded by soaring,
fir-covered mountains with bare, snow-capped
peaks rising behind them. The Aru flows down
from the Kolahoi glacier beyond Lidderwat while
the Sheshnag from glaciers along the great
Himalayan. At the confluence of the streams
flowing from the river Lidder and Sheshnag Lake,
Pahalgam was once a humble shepherd's village
with breathtaking views. Now it Kashmir's
premier resort, cool even during the height of
summer.
Upon arrival check into the hotel Highland
Day 18: Pahalgham
Book this Tour
This morning we trek to Aru . The little village
of Aru is actually the first stage from Pahalgam
on the trek to Lidderwat and the Kolahoi
glacier. It makes an interesting day walk from
Pahalgam, following the Lidder river for
Pahalgam, following the Lidder river for 11-km
upstream. The main track, which also can be
taken by car, is on the left bank of the river.
At Aru one will often find the Gujars, living in
their log huts with their flocks of sheep and
goats, en route to the higher sheep and goats,
en route to the higher pastures for the summer.
One of course does not have to trek the full
way, but, we can return after an hour if we wish
to.
Day 19: Pahalgham - Srinagar
Morning free for leisure and independent
activities
Late afternoon ride back to Srinagar
On arrival check in to the Luxury Houseboat
Day 20: Srinagar - Delhi
Afternoon transfer to the hotel in time to board
flight for Delhi
Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer
to the Hotel
Day 21: Delhi - Departure
Today transfer to the International airport in
time to board flight back home
