The Best of South India and the Taj Mahal March 17 - 26, 2017
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The Best of South India and the Taj Mahal March 17 - 26, 2017 The Best of South India and the Taj Mahal | 1 India is a land of variety and contrasts. To the north, it is bordered by the world’s highest mountain chain. In the south, plateaus and tropical rain forests are bordered by palm- fringed beaches. You will see some of India’s finest architecture, sculptures and curves, cruise scenic backwaters and enjoy performances of Indian classical dance and music. Start your journey in Mumbai (the center of Bollywood), where this vibrant city welcomes you with open arms to see the best of what it has to offer. On this trip, we take you through the state of Kerala, where life moves at a less frantic pace than in the cities, although Mumbai and the great port of Kochi provide ample city excitement and attractions for most. But it is in the backwaters, aboard a beautiful house boat; in Kumarakom. We'll discover the first European foothold in India in Kochi, the Venice of the East. You’ll then take into India’s capital of Delhi. Admire the contrast of Old and New Delhi before moving on to Agra and the wonder that is the Taj Mahal. Journey 17 March Depart Newark, USA 18 March Mumbai 19 March Mumbai – Kumarakom 21 March Kumarakom 22 March Kumarakom – Kochi 23 March Kochi – Delhi 24 March Delhi 25 March Delhi – Agra 26 March Agra – Delhi departure 26th or 27th Arrive Back USA Accommodations Mumbai – Trident Nariman Point Kumarakom – Coconut Lagoon Kochi – Fragrant Nature Delhi – The Palms Agra – Radisson Meals As per itinerary The Best of South India and the Taj Mahal | 2 DETAILED ITINERARY 17 March Depart Newark, USA 18 March Arrive Mumbai After clearing all immigration formalities, you will be met by our Travel Manager and transferred to our hotel. Mumbai was named by the original inhabitants, the Kolis, after their goddess mother Mumba Devi. Mumbai was once a group of seven islands given to the British as a dowry when Charles II married Catherine of Braganza. The British leased the islands to the East India Company, who in turn began initial development of the city. Today this cosmopolitan city is one of India’s most important centres for industry, commerce, foreign trade and Bollywood. Overnight: Trident Nariman Point 19 March Mumbai This morning depart your Hotel for City tour. Our First stop is Gateway of India. After that you will be escorted for a walking tour of downtown Mumbai, where the amazing sights and architecture will fascinate you. Later drive through the Dhobi Ghat and hanging gardens. This afternoon visit the Prince of Wales Museum, and Mani Bhawan, the memorial built for Mahatma Gandhi. Later explore local markets. If time permits we visit a Bollywood Dance Academy to learn steps of “Bollywood Dance.” Overnight: Trident Nariman Point Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner The Best of South India and the Taj Mahal | 3 20 March Fly Mumbai – Kochi – Drive to Kumarakom Today Morning fly to Kochi. On arrival drive to Kumarakom a cluster of little islands on Vembanad Lake. Kumarakom captures the essence of Kerala in a unique and lovely setting. Conde Nast Traveller rated Kumarakom among the 25 best getaways in the world. The remainder of the day is free. Your exquisite hotel is constructed from fragments of Keralan palaces, with beautiful carvings and brass work, and is set on an abandoned coconut plantation that can be reached only by boat. Overnight: Coconut Lagoon Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 21 March Kumarakom – House Boat (Alleppey) Morning is free to enjoy at your hotel. This afternoon, a deluxe Kettuvallam or houseboat is waiting to take you on a journey through tranquil waterways formed by 40-some rivers that flow down to the Arabian Sea from the Cardamom Hills. These have thatched roof covers over wooden hulls. In the Malayalam language "kettu" means "to tie" and “vallam” means boat – the two together make the local name "kettuvallam”. Each houseboat is constructed using the ancient principles and techniques of boat building by the local carpenters using 'Anjili' wood. Coir ropes are used for fastening the wooden planks together. Lunch will be prepared and served on board. Overnight: Coconut Lagoon Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner The Best of South India and the Taj Mahal | 4 22 March Kumarakom – Kochi Today you will drive to Kochi. Kochi (Cochin), also known as Ernakulam, the commercial capital of Kerala. The district took its form on 1st April 1958, by carving out the areas of Travancore, Kochi and Malabar kingdoms. The word Ernakulam was derived from a Tamil word Erayanarkulam which means “Lord Shiva's abode.” This afternoon you will take a tour of Kochi, beginning with St. Francis Church. Located at Fort Kochi, this Protestant church was originally built by the Portuguese in 1510 AD and is believed to be the oldest church built by the Europeans in India. A trip through the Dutch Palace provides a view of 17th century frescoes, court attire and other artifacts. It is also known as Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Kochi in 1555 A.D. It acquired the present name after 1663 when the Dutch carried out extensions and repairs in the palace. It is interesting to note that at no time did the Portuguese or Dutch actually stay here. Its interiors are decorated with murals from the Ramayana and there are some lively displays of royal costumes and palanquins. Later visit the Chinese fishing net area and witness the spectacular Kathakali dance drama, a unique combination of literature, music, painting, acting and dance. Dancer wear extraordinary makeup, headdresses, and costumes meant to raise the participants above the level of mere mortals, allowing them to transport the audience to a world of wonders. Overnight: Fragrant Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner The Best of South India and the Taj Mahal | 5 23 March Fly Kochi – Delhi Today you will fly to Delhi. Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India, is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. Standing along the West end of the Gangetic Plain, the capital city paints a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, and gardens. Upon arrival in Delhi you will be taken directly to the hotel. Overnight: The Palms Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 24 March Delhi Today morning we will start our tour from Old Delhi. We travel by rickshaw through the winding streets of Old Delhi, the capital of Muslim India from the 12th through the 19th centuries. Narrating the city's Mughal past, Old Delhi takes us through the labyrinthine streets passing formidable mosques, monuments and forts. We will also discover lively and colourful bazaars that carry all sorts of goods amidst an atmosphere of barely controlled chaos. We will visit India’s largest mosque, the white marble Jama Masjid, with its marble domes and splendid minarets. New Delhi was designed and built by the British in the 1920s. The imperial city displays well-composed and spacious streets under the shade of beautiful trees and imposing government buildings. We will visit Humayun's Tomb, which was built by the wife of Mughal Emperor Humayun, Haji Begum in the mid-16th century. This red sandstone structure is considered to be the predecessor of Taj Mahal. The structure is one of the best examples of Mughal architecture. Humayun's wife is also buried in the tomb, which is built of red and white sandstone and black and yellow marble. From here we will drive towards Hotel, stopping at India Gate for photo opportunities. India Gate, standing like a pride of Delhi at the centre of New Delhi, is a 42-metre high archway in the middle of a crossroad. Similar to its French counterpart, the Arc-de- Triomphe, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial also bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919. Overnight: The Palms Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner The Best of South India and the Taj Mahal | 6 25 March Delhi – Agra This morning we will drive to Agra. Afternoon visit Agra Fort. The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1565 A.D., although additions were made until the time of his grandson, Shah Jehan. The forbidding exteriors of this fort hide an inner paradise. The fort is crescent shaped, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall facing the river. It has a total perimeter of 2.4 kilometres, and is ringed by double castellated ramparts of red sandstone punctuated at regular intervals by bastions. A 9-metre wide and 10-metre deep moat surrounds the outer wall. In the evening enjoy the grand live performance “Mohabbat-e-Taj”, based on the love story of Taj Mahal. Overnight: Radission Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 26 March Agra – Delhi Departure Early morning explore Shah Jehan’s monument to love – the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor as the final resting place for his favorite Queen, Mumtaz. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630-1652 A.D) of hard labor and 20,000 workers, masons and jewellers to build. It was designed by the Persian architect, Ustad Isa. The verses of Holy Quran are inscribed on it and at the top of the gate’s 22 small domes, signifying the number of years the monument took to built.