The Indian Panorama - HolidayKeys.co.uk

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Day 01 ARRIVE DELHI Arrive Delhi airport by international flight. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Overnight at Hotel.


Day 02 DELHI Morning: After breakfast sightseeing of New & Old Delhi. Visit the 12th century Qutab Minar, gracefully hand-carved for its entire height of 234ft, and the iron pillar, which has withstood the ravages of time and not rusted even after 1500 years. Visit the mausoleum of emperor Humayun a forerunner of the Mughal style of architecture and the imposing modern Lakshminarayan temple.

Drive past the India Gate (war memorial dedicated to the lives of laid down by the Indian soldiers)


The presidents residence formerly the Viceroys Palace, parliament House and the Secretariat buildings, an interesting blend of the Victorian and 20th century architecture. Old Delhi takes you to the Raj Ghat (memorial to Mahatma Gandhi), Jama Masjid, The largest mosque in India. Drive past Chandi Chowk, once an imperial avenue of Mughal Royalty which today is the busiest commercial area of the city. Overnight at Hotel. Day 03 DELHI VARANASI Morning: After breakfast leave Delhi for Varanasi. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Upon arrival at Jaipur check in at Hotel. Evening visit the Ganges to witness the aarti ceremony on the Ghats. Overnight at Hotel.


Day 04 VARANASI Early Morning: Boat ride at Ganges.

Afternoon: Excursion to Sarnath. Sarnath 10 kms. from Varanasi (3 hours) The Buddha preached his first sermon to five disciples at the Deer Park here, enshrining the principals of his teaching into laws. The Dhamek Stupa marks the location of a once resplendent monastery. A large complex of ruined monasteries cover the area north of the stupas. Some of the buildings belong to the Kushan and Gupta period. The first monk communities probably settled here in the 3rd century BC. Near the Dhamek Stupa is a new monastery built by the Buddhist Mahabodhi Society. The major events of Buddhas life are depicted here in wall paintings by a Japanese artist. Sarnath has an interesting archaeological museum which has preserved the famous Sarnath pillar whose capital forms Indias national emblem. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 05 VARANASI KHAJURAHO Departure transfer from hotel to airport to board flight for Khajuraho. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.


Afternoon: Visit Eastern & Western Temples.

Khajuraho was the capital of the Chandela kings and its temples were built in the short span of hundred years, from 950-1050 AD. Most of them were destroyed by Muslim invaders. Adorned with exquisite sculpture, only 22 temples remain of the original 85. They are the strange works of a long dead people. Khajurahos temples are covered with hundreds of sculptured figures a galaxy of gods and goddesses, beasts and serpents, and a multitude of erotic couples which represent a paean to life, to love and to joy.

The most famous are the Kandariya Mahadev, the Chaturbhuj, the Paraswanath and the Ghantai the summit of Hindu sculpture: voluptuous forms; human and divine, throbbing with life and sublime in expression. Overnight at Hotel.


Transfer from Khajuraho to Jhansi station to board Shatabdi Exp. for Agra. (4 hrs drive approx.) Jhansi Agra by Shatabdi Exp. (1715 / 2005 hrs). Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 07 AGRA Morning: Visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in 1560 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 17 year to complete this Love Poem in Marble. (Friday closed). Later visit the Agra fort containing the halls private and public audiences and other palaces. Afternoon: Free. Overnight at Hotel.


Day 08 AGRA JAIPUR After breakfast leave Agra for Jaipur Fatehpursikri enroute.(5 6 hrs drive) Located 40 Km from Agra, the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, in honour of the great Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti who blessed Akbar and prophesized the birth of three sons to the heirless Emperor. Akbar used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and the city was fully occupied for 14 years but slowly became deserted and ruined after Akbar left the city. Scarcity of water was the prime factor for the abandonment of this beautiful city. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the Ghost City including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that speak of the grandeur and splendour of the Mughal empire at the height of its power. Upon arrival at Agra check in at Hotel. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 09 JAIPUR Morning: After breakfast excursion to Amber fort. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani Fort Palace. The rugged, time-ravaged walls of the Fort may not look beautiful from the outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise.


Precious stones and mirrors are embedded into the plaster. Inside the Fort visit the Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victory. Inside the Jag Mandir is the famed Sheesh Mahal a room with all the four walls and ceiling completely embedded with glittering mirror pieces, which were specially imported from Belgium during that period. En route to Amber Fort, you will have a brief photography stop at Hawa Mahal (known as the Palace of Winds).

Afternoon sightseeing tour of city visiting Maharajas City Palace, the former Royal residence, part of it converted into a museum.


A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur. Built in the style of a fortified campus, the palace covers almost one-seventh in area of the city. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum housing an impressive array of weaponry-pistols, blunderbusses, flintlocks, swords, rifles and daggers.

The royal families of Jaipur once used most of these weapons. Later visit the Jantar Mantar, which is the largest stone and marble crafted observatory in the world. Situated near the gate of the city palace, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 10 JAIPUR COCHIN (Via Mumbai) Departure transfer from hotel to airport to board flight for Cochin Via Mumbai. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Overnight at Hotel.


Day 11 COCHIN Morning: After breakfast sightseeing tour of Kochi. Visit the Dutch Palace, the Jewish Synagogue (which remains closed on Saturdays) St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica. While driving along the coastline, at the Harbours mouth, one can also view the unique and still-in-use Chinese Fishing Nets which were introduced by the Chinese traders in the 14th Century. The tour ends in the Fort Kochi area where you can walk through the historical Dutch and Portuguese buildings. Some parts of this nearly 500-year-old Fort are still amazingly well preserved. Evening witness Kathakali dance performance. Enjoy Indias most spectacular Dance Drama based on stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dancers are elaborately made up with paint and masks, accompanied with drummers and musicians. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 12 COCHIN PERIYAR Morning after breakfast Leave Cochin for Periyar. (4-5 hrs drive) Upon arrival Checkin at Hotel. Periyar has a lot to offer you in sightseeing. The wildlife sanctuary here is the natural habitat of a wide variety of animal species. The Periyar Lake is a paradise for the nature lovers. It gives you an opportunity to observe the wild animals roaming in the jungle.


The lake is also a birdwatchers delight. The greatest attraction of Periyar Lake, however, is the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake. This lake serves as the waterhole for the animals and they come here to drink or take a dip. There are over 260 species of birds here, including Nilgiri Wood Pigeons, blue-winged Parakeets, White bellied Tree Pies, laughing Thrushes and Fly Catchers. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 13 PERIYAR KUMARAKOM Morning: After breakfast later drive to Kumarkom visiting spice plantation enroute.3 4 hrs. drive.

On arrival, check in at your backwater resort. Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part of Kuttanad (granary of Kerala). The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web.


The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets Overnight at Hotel.

Day 14 KUMARAKOM Morning: Free to relax and enjoy the serene atmosphere or enjoy an Ayurvedic massage at the resort. Evening sunset cruise on Vembanad lake. (provided by the hotel)Overnight at Hotel.

Day 15 KUMARAKOM KOVALAM Morning: After breakfast leave Kumarakom for Kovalam. ( 4 5 hrs drive)Upon arrival check in at your resort. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 16 & 17 KOVALAM Days at leisure in Kovalam to enjoy the beach. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 18 KOVALAM TRIVANDRUM LEAVE TRIVANDRUM Departure transfer from hotel to Trivandrum airport to board flight for onward destination.

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The Indian Panorama - HolidayKeys.co.uk