A cultural tour of India
India is one land with many cultures and in order to experience a sampling of the rich diversities of this land we have tailored this unique 28-day journey. Enjoy the rich and varied history and cultures of over a billion people as we traverse this massive sub-continent.
Early morning we start our photo hunting for the over 300 types of trees, 272 species of birds, 30 spices of mammals and the tiger. The park is also home to India’s smallest and largest antelopes, Chinkara and Nilgai. The park has a total of 28 tigers, providing a reasonable opportunity of sighting a few. An afternoon safari will be followed by time to enjoy the green cool environment of Ranthombhore.
This fascinating city full of life and history is home to the largest film industry in the world. We start our the city tour with the Gateway of India, Dhobi gat, the world’s largest open-air laundry, Jain Temple, Marine Drive, Hanging Gardens and the Prince of Wales Museum. Afternoon is free to immerse ourselves in the local culture. Bombay offers a lot of attractions in the areas of art and theatre and this evening is a good time to experience them.
Also known as the city of Palaces, Mysore has never failed to mesmerize with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples._Our morning tour includes the Maharajah’s Palace, the Shri Chamundeswari Temple and the Nadi Shiva’s Mount. The evening is free to enjoy the Vrindavan Garden and City Palace, which is beautifully lit on certain days.
Today we explore Cochin, the commercial capital of Kerala, with one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Ancient mariners from Arabia, China, Holland, Britain and Portugal have all left their mark on this beautiful island city, often referred to as the Venice of the East. Here we tour the Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, the Jewish Quarter with its old synagogue and take a boat tour to visit the Bolghatty Palace and observe the fascinating Chinese fishing nets in action.
A scenic drive takes us to the beautiful Kovalam Beach on the Malabar Coast near Trivandrum. The palm-fringed bays in secluded coconut groves, promise a relaxed stay. The boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf at the feet of the stalwart palms and the rocky promontories make this beach an incredible paradise.
Today we enjoy a visit to the “Lands End” of India: Kanniya Kumari is the southernmost tip of peninsular India where the waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea meet. A place from where one can see spectacular sunrises and also colourful sunsets. On balmy evenings, one can watch the sun set while the full moon is rising in another part of the sky!
Get set for an incredible day. We start with a boat ride to visit the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Those adventurous enough may indulge in water sports such as windsailing and water skiing. For those looking to relax, try a canoe ride on the still waters.
Today we drive to Madurai, one of the oldest cities in the South. En route we stop to enjoy a traditional Puppet show. The life of Madurai revolves around the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. This magnificently carved temple is the main attraction of Madurai and its huge Gopurams tower over the city. The Meenakshi Temple has a thousand pillared ‘Mandapam’. There are precisely 985 pillars and each of them is delicately and exquisitely carved. Among these are the musical pillars that produce music when tapped. Surprisingly, these musical pillars are carved of a single granite rock. The temple has been a hub of Tamil culture and has sponsored the creation of great literature, art, music, and dance in the region for a long time. The city, apart from temple, is crammed with shops, street markets, pilgrims, hotels and restaurants.
Overnight: Hotel, Madurai (1 night)
We take an excursion to the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram. This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of rock along the Coromandel Coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous ‘Descent of the Ganges’, and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva.
After a journey traversing from the north to the south of this sub continent, we bid a farewell to India as we are transferred to the airport for our departure flight. From Chennai.
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